Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2024

[MzSwift]

Wow!! Look at you, @newgrowth15 !! Congratulations on one year - you've made GREAT progress!!

Cornrows will definitely help you retain what you grow over this next year. I'm excited to see next year's progress pix!

KUTGW!!

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

@newgrowth15 Your hair is true to your name! Look at all that good growth!

 

[newgrowth15]

Wow!! Look at you, @newgrowth15 !! Congratulations on one year - you've made GREAT progress!!

Cornrows will definitely help you retain what you grow over this next year. I'm excited to see next year's progress pix!

KUTGW!!

@newgrowth15 Your hair is true to your name! Look at all that good growth!

Thank you for the encouragement ladies. This past year was challenging trying to figure out how and what to do with my hair. Hair loss can be so traumatic, but I am thankful for my new growth.

 

[snoop]

I'm still here.

I did nothing with my hair for two weeks as the flu went from one baby to the next before I finally got it a couple of days ago. I didn't get around to moisturizing my hair so it was much drier than I thought it was. I noticed a couple of broken ends when I finally had a chance to wash it yesterday. I plan on trimming my ends next week (quarterly trim -- so more hair this time).

 

[Chicoro]

I'm still here.

I did nothing with my hair for two weeks as the flu went from one baby to the next before I finally got it a couple of days ago. I didn't get around to moisturizing my hair so it was much drier than I thought it was. I noticed a couple of broken ends when I finally had a chance to wash it yesterday. I plan on trimming my ends next week (quarterly trim -- so more hair this time).

Glad to know that you and everyone in your family are on the mend and moving toward wellness.

 

[Chicoro]

Here is my one year big chop anniversary collage. This year I plan to keep my hair in cornrows and I am considering crochet braids, too. My hair does not like commercial protein treatments, so I will be going back to homemade remedies.
View attachment 494845

Wow!!!!!

What is your process, please? This is some INCREDIBLE progress and I almost missed this post! If you have stated your process before, please point me in the right direction to not bother you.

In the back at the nape it looks like you have at least 5 to 6 inches of length gained. The star of this hair growth gain story is the crown and the front hair line areas because in order to get your hair full at that length, those areas had to gain MORE than five inches of growth.

Please sure your incredible process. Wowsers!!!

I think you have written something incredibly important. You stated that your hair does not like commercial protein treatments. It is so important to know your own hair. That knowledge does NOT come easily. It takes time, patience and trial and error and experience. It takes work!

To have success with your hair takes knowledge about your own hair and it does not come easily and it is HARD for that knowledge to leave you once you get it.

 

[Chicoro]

I blowdried my hair and my ends were split with knots. I have broken hair in the front of my head. I still believe that these issues are the remnants and from the aftermath of using shampoo and the breakage from brushing my hair while it was still in a ponytail.

I am taken aback every time I stumble onto some new knowledge about my hair. I can't believe how much I DID NOT know about my hair that I learned even in the last 3-5 years.

Every time I stumble upon some new info and insight about my hair, my hair shifts and changes. Sometimes for the worse but most times for the better. I am humbled and laid low about how ignorant I am about my own hair and about how incredibly profound and how much deep knowledge needs to be gotten to even have a basic understanding of hair.

The more I learn about my hair and hair in general, the more I realize how minuscule my hair knowledge really is.

"Hair is not rocket science, it is far more complex."
~Chicoro~​

 

[newgrowth15]

Wow!!!!!

What is your process, please? This is some INCREDIBLE progress and I almost missed this post! If you have stated your process before, please point me in the right direction to not bother you.

In the back at the nape it looks like you have at least 5 to 6 inches of length gained. The star of this hair growth gain story is the crown and the front hair line areas because in order to get your hair full at that length, those areas had to gain MORE than five inches of growth.

Please sure your incredible process. Wowsers!!!

I think you have written something incredibly important. You stated that your hair does not like commercial protein treatments. It is so important to know your own hair. That knowledge does NOT come easily. It takes time, patience and trial and error and experience. It takes work!

To have success with your hair takes knowledge about your own hair and it does not come easily and it is HARD for that knowledge to leave you once you get it.

@Chicoro, thank you. Please don't ever think you could bother me with questions about hair. I love talking about and looking at hair. This past year was a major learning curve for me since my hair was so short. I learned how to do wash n go's which took several months to master, but I think I have it down now. I use The Doux Mousse Def when I do a one product wng and Garnier Fructis leave in with Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel, when I do a two product wng.

In the summer months, I wet my hair daily or every other day. During the colder months, I wash and condition at least once a week. On occasion, I will use a clay mask. I also henna my hair once or twice a year.

On the two occasions I have tried protein treatments, I used Aphogee and it left my hair extremely hard and dry. It took several weeks to get my hair feeling soft again. I now use mayonnaise and olive oil for my protein and it leaves my hair feeling strong, but soft. Someone suggested I add eggs, but I am still undecided about that step.

This year I will incorporate hair, skin and nail vitamins, vitamin D and magnesium glycinate into my regimen to see if I can get even more growth this year.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro, thank you. Please don't ever think you could bother me with questions about hair. I love talking about and looking at hair. This past year was a major learning curve for me since my hair was so short. I learned how to do wash n go's which took several months to master, but I think I have it down now. I use The Doux Mousse Def when I do a one product wng and Garnier Fructis leave in with Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel, when I do a two product wng.

In the summer months, I wet my hair daily or every other day. During the colder months, I wash and condition at least once a week. On occasion, I will use a clay mask. I also henna my hair once or twice a year.

On the two occasions I have tried protein treatments, I used Aphogee and it left my hair extremely hard and dry. It took several weeks to get my hair feeling soft again. I now use mayonnaise and olive oil for my protein and it leaves my hair feeling strong, but soft. Someone suggested I add eggs, but I am still undecided about that step.

This year I will incorporate hair, skin and nail vitamins, vitamin D and magnesium glycinate into my regimen to see if I can get even more growth this year.

Thank you for responding with such detail. More questions for you!

• Did you cover your head at night?
• Which styling products did you use between your washes?
• Did you cut your hair to get to your starting point?
• Has your hair grown to the length it is now, before? Or is this the first time you have gotten to this length?
• Do you use any butter or oils?
• Do you use heat to style your hair in your wash and go?
• What did you do with your hair at night?
• How often do you straighten your hair
• Do you straighten it yourself?
• When you straighten, is it a blow dry and flat iron, pressing comb, stretching?
• How often did you trim your hair?

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[newgrowth15]

Thank you for responding with such detail. More questions for you!

• Did you cover your head at night?

Yes. I sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet.

• Which styling products did you use between your washes?

I use Garnier Sleek and Shine Leave-in and Eco Styler Gel for wash and go's. Otherwise, I use the Garnier as a leave-in and my homemade rosemary, fenugreek and clove oil on my scalp on a weekly basis. I alternate between grapeseed and olive oils as my base. I also spray distilled water on my hair daily for moisture.

• Did you cut your hair to get to your starting point?

Yes, I cut my hair. I have a thyroid issue and my hair was thinning and falling out for quite some time. I finally got the courage to cut it off and start from scratch.

• Has your hair grown to the length it is now, before? Or is this the first time you have gotten to this length?

I actually reached just grazing waist length back in 2016. After my mom passed that same year, my health spiraled due to the thyroid, stress and grief. My hair loss was gradual, thus I didn't notice it for a few years.

• Do you use any butter or oils?

I use the oil mentioned above and I use the Melanin brand twisting butter on occasion. The Melanin leaves an uncomfortable coating on my hair, but it keeps it moisturized for the entire time it is braided when I cornrow my hair.

• Do you use heat to style your hair in your wash and go?

No, I allow my hair to airdry.

• What did you do with your hair at night?

Satin scarf or bonnet. It was too short to pineapple.

• How often do you straighten your hair
• Do you straighten it yourself?
• When you straighten, is it a blow dry and flat iron, pressing comb, stretching?

I straighten my hair on a quarterly basis for the purpose of getting a trim. I blow dry and either flat iron or use an electric pressing comb just to get it straight enough for the trim. I haven't had a hard press in years.

• How often did you trim your hair?

This past year, I have been having my daughter trim my hair on a quarterly basis. To me I have experienced phenomenal growth this past year and minimal shedding.

Thank you in advance!!!

You are very welcome. Please feel free to ask questions at your leisure.

 

[newgrowth15]

@Chicoro, I want to thank you for your astute observations with regard to hair care practices. Something I've noticed since I cut my hair was the change in porosity. Before the cut, my hair was extremely dry almost straw like. But now that I am paying attention to my hair (at your behest), I've noticed that my hair is more medium porosity. I don't think I would have paid attention to this change if it weren't for you encouraging us to keep close tabs on changes in our hair. Thank you for your tenacity.

 

[Chicoro]

@newgrowth15 ,

Firstly, I would like to extend my condolences to you regarding the loss of your precious, precious mommy. The pain of Grief never completely leaves us no matter when that hurt may have occurred and no matter how long ago that hurt may have occurred. Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro, I want to thank you for your astute observations with regard to hair care practices. Something I've noticed since I cut my hair was the change in porosity. Before the cut, my hair was extremely dry almost straw like. But now that I am paying attention to my hair (at your behest), I've noticed that my hair is more medium porosity. I don't think I would have paid attention to this change if it weren't for you encouraging us to keep close tabs on changes in our hair. Thank you for your tenacity.

Congratulations for analyzing your process and identifying an action and taking that action to shift your hair results to a positive outcome! It's the little things that can make a tremendous difference and it can be SO HARD seeing and identifying those little things and knowing when and how to make the changes to those little things!

You're welcome! I am glad the information in this thread has proven helpful to you. The ladies that helped me to pay attention to what I was doing to my hair were and are:

@Lylddlebit
@snoop
@MzSwift
@GettingKinky
@caribeandiva
@GGsKin
@Nay
@keranikki

These are the ones off the top of my head. I am sure I have missed some others, so forgive me for any oversight everyone as it is not intentional. I mention them because if a post comes up from them, there is very likely to be an incredible gem or two within their posted information.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro, I want to thank you for your astute observations with regard to hair care practices. Something I've noticed since I cut my hair was the change in porosity. Before the cut, my hair was extremely dry almost straw like. But now that I am paying attention to my hair (at your behest), I've noticed that my hair is more medium porosity. I don't think I would have paid attention to this change if it weren't for you encouraging us to keep close tabs on changes in our hair. Thank you for your tenacity.

"Tenacity!"

What a sweet word to use. When I was little I read this book entitled, "Who's a Pest?" My mom enrolled me in a book club. Once, the nursery school bus driver arrived at my house early and no one was there. He left me on the porch. I think I was around five (5) years old. I stayed there. Just like now, I have never been alone. My obvious companion turned out to surprisingly be a new book , strewn haphazardly, across the front porch.

'Lo and behold what was on the porch, waiting? A package, this book. I opened it up and read the title. Up until that time, I had never seen that word, 'pest', before and had no earthly idea what it could possibly mean. By the end of the book I had a pretty good idea. Then, mommy arrived. I'll never forget that day.

For too long, I accepted the lie that I was what people deemed a pest, it's just that they didn't use this word. Now, I embrace this aspect of myself because an outcropping of what I have is tenacity. I love that word tenacity. I also love the word pest.

I am a Hair Pest, we not talking 'bout a lice bug, but a persistent purveyor of pushing the ideas of accepting and curating the love, beauty and health of afro-textured hair through analysis and knowledge! Thank you for triggering that lovely memory for me and helping me to go around the Full Circle and connect my past to my present and my now. Wow!







Me, Chicoro is the Pest! That's who!

 

[Chicoro]

Yes. I sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet.

I use Garnier Sleek and Shine Leave-in and Eco Styler Gel for wash and go's. Otherwise, I use the Garnier as a leave-in and my homemade rosemary, fenugreek and clove oil on my scalp on a weekly basis. I alternate between grapeseed and olive oils as my base. I also spray distilled water on my hair daily for moisture.

Yes, I cut my hair. I have a thyroid issue and my hair was thinning and falling out for quite some time. I finally got the courage to cut it off and start from scratch.

I actually reached just grazing waist length back in 2016. After my mom passed that same year, my health spiraled due to the thyroid, stress and grief. My hair loss was gradual, thus I didn't notice it for a few years.

I use the oil mentioned above and I use the Melanin brand twisting butter on occasion. The Melanin leaves an uncomfortable coating on my hair, but it keeps it moisturized for the entire time it is braided when I cornrow my hair.

No, I allow my hair to airdry.

Satin scarf or bonnet. It was too short to pineapple.

I straighten my hair on a quarterly basis for the purpose of getting a trim. I blow dry and either flat iron or use an electric pressing comb just to get it straight enough for the trim. I haven't had a hard press in years.

This past year, I have been having my daughter trim my hair on a quarterly basis. To me I have experienced phenomenal growth this past year and minimal shedding.

You are very welcome. Please feel free to ask questions at your leisure.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to another round of a multitude of questions, again!



Three (3) things jump out at me regarding your process and your PHENOMENAL length gains in such a short period of time:
When I saw your length gains my Spidey Senses started tingling. They tingle when I think I have spotted a "Shea Head" which is an endearing term I use for someone I think uses Shea butter because their hair is unusually healthy, thick, long or all the above, in comparison to how their hair started out.

 

[Chicoro]

@newgrowth15


Those three (3) things that stood out to me were:

1. Your use of your Rosemary/Fenugreek/Clove Oil Mix
   1. What is your recipe please, if you don't mind sharing?​
   2. Are you using fresh herbs?​
   3. Dried herbs?​
   4. Powders?​
   5. How much of each ingredient do you use?​
   6. What kind of oil do you put this in?​
   7. Do you heat your concoction?​
   8. Do you grind it?​
   9. Do you let it sit for a specific length of time before you use it?​
   10. How do you use the rosemary/fenugreek/clove oil mix?​
   11. Do you put it in at night?​
   12. On clean hair?​
   13. On dirty hair?​
   14. Do you oil your scalp?​
   15. Do you put it RIGHT before wash day?​
   16. Do you put it on RIGHT after wash day?​
   17. Or do you massage it in?​
   18. If you massage it in, for how long?​
2. You're doing quarterly trims.
   1. How much do you trim each quarter? Splits only, 1/4 inch all around, only uneven hair? What is her methodology and process please?​
   2. Do you trim only the ends of the hair?​
   3. Do you trim up the hair strand to remove splits everywhere?​
   4. Does your daughter do search and destroy?​
   5. What kind of scissors or implement does your daughter use to trim your hair?​
3. Your use of Melanin Brand Twisting Butter
   1. Shea butter! The second ingredient and thus, major component of this product is SHEA BUTTER! I knew it!​
   2. Shea butter is Magical for imparting an other-worldly, incredibly beautiful and or astounding result, to afro-textured hair. YOU and your hair have been Shea buttered! This is in no way to imply that one is discounting your overall processes. I believe everything you are doing has contributed to your success as it relates to your hair growth. Yet, the more I learn, I see that Shea Butter, as long as it is not over-processed, contributes to some incredible health a length gains as it pertains to afro textured hair.​

These are my observations and they're just opinions. I could be totally off base. You KNOW about your hair better than I or anyone else will. So, it's okay if you don't agree or think something different.

I look forward to receiving and seeing your response to my Pesty Questions!

 

[Chicoro]

So, I am starting to see a pattern with you Luscious Ends Ladies!

 

[Chicoro]

The first thing that jumps out is my old stand by, that's my girl, Queen Shea!

 

[Chicoro]

The next thing that jumps out is conscious, careful trims every three to four months!

 

[Chicoro]

The third thing I see is the employment of oils infused with herbs, such as rosemary, fenugreek and cloves.

@newgrowth15 ,
I am excitedly awaiting your recipe for this infused oil! I want to try it for me hair, too!

 

[Chicoro]

So, I'm shifting my processes again.

Change/Shift #1:
I am going to continue with straightening and trimming and Aphogee 2 Step, but instead of every eight (8) weeks, I'm going for every 12 to 16 Weeks or every 3 to 4 months.

Change/Shift #2:
Next, I am going to start oiling my scalp. I too am going to infuse some oil. I use oil only as a pre-treatment. I am going to shift to an infused oil as part of my daily maintenance of my scalp and hair.

Change/Shift #3:
Ensure I put Shea butter in my Deep Conditioner EVERY wash. Continue to use it as a weekly grooming product to coat my ends after washing and conditioning my hair.

 

[Chicoro]

I used to be a Shea butter hater. I've seen the error of my ways and have been on board and started using Shea Butter with relish and lavishly since 2016.

I used to and still am a hair trimming hater. But after seeing @keranikki and @newgrowth15 having such phenomenal success with their hair health and incredible length retention, I am having to recalculate.

So, July is the date for the June/July is my new trim date. I keep changing. But, I'm going to find my way!!!!

 

[Chicoro]

On a weekly basis I put in a DIY protein concoction that I mix up myself. My hair is not funky, but this protein concoction smells odd. So, I got this 5.00 dollar perfume that smells like candy. They just started carrying it at my favorite grocery store in town.

I use this to perfume my hair. I do not spray it on my hair. I spray it on the nylon knee-hi s which I use to wrap over my baggie. Of course, the baggie is over my hair. So, the spray and the alcohol within it do not necessarily touch my hair.

 

[newgrowth15]

@Chicoro, the base for my herbal infused oil is either olive oil or grapeseed oil. I usually make 1 to 2 cups at a time. (I share this oil with my granddaughter.) 1 cup lasts a long time, because I only use a few drops at a time.

1 Tbs. fresh or dried rosemary leaves (I try to use fresh as much as possible, but sometimes my rosemary plant doesn't have enough leaves to yield what I need)

1tsp. whole cloves

1Tbs. fenugreek seeds (fenugreek seeds do not soften in oil, so I put them in 1/2 bottle of water and let them soak overnight. The next day, I drink the fenugreek water [so many benefits internally] and recap the bottle with the softened seeds. I let the seeds sprout in the bottle for 2-3 days, then I dry them on a paper towel before adding them to the oil. [I don't want rancid oil.])

I add all of the ingredients to a Mason jar and set it in a pot of water to simmer for about 30 minutes. This infuses all of the herbal goodness directly into the oil. If I don't need the oil immediately, I will let the oil sit for a few days before straining it through a knee-high stocking. I pour the oil into a nozzle bottle and apply it to my scalp 3-4 times per week. I also add a little oil to my strands and to my ends. I am aware that there is a no oils and butters bandwagon, but I'm not one to jump on those too quickly. I know what my hair needs and likes, so I feed it.

 

[snoop]

View attachment 494915

On a weekly basis I put in a DIY protein concoction that I mix up myself. My hair is not funky, but this protein concoction smells odd. So, I got this 5.00 dollar perfume that smells like candy. They just started carrying it at my favorite grocery store in town.

I use this to perfume my hair. I do not spray it on my hair. I spray it on the nylon knee-hi s which I use to wrap over my baggie. Of course, the baggie is over my hair. So, the spray and the alcohol within it do not necessarily touch my hair.

I think I mentioned this before, but you should consider looking for a (cosmetic) fragrance oil..as in an oil made for use in cosmetic products. It might be better for your hair overall.

The place where you were buying your clays may also sell some.

 

[newgrowth15]

@Chicoro, as far as hair trimming goes, I, too, was a hater. However, I have found over this past year that trimming on a quarterly basis has prevented unnecessary damage by halting splits and knots. It is usually 1/4 inch or less that comes off and it leaves my hair feeling healthy.

Edit: My daughter uses clippers to give my ends an even trim. She uses hair trimming scissors to trim any mid-shaft splits or knots.

 

[snoop]

@Chicoro, the base for my herbal infused oil is either olive oil or grapeseed oil. I usually make 1 to 2 cups at a time. (I share this oil with my granddaughter.) 1 cup lasts a long time, because I only use a few drops at a time.

1 Tbs. fresh or dried rosemary leaves (I try to use fresh as much as possible, but sometimes my rosemary plant doesn't have enough leaves to yield what I need)

1tsp. whole cloves

1Tbs. fenugreek seeds (fenugreek seeds do not soften in oil, so I put them in 1/2 bottle of water and let them soak overnight. The next day, I drink the fenugreek water [so many benefits internally] and recap the bottle with the softened seeds. I let the seeds sprout in the bottle for 2-3 days, then I dry them on a paper towel before adding them to the oil. [I don't want rancid oil.])

I add all of the ingredients to a Mason jar and set it in a pot of water to simmer for about 30 minutes. This infuses all of the herbal goodness directly into the oil. If I don't need the oil immediately, I will let the oil sit for a few days before straining it through a knee-high stocking. I pour the oil into a nozzle bottle and apply it to my scalp 3-4 times per week. I also add a little oil to my strands and to my ends. I am aware that there is a no oils and butters bandwagon, but I'm not one to jump on those too quickly. I know what my hair needs and likes, so I feed it.

I'm all for infusing your own oils and I've never really understood the no oil/butters beyond it helping someone achieve the perfect wash n go. I haven't read their book, but I suspect that there is a lot of glossing over information about oils so that what they are saying is true, but a super dumbed down version of why oils shouldn't be used.

I was supposed to infuse some oils weeks ago because I want to get back into using oils on my hair. I finished my last bit of oil a couple of weeks ago. It was the last jar of a few that I'd set to infuse at the beginning of the pandemic.

I've been using tallow for the past few years, but I find that it is easier to use on some days and not on others. I've unfortunately, not been keeping notes, but I suspect that it has something to do with relative humidity and temperature, particularly in my house. The oils will give me options on "lazy" days where I don't want to use tallow or in addition to the tallow -- I'll layer a liquid oil + tallow.

I'd never thought of sprouting the fenugreek seeds before infusing. That sounds interesting. I've only infused the seeds and the leaves.

 

[newgrowth15]

I'm all for infusing your own oils and I've never really understood the no oil/butters beyond it helping someone achieve the perfect wash n go. I haven't read their book, but I suspect that there is a lot of glossing over information about oils so that what they are saying is true, but a super dumbed down version of why oils shouldn't be used.

I was supposed to infuse some oils weeks ago because I want to get back into using oils on my hair. I finished my last bit of oil a couple of weeks ago. It was the last jar of a few that I'd set to infuse at the beginning of the pandemic.

I've been using tallow for the past few years, but I find that it is easier to use on some days and not on others. I've unfortunately, not been keeping notes, but I suspect that it has something to do with relative humidity and temperature, particularly in my house. The oils will give me options on "lazy" days where I don't want to use tallow or in addition to the tallow -- I'll layer a liquid oil + tallow.

I'd never thought of sprouting the fenugreek seeds before infusing. That sounds interesting. I've only infused the seeds and the leaves.

@snoop, most of the benefits of fenugreek are in the sprouted seeds. If I recall correctly, about 70% of the benefits can only be attained in the sprouted seeds.

Does tallow act like grease? Is it made from beef fat?

 

[Lylddlebit]

Here is my one year big chop anniversary collage. This year I plan to keep my hair in cornrows and I am considering crochet braids, too. My hair does not like commercial protein treatments, so I will be going back to homemade remedies.
View attachment 494845

That is FANTASTIC. 1-year progress!

 

[Lylddlebit]

I'm still here.

I did nothing with my hair for two weeks as the flu went from one baby to the next before I finally got it a couple of days ago. I didn't get around to moisturizing my hair so it was much drier than I thought it was. I noticed a couple of broken ends when I finally had a chance to wash it yesterday. I plan on trimming my ends next week (quarterly trim -- so more hair this time).

May you and your babies get well soon!