Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2023

[Chicoro]

Another testament showing luscious ends using wash n go's!
@GettingKinky
@ckisland

LHCF - Feature of the Month

The Ultimate Hair Care & Beauty Resource for Women of Color

fotm.longhaircareforums.com

Feature of the month Dee Raven wears wash and go's. She had tailbone length hair and her ends look nice:

 

[Lylddlebit]

I don’t use a leave in. The botanical gel has humectants in it and helps keep your hair moisturized.
For the kinky curly system the first product (kinky curly knot today) is a leave in conditioner.

I like using both of these, I prefer the UFD/Jello shot but UFD has a learning curve. It takes awhile to get the right ratio of water to UFD.

I think the term gel is throwing folks off. When I was checking out the page last night I noticed a trend of jelly textured products that I have used as my moisturizing leave in's for years. For example, I have always used Uncle Funky's Daughter Curl Magic a moisturizer/leave-in regardless to the jelly texture and styling product label. It has the qualities of a quality leave-in moisturizer and detangler on my hair.

While reviewing yesterday it seemed that even those who used firmer gels, to leave a cast on their hair and lock it into place uses a moisturizing jelly type product as their base layer so that hair would soften as the style wore on rather than staying frozen into place like when using extra hold ampro or eco styler. So that makes sense to me but correct me if I am wrong.

 

[caribeandiva]

I don’t use a leave in. The botanical gel has humectants in it and helps keep your hair moisturized.
For the kinky curly system the first product (kinky curly knot today) is a leave in conditioner.

I like using both of these, I prefer the UFD/Jello shot but UFD has a learning curve. It takes awhile to get the right ratio of water to UFD.

Awesome! Thank you!!

 

[GettingKinky]

I think the term gel is throwing folks off. When I was checking out the page last night I noticed a trend of jelly textured products that I have used as my moisturizing leave in's for years. For example, I have always used Uncle Funky's Daughter Curl Magic a moisturizer/leave-in regardless to the jelly texture and styling product label. It has the qualities of a quality leave-in moisturizer and detangler on my hair.

While reviewing yesterday it seemed that even those who used firmer gels, to leave a cast on their hair and lock it into place uses a moisturizing jelly type product as their base layer so that hair would soften as the style wore on rather than staying frozen into place like when using extra hold ampro or eco styler. So that makes sense to me but correct me if I am wrong.

I guess I’ve always thought of curly magic as a gel because of the texture and the hold, but it’s a light hold gel. If I only use that my wash n go will last for only a few days. But it does also function to keep the hair hydrated and it provides a barrier between your hair and the less desirable “plastic” ingredients in the stronger hold gels. So in a way it functions very similarly to a leave in.

 

[Chicoro]

So, there is a definite process regarding gel type selection, and order of use of said gels as it relates to successful wash n go’s!

 

[ckisland]

Another testament showing luscious ends using wash n go's!
@GettingKinky
@ckisland

LHCF - Feature of the Month

The Ultimate Hair Care & Beauty Resource for Women of Color

fotm.longhaircareforums.com

Feature of the month Dee Raven wears wash and go's. She had tailbone length hair and her ends look nice:

View attachment 485973

Thank you for sharing her feature!! Definitely gives me hope that I'm on the right track!

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you for sharing her feature!! Definitely gives me hope that I'm on the right track!

You are welcome!

 

[GettingKinky]

Another testament showing luscious ends using wash n go's!
@GettingKinky
@ckisland

LHCF - Feature of the Month

The Ultimate Hair Care & Beauty Resource for Women of Color

fotm.longhaircareforums.com

Feature of the month Dee Raven wears wash and go's. She had tailbone length hair and her ends look nice:

View attachment 485973

Her process sounds almost exactly the same as what @iamblackgirlcurls promotes. I wonder if she follows them. She has beautiful and long hair.

 

[keranikki]

I recently learned that from my roots to about 3/4 way down the shaft, my hair is low porosity, while the rest is high porosity. I need to figure what is altering the porosity of my hair as it’s growing out.

This past week, I did a little experiment, where I only used a creamy moisturizer and Shea butter to M&S. It wasn’t an epic fail, but it did remind me that I need a liquid first. I thought I could do without it based on my product selection.

So, I decided to put on my DIY hat and make something. This evening, I’m in the process of making a nourishing hairspray. I used the following: a sachet full of cloves and mint, sachet full of marshmallow root, two bamboo teabags, and two cups of water.

I also made my first Shea butter concoction of the year using the following: Shea butter and lanolin. I’m waiting for it to cool down before I whip it with some hair oils I have on hand.

Side note: 3CAYG is legit. I have had this 5lb brick of Shea butter for at least 5 years and it is still good! I cut it up into smaller pieces looking and smelling for rancidness and found nothing.

 

[Chicoro]

I recently learned that from my roots to about 3/4 way down the shaft, my hair is low porosity, while the rest is high porosity. I need to figure what is altering the porosity of my hair as it’s growing out.

This past week, I did a little experiment, where I only used a creamy moisturizer and Shea butter to M&S. It wasn’t an epic fail, but it did remind me that I need a liquid first. I thought I could do without it based on my product selection.

So, I decided to put on my DIY hat and make something. This evening, I’m in the process of making a nourishing hairspray. I used the following: a sachet full of cloves and mint, sachet full of marshmallow root, two bamboo teabags, and two cups of water.

I also made my first Shea butter concoction of the year using the following: Shea butter and lanolin. I’m waiting for it to cool down before I whip it with some hair oils I have on hand.

Side note: 3CAYG is legit. I have had this 5lb brick of Shea butter for at least 5 years and it is still good! I cut it up into smaller pieces looking and smelling for rancidness and found nothing.

First, your observation about the porosity change on your hair is 100% correct! Secondly, bravo for your accurate observation and for you intense analysis!






Here comes my unpopular opinion! (this is not a criticism of you @keranikki ! I am stealing your post to use it as a teaching moment for all of us. )

On this point, regarding high porosity, I am very clear and knowledgable.

There is no such thing as LOW porosity! I am not splitting hairs. In the scientific world of hair, hair is either normal (undamaged) porosity or it is HIGH (damaged) porosity. There is no such thing as LOW porosity. There is no such things as MEDIUM porosity. How we name call something is so important. I make this differentiation because the information in scientific papers on hair, addresses porosity all the time. Hair is either normal porosity or high porosity.
This nomenclature may change in the future. For now, it has not.

So many people in the natural hair community say low and medium porosity. This terms are not used in the scientific literature and I mention them because their use is confusing people in the natural community.

It's a detail, but the scientific papers on hair can be more confusing if this distinction is not made. Lots of us read scientific papers on hair to get a more in-depth understanding and to substantiate and investigate things for ourselves. Thus, it is important to get off on the right foot.


The older the hair becomes, or, the farther away from the root, the hair becomes more and more and more porous. The hair on the end or tip of the hair strand is more damaged, more porous than the hair at the root.

The hair at the end or the hair at the tip of the strand is usually a higher porosity than the new hair at the root. That is because of weathering. Weathering happens over time. Weathering ages the hair.

This weathering is normal and inevitable for all hair.

• Brushing or combing or detangling hair weathers hair.
• Washing and conditioning hair weathers hair.
• The sunshine weathers hair.

Now, what do we do about it? We have to protect and baby our ends. It is impossible to completely stop weathering. Just like we age, our hair also ages! Therefore, over time, the hair will on the ends will become more porous, or be a higher porosity than the hair at the root. Some possibilities:

• As you did, look at your shampoo products. The type of cleansers inside them determine how harsh the shampoo might be. Look for shampoos with less harsh surfactants.
• Lessen the amount of times you use shampoo each month. Wash with less harsh shampoos.
• Replace the oil layer on the hair, as you are doing, by continuing to use and add Shea butter in your hair routine and to your ends.

"Living" is what is altering the porosity of your hair as it is growing out! Exposing the hair to the sun alters porosity. Washing the hair alters the porosity. Styling the hair alters the porosity. Sleeping on the hair alters the porosity. Using heat tools alters the porosity. Over time, the hair porosity, towards the ends is altered.

The actions you have taken are perfect. Using your water and clove concoction and your Shea butter concoction on your hair ends will better help you to preserve your ends with protection and care.

My question to you @keranikki , could you please share and describe exactly which test you did and how you did it to determine that your hair was high porosity on the last 1/4 of the strand?

@keranikki
Thank you so much for bringing your situation and great analysis to this thread!

 

[Chicoro]

Her process sounds almost exactly the same as what @iamblackgirlcurls promotes. I wonder if she follows them. She has beautiful and long hair.

Some musings and thoughts:

There is a beneficial to hair growth way of wearing a wash and go. Both you and @ckisland are employing it. Hence, the tremendous amount of health, growth and retention you are both experiencing.

It looks like to me that a key component of using wash and go's for length retention is to ensure that the hair has three things:

1. Hair is infused with moisture prior to setting hair with gel and heat. Both moisturizing gels and gels with hold are employed.
2. Hair is immobilized with or by the holding gel.
3. Heat is used to dry and set hair in place and retain style.
   • This limits the movement on the hair.​
   • This limit of movement limits friction and rubbing on hair.​
   • This limit of friction cuts down on breakage.​
   • Single strand knots and tangles are kept at bay due to the hair being "held in place" by the gel.​
     • The hair has less opportunity to curl on itself and to knot and tangle.​
     • Shedded hairs are prevented from tangling the hair because their movement is limited too. The hair has less opportunity to tangle around the bulk of the attached hair. The shedded hairs are addressed/dealt with when all the hair is wet during the next styling session.​

 

[Chicoro]

New hair related word for us:

Hydrophobocity - Hydrophobocity is the association of nonpolar [oils and waxes] groups or molecules in an aqueous [watery or liquid] environment which arises from the tendency of water to exclude nonpolar molecules.

Street definition:
A way to measure the natural lipids (grease/oil) still remaining on your hair strands which seals in moisture on the hair. Where grease is the nonpolar (having no positive or negative charge) molecule or compound. And where water is/or makes up the aqueous environment.

Practical Example:
Imagine you have a piece of wax paper. Then, you drop some water on top of it. Water excludes (is repelled by) the wax (nonplor) paper, or it sticks to itself. What happens is water rolls up into a ball or water bead. Water prefers to love on and hold onto itself so it forms a bead. The thicker or greasier or waxier the surface, the tighter the ball of water rolls up. The thicker the grease on the surface, the BIGGER the contact angle of the water bead, to the the surface.

How it is measured: By the contact angle of the water bead to the surface! See illustration below.

• Contact angle greater than 90 degrees - means there is some lipid (or natural grease/oils) still in place.
• Contact angle less than 90 degress- means there is some lipid loss (natural oil is lost).

Why we should care/How it relates to luscious, healthy ends: Porosity!

The more water beads off of your hair, the less porous your hair probably is.
The faster your hair sucks up moisture, the more likely it is porous. The more
porous your hair is, the more it's likely to be damaged. That damage may or
may not need to be cut. But, we always need to baby and protect our ends, be they
porous or not.

 

[keranikki]

First, your observation about the porosity change on your hair is 100% correct! Secondly, bravo for your accurate observation and for you intense analysis!






Here comes my unpopular opinion! (this is not a criticism of you @keranikki ! I am stealing your post to use it as a teaching moment for all of us. )

On this point, regarding high porosity, I am very clear and knowledgable.

There is no such thing as LOW porosity! I am not splitting hairs. In the scientific world of hair, hair is either normal (undamaged) porosity or it is HIGH (damaged) porosity. There is no such thing as LOW porosity. There is no such things as MEDIUM porosity. How we name call something is so important. I make this differentiation because the information in scientific papers on hair, addresses porosity all the time. Hair is either normal porosity or high porosity.
This nomenclature may change in the future. For now, it has not.

So many people in the natural hair community say low and medium porosity. This terms are not used in the scientific literature and I mention them because their use is confusing people in the natural community.

It's a detail, but the scientific papers on hair can be more confusing if this distinction is not made. Lots of us read scientific papers on hair to get a more in-depth understanding and to substantiate and investigate things for ourselves. Thus, it is important to get off on the right foot.


The older the hair becomes, or, the farther away from the root, the hair becomes more and more and more porous. The hair on the end or tip of the hair strand is more damaged, more porous than the hair at the root.

The hair at the end or the hair at the tip of the strand is usually a higher porosity than the new hair at the root. That is because of weathering. Weathering happens over time. Weathering ages the hair.

This weathering is normal and inevitable for all hair.

• Brushing or combing or detangling hair weathers hair.
• Washing and conditioning hair weathers hair.
• The sunshine weathers hair.

Now, what do we do about it? We have to protect and baby our ends. It is impossible to completely stop weathering. Just like we age, our hair also ages! Therefore, over time, the hair will on the ends will become more porous, or be a higher porosity than the hair at the root. Some possibilities:

• As you did, look at your shampoo products. The type of cleansers inside them determine how harsh the shampoo might be. Look for shampoos with less harsh surfactants.
• Lessen the amount of times you use shampoo each month. Wash with less harsh shampoos.
• Replace the oil layer on the hair, as you are doing, by continuing to use and add Shea butter in your hair routine and to your ends.

"Living" is what is altering the porosity of your hair as it is growing out! Exposing the hair to the sun alters porosity. Washing the hair alters the porosity. Styling the hair alters the porosity. Sleeping on the hair alters the porosity. Using heat tools alters the porosity. Over time, the hair porosity, towards the ends is altered.

The actions you have taken are perfect. Using your water and clove concoction and your Shea butter concoction on your hair ends will better help you to preserve your ends with protection and care.

My question to you @keranikki , could you please share and describe exactly which test you did and how you did it to determine that your hair was high porosity on the last 1/4 of the strand?

@keranikki
Thank you so much for bringing your situation and great analysis to this thread!

I didn’t do a test at all. My observation is based off the reaction of my hair during the process of wash day.

I clarify my hair every wash day due to the hard water I have. It also provides a foundation for my moisturizing shampoo to do its best job. During the clarifying process, my ends become extremely dry while the rest of my hair feels amazing. As my wash day continues, my ends start to feel better, but they are still a little dry.

I’m currently wearing my hair in 6 cornrows under a wig, with my ends in a baggy. My ends felt better, but I could still feel some dryness. If I still feel this dryness at the end of the month, I will trim these ends off and start fresh.

Thank you for your perspective @Chicoro
I have heard the terms low and high porosity so much, it’s pretty ingrained in my mind. My hair care is based off these terms. If there is no such thing as low porosity, then I will have to rethink my hair care approach. For now, I will continue my analysis.

 

[keranikki]

New hair related word for us:

Hydrophobocity - Hydrophobocity is the association of nonpolar [oils and waxes] groups or molecules in an aqueous [watery or liquid] environment which arises from the tendency of water to exclude nonpolar molecules.

Street definition:
A way to measure the natural lipids (grease/oil) still remaining on your hair strands which seals in moisture on the hair. Where grease is the nonpolar (having no positive or negative charge) molecule or compound. And where water is/or makes up the aqueous environment.

Practical Example:
Imagine you have a piece of wax paper. Then, you drop some water on top of it. Water excludes (is repelled by) the wax (nonplor) paper, or it sticks to itself. What happens is water rolls up into a ball or water bead. Water prefers to love on and hold onto itself so it forms a bead. The thicker or greasier or waxier the surface, the tighter the ball of water rolls up. The thicker the grease on the surface, the BIGGER the contact angle of the water bead, to the the surface.

How it is measured: By the contact angle of the water bead to the surface! See illustration below.

• Contact angle greater than 90 degrees - means there is some lipid (or natural grease/oils) still in place.
• Contact angle less than 90 degress- means there is some lipid loss (natural oil is lost).

View attachment 486043

View attachment 486047

Why we should care/How it relates to luscious, healthy ends: Porosity!

The more water beads off of your hair, the less porous your hair probably is.
The faster your hair sucks up moisture, the more likely it is porous. The more
porous your hair is, the more it's likely to be damaged. That damage may or
may not need to be cut. But, we always need to baby and protect our ends, be they
porous or not.

This makes sense! It takes a while for my hair to get wet. It doesn’t feel saturated until after my first shampoo. My ends feel dry even when I wet it, but it does feel better after my second shampoo (moisture). Hmmm….a lot to think about.

 

[Chicoro]

I didn’t do a test at all. My observation is based off the reaction of my hair during the process of wash day.

I clarify my hair every wash day due to the hard water I have. It also provides a foundation for my moisturizing shampoo to do its best job. During the clarifying process, my ends become extremely dry while the rest of my hair feels amazing. As my wash day continues, my ends start to feel better, but they are still a little dry.

I’m currently wearing my hair in 6 cornrows under a wig, with my ends in a baggy. My ends felt better, but I could still feel some dryness. If I still feel this dryness at the end of the month, I will trim these ends off and start fresh.

Thank you for your perspective @Chicoro
I have heard the terms low and high porosity so much, it’s pretty ingrained in my mind. My hair care is based off these terms. If there is no such thing as low porosity, then I will have to rethink my hair care approach. For now, I will continue my analysis.

Great, analysis process. You are thinking and analyzing and making modifications based on that analysis. I always say growing healthy afro textured hair is a thinking game and not a guessing game. Your excellent process epitomizes this wonderfully: you are thinking about your hair, process and products.

You didn't ask me, or anything else either, BUT, if I may, I would suggest that you don't trim your ends just yet. Why? Unless they are causing more breakage and tangles, please continue to observe your process to determine what might be done to minimize the dryness on your ends. And don't forget to document! Write down your findings in a cheap, dedicated to hair notebook, maybe.

The possibility exists that if you cut those ends and there is still something lurking in your regimen that is exascerbating the dryness, then those freshly trimmed ends might be adversely impacted as well.

If I am bothering you, or overly persistent, please let me know!

 

[keranikki]

Great, analysis process. You are thinking and analyzing and making modifications based on that analysis. I always say growing healthy afro textured hair is a thinking game and not a guessing game. Your excellent process epitomizes this wonderfully: you are thinking about your hair, process and products.

You didn't ask me, or anything else either, BUT, if I may, I would suggest that you don't trim your ends just yet. Why? Unless they are causing more breakage and tangles, continue to observer to determine what might be done to minimize the dryness on your ends.

The possibility exists that if you cut those ends and there is still something lurking in your regimen that is exascerbating the dryness, then those freshly trimmed ends might be adversely impacted as well.

If I am bothering you, please let me know.

Firstly, you are not a bother @Chicoro
Your approach is always thoughtful and informative. If you told me you were an empath, I wouldn’t be surprised. Hair care is a sensitive subject due to our own biases and projections. Discussions like this help us to analyze our biases and projections so that we may move forward towards our goals. I’m very thankful for the knowledge, perspective, grace, and quirkiness you bring. You are awesome!

I thought roughly three weeks of observation would be enough to access whether my ends are just dry or completely damaged. I will try to hold out. I have a tendency to be scissor happy.

 

[Nightingale]

I’m joining

After my last haircut my ends feel amazing. I think this is the best shape my hair has been in since I started my hair journey. (Why oh why did I use baking soda instead of shampoo for many, many, many years )

I intend to keep my ends in great shape by:

- continue to wash weekly and wear a wash-n-go
- doing a weekly olaplex 3 treatment on the bottom half of my hair (or I may try Epres)

- being very gentle when detangling

- only using moisturizing shampoo on my ends (except for when I clarify)

- using a protein treatment every other week

- figuring out how often I need to trim (based on how my ends feel and how easy/ hard it is to detangle)

I'm in! I had my last trim New Year's Eve, so my ends are fresh.

To keep my ends healthy and full, I intend to:

1. Wash weekly, being sure to gently detangle.
2. Do olaplex treatments 2x a month.
3. Wear WnGs (this styling doesn't manipulate my ends as much) and when needed, pull my hair up so my ends aren't constantly brushing my shouldersor clothes.
4. trim 2-3x this year. If I can maintain my ends well, I will trim only twice.

 

[Chicoro]

Firstly, you are not a bother @Chicoro
Your approach is always thoughtful and informative. If you told me you were an empath, I wouldn’t be surprised. Hair care is a sensitive subject due to our own biases and projections. Discussions like this help us to analyze our biases and projections so that we may move forward towards our goals. I’m very thankful for the knowledge, perspective, grace, and quirkiness you bring. You are awesome!

I thought roughly three weeks of observation would be enough to access whether my ends are just dry or completely damaged. I will try to hold out. I have a tendency to be scissor happy.

Firstly, you are not a bother @Chicoro
Your approach is always thoughtful and informative. If you told me you were an empath, I wouldn’t be surprised. Hair care is a sensitive subject due to our own biases and projections. Discussions like this help us to analyze our biases and projections so that we may move forward towards our goals. I’m very thankful for the knowledge, perspective, grace, and quirkiness you bring. You are awesome!

I thought roughly three weeks of observation would be enough to access whether my ends are just dry or completely damaged. I will try to hold out. I have a tendency to be scissor happy.

Yes, I’m an empath.

Yes, please wait a little bit before trimming. Your hair may have a few more secrets to share with you.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm in! I had my last trim New Year's Eve, so my ends are fresh.

To keep my ends healthy and full, I intend to:

1. Wash weekly, being sure to gently detangle.
2. Do olaplex treatments 2x a month.
3. Wear WnGs (this styling doesn't manipulate my ends as much) and when needed, pull my hair up so my ends aren't constantly brushing my shouldersor clothes.
4. trim 2-3x this year. If I can maintain my ends well, I will trim only twice.

Could you explain your wash and go process in detail for us, please? We’ve been discussing it.

It seems to be away that at least three of our members, two of whom are in this thread, have been retaining lots of length and tremendous health.

How do you do your process?

 

[caribeandiva]

There is no such thing as LOW porosity! I am not splitting hairs. In the scientific world of hair, hair is either normal (undamaged) porosity or it is HIGH (damaged) porosity. There is no such thing as LOW porosity. There is no such things as MEDIUM porosity.

I had a professional hair analysis done years ago and they told me the same thing.

 

[caribeandiva]

My starting point for this year:

 

[Chicoro]

My starting point for this year:
View attachment 486049
View attachment 486051

You are such a beautiful lady, @caribeandiva !

 

[GettingKinky]

@keranikki

I wonder if clarifying every week is doing more harm than good. I also love the way my hair absorbs water after I clarify, but I limit myself to every 4-6 weeks because clarifying shampoos are very tough on your cuticles.

Maybe you could find a shampoo that’s stronger than your moisture shampoo, but gentler than your clarifying shampoo for your weekly wash. BGC calls these all purpose shampoos.

This year I’m experimenting with only using my all purpose shampoo on my younger hair and then following up on all my hair with my moisture shampoo. It takes a long time to see the effects of overusing shampoo, so I don’t know how long this experiment of mine will last.

 

[caribeandiva]

You are such a beautiful lady, @caribeandiva !

Thank you!

 

[GettingKinky]

I know this isn’t a wash n go thread, but this video covers more than just wash n go. It talks about various shampoos and when to use them and how to keep your hair hydrated. She also talks about porosity around the 8 minute mark. Plus this stylist also does work at salons in various counties in Africa to promote the love of our natural curls, and I love that.

 

[Chicoro]

I know this isn’t a wash n go thread, but this video covers more than just wash n go. It talks about various shampoos and when to use them and how to keep your hair hydrated. Plus the stylist also does work at salons in various counties in Africa to promote the love of our natural curls, and I love that.

Yes it is.

We are learning how to have luscious ends. You got luscious ends from wearing wash and go's. You are teaching us. We want to learn.

 

[luvableladii]

Yeah!!! I’m sooooo looking forward to this! I’m trying to get my hair to WL this year. This has been over 10 years in the making, and I’m trying to get there with thick ends. I big chopped for the second time March 2020.

my regime is like this:
1. Prepoo- Ayurvedic treatment mask w/ moisturizing ingredients. Once a month use curl smith bond rehab salve.

2. Shampoo- Camille rose ginger cleansing rinse or Henna sooq cassia & neem hair wash

3. Condition- either curl smith multitasking conditioner (protein) or glow perfection conditioner (moisture). Leave conditioner in for the duration of my shower then rinse out. Finger detangle.

4. Moisturize- qhemet biologics BRBC or Camille rose curl love moisture milk.

5. Chunky Twists w/ no extensions

6. Every 3-4 days I hit the shower to water rinse my twists between wash days. Then re-twist with Henna sooq goddess hair serum and queen shea.

7. Dust ends once a month

My personal issues to address for thicker ends:
1. I’m rehabbing my edges. I had to cut them short from old breakage I never addressed years ago. I thought it would grow out on its own, but it never did. I had to separate it out and watch it. Also, I’ve been anemic, so that hasn’t helped.

2. The bane of my existence are midstrand spits. The incomplete kind that look like a bubble. I used to see them when used heat. But, I’ve never flat ironed my hair, and I haven't blow dried it since 2017. I don’t even use heat for my DC. Does anyone have any ideas? Over moisturizing or just wear and tear that needs to be cut.

 

[Chicoro]

@luvableladii
Welcome! I see you are new to LHCF.

It’s interesting you mentioned mid-shaft splits. I was thinking just yesterday that I no longer have those. My hair used to be full of them. My hair used to be chronically dry. I also used use bobby pins a lot.

Are you using anything to pull your up, to pin your hair back? Any claw combs, etc?

Have you ever added extensions or used extensions in your hair or twists/braids?

 

[Nightingale]

Could you explain your wash and go process in detail for us, please? We’ve been discussing it.

It seems to be away that at least three of our members, two of whom are in this thread, have been retaining lots of length and tremendous health.

How do you do your process?

Sure, I'll provide details below. But first, I believe the general reasons why WnGs are great for length retention are:

1. The gel forms a cast over the strands that is protective
2. That cast locks the strands into smooth clumps of curls that prevents them from tangling around each other
3. Depending on your method, its a low manipulation style.

For myself, WnGs are a style I can do, then transition into other styles without causing additional tangles. For example, I used to do quick styles like wet buns or puffs, but I would inevitably get tangles at the roots of my hair which caused breakage. I found that if I style my hair in a WnG first, then once dry pull it into ponytail/puff, my roots wouldn't tangle because the gel cast kept the strands smooth and discouraged them from wrapping around other curls.


As for my wash process, TLDR: its similar to @GettingKinky and Dee Raven. But since my hair is somewhat hold resistant, I need to double dry to get a firm cast. Wash day, the end goal is very firm hold and very large clumps of curls/waves. I dont shingle or rake. After sleeping on it, the clumps will separate some and my hair will have more movement. But the clumps will still be firm. I'll wash after a week or when the cast disappears, whichever comes first. I wash when the cast disappears because no hold= soft hair with no protective cast and more opportunities to tangle. Right now my WnG is above my shoulders dry, when it grows long enough to touch my shoulders, I'll pull it up into a low tension style like a french twist.

• In the shower, I rinse my hair until it's thoroughly wet. I don't usually have tangling issues, but if I think my hair is tangled, I'll then apply African Pride Moisture Miracle Pre Shampoo and gently finger detangle before rinsing the product out.
• I prefer to shampoo my hair in halves. I make sure to shampoo in a downward motion to discourage tangling, holding my ends taut while I massage the shampoo into my scalp, before working it through the rest of my hair.
• I apply my conditioner in 4-5 sections, making sure to be gentle. I focus on my length and ends, making sure to gently squeeze the conditioner and water into the strands for maximum absorption. After that, I use a Felicia Leatherwood brush to gently detangle from the ends up. Last, I twist the section before moving to the next. Let the conditioner sit for 3-10 minutes. Rinse clean.
• To wet hair, I'll apply a base gel in place of a traditional leave-in. I apply in 4-5 large sections (the same ones I conditioned in), then smooth the product through. I focus on my roots and ends. This step takes maybe 5 minutes and I only use enough gel to get a smooth feel. I get the best results that dry quickly, when I use glycerin free gels.
• I sit under the dryer until my hair is mostly dry, around 30-45 minutes. At this point my hair has some definition, but the curls aren't well clumped and the hold isn't near firm enough.
• To large sections, I apply my topper gel to the dry hair. I gently smooth it into the whole section until the hair is more pliable then subdivide the section to smooth more. I make sure the hair is thoroughly coated from roots to ends and laying in large clumps of waves. This whole process may take around 10 minutes.
• Then I sit under the dryer again. My hair is usually dry after another 30 minutes.

Right now my favorite combo is SuperWet as my base, topped with Bee Girl Custard.

 

[GGsKin]

Sure, I'll provide details below. But first, I believe the general reasons why WnGs are great for length retention are:

1. The gel forms a cast over the strands that is protective
2. That cast locks the strands into smooth clumps of curls that prevents them from tangling around each other
3. Depending on your method, its a low manipulation style.

For myself, WnGs are a style I can do, then transition into other styles without causing additional tangles. For example, I used to do quick styles like wet buns or puffs, but I would inevitably get tangles at the roots of my hair which caused breakage. I found that if I style my hair in a WnG first, then once dry pull it into ponytail/puff, my roots wouldn't tangle because the gel cast kept the strands smooth and discouraged them from wrapping around other curls.


As for my wash process, TLDR: its similar to @GettingKinky and Dee Raven. But since my hair is somewhat hold resistant, I need to double dry to get a firm cast. Wash day, the end goal is very firm hold and very large clumps of curls/waves. I dont shingle or rake. After sleeping on it, the clumps will separate some and my hair will have more movement. But the clumps will still be firm. I'll wash after a week or when the cast disappears, whichever comes first. I wash when the cast disappears because no hold= soft hair with no protective cast and more opportunities to tangle. Right now my WnG is above my shoulders dry, when it grows long enough to touch my shoulders, I'll pull it up into a low tension style like a french twist.

• In the shower, I rinse my hair until it's thoroughly wet. I don't usually have tangling issues, but if I think my hair is tangled, I'll then apply African Pride Moisture Miracle Pre Shampoo and gently finger detangle before rinsing the product out.
• I prefer to shampoo my hair in halves. I make sure to shampoo in a downward motion to discourage tangling, holding my ends taut while I massage the shampoo into my scalp, before working it through the rest of my hair.
• I apply my conditioner in 4-5 sections, making sure to be gentle. I focus on my length and ends, making sure to gently squeeze the conditioner and water into the strands for maximum absorption. After that, I use a Felicia Leatherwood brush to gently detangle from the ends up. Last, I twist the section before moving to the next. Let the conditioner sit for 3-10 minutes. Rinse clean.
• To wet hair, I'll apply a base gel in place of a traditional leave-in. I apply in 4-5 large sections (the same ones I conditioned in), then smooth the product through. I focus on my roots and ends. This step takes maybe 5 minutes and I only use enough gel to get a smooth feel. I get the best results that dry quickly, when I use glycerin free gels.
• I sit under the dryer until my hair is mostly dry, around 30-45 minutes. At this point my hair has some definition, but the curls aren't well clumped and the hold isn't near firm enough.
• To large sections, I apply my topper gel to the dry hair. I gently smooth it into the whole section until the hair is more pliable then subdivide the section to smooth more. I make sure the hair is thoroughly coated from roots to ends and laying in large clumps of waves. This whole process may take around 10 minutes.
• Then I sit under the dryer again. My hair is usually dry after another 30 minutes.

Right now my favorite combo is SuperWet as my base, topped with Bee Girl Custard.

@Nightingale my reasoning and process is almost the same as yours except; I use 4 sections when I shampoo, I don't always use a brush when I detangle (I mainly finger detangle throughout the entire process), sometimes I use one gel, instead of two, and I only diffuse dry once all of my styling product is applied.