Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North at night, in her secret place, when everyone is asleep:

I'm on my way right here

 

[Chicoro]

I tried to take the bands at the end of my braid to show someone my ends, I ended up having to cut the bands I use under the silk band out. It wasn't too bad, I had one hair in my hand, I pulled out when I was the pulling the bands out.

I decided to rebraid but without adding any water/moisturiser, I just added water, oil and butter to my ends before securing the braid. I took a picture to show what I meant when I said that the frizz almost disappears when I do this.

View attachment 508394

ETA: I didn't add any water/moisturiser to the length of my hair, just a little water, oil and butter to the ends. My hair was still very moisturised.

"ETA: I didn't add any water/moisturiser to the length of my hair, just a little water, oil and butter to the ends. My hair was still very moisturised."

Seismic SHIFT happening!

Small steps today

Anticipate HUGE changes tomorrow in healthy, length retention by December 2026 because of this seemingly small change.

I hope you have noted this small modification, this small tweak, this small change and have written it down and highlighted and illuminated it in your information and your hair journal.

Because this change is a KEY piece to the puzzle of your hair journey.



















​

 

[Chicoro]

I can't believe I missed this post! Thank you, I've been looking forward to this, great pics with an insightful breakdown. The paste doesn't look too thick o your hair, was this done intentionally?

I wonder what it was that made your hair feel hard? It's great that you like the feeling it gives your hair, I'm just curious.

How would you compare the rinse to the paste?

I'm assuming it's easier to rinse out the rinse, or can that also leave residue on your hair?

Do they work differently or in a similar way?

Did you feel like you got the same benefits from the rinse and the paste?

Which do you prefer of the two?

Your questions and my answers:


I can't believe I missed this post! Thank you, I've been looking forward to this, great pics with an insightful breakdown. The paste doesn't look too thick o your hair, was this done intentionally?

I thought the paste was pretty thick, myself. I guess I have the liquid rinse as my standard base and reference. I wanted the paste to be moist and thick. I tried to go for the texture of clay. I loved the way the kaolin felt in my hands. Like something fun to play with!

I wonder what it was that made your hair feel hard? It's great that you like the feeling it gives your hair, I'm just curious.
What made my hair feel hard was he hibiscus and green tea rinse. Hibiscus is acidic and contains vitamin C. So it impacted the hair strand by constricting it. Also, the tea rinse was cooler in temperature than my hair, so that change impacted the feel of my hair. All of which is explainable and part and parcel o of the plan (PPP). I wasn't expecting or planning for the hardness, but it made sense and was explainable and acceptable to me and worked and works for my hair process.


How would you compare the rinse to the paste?
I enjoyed the paste. It felt like something SUBSTANTIAL was being done to my hair. The rinse just felt like I was pouring some water on my hair. I enjoy the rinse, too and continue to use it effectively when my product supplies get down low. Or, when I want to add charcoal to the my @snoop Mix and want an even deeper clean. Thus, I have created another wonderful option for myself and my hair that works. The initial option was the clay rinse and now the additional option is the clay paste.

The clay paste did elongate my hair and add weight to it. I enjoyed seeing that elongation on my hair even if it were just for a few brief moments and minutes.

I'm assuming it's easier to rinse out the rinse, or can that also leave residue on your hair?
The rinse never left a gummy residue on my hair. But, the paste did cling to a gummy residue. I THINK that the gummy residue is from using flax seed gel for detangling. And, I didn't rinse it out. I just put the clay kaolin paste on TOP of the flax seed gel.

Do they work differently or in a similar way?

I believe that the clay rinse and the clay paste work similarly. If I had to guess, I would say that because the clay is more substantial that it has more time to work on the actual substrate of the hair and able to detoxify a bit deeper than the rinse.

Did you feel like you got the same benefits from the rinse and the paste?
Yes, I feel like I got the same benefits from the rinse and the paste as it relates to cleanliness. Sometimes, it is harder to remove the mix of the rinse with the charcoal. I have never tried a pure kaolin clay mix as my rinse.

Which do you prefer of the two?
I think I like the kaolin paste by itself with nothing added except maybe honey and goat milk. I may omit those two as well. For now, I will not add charcoal powder to the paste. I really loved the paste!

 

[Angel of the North]

"ETA: I didn't add any water/moisturiser to the length of my hair, just a little water, oil and butter to the ends. My hair was still very moisturised."

Seismic SHIFT happening!

Small steps today

Anticipate HUGE changes tomorrow in healthy, length retention by December 2026 because of this seemingly small change.

I hope you have noted this small modification, this small tweak, this small change and have written it down and highlighted and illuminated it in your information and your hair journal.

Because this change is a KEY piece to the puzzle of your hair journey
​

This isn't actually a new step, I only add water to the length of my hair if it feels dry, if I moisturise properly, it won't get dry. What I learnt recently was that if my ends are dry, this will eventually dry out the length of my braid.

I usually add a cream moisturiser after water to my ends, my ends are feeling so good, and still felt moisturised, so I didn't feel the need to do this.

I've just added oil to my ends, I'm only removing the silk band and then applying the oil to my ends making sure I saturate the bands that sit under the silk one. My braid is still smooth, it'll start looking frizzy by Saturday/Sunday, which will take me to wash day.

I have made sure to be documenting EVERYTHING, exactly as you say, every little tweak, new steps, whatever it is, I'm capturing all of it. My HHJ is my most valuable asset in my haircare, it's basically all the knowledge of my hair, even the bits I forget or don't even bother to acknowledge in the moment. I tell everyone to journal their hair journeys.

I'm thinking I only have 3 weeks till I will be straightening my hair, I'm thinking that I may use the splitender the week before, I feel like it will be way too much to do it all in one day along with my wash day routine, blow drying and straightening, especially when I have a time restriction for the arrival of the event.

It means I will be using heat for two consecutive weeks, I do intend to use a protein DC for the day I straighten, hopefully that extra bit of strength from the protein will help to provide assistance to the smoothness of my hair and also the health.

I'm not going to lie, it feels very weird for me to be using heat after so many years. I'm looking forward to seeing how my hair looks. I'm not looking forward to the aching arms, that will no doubt happen though.

 

[Angel of the North]

Your questions and my answers:


I can't believe I missed this post! Thank you, I've been looking forward to this, great pics with an insightful breakdown. The paste doesn't look too thick o your hair, was this done intentionally?

I thought the paste was pretty thick, myself. I guess I have the liquid rinse as my standard base and reference. I wanted the paste to be moist and thick. I tried to go for the texture of clay. I loved the way the kaolin felt in my hands. Like something fun to play with!

That's a fair point that you were coming from a rinse, of course it would be thicker to you. I only asked because some of the videos I've seen with people using clay masks, their hair is white because of how thick the clay is or that they're using more. I like the idea of a lighter coating, my drains probably like it even more.

I wonder what it was that made your hair feel hard? It's great that you like the feeling it gives your hair, I'm just curious.
What made my hair feel hard was he hibiscus and green tea rinse. Hibiscus is acidic and contains vitamin C. So it impacted the hair strand by constricting it. Also, the tea rinse was cooler in temperature than my hair, so that change impacted the feel of my hair. All of which is explainable and part and parcel o of the plan (PPP). I wasn't expecting or planning for the hardness, but it made sense and was explainable and acceptable to me and worked and works for my hair process.

Ahh, there goes that science again. I love when we are able to identify and breakdown our processes and reactions to them, it's a different level of understanding and paves the way for success.

How would you compare the rinse to the paste?
I enjoyed the paste. It felt like something SUBSTANTIAL was being done to my hair. The rinse just felt like I was pouring some water on my hair. I enjoy the rinse, too and continue to use it effectively when my product supplies get down low. Or, when I want to add charcoal to the my @snoop Mix and want an even deeper clean. Thus, I have created another wonderful option for myself and my hair that works. The initial option was the clay rinse and now the additional option is the clay paste.

That seems to be the general consensus with the paste, especially when talking about curl definition and deep cleansing.

The clay paste did elongate my hair and add weight to it. I enjoyed seeing that elongation on my hair even if it were just for a few brief moments and minutes.

How long did you leave the mask on for

I'm assuming it's easier to rinse out the rinse, or can that also leave residue on your hair?
The rinse never left a gummy residue on my hair. But, the paste did cling to a gummy residue. I THINK that the gummy residue is from using flax seed gel for detangling. And, I didn't rinse it out. I just put the clay kaolin paste on TOP of the flax seed gel.

That's interesting, I'm wondering if this would have made it easier to rinse out the clay or more difficult? People often say that it takes a long time to rinse out the clay residue.

Do they work differently or in a similar way?

I believe that the clay rinse and the clay paste work similarly. If I had to guess, I would say that because the clay is more substantial that it has more time to work on the actual substrate of the hair and able to detoxify a bit deeper than the rinse.

The reason I asked this question was because, although I'd happily do a clay mask once or twice a year, I feel a rinse would be easier to do whenever I might feel for it, obviously on the proviso that it was something my hair loved and benefited from.

Did you feel like you got the same benefits from the rinse and the paste?
Yes, I feel like I got the same benefits from the rinse and the paste as it relates to cleanliness. Sometimes, it is harder to remove the mix of the rinse with the charcoal. I have never tried a pure kaolin clay mix as my rinse.

This is also very insightful, would not probably have added charcoal. Would you say the charcoal was a necessity to get the results from the clay, or is it just a booster you like to add?

Which do you prefer of the two?
I think I like the kaolin paste by itself with nothing added except maybe honey and goat milk. I may omit those two as well. For now, I will not add charcoal powder to the paste. I really loved the paste!

I love that you're loving the paste and it's working well for you. I look forward to future clay mask updates.

Thanknyou for taking the time to answer all my questions, I hadn't even realised it was that many.

 

[Chicoro]

This isn't actually a new step, I only add water to the length of my hair if it feels dry, if I moisturise properly, it won't get dry. What I learnt recently was that if my ends are dry, this will eventually dry out the length of my braid.

I usually add a cream moisturiser after water to my ends, my ends are feeling so good, and still felt moisturised, so I didn't feel the need to do this.

I've just added oil to my ends, I'm only removing the silk band and then applying the oil to my ends making sure I saturate the bands that sit under the silk one. My braid is still smooth, it'll start looking frizzy by Saturday/Sunday, which will take me to wash day.

I have made sure to be documenting EVERYTHING, exactly as you say, every little tweak, new steps, whatever it is, I'm capturing all of it. My HHJ is my most valuable asset in my haircare, it's basically all the knowledge of my hair, even the bits I forget or don't even bother to acknowledge in the moment. I tell everyone to journal their hair journeys.

I'm thinking I only have 3 weeks till I will be straightening my hair, I'm thinking that I may use the splitender the week before, I feel like it will be way too much to do it all in one day along with my wash day routine, blow drying and straightening, especially when I have a time restriction for the arrival of the event.

It means I will be using heat for two consecutive weeks, I do intend to use a protein DC for the day I straighten, hopefully that extra bit of strength from the protein will help to provide assistance to the smoothness of my hair and also the health.

I'm not going to lie, it feels very weird for me to be using heat after so many years. I'm looking forward to seeing how my hair looks. I'm not looking forward to the aching arms, that will no doubt happen though.

Make sure to get all the butters, grease and product out of your hair. Otherwise, it’s hard to get a straight silky press.

I like to use cheap, instant conditioner in my dry, dirty hair one day before I wash.

Then, I copy @Lylddlebit and place the shampoo on the roots of my dirty hair to let it break down the oil. I section in Bantu knots, coat the shampoo on the section at the roots, leave in a Bantu, then wash.

So, depending upon how coated my hair is with stuff, I may start the wash ‘day’ a day or two in advanced!

 

[Chicoro]

It definitely looks smoother, which looks neater and that is definitely my preference.


I love the way you articulate these points. It's similar to what happens, or in my case what doesn't happen when I oil my bands. The lubrication of the oils create a barrier that prevents my fly away hairs from getting caught and wrapping around my bands. The difference is very evident in the photos.


I don't know if you remember me telling you that it was a toss up between cut, using the splitender, or reconditioning my ends before I use the splitender and scissors. I'm very grateful that you talked me out of cutting being option 1, my head wanted the problem gone instantly, but my heart wanted to persevere.

YES!!!!!!

I chose to test out my moisture retention without butter on my ends or doing a mid week refresh at this stage because I knew if I didn't do it then, it would have been a missed opportunity, I wouldn't make the sacrifice of testing that out if my ends were in tip top condition.

Now I have a tried and tested method to bring back the softness and smoothness to my ends, which brings me back to the point you've made here.

For me getting to know your own hair is the most important part of caring for your hair. I think this is the biggest issue for women who feel they can't grow their hair or they can't get their hair soft/moisturised/manageable, all of which is a fallacy if we have a good understanding of our hair, its needs, likes,.dislikes etc.


Honestly, the first week I was taken aback, I was ready to cut, but as I'd been trimming and dusting throughout the majority of last year, I was mindful that taking off 2 - 3 inches would have eaten up my growth from last year. From that point I saw it as an opportunity to relearn my ends and what I can do to improve their condition.

Your encouragement and probing really helped me to get my thinking cap on to remember what I'd done in the past, how I could make little tweaks for bigger benefits. It also made me start to enjoy the moment, that's not something that comes naturally when you feel frustrated with a situation. This allowed me to find solutions quickly and there's been improvements and achievements every week since.

I'm so glad to have taken the time to research and experiment with oils and butters all those years ago, they have so many benefits, and I've been able to successfully tailor certain information and products to my circumstances. The results have been very fruitful.


I'm here for it!


I have a feeling that this could be very possible too. I grew to HL without even realising as the most I'd do is a quick blow out to stretch my hair, the aim was never to get it straight, just stretched enough to make for easy braiding. When I got a good blow out at a salon, everyone was shocked at the length including me, I would have said I was around MBL.

This time I'm very aware of my growth and I'm making decisions to maintain and protect my hair as best as I can. I'm being more patient, which makes me gentler when handling my hair, my length retention this year will be positively impacted by these decisions.


Very much so. I'm starting to look forward to straightening my hair now because I can see the improvements and all of which will make a big difference to how it comes out and how long it lasts.

I'm also starting to look forward to testing out my new heat tools. It's been such a long time since I last did this, I'm glad I waited before cutting and straightening, it's been a true blessing.

 

[Chicoro]

That's a fair point that you were coming from a rinse, of course it would be thicker to you. I only asked because some of the videos I've seen with people using clay masks, their hair is white because of how thick the clay is or that they're using more. I like the idea of a lighter coating, my drains probably like it even more.

Ahh, there goes that science again. I love when we are able to identify and breakdown our processes and reactions to them, it's a different level of understanding and paves the way for success.

That seems to be the general consensus with the paste, especially when talking about curl definition and deep cleansing.

How long did you leave the mask on for

I left it on long enough to coat my hair and to take my pictures.

That's interesting, I'm wondering if this would have made it easier to rinse out the clay or more difficult? People often say that it takes a long time to rinse out the clay residue.

The reason I asked this question was because, although I'd happily do a clay mask once or twice a year, I feel a rinse would be easier to do whenever I might feel for it, obviously on the proviso that it was something my hair loved and benefited from.


This is also very insightful, would not probably have added charcoal. Would you say the charcoal was a necessity to get the results from the clay, or is it just a booster you like to add?


I love that you're loving the paste and it's working well for you. I look forward to future clay mask updates.

Thanknyou for taking the time to answer all my questions, I hadn't even realised it was that many.

 

[Angel of the North]

Make sure to get all the butters, grease and product out of your hair. Otherwise, it’s hard to get a straight silky press.

I'm planning on clarify on the day, I definitely don't want any damage from burnt oil in my hair that hasn't been cleansed out. I won't use any oils during wash day, I may finish off with my sample of the Amika super fruit star oil at the end.

KķI like to use cheap, instant conditioner in my dry, dirty hair one day before I wash.

Are you using this as a prepoo/detangler? This is what I cowash with, I don't leave it in overnight though.

Then, I copy @Lylddlebit and place the shampoo on the roots of my dirty hair to let it break down the oil. I section in Bantu knots, coat the shampoo on the section at the roots, leave in a Bantu, then wash.

This is similar to what I do, I like to spray a little water near the roots and apply the shampoo to the bed of my braids, I used to wash in twists, but as hair has gotten longer, the twists become loose and the hair gets tangled. 4 tight braids for me have been working tremendously.

I add shampoo to the length last then I let the shampoo sit and do it's work, especially if it's a clarifying poo. I liken this to perhaps soaking an item of clothing in detergent, the enzymes in the detergent breaks down the dirty particles.

That's how I feel shampoo works too, I massage a little and then rinse, I can't remember the last time I shampooed more than once. This works well for me as my clarifying shampoos don't leave my hair stripped or dry, and it's less to do.

My hair never feels coated, even when I cowash my hair feels clean despite using the oils and butters. I truly believe that the oils and butters I use penetrate my hair, even the thicker avocado and papaya oils. My hair has felt coated in the past if I use castor and olive oils, and most of the butters I tried had the same affect.

The reason I love Avocado, mango, aloe and hemp butters is because they melt right into my hair. I think there were one or two others but I was happy to pick 4, with shea as a must for any butter and oil whips.

So, depending upon how coated my hair is with stuff, I may start the wash ‘day’ a day or two in advanced!

Is that mainly for prepooing, detangling, using your rinse to detox or something else?

 

[Chicoro]

I'm using flax seed gel with a little oil it it for my pre-wash and detangle session.

Why?
To master and level up the protection of my ends as much as possible.

I'm not experimenting per se. I have used flax seed successfully in the past without having any adverse reactions to my hair or scalp.

It does not work for me as a gel, but works great as a cheap mucilage source for detangling hair and reducing the friction force on my hair when I detangle it.

As my hair gains length, the ends of my hair become older and more fragile and more prone to breakage. The slippery mucilage of flax seed gel helps to minimize friction on the hair strands and thus, protect and retain critical cuticle structures on the hair strand.

Also, existing tangles can be gently coaxed apart with less for and in theory, less breakage or damage.

How do I know it's working?
I can't 'see' it right now. But, any hard, dry tangles are removed with the flax seed gel upon contact. I did not notice and increase or a decrease in my shed hair.

Infusion of Moisture into Dry Hair:
Flax seed gel infuses my hair with deep moisture at the start of my process. It does not help me retain moisture as a styling product and becomes hard and crunchy upon drying. I do NOT let it dry in my hair.

Pre-Poo:
My pre poo of oil, aloe vera and glycerin with essential oils can do its work as a scalp cleanser and deodorizer. Instead trying to ensure my hair strands are moistened root to tip with the pre-poo, I can focus on cleansing my scalp and hair and begin breaking down the product buildup.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm planning on clarify on the day, I definitely don't want any damage from burnt oil in my hair that hasn't been cleansed out. I won't use any oils during wash day, I may finish off with my sample of the Amika super fruit star oil at the end.

Are you using this as a prepoo/detangler? This is what I cowash with, I don't leave it in overnight though.

No, I am using this to break down the product build up on my hair before I blow dry and straighten my hair.

This is similar to what I do, I like to spray a little water near the roots and apply the shampoo to the bed of my braids, I used to wash in twists, but as hair has gotten longer, the twists become loose and the hair gets tangled. 4 tight braids for me have been working tremendously.

I add shampoo to the length last then I let the shampoo sit and do it's work, especially if it's a clarifying poo. I liken this to perhaps soaking an item of clothing in detergent, the enzymes in the detergent breaks down the dirty particles.

That's how I feel shampoo works too, I massage a little and then rinse, I can't remember the last time I shampooed more than once. This works well for me as my clarifying shampoos don't leave my hair stripped or dry, and it's less to do.

My hair never feels coated, even when I cowash my hair feels clean despite using the oils and butters. I truly believe that the oils and butters I use penetrate my hair, even the thicker avocado and papaya oils. My hair has felt coated in the past if I use castor and olive oils, and most of the butters I tried had the same affect.

The reason I love Avocado, mango, aloe and hemp butters is because they melt right into my hair. I think there were one or two others but I was happy to pick 4, with shea as a must for any butter and oil whips.

Is that mainly for prepooing, detangling, using your rinse to detox or something else?

No, I m using this to break down the product build up on my hair before I blow dry and straighten my hair.

 

[Angel of the North]

I'm using flax seed gel with a little oil it it for my pre-wash and detangle session.

Why?
To master and level up the protection of my ends as much as possible.

I'm not experimenting per se. I have used flax seed successfully in the past without having any adverse reactions to my hair or scalp.

It does not work for me as a gel, but works great as a cheap mucilage source for detangling hair and reducing the friction force on my hair when I detangle it.

As my hair gains length, the ends of my hair become older and more fragile and more prone to breakage. The slippery mucilage of flax seed gel helps to minimize friction on the hair strands and thus, protect and retain critical cuticle structures on the hair strand.

Also, existing tangles can be gently coaxed apart with less for and in theory, less breakage or damage.

How do I know it's working?
I can't 'see' it right now. But, any hard, dry tangles are removed with the flax seed gel upon contact. I did not notice and increase or a decrease in my shed hair.

Infusion of Moisture into Dry Hair:
Flax seed gel infuses my hair with deep moisture at the start of my process. It does not help me retain moisture as a styling product and becomes hard and crunchy upon drying. I do NOT let it dry in my hair.

Pre-Poo:
My pre poo of oil, aloe vera and glycerin with essential oils can do its work as a scalp cleanser and deodorizer. Instead trying to ensure my hair strands are moistened root to tip with the pre-poo, I can focus on cleansing my scalp and hair and begin breaking down the product buildup.

If you mix more oil or maybe S Curl/moisturiser with the flaxseed gel, would that help to soften it or keep your hair more moisturised? Does oil help to break the cast like with gels?

I've never tried flaxseed gel before, it's been at the top of my DIY list for years but I'm not quite there yet. I initially wanted to use it for detangling and also as a styler. I have no need for a detangler as my hair doesn't get tangled the way it used to, regular wash days with a few of my new tweaks means that my brush/comb/fingers can detangle with ease. This is also help me not cause mechanical damage by trying to brush out knots.

I was hoping oil could save the day with the flaxseed gel.

I've always tried to maintain healthy ends but at my current length I'm much more focused and determined, especially as you rightly have said, the ends of our hair are the oldest, most fragile and more prone to damage, I need to keep that on track so I be like the Rupunzel in your clip from earlier.

 

[Chicoro]

If you mix more oil or maybe S Curl/moisturiser with the flaxseed gel, would that help to soften it or keep your hair more moisturised? Does oil help to break the cast like with gels?

No. Flaxseed does not work for my hair as a styler. I only use it to detangle before my wash.

I've never tried flaxseed gel before, it's been at the top of my DIY list for years but I'm not quite there yet. I initially wanted to use it for detangling and also as a styler. I have no need for a detangler as my hair doesn't get tangled the way it used to, regular wash days with a few of my new tweaks means that my brush/comb/fingers can detangle with ease. This is also help me not cause mechanical damage by trying to brush out knots.

I was hoping oil could save the day with the flaxseed gel.

I've always tried to maintain healthy ends but at my current length I'm much more focused and determined, especially as you rightly have said, the ends of our hair are the oldest, most fragile and more prone to damage, I need to keep that on track so I be like the Rupunzel in your clip from earlier.

 

[Chicoro]

I am going to get a diffuser for my blow dryer. It helps with my Aphogee 2 Step application. I use my blow dryer to dry the product on my hair. The diffuser is great for this. I am doing Aphogee 2 Step every 6 to 8 weeks. Apogee 2 Steps works great on my hair.

 

[Angel of the North]

I am going to get a diffuser for my blow dryer. It helps with my Aphogee 2 Step application. I use my blow dryer to dry the product on my hair. The diffuser is great for this. I am doing Aphogee 2 Step every 6 to 8 weeks. Apogee 2 Steps works great on my hair.

I love the two step, it was my protein treatment of choice until recently when I switched over to the Affirm 5 in 1 reconstructor, this just cuts out the drippy mess and the need to dry the product in from the 2 step. I used to use either the hood or hand dryers but I never used a diffuser.

 

[Angel of the North]

I feel extremely fatigued today, but I managed to get through wash day. This is huge for me and a great test of my regimen. I didn't take my time as I've been enjoying doing, I just did what was needed as quickly as possible.

The biggest barrier to my consistency is my physical ability to do my hair, so I was happy that I could push through it. This gives me hope that when I'm in a much worse state, I will likely be able to get my hair done.

Last night I I detangled, sectioned, braided and prepooed with my oil blend, I did this quite quickly and was exhausted before starting.

Today I shampooed, DC'd moisturised and put in a braid. It didn't take long to do,p while rebuilding my regimen, I tried to take into consideration the physical impact on me, and what might happen if I didn't feel able to do my hair.

I tried out a new shampoo and conditioner today, it wasn't a good day for it because I think I'm more sensitive today and that would has affected how I felt about the products.

Today was the first time since the beginning of March that I felt like wash day would be a challenge, I managed to get through it quickly, I didn't use heat to DC because of the tingling sensation the conditioner gave me but I left the DC on for about 15 - 20 minutes.

What I did differently this week was to brush each braid strand before I started braiding, I did this because there have been times when I have braided my wet hair and the curls have left lumps in the braid, I would comb it out to smoothen that part out. I figured it would help to smooth out my braid if I did this before starting the braid. My braid is very smooth today.





My hair feels a lot wetter than it would usually be by now but I did my hair much later today. I went into wash day saying, I'm going to just take down my braid tomorrow and redo it, but my hair will probably not dry till Tuesday, which would then make sense to wait for Wednesday or Thursday before taking it down.

I didn't add any butter to my ends because of how wet my hair felt, I will probably continue conditioning my ends next week as it's doing a great job of smoothing and softening them.

I'm planning on doing another oil prepoo next week, this is deviating from my regimen slightly as I would normally skip next week, I'm also planning using shampoo for the next 2 weeks, which would normally be every other week, as I'm going to be straightening my hair in 2 weeks.

I will bring wash day forward and straighten the day before, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a big job, it'd be too much on the actual day of the ball, I can just touch up any bits on the day.

 

[Chicoro]

Skinnied Down 3 Step Hair Process:

1. Wash
2. Rinse
3. Condition

These are the herbs I will be adding to my rinse.

• Coltsfoot smells sweet.
• Horsetail smells like alfalfa.
• Nettle powder smells like dirt and coltsfoot combined.
• In addition to my others I used
  • Hibiscus
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Clove

All of these herbs have silica in them. They help to fortify the hair strand. I bought nettle powder instead of nettle leaf, by mistake. But whatever, I will use it.

Although my skinny process is three (3) steps, it's my BASIC process. I still do pre -poo and protein and oil and moisture where applicable and needed.

I really, really, really, liked my hair with the clay, herbal rinse and conditioner with heat process. My hair was not wiry, frizzy and traumatized looking due to products that just don't work for my hair.


I adore hair care cosmetics, especially store-bought ones. I am saddened that I have to release them, especially hair shampoos.

I would NEVER have thought that a huge culprit in my hair set backs was shampoo. But saying it isn't so won't make it isn't so.

 

[Chicoro]

I love the two step, it was my protein treatment of choice until recently when I switched over to the Affirm 5 in 1 reconstructor, this just cuts out the drippy mess and the need to dry the product in from the 2 step. I used to use either the hood or hand dryers but I never used a diffuser.

I WHIP it!