I need advice. How do you keep ends Moisturized?

I am 11 months post BC and thought my hair was faring well. Since I started a protective style challenge, my hair is growing well. Unfortunately, my ends now look raggedy and thin. I moisturize and seal them and they still look awful. I need tips on ends care. Please help!

If the ends are split or tore up,a good trimming is all I can suggest. Sounds like you are doing everything else correct.

@DDTexlaxed

2 words....Heavy Sealing!

After you moisturize and seal add an additional (heavy) sealant to only your ends. I prefer a butter, but you can also use grease, vaseline, castor oil, or a pomade.

My ends are the same. I put in a heavy oil on my ends. Like a hot oil without the heat. Then I also put a bit of conditioner. Either lavender or mint.

In Jan., I had horrible ends and I knew I due for a trim. Each day I alternated between putting coconut oil and JBCO on my ends 2x a day. It worked wonders for my hair. I went to a new stylist and she kept complimenting me on how healthy and thick my ends were. I still do it everyday.

I trim on a schedule & as needed in between because split ends don't rectify themselves, they continue to split up the shaft until cut off; I learned this the hard way. I thought cutting less often would help me retain more length & by the time I'd realized how much damage I'd done it was a wrap.

I use the LCO method to moisturize. I sleep with a stain scarf and bonnet. I rarely ever sleep with loose hair; bunning or plaiting at bedtime allows the product I apply time to be absorbed as my hair dries.

I deep condition/pre-poo everytime I wash with shampoo without exception. I use sulfate shampoo & a non-sulfate clarifying shampoo; both require that I dc/pre-poo to keep my hair balanced.

I utilize hardcore protein treatments as needed & light protein in between. I have fine hair that accepts moisture more readily when it has the right amount of protein.

I detangle with light oil using my fingers first, then I follow up with a comb & a small amount of conditioner to complete the process.

I blow dry my hair on a low/medium setting after washing. I don't know why this helps as opposed to hurts honestly, but blow drying keeps my hair stretched, detangled, allows moisture to be held better, helps prevent tangles & ssks. My air dried hair is a rough, tangled mess no mater how I set it to stretch it.

If I think of anything else I'll come back & add, but all of the above has helped me to keep my hair/ends constantly moisturized && beat a series of setbacks. Also, what are you using to seal? Some oils/products are popular for others, but do not work well with my hair (olive oil/coconut oil/Shea butter). Maybe you need to trim & switch up products a bit.

Any conditioner, leave in or oil i use is applied to my ends first so they get the most product

I seal my wet ends with a lot of butter, enough to make it sticky and stiff. It goes away once it dries

I used to use komaza scalp conditioner on my ends, it's a nice blend of butters and oils. Anything by hairitage hydrations is good too.

I just made my own butter by melting crisco, mixing oils in, and putting it in the fridge to solidify. I used castor, sunflower, and olive. Im really happy with it so far

I am going to start heavy sealing. I am not going to be able to do a hard core Qhemet products only challenge. My hair is suffering from it. I redid my twists with S curl and My Bonner Bros Olive oil grease. My hair looked and felt better. I love Qhemet products, but my hair likes the not so natural products.

The only things that have worked for me are:

- Weekly DCs with an effective DC
- The LCO method after DCing
- Mid-week refreshing with water and a creamy leave-in
- Tucking them away
- Leaving them alone (IMO, daily M&S can be excessive)

I second heavy sealing. I love Hairveda Green Tea Butter. My hair/ends are so soft from it.

Spray some liquid leave in, add a moisturizing lotiony water based conditioner, seal with an oil, then add a butter, pomade, jbco, whatever to ends only. Braid or twist your hair and tuck them away. I heavy seal every 2 or 3 days in between my weekly wash day and my hair and ends feel awesome.

Also make sure you are getting enough moisture and protein. Is your hair fine?

Sent from my Snow White Frost Galaxy S4

What everyone else previously stated, Heavy Sealing your ends. Have you considered using the LCO version of the LOC method, then following up with another layer of cream or pomade on the ends?

Have you tried the LCO method? It's the best.

How often are you using heat? Too often/too high temps will definitely lead to dry, damaged ends.

I agree with everyone above about heavy sealing.

Good luck!

I used to have this same problem, then I realised that I was using a protein DC (AOGPB) along with a moisture & protein leave-in (GIovanni direct leave-in)
when i changed to a moisturising DC (AOWC) and moisturising leave-in (Giovanni smooth as silk) with next to no protein my dry ends went away.
Is it possible that you may be using too much protein too?

Stupid question alert:

How does LCO differ from what has always been advocated - wet/damp hair, creamy leave-in, and seal? It doesn't seem any different or is it just that we have found an acronym for it?

OP: it might help if people have your hair properties or the advice is going to be all over the place and confusing.

I don't heavy seal, but I layer my products: oil on wet hair, conditioner, oil mainly on ends and edges, and lastly creamy moisturizer. I cowash 2x during the week and wash 1x a week and don't touch my hair in between those sessions.

Be sure you know what porosity your hair is as well. This will let you know how often you need to re moisturize and seal.

I don't use heat or protein. Maybe that's the problem. I will be seeing a stylist tomorrow. One way or another, a change will be coming.

This is a good thread. It serves as a reminder that retention is the key to longer hair.

DDTexlaxed said:

I don't use heat or protein. Maybe that's the problem. I will be seeing a stylist tomorrow. One way or another, a change will be coming.

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Sorry about that! I remembered seeing you in another thread about using heat and I was confused:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?p=18809421#post18809421

DDTexlaxed said:

Heat is my friend. I had a horrible hair day and using heat on the lowest setting on my electric pressing comb saved me from straying from the protective styles challenge. I did add some heavy-duty heat protection,but my worries melted when my hair reverted. I know that heat will be a staple when my hair is longer.

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