Freestylin' + Happy Girl Hair Interview

Incase you thought I was kidding about freestyling in the Happy Girl Hair interview, check out this old video I found below. :)



I hope you enjoyed the video as well as the interview! I loved being a part of HGH's Read.Watch.Enjoy! series so big thanks to Katie!

Styling Box Braids

Aisha sent in these pictures showing a couple of other styles she has created with Anisa's mini box braids.


3/17/11 - Half down, half up with cornrows in the front


Side view of her St. Patrick's Day do


Two ponytails with a cute headband

Shea Moisture BOGO @ Walgreens

I posted this a couple of days ago on Facebook but for those of you who missed it, Walgreens has Shea Moisture products on sale this week. Buy one at $9.99 get one free. I bought everything but the shampoo. I might try the Curl Enhancing Smoothie tonight so look out for a review. Sale runs from March 27th-April 2nd

Mini Twist Take Down

Several people asked me how I planned on taking down her month old mini twists and if I could make a video so here's a short video showing how I took them down. The sound you hear is the hair getting caught on my bandaide.

The process took between 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The time went by really quickly. We watched Nanny McPhee for the first time and she loved it. I wet her hair and added a generous amount of Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner (old ingredients) and began taking them out. There were three small knots on her ends that were impossible to get out so she had a little breakage but overall we had a great experience and I will definitely do mini twists again.

Gorgeous Updo With Box Braids

Aisha writes:

On the 9th or 10th day of Anisa having her box braids I decided to change them up a bit. I sprayed her braids with a simple water and conditioner mixture and began braiding the front section of her box braids. I gathered a small section near her ear and made a cornrow that led up to the center of her head. I head the other braids out of the way with an ouchless band. I continued to grab sections of her box braids in the front and made cornrows that also led to the center of her head. Anisa ended up falling asleep while I was braiding so I was only able to braid the front section. I was still happy with the results. I gathered the cornrowed section in the front and joined it with the loose box braids in the back. I secured her braids in a high ponytail with an ouchless band. Next, I sprayed the ponytail section and rolled it up using satin covered sponge rollers that were purchased from Wal-Mart. I covered her hair with a satin bonnet for bed and removed the rollers the following day. I did not separate her curls. I knew that they would loosen up and fall a bit on their own while she was at school. Overall, this was a very quick and easy style that gave her box braids a new look.

California Baby Review

Not the best pictures. The first picture was taken with an iPod and the second picture he wouldn't sit still! Both pictures were taken on different days.

California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash

Price: $10 for 8.5oz at Target

Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Decyl Polyglucose (Extracts of Corn, Coconut & Palm Oil) (100%), Vitamin E, Vegetable Glycerin, Citrus Seed Extract, Very Small Amt. (.15%, This is Less Than 1/4 of 1%), Methyl Propylparaben (Of Food Grade)

Review: I decided to try the fragarance free shampoo & body wash because A was recently diagnosed with eczema so I figured I could use this on both A and Lil Man. I washed Lil Man's hair and body with it and it worked pretty good. It did what it's supposed to do- got his hair and skin clean. Nothing too special but I still want to try it as a body wash on A.




California Baby Calendula Hair Conditioner

Price: $10 8.5oz at Target

Ingredients: Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Flower (*)  Aqua (Purifed) Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract (plant wax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Extract (plant wax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Seed Oil (natural sunscreen), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (* hi-oleic safflower oil), Cetearyl Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Rosa Centifolia Water (* rosewater), Herbal Blend, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) (*), Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract (* cactus), Carageenan (Irish Moss) (*), Viola Tricolor (Pansy) Extract (natural sunscreen), Salix Alba (Willow Bark) (natural sunscreen), Yucca Aloifolia Extract (* yucca), Citric Acid (grapefruit), Pure Essential Oils of Lavandula Angustifolia (French lavender), Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) (clary sage), Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine (preservative/amino acids), * Certified Organic

Review: Let me first start out by saying I hate the smell of this stuff! I'm not exactly sure what the smell is but it doesn't agree with my nose. I was surprised because it's a child's product but it was so strong, it did fade after a while though. Aside from the smell, I really like this conditioner. I have been using it as a leave-in and it has left Lil Man's curls soft, defined and moisturized. I've used several things in Lil Man's hair and it seems most products are too heavy for his curls. Other products usually leave his hair really crunchy and make his hair appear to be wet. With this product, it was almost like he had nothing in his hair, just soft, gorgeous curls. A's hair likes heavier products but I'll definitely give this a go probably some time in April.

Again, these products can be purchased at your local Target for about $10. If you have tried California Baby I would love to hear what you think about their products in a comment below!

Mini Twist Update: Day 26

I know I said I was thinking about taking A's twists out on our last update but I decided to keep them in a little longer and I'm glad I did! It has been quite hectic here these past few days. A came down with a stomach virus so she has been very sick since Saturday. She's starting to feel better though. Her father also has pneumonia and he got in a car accident (he's fine, thankfully)!

Anyway, this is just a quick update. We're on day 26 of A's mini twists! I spritzed her twists today and pulled her twists back into a ponytail, added a headband and she was all done. It came out really cute. :)

Girl Power Afro Print

Guest blogger, Aisha writes:

This beautiful print was purchased from Etsy. I love that it shows a little girl with natural hair. Not only does she have natural hair, but she also has power, Girl Power!! It was framed at Hobby Lobby during their half price custom framing promotion. You can purchase your own here: http://www.etsy.com/transaction/43728148

Mini Twists Twisted Back / 21 Day Update

Well, we're on day 21 of A's mini twists. Today I spritzed her twists with water and added a little Blended Cutie Down & Out Styles to hold the frizz down a bit. Her twists are still a little damp in these pictures. I split the top section of her twists down the middle then grabbed a little bit of hair in the front of the right side, split it into two sections and twisted each section around one another, then I began picking up a few twists, adding it to one section, then crossing over, picked up a few more twists, added it to the other section and crossed over, I continued doing this until I got near her ear then I just started twisting them together. I had her hold that section while I did the same exact thing to the left side, I tied it off with a ponytail holder/bow.

I think her twists are holding up pretty well. I have to keep an eye on the twists in the back by her neck because they seem to tangle more. I should have known since most of her tangles are back there anyway. One very small twist in the back tangled at the root so I took that twist down and retwisted. It was easy getting the tangle out, I used a little water and my fingers! I may take her twists out this weekend, I'm not sure yet. I originally wanted to do a style that would last a few weeks to give us both a break. Between Lil Man's physical therapy and me trying to get to the gym on top of other things, to not have to worry about styling her hair for a while has been nice.

Mini Box Braids

Guest Blogger, Aisha, shares the style she created after stretching hair with the African Hair Threading method.





Instructions:

• Anisa's hair was threaded for 3 days. This wasn't the original plan, but she got sick so I had to let her rest. I released the bottom portion first. Releasing the thread was very easy and her hair was nicely stretched. You can see the results of her scissor fiasco! :-/

• I plan to do small box braids on her hair and leave them in for about 3 weeks. Once I take the braids down, she will get a trim.I used my shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil, vitamin E oil mixture while braiding her hair. Since Anisa has eczema, her scalp (and the rest of her body) tend to get itchy. I've found that this mixture helps her. She recently had to get her first prescription meds for her eczema. The cold weather was not kind to her skin this year :-(

• The back is complete.

• I released the top threads before bedtime and made a couple of ponytails for school. I also gathered the box braids into one ponytail.

• The following day I finished braiding both sides and added a simple bun on the top.

• I added ouchless bands to give her braids a crinkly effect. This can also be achieved by braiding or plaiting the braids together.

African Hair Threading

Guest Blogger, Aisha, shares her experience with African Hair Threading.



Instructions:

• I first learned about hair threading from my friend, B, who is from Ghana. She uses this method to stretch her daughter's hair. I always said that it looked to difficult but after seeing several of her styles as well as Nadine's wonderful videos (GirlsLoveYourCurls) I decided to give it a try. I started with clean, detangled, moisturizer hair. Her hair was still wet when I started. Check out her shrinkage!!! I used regular weave thread that was purchased at Sally's for a little over $1. I started by making a knot at the end of the string. Next, I carefully wound the thread around her hair as if I was making a ponytail. Once the base was secure, I continued to move down the remaining portion of that section. I chose to space out the loops while threading her hair because I did not want her hair to be tightly bound. The closer you wrap the thread, the stiffer the braids will be. Threads that are done in this fashion allow for more of a sculptural type style.

• Three braids are done in the back! I had to wrap the thread tightly around the section of her hair that was cut because that portion was sticking out. I've had to be very creative with that section of her hair ever since she cut it.

• Two rows in the back are done. The white stuff that you see is from the Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer. I guess I was a bit heavy handed with it.

• I braided the back together but I changed it once I was completely done.

The results!!! I continued to thread her hair all over, making various parts. I didn't take a picture before I made the ponytails. Sorry!





Check back later to see the style Aisha did after stretching Anisa's hair with the African Threading technique.

Reviews Coming Soon + Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Changed Ingredients

As you all may know, my favorite conditioner has been Herbal Essences Hello Hydration for about 2 years now. I stocked up on the big bottles last year so I didn't know they changed their ingredients until I saw the commercial in January of this year advertising their reformulated conditioner. Instead of trying the new formula, I've decided to experiment a bit and find a new drug store conditioner. I asked you all on for drug store conditioner recommendations on Facebook the other day and I decided to try Yes To Carrots! and Aussie Moist conditioners first. I think I will try one of them when I take A's mini twists down. I also bought some California Baby Shampoo & Conditioner to try on Lil Man so look out for those reviews!

Littleman's Lounge: Hayden

Tell us a little about yourself and your son:
My name is Kara. My son Hayden is a 4 year old boy, he is biracial, Irish and Haitian. His hair is brown and wavy. I think that it was curlier when he was younger.

What is your son's hair care routine?
I wash his hair every other day with Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk shampoo and conditioner. He had his first big haircut when he was two. He now gets trims every two or three months. I never get it cut too short. I love the curls!

What kind of products do you use on his hair?
In the mornings, I spritz his hair with water and then I use a little Organix Cocunut Milk mousse to pump up the curls.

How does your son feel about his hair?
I don’t think he cares that much about his hair, but he never gives us a problem styling it or cutting it.

If you had to share one hair care tip, what would it be?
Find a stylist who listens to you and that you trust. Hayden's hair was butchered one time by a horrible stylist.

Here he is at 1


This was the day of his first haircut. He was just 2.


Three years old.


My baby boy at 4.




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Diva Spotlight: "Sweet Girl"

Tell us a little about yourself & your daughter:
I am a working mother/wife of a very lively, sweet, and adorable 5 year old daughter. She has type 4a, 4b hair. I really enjoy styling her hair. I have personally been natural 2 times prior to now. I have no plans of ever relaxing my hair again. I hope I instill enough love for her natural hair that she will never decide to make the same hair mistakes I have made.

What is your daughter's hair care routine?
Her hair is washed every 4 to 5 days. Most of her hair styles last about 4 days. We don't have a special bedtime routine.

What kind of products do you use on her hair?
Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner
Shea Moisture Shampoo
Curl Enhancing Smoothie for thick, curly hair

Have you ever used chemicals on her hair?
No

Can we see a few of your favorite styles?
Please see attachments. She likes wearing her afro.













How did you learn to do all of this?
I learned how to style her hair by styling my own natural hair. When I was natural the first time back in 2002 I didn't have the type of resources I have now like tons of Youtube videos and natural hair blogs; so it was a lot of trial and error.

How does your daughter feel about her hair? Can we see her favorite style?
I think she likes her natural hair. She does have moments when she would like it to be straight because of what she views on TV or my own straight styles prior to Oct. 2010.

If you had to share one hair care tip, what would it be?
I make it a habit not to pull her hair too tight especially around the edges. I hate to see little girls with damaged edges from ponytails or braids that have been pulled too tight.

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How cute is "Sweet Girl"? I would like to thank her mother for sharing. Good point on not pulling the edges too tight. Keep up the great work!

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