Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2022

DVAntDany

Well-Known Member
I want to join instead of lurk. I get a trim on the 22nd. So I can post pics of my ends after that.

Last year I decided to incorporate a more gentle detangling brush and pre poo detangler. I love the original wet brush and the one for thick hair. Im going to continue to use them. I am really surprised by how few single strand knots I have from wearing a wng for 365+ days straight. I never experienced that with finger detangling or using a wide tooth comb.

I think I might drop the pre poo detangler. I only ever needed it when I used super light weight products that provided no hold or definition. I also felt it didn't work well to detangle at night and wash it out in the morning. It was better to just use right before shampooing. So, I will start embracing more crunch and eliminate the need for one all together.

This year I want to focus on preventing split ends and breakage. I think if I have any kind of damage it is purely due to mechanical damage. So Im going to use products with more slip/combabiity and provide integrity reinforcement.

I want to use more detangling shampoos and conditioners. I CCS 2 to 3 times a week. I am going to need something that is quick and easy with mid week washes. Also, I want to clarify my hair more often. Cleaner hair just works better and gets less tangled.

For integrity reinforcement, I want to include bond rebuilders, elasticity/ light protein treatments, deep conditioners and products specifically for ends. My style of choice is the wash and go. The only product I'm debating on is one specifically for ends. I'm thinking of using something like Mielle Rice Water Therapy or DevaCurl CurlBond Re-Coiling Split End Serum. I want a product that can be used on wet hair under a styler as well as safe to use daily on dry hair.

I am a little fearful of using too heavy protein products. Many moons ago, I used the apogee 2 step to try and correct over moisturized mushy/stretchy hair. It made my hair brittle. It took forever to get my hair soft again.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
Don't forget the ends of your hair are not just the last 1 inch of hair. When working with the Ends of your hair, consider addressing the hair at the very end up to the last 6 inches from the ends. Or, focus on the last entire half of your hair ends if your hair is shorter.
 
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Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
I’ve focusing more on my scalp also. I’ve had a Nexxus Inergy scalp scrub in my stash for a while, but just tried it a couple weeks ago. I enjoyed it, but the Inky List scrub sounds even better with the acids in it. I will definitely purchase when I’m done with the one I have. I’ve always liked Dphue’s ACV rinse as well.
I’ve used both products once so far. They are both good but of the two I think I prefer the salicylic acid one. The glycolic acid has tiny little castor beads that, while they feel really nice massaging in the scalp, they didn’t rinse out easily enough for me. I was combing them out during the styling process. They’re clear so it’s not terrible as you can’t see them, but still a little bit annoying. I’ll use it up but probably won’t repurchase. The Salicylic acid one I used last wash and it has a very nice cooling, tingling sensation on the scalp so I know it’s doing something. I still have a few flakey spots in my scalp so I hope to see these diminishing with continued use.
 

Mapleoats

Well-Known Member
@Chicoro’s post about trimming only after getting past her length goal, has me reconsidering my trim schedule for this year. Maybe I will just trim every 6 months and S&D in between, and see how my hair does. I don’t think I can go without a trim for a full year, because I use heat and am not the most diligent about moisturizing between washes. But I did trim last year about ever 12 weeks, and I don’t feel it was truly necessary beyond aesthetics. Yet… when I go too long, split ends run amok. I’m still looking for the right balance.

So, I’ve also been thinking in general about what I can do better to specifically care for my ends, and I’ve decided on:

— S&Ds every 2-3 months.
— Incorporating a split end sealing product. One with PVP copolymers that temporarily bind the ends. I already have Bed Head Ego Boost in my stash. I want to try the Oribe one as well.
— Moisturize and seal the ends of my braids every other night. I tend to not want to take down my styles to moisturize my hair. I just don’t feel the additional manipulation is worth it. But embarrassingly, it just dawned on me that I can just moisturize the ends without taking down the whole braid. :think:
— I will switch up the way I blow out my hair. I will stretch the hair out using the tension method, before going in with the brush attachment. I’m never giving up my blow dry brush. :lol: But hopefully minimizing the number of passes will cut down on some of the mechanical damage.
—More protein treatments.
Hahaha this is so funny I feel like we are on same wave. I tried the tension thing this last blow out and used the revair before going in with the brush. Actually I thought maybe I’ll just use the revair only to give my hair a break. Girl no, I was fed up half way through. I’m never giving up my brush either :lachen: . Maybe I’ll just try a regular tension method first next time instead lol.
 

Napp

Ms. Nobody
@Chicoro’s post about trimming only after getting past her length goal, has me reconsidering my trim schedule for this year. Maybe I will just trim every 6 months and S&D in between, and see how my hair does. I don’t think I can go without a trim for a full year, because I use heat and am not the most diligent about moisturizing between washes. But I did trim last year about ever 12 weeks, and I don’t feel it was truly necessary beyond aesthetics. Yet… when I go too long, split ends run amok. I’m still looking for the right balance.

So, I’ve also been thinking in general about what I can do better to specifically care for my ends, and I’ve decided on:

— S&Ds every 2-3 months.
— Incorporating a split end sealing product. One with PVP copolymers that temporarily bind the ends. I already have Bed Head Ego Boost in my stash. I want to try the Oribe one as well.
— Moisturize and seal the ends of my braids every other night. I tend to not want to take down my styles to moisturize my hair. I just don’t feel the additional manipulation is worth it. But embarrassingly, it just dawned on me that I can just moisturize the ends without taking down the whole braid. :think:
— I will switch up the way I blow out my hair. I will stretch the hair out using the tension method, before going in with the brush attachment. I’m never giving up my blow dry brush. :lol: But hopefully minimizing the number of passes will cut down on some of the mechanical damage.
—More protein treatments.
I think getting trims every 16 weeks would cut away your progress but then again I am on team #notrim until length goals are reached. Also what kind of blow dry brush do you have? I'm looking for a dryer that can get my hair really straight without resorting to a round brush
 

LushLox

Well-Known Member
I want to try this. I use the Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner (spray) and love it. When you say the Daily Treatment is heavy, can you expound on what you mean? It it oily? The only way I can use it, is if it’s not too watery. Otherwise it will revert my blowout. The only moisturizers I have that don’t revert my hair are the Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Cream and Living Proof Overnight Perfector.

It’s actually not as heavy as I thought, I’ve got heavier leave ins. So it’s perfectly fine for me to apply every few days. It’s not oily or greasy it’s just perfect. Could it revert your blow out, potentially if you use too much of it, but if you're conservative in how much you apply you should be fine. Like all of Aveda's products, it is quite concentrated. Perhaps try and pick up a travel size before committing to the full size.

I love the spray too, but I only buy the Nutriplenish range if I can get it on discount lol. I did cave in and I bought the mask but I haven't tried it yet.
 

Theresamonet

Well-Known Member
Hahaha this is so funny I feel like we are on same wave. I tried the tension thing this last blow out and used the revair before going in with the brush. Actually I thought maybe I’ll just use the revair only to give my hair a break. Girl no, I was fed up half way through. I’m never giving up my brush either :lachen: . Maybe I’ll just try a regular tension method first next time instead lol.

:lol: I just switch between the Airwrap’s blow drying attachment and the firm brush for each section. I don’t do the tension method for too long, cause I still want damp hair when I go in with the brush.

How are you liking the supersonic in comparison?
 

Theresamonet

Well-Known Member
It’s actually not as heavy as I thought, I’ve got heavier leave ins. So it’s perfectly fine for me to apply every few days. It’s not oily or greasy it’s just perfect. Could it revert your blow out, potentially if you use too much of it, but if you're conservative in how much you apply you should be fine. Like all of Aveda's products, it is quite concentrated. Perhaps try and pick up a travel size before committing to the full size.

I love the spray too, but I only buy the Nutriplenish range if I can get it on discount lol. I did cave in and I bought the mask but I haven't tried it yet.

Girl… I didn’t realize how much that spray was until I decided I liked it, and went to look it up to repurchase. I was like $37??!! Why???!!! :bricks:

But that’s how I do. I buy things with no regard for the price, and then I get mad once I like it and have to keep rebuying at that price. :lol: Aveda does have sales fairly regularly now.
 

Theresamonet

Well-Known Member
I think getting trims every 16 weeks would cut away your progress but then again I am on team #notrim until length goals are reached. Also what kind of blow dry brush do you have? I'm looking for a dryer that can get my hair really straight without resorting to a round brush

I definitely understand where team #notrim is coming from. But I think this method only works out if you have a really good handle on your regimen, and can keep your hair very well preserved. If one is still experiencing excessive breakage and splits, those ends aren’t going to last until you reach your length goals.

The blow dry brush I use is the same one that @Mapleoats told you about in the other thread. The Dyson Airwrap. It’s my best hair purchase to date. It gets the hair straight and smooth, but is gentle on the hair. My last blowout at the salon, the girl did not get my hair as straight as I do with the Airwrap.
 

LushLox

Well-Known Member
I definitely understand where team #notrim is coming from. But I think this method only works out if you have a really good handle on your regimen, and can keep your hair very well preserved. If one is still experiencing excessive breakage and splits, those ends aren’t going to last until you reach your length goals.

The blow dry brush I use is the same one that @Mapleoats told you about in the other thread. The Dyson Airwrap. It’s my best hair purchase to date. It gets the hair straight and smooth, but is gentle on the hair. My last blowout at the salon, the girl did not get my hair as straight as I do with the Airwrap.

Agreed. I always have the temptation to widen my gap between trims but in the end it doesn't work for me. Although my manipulation these days is incredibly low, I still like to do a small trim every 16 weeks which is the sweet spot for me. I prefer to do a small trim than a BIG trim lol.

Once I start trimming I actually really enjoy it, it gives me a lot of satisfaction having fresh ends.
 

Napp

Ms. Nobody
I definitely understand where team #notrim is coming from. But I think this method only works out if you have a really good handle on your regimen, and can keep your hair very well preserved. If one is still experiencing excessive breakage and splits, those ends aren’t going to last until you reach your length goals.

The blow dry brush I use is the same one that @Mapleoats told you about in the other thread. The Dyson Airwrap. It’s my best hair purchase to date. It gets the hair straight and smooth, but is gentle on the hair. My last blowout at the salon, the girl did not get my hair as straight as I do with the Airwrap.
What attachment do you use to straighten your hair?
 

silverbuttons

Not Impressed
Hello @silverbuttons ! Come on in!

lol. I don’t have recent hair progress pictures.

I’ll take pictures during my next wash day, which should be this weekend.

My plan for full ends:
- drinking my water
- dusting any split ends
- sealing ends with Kreyol essence pomade or Shae butter
- washing twice a month
- wearing my scarf when I go to sleep (and remembering plait loose hair before bed)


From November, you can see some of the problems with ends.
 

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LushLox

Well-Known Member
I've been taking a green powder blend, only for a few days but I feel great and energised already.

Ingredients
Spirulina, Chlorella, Moringa, Wheatgrass and Barley Grass, with added Baobab, Pineapple and Camu Camu Berry.

The one I was taking before (brand closed), I got three inches in like three months; these ingredients are better so lets see!
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I've been taking a green powder blend, only for a few days but I feel great and energised already.

Ingredients
Spirulina, Chlorella, Moringa, Wheatgrass and Barley Grass, with added Baobab, Pineapple and Camu Camu Berry.

The one I was taking before (brand closed), I got three inches in like three months; these ingredients are better so lets see!
Is it possible to share the name of the product?
 

Napp

Ms. Nobody
I've been using the LCO method to moisturize my hair and I'm loving it! I use S-Curl no drip activator for (L), Camille Rose Almond Jai for (C) and Afro Sheen Lush Fro Butter for (O). This is a combo my hair really likes and I think I don't have to moisturize everyday when I do this. I am going to see how LCO works when I use a protein based leave in (Aphogee) and sealing with the Cream and oil/butter. I wonder if it will make my hair brittle?
 

LushLox

Well-Known Member
@GGsKin
I have no idea of the percentage make up of the ingredients unfortunately.

I would say that the Spirulina, Chlorella, Moringa, Wheatgrass and Barley Grass, are in the greater proportion because they go on to say "with added Baobab, Pineapple and Camu Camu Berry. Now that you've said that though I think I'll email the company to see whether they will divulge the info.

They put the pineapple and camu camu berry in just to make the taste more palatable.

And I shouldn't take it at night really but I didn't have it this morning, so let me get my drink!
 

Theresamonet

Well-Known Member
I've been taking a green powder blend, only for a few days but I feel great and energised already.

Ingredients
Spirulina, Chlorella, Moringa, Wheatgrass and Barley Grass, with added Baobab, Pineapple and Camu Camu Berry.

The one I was taking before (brand closed), I got three inches in like three months; these ingredients are better so lets see!

How are you using your powder blend?

I have these two in my cabinet that your post made me remember. But I can’t be bothered to make smoothies everyday.
CB9CA980-B6DC-4E23-8FFE-DEA8684EDE69.png
Wheatgrass, Moringa, Barley Grass, Gotu Kola, Alfalfa, Spirulina, Spinach, Tulsi


761E90DF-2B49-4596-9FFE-FD21C65532F9.png
Chia, Maca, Camu Camu, Turmeric, Lucian, Golden Berry
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
How are you using your powder blend?

I have these two in my cabinet that your post made me remember. But I can’t be bothered to make smoothies everyday.
View attachment 478449
Wheatgrass, Moringa, Barley Grass, Gotu Kola, Alfalfa, Spirulina, Spinach, Tulsi


View attachment 478451
Chia, Maca, Camu Camu, Turmeric, Lucian, Golden Berry
Can you mix them in some store bought juice?
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I visited my curly stylist today. I had already dusted my ends in December, so I just got a shaping today. My ends are now in even better shape. Definitely looking for more growth and retention this year.

It looks thick, full and healthy. You can clearly see the results of the care and attention that you have been giving your hair.
 

snoop

Well-Known Member
So, I don't have any length check pictures, YET, but I thought that I would post this to give a bit of a picture of what I'm working with. Like a few others in this thread, I think that my ends are pretty healthy, but I'm working on curbing shedding and broken hairs in my crown area. It wasn't until I pulled these photos for this thread, that I think that I finally understand where my problem area is. The excess shedding that I've had has been in my crown area. I knew that i lost some volume, but I can really notice it in the sides of my hair. There is a twisted updo that I used to wear, where I just wrap my jumbo or medium twists on themselves and tuck them away. I can't really do that now and I didn't realize why until I looked at these pictures. There are parts of my hair that are 3-4 inches shorter than the hairs that they are directly beside.

View attachment 478147

Since August, I've been detangling under water and my hair loves it, so I'm going to continue doing that and hopefully by the end of the year, I'll see some retention. I'm going to treat my hair as APL which should account for the shortest layers.

Like @Chicoro , I plan on waiting until my hair reaches a certain length before I will think about cutting my hair back into a shape.

My hair hangs differently depending on how I apply my clay, but in all cases I think that there is much of a gap between the sides and the back. This photo is from last weekend, but you can see how different my hair looks in the three pictures (Nov 28, Dec 23, and Jan 9). It looks like my hair grew a lot, but... it hasn't. Not yet!

LHCF_20220109.png

I think that my ends are doing well, so the goal is to keep going. I've been adding hydrolyzed proteins to my clay washes every week for the past month or so.

Does anyone know if you can add hydrolyzed proteins to something less "full" than clay? I'm thinking something along the lines of a tea rinse. I would do some trial and error, but I don't want to waste them unnecessarily.
 

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