Long Time No See / New Discount Code

It's been so long, hasn't it?? No worries, we will be back with lots of updates soon!

Although I haven't been blogging much, I've obviously still been styling Miss A's hair. And, yes... we are still using our beloved Bee Mine Products, in-case you were wondering. Speaking of, we have a new discount code for our fabulous readers. (see below)

Preview / Styled with Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer

Preview / Styled with Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer

You can use discount code SUMMER14BBB to receive 10% off your purchase only at www.beemineproducts.com

Don't forget to follow us on instagram! @beadsbraidsbeyond and check us out on Facebook!

Natural Hairstyle for Kids: Fish Bone Cornrows

By Aisha of Braid with Me 

We're back with a new style!! It has been such a long time since our last post. Anisa is now a 4th grader!! Where has time gone?? My baby is growing up! 

The Style

For this style, I started with hair that was previously styled in several two-strand twist ponytails. I sectioned her hair into four sections, two on each side of her head. Next, I began parting and braiding her hair in a fish bone style. 

Sections A and D were cornrowed straight to the back. I began cornrowing Section B but stopped at the midway point. I began Section C the same way as Section B and continued it with the remaining hair from Section B. This section is labeled as Section B2 in the following picture. The remaining hair from Section C was cornrowed separately to form Section C2. 

This style can be worn straight to the back or to the side. You also have the option to pin it up into a cute bun. 

Products Used

As I Am Coconut CoWash

As I Am Leave-In Conditioner

FAQs

How long did it take? I did not complete this style in one sitting. I began braiding and took several breaks. 

How long will this style last? This style should last for awhile with proper care. However, she has school pictures coming up soon so she will get a new style. 

What will you do to preserve this style? Anisa will protect her hair each night with a satin bonnet. I will also moisturize her hair with a water and olive oil mixture that I have in a spray bottle. I will also use the As I Am Leave-In Conditioner as needed. 

If you're not familiar with fish bone cornrows, check out this tutorial that we did when Anisa was only 6 years old. She is really growing up! It's sad, but I am blessed to be able to experience this with her.  

Let us know what you think about this style by leaving a comment below. Also, is there a style that you would like for me to recreate or try? Let us know. I'm always open to new ideas! 

Bee Mine Products Back to School Sale!

Our FAVORITE hair products is having a BACK TO SCHOOL SALE! Starting tomorrow, Friday, August 16th - August 18th. Receive 20% off your purchase using discount code: BTS13BBB only at www.beemineproducts.com

They are also introducing their new curly butter scent, Kiwi-Strawberry... I can't wait to try it!!!

Little Girls Natural Hairstyle: Flexi-rod Updo with Cornrows

Miss A's cousin, Lil Bit!

This hair style is absolutely adorable for little girls (and big girls!) and perfect for any occasion!

Tools needed:

• Ouchless bands (for banding)
• A brush for detangling (I used Denman D4)
• A comb for parting
• Green 1/4" Flexi-rods (6 come in each pack, I believe I used 5 packs)
• A few bobbypins 
• Rubberbands
• Products for styling

I used the following products:

• Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer
• Bee Mine Curly Butter
• Curls (for Target) Curl Control Paste

 (Use code: BBBSPRING for 10% off your Bee Mine Products Purchase!)

Helpful posts:

• What is Banding? Banding Frequently Asked Questions
• Cornrowing for Beginners
• Pictures to show how I use flexi-rods

Instructions:

•  I washed and detangled Lil Bit's hair. After washing I applied a generous amount of Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer to her hair from root to tip and banded her hair in 3 sections to stretch it for styling. (see photo below)

Instagram picture. Follow us @beadsbraidsbeyond

• I left the bands on for a few hours. I prefer keeping the bands in overnight however we did not have enough time so once I removed the bands her hair was stretched but slightly damp.
• Using my comb, I parted a circle on the top of her head and tied it off. This section of hair is where I wanted the curls to be.
• At the nape of her neck I began parting at a slight curve coming up to the top section of hair I had previously parted. I added a small amount of Bee Mine Curly Butter to each section I cornrowed and tied off each cornrow with a rubberband. 
• Once all of her cornrows were in I grabbed the 1/4" green flexi-rods, applied an even amount of Curls Control Paste to 1 to 2 inch sections and rolled the flexi-rod on to the hair. Instead of bending the rods I simply put a hair tie on the ends to hold them in place. See picture below.

• Her hair was already dry at this point so there was no heat involved. I never use heat when I use flexi-rods anyway which is why I use a product with good hold. I leave the flexi-rods in long enough for the curl to shape. I left these flexi-rods in for about an hour and a half while she played tea party with her cousins and sister.
• After an hour and a half I gently rolled off each flexirod and used 3 bobby pins to pin any falling curls to the front. 
• I added a small bow and viola! Beautiful!

Lil Bit absolutely loved her hair! She said she felt like she was in heaven and danced in front of the mirror for a good 30 minutes. Pleased indeed.

A few extras just in case you want to pin them on Pinterest!

Bonus! Stop by the blog later to see how I achieved Ky's twist out! (pictured below)

Let's connect!

 |Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram (@beadsbraidsbeyond) 

| Twitter (@beadsbraidsblog) | Youtube |

Looking forward to seeing you there! :)

Little Girls Natural Hairstyle: Curled Cornrows & Afro Barbie Set by Miss Teeny Fab Couture Review!

First of all, how adorable is this afro puff barbie tshirt and bow set? Love it! It's by Miss Teeny Fab Couture but we'll get back to that in a moment.

Let's talk about this simple little girls natural hair style! 

Instructions:

• Her hair hair was previously moisturized with Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer and banded before styling. If you are not sure what banding is, it's a simple way to stretch the curls without the use of heat, check out this post for more info. I find working with stretched hair a lot more easier, you don't have to do it though. Totally up to you.
• With a metal rat tail comb, I parted a large circle on the top of her hair leaving some hair out on each side and tied the back section off.
• Working with just the parted circle section of hair, I began parting a section of hair to cornrow starting at the front of her forehead going all the way around the circle. Somewhat of a swirled effect.
• I applied a little Bee Mine Curly butter to each section and proceeded to cornrow. I continued parting in that swirl effect within the circle until the top section was complete. If you do not know how to cornrow make sure you check out our cornrowing for beginners post
• Once the top was complete I moved on to the back and simply parted front the front of her head down to the nape of her neck, added curly butter and cornrowed. At the end of each cornrow I added a flexi-rod about half way up the braid to curl them.
• I left the flexi-rods in for about 30 minutes, once I took them out the braids were loosely curled.

That's it! Like I said, very simple if you know how to cornrow and totally adorable for a little girl. Especially with a super cute bow on the side! Feel free to accessorize however you like.

If you're interested in trying Bee Mine Products (our favorite!!!) don't forget we have a reader discount code! You can use code BBBSPRING for 10% off your purchase only at www.beemineproducts.com Happy Shopping!

On to the review... Miss Teeny Fab Couture generously sent Miss A this adorable shirt/bow set and we both fell in love with it! It's all very well made, even after washing the shirt still looks awesome. Miss A received so many compliments on it. I mean, it's not often that you see an afro barbie set! I love the 3d bow on the shirt, too cute for words!

Miss Teeny Fab Couture makes pretty much anything you want so make sure you stop by and "like" their facebook page! >>>HERE<<<

Top 10 Most Popular Natural Hair Styles for Little Girls

Braids, twists, cornrows, twist outs, beads, oh my! I know how overwhelming it is looking for natural hair styles for little girls on our blog with hundreds of styles to choose from. I'm here to share with you the top 10 most viewed (on Beads, Braids & Beyond) natural hair styles for our curly and kinky haired gals!

Number 1 - Natural Hair Styles for Little Girls: Cornrows & Twist Out - Flat Twists & Twist Out
I guess it's no surprise that a simple but pretty hair style like this one is number one at 44k+ views. This style is very easy as long as you know how to cornrow. Basic cornrows with a twist out topped off with some cute bows from Gymboree and your little lady is good to go! Read more...

Number 2 - Little Girls Natural Hairstyles: Twist Out's + Puff with Twisted Bang

With 28k+ views and counting this post showcasing three completely different little girls hair types comes in a strong second. Cornrows, twist outs, puffs, what's not to love here? Read more...

Number 3 - Half Cornrows & Twist Out

Over 21k+ views! As you can see, cornrows and twist outs are very popular for African American and biracial little girls. I'll echo what I said for number 1, this style is very simple as long as you know how to cornrow. The cornrow pattern is slightly different here but nothing too intricate. Read more...

Number 4 - Side Cornrows into Sister (Rope) Twists

One of my personal favorite hair styles for my little girl! Coming in fourth at 20k+ views. Inspired by singer and actress  Jill Scott and the beautiful Tiashauntee of Her Best Hair. Not only is this style cute, but it stays put for up to two weeks if cared for properly. We love protective styles for little girls as long as they are not done too tightly. Read more...

Number 5 - Natural Box Braids

Ah, yes. Back to the basics. Over 18k+ views, natural box braids comes in at number 5! What little girl doesn't love to swing her braids? Not a care in the world. Dress the braids up with beads or barrettes or keep it simple with bows or a headband. Curl the braids. Put the braids in ponytails. The possibilities are endless! The best part? They can last 4+ weeks with proper care! Happy mommy and child! Read more...

Stop by later this week to see the remaining styles in our Top 10 Most Popular Natural Hair Styles for Little Girls series and see if your favorite style made the cut!

Of course these are just the top 10 most viewed styles on our blog so these may not be your top 10 hair styles for natural little girls. 

I'm curious to know; did your favorite hair style make the list? If so, which one? If not, what is your favorite natural hair style for your little girl? Better yet, feel free to share pictures of your favorite style on our new Facebook page, Beads, Braids & Beyond. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Introducing New Guest Blogger: Carrie Fay

By: Carrie Fay of Amaro Baby

I never in a million years thought that "cornrow" would be a regular part of my vocabulary.  Seriously.  Let alone flat twist... beads... bantu knots or the hundreds of other words that float around our house.  

But then Violet joined our family and my world was turned upside down in a thousand perfect ways, not the least of which is caring for her amazing hair.     

With practically no hair on her head the day she turned 11 months (also they day we met!) she and I have learned this process together, step by step.  Slowly, steadily, and to both of our great delights.  Now we eagerly anticipate hair days.  We collaborate on styles, colors, and the movies to include in our movie marathons.  (Hair days are fun for lots of reasons, people!)   

I get a little too excited talking about hair, can you tell?  So excited that I forget to write about what I'm SUPPOSED to write about:  A little about myself.  I am a proud mama to Violet (3 years old) and Daniel (5 years old).  I am a wife to the most ridiculously amazing husband out there.  I have experienced motherhood through adoption and through pregnancy.  I am a photographer and am relentless in my attempts to stop time (or at least slow it down!) through photography.  I am totally in love with Jesus.  Also, ice-cream.  I am a part of a family where no one matches - four skin tones, four hair types, four different stories - and we love it.  I began homeschooling our two kiddos a few months ago and am daily floored by the experience - it's beyond my wildest expectations.   

I am beyond thrilled to guest post on one of my all time favorite hair blogs.  Violet and I owe so much to the online community of natural hair care supporters/educators and it's my hope that I can encourage the mamas out there who are just starting out, just reaching out for information about natural hair.  You CAN do this!  One cornrow at a time.  

Now, if you'll excuse me.  Hair day is tomorrow and Miss Violet is in the next room, trying to decide on bead colors for her yarn twists.  It might not be the most important decision we'll make all week, but I wouldn't miss it for the world.  

New Blog:  In the works!

Old (Outdated!) Blog:  www.amarobaby.blogspot.com 

Miss A's 7th Birthday...in the hospital?!

Hi everyone!

I know it's been a while. There have been so many changes going on in my life lately that I don't even know where to begin!

Let me first start by saying I'm sure most of you noticed our Beads, Braids & Beyond Facebook page is gone. I don't know why. I don't know how. It has saddened me and I was quite depressed over it. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to make another one but I did. We're nowhere near our 40k + likes but I know with your help we can get there. Please go like the new page www.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsBeyond and share it with your friends. Thank you so much!

I guess I'll just cut to the chase, Miss A's 7th birthday was last week. After work I took her to a new game room where we live and she had a blast. It was nice just spending some 1-on-1 mother/daughter time. I got a new job a couple of months ago so time has been limited. We try to enjoy every moment we have now that's for sure!

Birthday braids with beads

The next day I was at work and received a call. Miss A had just had a seizure. Many of you know Miss A was diagnosed with epilepsy last Spring. Read more about that here. I grabbed my keys, eyes full of tears and rushed out the door. As I was in a hurry driving to the hospital, the ambulance was rushing her to the emergency room. Once I arrived, she was sleeping. She gets very sleepy after having a seizure, which seems to be pretty common.

Always smiling

Miss A was in the hospital for 4 days. They did an MRI and a 24 hour video EEG. The MRI results were normal. The EEG was abnormal, which was to be expected. The neurologist said she had about 6 "starring spells" or "mini seizures" within the first 2 1/2 hours which can easily go unnoticed as they only last about 10 seconds each. He increased her medication so we're home now and hoping and praying for the best. 

I'd like to take a moment to thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. We truly appreciate it!

Please don't forget to go "like" our new Facebook page!

www.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsBeyond

Reader Mail! "Just an appreciation for your website"

Crystal's girls

I just received this email from a reader, Crystal. I absolutely love it and had to share. Her girls are complete dolls! :)

I love hearing from you all! If you would like to share something email me at beadsbraidsbeyond@yahoo.com

-Nikki

Hi my name is Crystal, I have two daughters (6&8) both with natural hair. I do not know their type but to me it's a headache. In the pictures I sent, you can see the various styles I try on their heads n this is just a few. Every summer I give them braids w/beads because it's easier and less maintenance and they r on a swim team so its easier for the pool. During the school year it's mainly ponytails ranging from 1-20. I do their hair every morning. I have been searching for the right hair products since their age of 2. Looking for the right grease that does not dry out the hair, shampoo that does not leave the hair in a tangled mess, and the right kind of moisturizer that will keep their natural curls for the day at least. 
I am soooo happy that I found your website that can guide me in the right direction for not only my girls hair but mine too. (Now I can stop asking people on the street 20 questions about their hair) :-) Thank you so much for your concerns for others and their hair. 
-Crystal