Little Girls Natural Hair Style: Flat Twist Ponytails with Twisted Bangs & Rainbow Beads

By: Carrie Fay of Amaro Baby

With hair as amazing as Violet's, it's easy for me to get carried away with new styles.  Sometimes I lose track of the fact that my daughter is only 3 years old and does not (in my opinion) need to look any older thanks to the too-fancy styles that I can't seem to resist.  So it's refreshing when we find those styles that are simple enough for me to do, sturdy enough to last a week or two, and CUTE enough to make her look like the adorable 3 year old that she is.  

This is one of our "go to" styles:  Flat twist ponytail(s) with twisted bangs and rainbow beads.  

Flat twists have always worked better on Violet's hair than cornrows for keeping the fuzzies away, and some type of bangs just seem to suit her.  It adds a feminine touch and protects her hairline better.  Beads aren't something we normally do, but when we do them, it's usually a "color explosion" kind of thing.  (Once, my five year old son asked me, "Can we just put Violet's hair back the way God made it?  You know, with rainbow beads??")

We opted for heart snaps at the end of each twist this time.  Last time we did beads, we used rubber bands and saw a bit more breakage on the ends than I would like to see.  Snaps fall out occasionally, but I'd rather that than cause damaged hair.  

Anyway.  This is our style for the week.  The pigtails and colors suit her fun personality and her age.  And most importantly, Violet is a happy camper.  She loves her rainbow beads, skipping and jumping around the house to feel those pigtails swinging (and as a direct result, we can hear every. single. step she takes... another wonderful perk of a head full of beads!).  

Have a great week, everyone!  

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 

Braided, Twisted & Rolled: Day 2, 4 and 5 Updates

Guest post from our guest blogger Aisha of Braid with Me

I decided to share a few pictures to let everyone know how Anisa's Braided, Twisted, and Rolled style is holding up. I am pleased to say that it is holding up very well! I've been moisturizing her hair with Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk and Bee Mine Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz. I must say that it has been doing a great job! She also wears a satin bonnet at night in addition to her satin pillowcase.

Here are pictures from Day 2.

We were really busy on Day 3 so I didn't get a chance to take pictures.  On Day 4 I decided to leave her twists down instead of rolling them. This gave the style a whole new look!

On Day 5 her twists were rolled and pinned once again. Frizz is visible but I am still pleased with how it looks.

The final variation will be a braid/twist out so stay tuned!!

Mini Braid Updates

Guest blogger Aisha sent some updates on her Anisa's mini braids. Read below for more info!


This is when Aisha restyled Anisa's mini braids a few weeks ago. Aisha says: I used my mixture when I redid them. That's why they look so shiny. I also started the box braids in the front and on top by doing a small cornrow first.

Aisha's mixture: Shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil and vitamin e oil


Aisha changed up the top a few weeks later and added some cornrows. Aisha adds: I like how changing the front gave her braids new life!


And here's a cute updo Aisha sent me a few days ago!

Love it! Thanks Aisha for sharing updates! :)

D.I.Y. Fabric Flower Tutorial

Hey all! I haven't been posting much lately for a couple of reasons, 1. I've been sick! and 2. A's mini braids are still in! So I don't have too much to say right now but I did want to post this adorable fabric flower tutorial. This is a guest blog from Addy of Noah's Crew, please check out her blog and Etsy shop.

So, just a little about Addy, she's a mother of two and she enjoys making accesories (particularly for her children). She has 2 little girls, one is 7 and the baby is 7 months old. Check out her tutorial below!

Cuteness overload!

I don't know about you, but I am OBSESSED with flowers, fabric flowers, beaded flowers, paper mache flowers, you name it, I love it. This is what I made for Baby S this weekend and of course girls of all ages can wear it too :) Enjoy!

Materials:
Fabric
scissors
piece of felt in a coordinating color
needle and coordinating thread
alligator clip
brooch pin (optional)
headband (optional)
button
loaded glue gun

1. Cut out the 6 large and 6 medium circles in your chosen fabrics. I used two fabrics here but the possibilities are endless, its up to you.

2. Cut a medium sized circle piece of felt. Fold each of the large circles in half and then in half again and lay them on your cut out felt, overlapping them as shown below. With needle and thread at the center, sew through the first layer and then the second layer, to secure the flower petals and hold everything together. Leave the thread intact, do not clip it yet.

3. Use the same thread you used in step 2, attach button to the center of the flower, then clip the thread.

4. Secure the brooch pin, I used hot glue but you can sew it on. Cut another piece of felt, apply the hot glue and attach as in the picture below.

5. You are done! yayyyy! :) Attach as a brooch, hair clip or headband to your lovely one.

Cornrows & Pigtails

Another gorgeous style from our guest blogger Aisha and her beautiful daughter Anisa!



I cowashed Anisa's hair with Suave Almond and Shea Butter Moisturizing Conditioner the night before I did this style. I moisturized with Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk and banded her hair in several sections.


I used unrefined shea butter while braiding her hair. In this picture I used ouchless bands to hold the finished sections together until I was completely done.


Her ponytails are secured with an ouchless band.









If you have any questions, feel free to ask in a comment.

Littleman's Lounge: King

You've met his big sister, Anisa (the cute little girl you always see in the guest blogs!), now it's time to meet her baby brother, King!

Tell us a little about yourself and your son:

King is my 17 month old son.  I always share pics and info about Anisa so I thought it was time to share a little bit about him. He has never had a haircut and I don’t plan on cutting it anytime soon. I’m thinking about locs in the future but we’ll see.

 

What is your son's hair care routine?

His routine is nonexistent at the moment. I’ve been styling his hair more but there is no routine in place. My go-to styles are cornrows or puffs. I wash his hair as needed (again, there is no set time). I mostly co-wash his hair but when I use a “shampoo” I use the Bee Mine Bee Nourished Ayurvedic Herbal Bar. I was using the HEHH (old ingredients) for his co-washes but I will probably start using the Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Moisturizing Conditioner until I find something else.

 

What kind of products do you use on his hair?

I mostly use Bee Mine products on his hair. If not, I will use my own mixture of shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil and vitamin E oil. I also use Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Lite: The Curl Booster.

 

Can we see some hair pictures?

Of course!

Newborn - His hair was very straight!


Baby mohawk
Dec. '09


His very first cornrows at 7 months




Curls


His bald spot. Anisa was the exact same way!


More recent cornrows -3/29/11




Puffs
Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Lite: The Curl Booster

 

How does your son feel about his hair?

He’s not talking yet but he definitely knows about hair! He likes to watch me do Anisa’s hair and he like to grab the hair bands and try to put them in his hair! Lol! He also likes to get the comb and try to comb his hair.

 

If you had to share one hair care tip, what would it be?

My tip would be to encourage your kids to love who they are. They need to know that they are beautiful! Another tip would be that healthy hair is far more important than length.