Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013/2014

[lamaria211]

faithVA nadege from RelaxedHairHealth has suggested add a lil extra protein containing products to your ends alone. Like if you DC add a lil protein condish just to your ends then cover with a moisturizing one. Or find a moisturizer that contains some protein and use that on just your ends. They are the oldest parts of your hair a therefore have the least amount of protein. Hth

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

faithVA nadege from RelaxedHairHealth has suggested add a lil extra protein containing products to your ends alone. Like if you DC add a lil protein condish just to your ends then cover with a moisturizing one. Or find a moisturizer that contains some protein and use that on just your ends. They are the oldest parts of your hair a therefore have the least amount of protein. Hth

I have actually been doing this more often. I have also been doing more protein in general. I think this is part of the reason my hair is getting better. I will keep working on it though.

 

[Babygrowth]

I thought I could get away with not dusting every 6-8 weeks but I discovered my hair responds better to this schedule. So every 8 weeks I am back to dusting. I need to take of 1/4-1/2 inch all over and I will do that over the next few weeks with my lunar schedule. Next dust will be Dec. 4th for length. I did dust on Nov. 30th for length but didn't take enough off. No split ends just a little tangly and crunchy.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

I did a while back but I will definitely revisit. Are you doing this on wash day? Do you wet your ends first? Do you apply your leave-in first then the castor oil? Ok, I'm really asking for more specifics on how you apply tia

I used curlformers yesterday and my hair came out really nice. So if I can just get my ends under control I think I have something I can work with in 2014.

As bad as my ends are now they are so much better than they were last year. I am making strides. I am expecting better retention in 2014

faithVA - I used to wet my ends, then I put conditioner or moisturizer on first. Now I'm lazy so I just put the castor oil on my dry ends. Either way works fine for me, so I cut out the extra steps.

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

faithVA - I used to wet my ends, then I put conditioner or moisturizer on first. Now I'm lazy so I just put the castor oil on my dry ends. Either way works fine for me, so I cut out the extra steps.

Thank You. I will definitely try this. I didn't have straight castor oil but I had a castor oil blend. I spritzed my ends and then put that on last night.

 

[Ogoma]

I need to join this challenge for 2014. I cut off more of my hair than I wanted to and I need to get diligent about retaining every cm. I hate greasy hair, but I am going to have to get over it. Neither I or anyone else should be playing in my hair anyway.

I will be looking out for the 2014 challenge.

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

I need to join this challenge for 2014. I cut off more of my hair than I wanted to and I need to get diligent about retaining every cm. I hate greasy hair, but I am going to have to get over it. Neither I or anyone else should be playing in my hair anyway.

I will be looking out for the 2014 challenge.

Thanks for the reminder Ogoma. I hadn't thought about creating a new challenge for 2014. I'm not sure it even needs to be a challenge, more of a support group. It is usually very quiet in here.

 

[Babygrowth]

Maybe we could just keep this one going faithVA

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

Maybe we could just keep this one going faithVA

That's a good idea. Maybe I can just get the mods to change the name.

 

[Mskraizy]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

kxlot79 your kinky twists are cute! Before I read your update, I almost thought those were twists on your own hair.
I haven't been in here seems like since I joined it.

I've been protective styling a lot too with yarn braids and twists on my own hair. My ends really haven't had the opportunity to be physically damaged, so any frayed ends are probably due from daily wear and tear like detangling and weather elements and all that jazz. But I haven't had problems with my ends though. I keep them moisturized and sealed really good on a wash day, and possibly one to two days out of the week before my next wash day.....which reminds me...... (runs to arsenal of hair supplies and products secret agent style lol)

Nothing big, scissors really haven't touched my hair since the last time I trimmed which was like the second week in June I think? I've been trying to keep from cutting because the last time I "trimmed" was more for cosmetic reasons than it was for health. I just like freshly trimmed hair.

So my ends have been good for the past 5 months and some days. I may trim when I do a blowdry though. Well, maybe not trim cause it's not horribly neccessary. Maybe "dust" is the term I'm looking for.

 

[kxlot79]

Why thank you!
I love me some extension twists. But like I said before, I don't feel like all my treatments and such are as effective with them. I admit they do hold up much better and longer than when I do twists on my own hair. Do you feel like your DCs are as effective on your extensions as on your own hair?

Last fall, I self-installed butt length, layered yarn braids. They were super cute and I was crazy about them. They took 23 hours to install but I kept them in for four months. If it wasn't for the matting at my roots, it would've been worth their overstay. I did have good retention though. I will hunt down some pics and attach later.

kxlot79 your kinky twists are cute! Before I read your update, I almost thought those were twists on your own hair.

Sent using LHCF app

 

[kxlot79]

Double post because I don't know how to attach pics to an edited post via the app.
Also, these yarn braids were a great protective style. I've been too scared to let anyone else do my extensions, so I am highly unlikely to ever go so small and long again. I had good retention with this style and my ends were virtually in the preserved condition pre-installation.

Sent using LHCF app

 

[Mskraizy]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

Why thank you!
I love me some extension twists. But like I said before, I don't feel like all my treatments and such are as effective with them. I admit they do hold up much better and longer than when I do twists on my own hair. Do you feel like your DCs are as effective on your extensions as on your own hair?

Last fall, I self-installed butt length, layered yarn braids. They were super cute and I was crazy about them. They took 23 hours to install but I kept them in for four months. If it wasn't for the matting at my roots, it would've been worth their overstay. I did have good retention though. I will hunt down some pics and attach later.



Sent using LHCF app

Well, I don't really DC in extension styles....


I have a few times and when I did I just diluted the conditioner with water and sprayed it in my hair, I like overly soaked it. Then I poured some more in my hands and got my edge and nape areas as well as I could. I'm pretty heavy handed so I felt the conditioner got a pretty good way through.


I'd rather DC on loose hair personally. Not even for health reasons or anything, it's just something about me feeling the conditioner soaking through my curls that relaxes me........ I feel really weird for saying that.


And your pics look really nice! I love that side braid style!

 

[kxlot79]

I honestly feel like I'm wasting conditioner when my hair is in extensions. And I hate that.
Also, no matter how much I put on, there's no way for me to be sure if it was too much or not enough until I take my hair down and see what guessing has gotten me.

And don't feel crazy about DCing loose hair. I think you forgot where you're posting... ITA, especially since how much product I need is a case by case kind of thing. My hair is whimsical like that.

And thanks! My fishtail braids seemed to garner the most attention while I had my yarn braids. I think maybe cause of the multitonal colors I used.

Well, I don't really DC in extension styles....

I have a few times and when I did I just diluted the conditioner with water and sprayed it in my hair

something about me feeling the conditioner soaking through my curls that relaxes me........ I feel really weird for saying that.


And your pics look really nice! I love that side braid style!

Sent using LHCF app

 

[virtuenow]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

Double post because I don't know how to attach pics to an edited post via the app.
Also, these yarn braids were a great protective style. I've been too scared to let anyone else do my extensions, so I am highly unlikely to ever go so small and long again. I had good retention with this style and my ends were virtually in the preserved condition pre-installation.

Sent using LHCF app

kxlot79 What color did you use? Looks nice-- like honey brown/blond.

 

[kxlot79]

I actually used 4 different colors/bundles of yarn and manually created the hi-light/low-light effect: black, dark brown, and tan of acrylic Red Heart yarn because I didn't like the effect that the premade tones would've given me. There were two browns: one more golden and the other more chocolaty. The tan yarn was concentrated on the front half of my head.

kxlot79 What color did you use? Looks nice-- like honey brown/blond.

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[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

Allandra, pebbles, Will you change the name of this thread to "Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013/2014" tia

 

[JosieLynn]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

so i usually lurk in here but i wanted to ask a question about ssk's. Has anyone figured out how to keep them to a minimum? or is the only solution to keep getting trims? Because i just went to the salon today for my first press in over 3 years and the stylist cut off more than I anticipated and I know my only issue is with ssk's. I'm not too happy with the length lost but I'm going to try and use this as an opportunity to try and avoid ssk's completely. is that possible?

 

[kxlot79]

As far as I know, the only way of avoiding SSKs *completely* is to keep hair stretched 100% of the time. That is impractical for many naturals, so keeping hair stretched for as long as possible, oiling ends a bit more frequently and generously, and periodic S&D would be my recommendations for reducing SSKS.

I'm going to try and use this as an opportunity to try and avoid ssk's completely. is that possible?

Sent using LHCF app

 

[lamaria211]

I might trim a lil before hiding my hair for a month or so

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

faithVA

Done . . .

Thank you Allandra

 

[faithVA]

Re: Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2013

so i usually lurk in here but i wanted to ask a question about ssk's. Has anyone figured out how to keep them to a minimum? or is the only solution to keep getting trims? Because i just went to the salon today for my first press in over 3 years and the stylist cut off more than I anticipated and I know my only issue is with ssk's. I'm not too happy with the length lost but I'm going to try and use this as an opportunity to try and avoid ssk's completely. is that possible?

I am of no help to you. My ends are always a mess.

 

[faithVA]

I think I know what I did with my ends. They were never great but they were getting better. When I had my analysis in the spring she told me I had an issue with the back. I think i caused damage trying to do a puff when my hair was still to short. That is where I think most of the damage in the back started.

To add to that I think the Mudwash I have been using, while great for my scalp is too alkaline for my hair and has dried out my ends. So no more mudwash on my hair. It is all gone now away. And I will make my own mud in the future and ph balance it.

So take those bad ends and drying out ends and my combing through splits ends has given me a head full of split ends. Trimming or dusting will not solve the problem because the splits are everywhere. I would probably have to cut back to 2" to get them all. That ain't happening So I will just have to take my time and dust on a regular schedule and do a search and destroy in the meantime.

Starting today, I will be doing frequent search and destroys, finger combing and sealing my ends with castor oil. I will moisturize and seal daily or every other day. I hope to cowash weekly to help alleviate some of the dryness. For now I will be wearing my hair out and twisting at night so I can properly moisturize.

My ends look fabulous when wet but horrible when dry. I will continue to stay optimistic though. I sure feel like a slow student.

 

[faithVA]

I didn't want to trim/dust but I did a curlformer set and I could see they had to go. Not only did they look scraggly, they felt really hard. The rest of my hair is very soft. Hopefully, I trimmed enough to stop the damage. It was probably 1/4" to 1/2" in most spots. In some spots in the back, I had to take 1".

I know my hair is very uneven now. I want to get it evened up when i reach NL.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

I didn't want to trim/dust but I did a curlformer set and I could see they had to go. Not only did they look scraggly, they felt really hard. The rest of my hair is very soft. Hopefully, I trimmed enough to stop the damage. It was probably 1/4" to 1/2" in most spots. In some spots in the back, I had to take 1".

I know my hair is very uneven now. I want to get it evened up when i reach NL.

faithVA - Have you considered a long term PS to help with your retention? Like cornrows or braids for an extended period (with or without extensions), or even locs. Not sure what your ultimate hair goal is, but your hair seems so fragile. I loved my locs when I had them, and retention is pretty much guaranteed.

 

[faithVA]

FoxxyLocs[/USER];19348983]faithVA - Have you considered a long term PS to help with your retention? Like cornrows or braids for an extended period (with or without extensions), or even locs. Not sure what your ultimate hair goal is, but your hair seems so fragile. I loved my locs when I had them, and retention is pretty much guaranteed.

My hair does seem fragile doesn't it. I have considered it and I plan to install some extensions early next year. I just need a long weekend to do it. I wore extensions when I first came to the board. I don't know if I retained any more than usual because I wasn't paying attention. When I took the extensions out though I realized I didn't know what to use on my hair which is why I haven't worn them in a while.

Even though I am struggling, I really do think most of this is just about learning my hair. And putting it up for too long wouldn't help me do that. I am hoping to not need this thread too much longer.

I am trying the castor oil like you suggested.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

Cool let me know how you like it.

 

[sisters248]

faithVA
1. Are you relaxed, texlaxed, natural, transitioning, etc Relaxed
2. Current Hair Length Bottom half of my hair is armpit. Top half is collar bone.
3. Any issue(s) you are having with your ends My ends get so dry and I couldn't figure out why until I started trying different types of protective hair style.
4. What you have tried to improve your ends I tried putting my hair in buns, but my ends were still dry. I tried moisturizing and sealing every night, sometimes every other night.
5. What you are going to try to get those healthy ends Just recently, I have started braiding my hair and now they are retaining moisture. I am so excited. I finally got a hair steamer so I will be incorporating that into my hair reggie. I also plan on sticking to my reggie so that I can be full armpit length. My main goal is to have thicker ends!

 

[faithVA]

Welcome sisters248

 

[faithVA]

I am going to moisturize daily and see if that helps. i tried this at the beginning of the year but had to stop. Tonight I put AVG/Castor oil mix on my ends, moisturized with Duafe tea and then used AO Gel.

Hopefully over the next month or two I can figure out how to properly moisturize and seal my hair and with what.