Could YOU be your hair's worst enemy?

Check out this piece on Examiner.com on the many things we could stop doing to help restore our hair to health. You may be surprised to find that you are committing one or more of these unhealthy hair offenses every day!

 

 

 

http://www.examiner.com/article/you-may-be-stunting-your-hair-growth

Take the natural plunge...but read this first!

Contemplating the big step of whether to go natural or keep your relaxer? One really big question is how will you look? You’ve had a relaxer since you were in fifth grade and can’t even remember what your kinks/curls look like. For you the benefits of letting go of the “cream crack” definitely out way the cons, but you are in Cooperate America, you work on high profile cases, your colleagues are mainly non-minorities who may not "get it" and frankly you cannot take the chance of losing your creditability just because you have decided to be true to your own creed.

Fear is associated with any major change in life, even if the change is a good one. Think back to when you got married or had a child, graduated from college or decided to go back to school. All those decisions were for the better but involved a certain amount of risk. Similarly, the choice of whether to maintain a relaxer or free your natural locs can be a source of anxiety.

Unfortunately, all risk cannot be removed from a controversial choice, but here are a few suggestions that may make going natural (if that’s what you really want to do) just a little easier.

1.     Try to ensure that you keep your transitioning tresses as healthy as possible. Keep your hair moisturized and manageable. For tips on maintaining moistrure in your natural locs click here or for products that promote healthy hair click here.

2.     Don’t want to go from long relaxed locs to a super mini fro, which may be all the new growth you have developed in the process. Don’t chop it all off. Maintain your two textures by seeking out a professional who is well versed in helping to make the transition from relaxer to natural. Let yourself get used to the curls first, give it time to get some length to it and then (when you are absolutely ready) cut the relaxer and enjoy your natural freedom.

3.     Finally, get a preview of how you may look once the relaxer is all gone. Some natural seekers are going for dread locs or twists. Some want a bountiful afro still other are searching for cascading curls. You may not have noticed but there is a wig to simulate all those looks. Pick one up, try it on and get a feel for how you will look with a “natural”. The wig is a fairly inexpensive, non-committed way to see if this is what you really want and if you will really “love” yourself in curls as much as you think you might love yourself in curls

My own little experiement with natural locs!

The fact remains, this is a big step. It is an affair that must not be entered into lightly. BUT if you do decide to take your look back to Eden, stay empowered, be informed and keep it healthy!

For all sorts of tips on all hair types and updates on what’s hot for fall 2012 click here.

FALL FASHION SHOWS DEBUT NEW LOOKS FOR FALL: EXAMINER.COM

Fashion week unveiled some interesting new trends that can make getting through fall not so “ho hum”

1.    The high bun: Reminiscent of your days as a ballerina at your first recital this spin on the bun can be achieved several different ways. Pull hair up into a high pony, tease then tuck. Do a loose, effortless “just left the gym” look. A tight top not with long fringy bangs looks cute as well. Just remember, the higher the better!

2.    Bangs: Bangs are really not a new style, stylist just keep re-inventing the look to make it fresh and new each season. Thick, blunt, wide bangs are back in as seen on the run way at Marni. Layered and pixie-ish are still all the rage for short hair. A high bang, way above the brow, defined by long hair on the sides can make for a dramatic look. Be sure to choose a bang style that best fits your face.

3.    The braid: Braids just won’t stop! Summer time boasted all sorts of fancy frocks filled with braids. The fall continues the trend. Braid head bands are in. Messy side swept braids are in. Braided bangs are in. French braids, cornrows and twists of all sorts are in.

4.    Color: No more is outrageous color reserved for the fashion misfits or anti-fashionista. The run way was flooded rivers of color! The Haider Ackermann show demonstrated bold, colorful hairlines on wet, slicked back hair. Katy Perry- esque color chunks showed up as well. Locs that looked as though they had been dipped in water color made an appearance too. It seems anything goes as far as personal expression and color is concerned.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE FULL ARTICLE @ EXAMINER.COM

REVIEW: Naturally You by Motions

In a quest to keep my daughter's thirsty curls quenched, I will try new things from time to time.  Call it luck or coincidence I stumbled upon this product that works but then again not so much...

Let me explain…

The latest product in review is Naturally You by Motions. We are all familiar with the original Motions hair care line. There are products that I love within the line and some that just do not deliver. If you have had this kind of up and down relationship with Motions you may have abandoned usage by now in search of a much more reliable source for hair care.

Given a lead from a reader I decided to track down (no easy task) this new addition to the Motions line of hair care products to see if it was any more promising than its original counterpart. I literally looked high and low as this product is not sold at all the locations referenced on the Motions website. I called around and stopped in hoping to find this "wonderful" new product for natural curls.

The long and short of it is that the Hydrate My CurlsPudding is pretty good. It added shine and luster not to mention moisture to my 2 year old’s curly cues. The shampoo and conditioner, however, did not perform as well. In all honesty, her hair dried out tremendously and it was very difficult to detangle. I was quite confused as the products are all marketed together claiming that continued use in combination with one another as a complete hair care system will make your hair care experience even better. Not the case for me.

Day two after playing and rolling in her favorite blankie...not too bad.

Washed and Hydrate My Curls was applied.

In it’s defense, Naturally You is very new on the market so I feel an "all new and improved formula" coming on in the near future.

Note: the Hydrate My Curls does build up so I wouldn’t use it every day. My favorite hair care product for her curly styles is still Organics: Texture My Way. I still have yet to find any "natural hair" care prodcut that can out perform it in terms of adding moisture without adding build-up while maintaining soft supple curls all day long.

Still my all time favorite!

As natural hair care products go, I would not give this line a failing grade, but I do not think it will live up to the hype. I will not be purchasing another round.

Click Here to see Naturally You for yourself

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EXAMINER.COM for a different perspective

Examine the science of hair

Check out my page on Examiner.com for a slightly different perspective on hair care. There we take a look at fashion and what’s trending in health and beauty. We also focus on breaking the down the topics you are most interested in and that best serve our readers like how to REALLY stimulate hair growth. From science to fads to celebrity styles, it’s all covered on my professional page @ Examiner.com. Subscribe today to get updates!

Growth Update

It’s no secret that the tragedy of having to repair my little one’s precious locs was the motivation for this inspirational hair blog. Thus far we have gotten so much positive feedback from parents celebrating our efforts to inspire, encourage and inform. Some have said that they wish this page was around before their daughters reached adulthood, but that now they use some of the tips on their own hair. Still others try these simple but useful tips on their young daughters who are currently toddler and youth age. Either way, we are glad that sharing our stories have given hope and inspiration to our faithful readers. AND There is still more to come...

Now, here is a little more inspiration to offer for parents who have had a tragic hair experience like ours. Just to recap, my now five year old was born with a head full of fluffy dark locs. Her hair was strong and coarse and beautiful. At about the age of three and half I decided that it may be best to take her to a “professional” to maintain her hair health. Her hair was healthy and there was no indication of breakage or split ends. She hated for me to tackle her head full of hair so I thought that maybe she would act better for someone else.

So sad that I figured out too late that my task is a gift. I should have just endured the tears and the tantrums of a little girl. If only I had had a crystal ball, I would have never conceded to my fatigue and bewilderment from her carrying on. BUT unfortunately I did concede and the result was severe heat damage to my oldest daughter’s hair. My belief is that the dryer was way too hot and her hair was burned or singed. At that time she had several inches of beautiful, long pony tails. Since I first noticed the terrible damage till now, I have trimmed off at least 6 inches or more of her hair.

This story, however, does have a happy ending. Below is a current photo of her new hair growth.

Huge healthy puffs, yay!!

I think you may be able to see the braids down her back on this very poor iphone snapshot. Doesn't help that she is wearing a black t-shirt, huh? LOL!

It is not quite as long as it once was but it has grown out quite a bit. She and I are very happy and hope that her hair health continues.

What has contributed to the new growth? First, as with any form of health, it begins from the inside. We made sure to increase the protein in her diet (which is quite a task in its self since she does not eat red meat and barely eats chicken). We added Omegas as well; not to mention lots of hydration like water and Vitamin Water Zero. After we made sure her diet was satisfactory, we made sure to nourish the outside as well. This blog has chronicled much of our journey to discover the best products for her hair and the hair of my younger daughter as well. Without rehashing all the products, the consistency shared by all the products that actually worked was moisture and detangling ability. We applied pre-shampoo treatments prior to shampooing by weekly (we would go three weeks sometimes). We decreased heat, eliminating blow drying and when we did decide to use a flat iron or straightening comb, it was used with caution ensuring that the dial was not turned up to hot. All of the above served to promote and maintain growth. Half way through our process I discovered Doo Gro, Stimulating Growth Oil. I use this on both girls’ hair. I don’t know how much affect it has had on growth by its self, but it adds moisture to the scalp and some of the ingredients stimulate scalp circulation. These attributes can’t hurt. We have a ways to go, but I believe we are on the right track.

Stay on this journey with us and let’s keep finding new and innovative ways to keep our little ones healthy and beautiful.

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Shake it up for a change

If you are like me it is hard to change. AND staying in the same old rut can be easy and does not require a lot of thought. Two Heads keeps me searching for new ways to twist the tried and true but still keep it fairly easy on mommy (and daddy).

The below is my five year old sporting a spin off of the same old two pig tails style that every little girl has worn at least a million times :-).

Usually, when we do this style, we simply part her hair straight down the middle and pull each side of her hair up into two pig tails. We accent with barrettes on either side of the part and call it a day. Well, this particular day we wanted to be a little risqué and take a departure from the norm.

So this time we started with a zig zag part (which can be a little tricky). The part takes a little time because you want each zig and zag to be sharp and definitive so you may need to practice. By the way, I purposely have a little more hair on one side than the other. I love how it looks a little off set. I then zig zagged a little piece to the side at the nape of her neck to add a little interest. And finally we added two tendrils on each side to accent her little face. Instead of leaving the pig tails loose or braiding them like normal, I looped them over into puffs. I still added barrettes on either side and little tiny accessories to the tendrils. As you can see the tendrils are loosely twisted.

And there you have it…a little twist on the old school pig tails.  Shake it up!

Skirt: Target

Leggings: Target (2 seasons ago :-) can't believe they still fit)

Top: A gift from her grandmother

Sandals: Gymboree (last season)

Hair accessories: Walmart (believe it or not ;-))

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Daily moisture

 

Ethnic hair of all textures needs moisture to grow and stay healthy. I just can’t stress that enough. So here is a quick tip to help you keep your little ones hair moist.

My two year old always looks most flattering when she is good and moisturized

By adding Doo Gro, Stimulating Growth oil and extra virgin olive oil moisture can be retained. Bring out the curls even more with pink oil moisturizer.

Dress: Baby Gap

The end of WEN

It is difficult when we are unable to give a product a glowing endorsement, but when we have to deliver unfavorable news, we are more than willing to explain why. First, however, we must stressed as we do with every post, that what works for one may not work for the other. You may use a product and get wonderful results when our findings were lack luster. With that said, always try it for yourself. Our reviews are based on our personal experiences and the experiences of our faithful readers.

The verdict is in…we are discontinuing of use of WEN. The reason is simple. The product does not provide and detangling aid. Here on Two Heads, we stress the need for good detangling products for all hair types. Heres why:

1.       Hair is elastic (it stretches), but not unbreakable

2.       Hair is at its weakest when it is wet

3.       Taking into consideration the above notes, when detangling after shampooing, strand will stretch and pop (break) if the comb is not allowed to glide smoothly.

4.       Poor detangling habits can cause split ends

5.       Poor detangling habits is a main reason for African American hair breakage

Now, there are many factors that contribute to whether hair is easy to detangle:

1.       Hair texture (of course the tighter the curl, the more difficult it is to detangle)

2.       Moisture is an important factor in good detangling. If hair is moist is will detangle easier

3.       The technique one uses to shampoo hair can potential tangle hair

4.       Shampoos and conditioners can contribute to adding moisture to hair therefore making it easier to detangle (ie., if your shampoo and conditioner dries your hair out it probably will be difficult to detangle

Now, all of the above is sheer rhetoric if it can’t be applied practically.

Well here is the long and short of it all. No matter how the product boasts to be natural and full of “healthy” ingredients that health did not translate into the styling process. Don’t get me wrong I felt good about using a product that would not strip my daughters’ hair. I liked the idea of using a product that was supposedly helpful not harmful, but every time I used WEN, I would have to use it in conjunction with another product, namely a detangler or moisturizer to achieve the desired outcome. This just seemed a little backwards to me.

My final thought is that WEN is not at all a bad product, but if your primary concern is lack of moisture and breakage (as mine is with my oldest child) then WEN is not for you.

As a side bar, WEN performed satisfactorily on my youngest daughter’s hair, but it too seemed more dull and less soft at the end of the styling process when I used the WEN solely. When added with other products, WEN was fine, but if you go back to one of our first posts, WEN: Does it really work? , it is supposed to be a product that can stand alone. It is not advertised as an adjunct therapy.

Back to the 80's...again...

Janet

Grown girls I have a look for YOU! You can even share it with your little girl if you like. It’s the 80’s side swiped pony. In the 80’s it was worn by Janet Jackson on the cover of her breakout hit album, Control and Jada Pinkett-Smith just dawned a side shaven version of the look for the 2012 Kid’s Choice Awards. I can honestly say I have worn this style since I was a kid…in the 80’s.

Me, Rocking a much more toned down, everyday version of the 1980's look

I was in third grade in 1987 and I wore this hair style then (I probably should not admit that). I loved it then and I love it still. It can be worn simple or chic, for church or for prom or even for everyday. I love the versatility and simplicity of this look and I recommend it if you want to break out of the normal pony tail and do something funky. Every time I do this style, my older daughter says, “Mommy you look so pretty”, so I take her word for it (probably shouldn’t admit that either; taking fashion advice from a five year old may not be wise). Confirmation comes, however, when my husband, friends and total strangers stop me to tell me how totally cute and totally 80’s I look. The 80’s part is the coolest part. I am actually one of those people who truly think the 80’s was a good decade (at least some of it). After all, the 80’s gave us He-Man and She-ra and Janet, “Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty”. During the 80’s we got some really cool movies like The Terminator and great Directors like Spike Lee (remember School Daze). Let’s not forget great songs like We Are the World and fashion trends like ripped jeans (which I still rock to this day). In the 80’s Princess Diana married Prince Charles and Prince released Purple Rain. Unfortunately, I can think of some not so cool 80’s moments, even sad ones that occurred, but let’s face it, the 80’s have resurfaced, rehashed, and revived more times than Elizabeth Taylor said “I do” (an event that happen at least once in the 80’s I’m sure).  They are really not going to ever totally go away (at least not as long as I am around). So I thought it only fitting to spread my love of the 1980’s and share a style that can work for you or your little lady. Work it!

Jada at the 2012 Kid's Choice Awards

P.S. Just in case you are too young to remember my 80's references, just click on the highlighted, underlined words and catch up on your 80's trivia. You're welcome!

Need a style for a special occasion...here you go!

She was not expecting me to take this pic so early in the morning :-)

With Easter right around the corner. Mommas and Daddies may be looking for a cute easy look that will work perfectly with your precious one’s Easter ensemble. Well, I’ve got one for you, but…

I cannot take credit for this super cute special occasion hair style…although I would love to. This look was created by my mother.

A WORD ABOUT MY MOTHER: Mimi, as the kids affectionately call her, is a perfectionist. She expects her grannies to be on point at all times and will accept nothing less. Nothing but the best for her babies. Needless to say, when the girls step out with Mimi…they step out correct. Grandmothers, I must add, have this luxury, for they are, after all grandmothers and their responsibilities have decreased with time. Mine, however, have increased. Therefore I cannot profess that they always look GQ when they are with me…but I digress…

At any rate, the special occasion that this look was created for was church. A style this fancy should be reserved for a special occasion at church or Easter or Christmas as it requires heat to create and I am not a huge proponent of adding heat. I do believe, however, if done in moderation and with a conservative caution it is ok from time to time. Note: if you are totally against heat all together, you can create this style by braiding your child’s hair and leaving it over night. Even if her hair is naturally curly, braiding her hair with a pomade and leaving it for several hours or overnight will lock in a wave pattern or a "crimped" look that may be a unique departure from her usual "curly" look.

Mimi would say start by making sure your parts are straight! For the top section be careful to ensure that the two parts on either side do not extend farther down than the outer tip of the brow (only because it looks a little funny). In other words, make sure each part lines up with about the middle of her eyebrow. It looks more balanced that way. Then make a horizontal part to complete a “box” for the top pony tail. From the middle of that top box (from the back) make a middle part to divide the rest of the hair into two pony tails.

Now that the hard part is out of the way, crimp each section of hair and separate to fluff it. Don’t forget to add some oil sheen for extra shine and you’re done. This is the "special occasion" version the style, but the original style was done with twist. Part hair the same way, but instead of crimping, just create three fluffy twists and add hair accessories if you like.

I know your next question. What kind of iron did I use? I have found that women are very, very particular and picky about their irons and what one likes is as individual as a finger print. It can be a personal experience, even intimate, like buying those "special delicates" that go under our clothes. Some women favor certain name brands. Others value certain qualities like ceramic or ionic. Some irons can be very expensive as well. I have my preferences, but I feel in this case moms (or dads) and their daughters should go on a very vigilant quest to find the healthiest and safest iron that fits their lifestyle and budget.

With that said, your little princess now has another special occasion style to add to the arsenal that you can pull out the next time she gets snazzy.

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TADA!! It worked...the second time.

I nearly forgot to post this wonderful entry about my new experience with a product that I had once written off. It seems that what works for one child does not work for the other. I will not leave you in suspense. The product is none other than Shea Moisture.

This is not a little known product to our house hold. As a matter of fact I have been using Shea Moisture, Curl and Style Milk for several months on my two year old. I mainly use it to add moisture and shine when I braid it from time to time. The performance was satisfactory so I decided to try some other products in the line.

A little background on Shea Moisture: Sofi Tucker started selling shea Nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leon in 1912. This Sofi Tucker was the grandmother of the founders of Shea Moisture. Inspired by her tenacity and self sufficiency as a single young mother of four children (widowed at age 19), the Shea Moisture line was born. The product is accompanied by a mission to empower disadvantaged women.

Why I chose to give it one more try?: It was not just the satisfactory performance of the product after I tried it (for the second time) on my two year old that made me stay with it, but also the legacy and the mission of the company. I read the back of the bottle and decided it was worth giving it one more chance.

A brief overview of what we did to achieve success: What we did was simple but effective. The products used were Moisture Retention Shampoo and Deep Treatment Masque. We followed that up with the usual Curl and Style Milk. And of course we did our customary pre-shampoo treatment with coconut oil for 30 minutes prior to shampooing.

We shampooed twice and left the Deep Treatment on for approximately 15minutes. When I rinsed her hair it was soft and shiny and easy to detangle. I was pleased.

Note: I tried this on my older daughter over a year ago and we did not have good success. Her hair was dry and brittle afterward and hard to detangle. I tried it again on her since it worked so well on the baby with no luck. It just goes to show that what works for one does not always work for the other AND you may have try something twice before it works at all.

Below soft manageable hair and a happy two year old:

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Hair accessories found at your local neighborhood beauty suppy store

She is wearing her favorite Dora dress (Target)

Readers weigh in on Motions Weightless Hairdressing

Two Heads is so lucky and blessed to have faithful readers who glean helpful hints from our page and are also willing to add relateability and value to the information we provide with tips of their own.

One such reader shot me a message about a week ago about a product that she discovered and happens to love for her daughter's cornrow styles. It’s called Weightless Clear Hairdressing by Motions. I have not yet tried the product, however, an in depth review is forth coming from Two Heads. BUT our reader tells us that this stuff is awesome!

She states the pros for weightless clear hairdressing are:

-no flaking

-no grease

-easy application

-it leaves the hair soft

-there is very little build-up and residue

I am sold!

The product retails for approximately $4.50 for a 6 once container.

Here is what one site had to say about the product:

·       Give hair an extra styling boost with Motions Weightless Clear Hairdressing. Its feather-light formula adds volume while restoring hair's strength and shine. It will not build up on hair. Oil-free conditioners add suppleness and shine while reducing frizz. And a Mango Tango fragrance evokes an enticing tropical sensation. It's ideal for pumping up fine-to-medium textured or fragile hair. It gives lift to hair that normally gets weighed down by ordinary hair dressing.

I am super excited about trying this product out on my girls to let you know how I like it. In the meantime, check out the super cute pics sent in by our reader of her sweet baby girl in cornrows created using Motions, Weightless Clear Hairdressing.

SUPER cute! Thank you guys for sharing!!

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DIY

Many of our readers (including myself) are often astonished by the price of children’s hair accessories. I have to admit that I have been drawn in more times than one, by some super cute, really snazzy head band or barrette that went perfectly with that outfit. You know the one she loves to wear. The one that makes her feel fantastically girly and sweet. Yep, that one.

Accessorizing little girls has become a mega market with boutiques and shops dedicating their entire inventory to beads, bows, clips and what-nots. I venture to say starting an accessory business would be a can’t miss enterprise for a budding entrepreneur because many mommies (and daughters) just can’t get enough. Seriously, my daughters and I have cases full of awesome accessories, but we inevitably still buy more.  

This is not a sin. But given the current economy and shrinking budgets of working people, such superlatives can no longer be prioritized in families today. Given this fact, mommies (and daddies) may have to employ creative ways to attain goods that they don’t want to give up, but may not have much surplus to afford.

People can produce ingenuity when pressed to. And lots of creative expression can result from that ingenuity. One easy way to stretch your budget a little farther is to do it yourself. This really can apply to anything.  With a little imagination and skill, we all have the ability to create if we want to. More specifically in the area of accessories this could not be more true.

How to do-it-yourself? Don’t stress. It is easier than it sounds. As a matter of fact you could produce intricate and complicated items if you wanted to (and some of you may want to), but if you can use a hot glue gun, in most cases you can make a really chic hair accessory for your daughter for pennies. The following tips are definitely not "rocket science", just a few hints you may not have thought of before.

1.      The simplest strategy to make hair accessories is to find a really cute silk flower from Michaels or Wal-mart and glue it to a plain head band.

2.      Even easier than the above suggestion, take that same silk flower and use a regular house hold bobbi pin and just stick in her hair.

3.       Go to your nearest Hobby Lobby and head straight to the fabric section. There you will find ribbons (in the same area where you find trim). In this section you can find a myriad of textures, colors and widths of ribbons and trims that can be used as ribbon for your little girls’ pony tails. The best part is you can usually buy an entire spool for about a $1.50 (Example, 3 yards on a spool).

4.      Find unconventional objects to put in her hair (safe items of course). Try sprinkling a little glitter in her hair for added whimsy and fun. Go to the clearance section of your friendly neighborhood craft store and see what interesting objects you can find like feathers or scrap pieces of fabric. Use these items to create something unique for her hair.

5.      Nothing is better than using something you already have. Turn an old accessory into a new one, by adding a little sparkle. Craft stores like Hobby Lobby always have a clearance section of old or returned “stuff”. I have found packages of rhinestones for $1 or less. Hot glue clear or colored rhinestones to pre-existing hair accessories and revive their life. This way you can get some use out of some items that you already have.

I am aware that even with the simple instructions above many of you may not desire to mess with the fuss of creating your own hair accessories. BUT you can still save money. My hidden treasures (which are not really all that hidden at all) are Wal-mart and Hobby Lobby. At these stores one can purchase already created ribbons, barrettes, clips and other hair accessories for cents. Hobby Lobby especially was a pleasant surprise for me. Sometimes I am able to find accessories from “no-name” manufactures that look almost identical to many of the accessories found in higher end shops.

Finally, if you don’t mind shopping on-line, you can find the most unique bows and accessories in the world on Etsy.com, an on-line market place for all things vintage and handmade.

Below are a few pics of my oldest daughter with some accessories that I created in less than five minutes.

I purchased ribbon with wire in it off a spool from Hobby Lobby. I purchased about a yard each color to have surplus in case I messed up. I folded each color into an “accordion” shape and secured them all together (with hot glue) making all the pressed together folds appear like a flower. I spiraled the overhanging pieces making them cascade down from the “flower” (hence the reason for the wire). Finally, I glued clear rhinestones to the accessory to dress it up and added a few sprigs of artificial "babies breath". This accessory cost approximately $4.00.   

These yellow accessories are as old as she is. We breathed new life into them by simply gluing clear rhinestones to them. The original accessories came in a pack for $1.99 from Wal-mart.

This hair accessory was free (sort of). I bought her a pair of shoes from a boutique and this was the little surprise that came in the box; a free gift with purchase (but the shoes cost enough to cover the cost of the bow and then some ;-))

Ribbons from Hobby Lobby. Spool less than $1.50

Silk flower (can’t remember where I got it). I added a sheer ribbon tied in a small bow. In the center of the small bow I attached one little sparkly rhinestone.

So as you can see, DIY can be full of fun and excitement. And if your little one is mature enough, she can help you create these little accessories giving her pride and confidence to know that she too can do it herself!

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The beads stayed on!

I always try to provide an update for readers who want to know the outcome of hair styles we feature on Two Heads, and whether they were failures or successes. I try to provide honest real time information that you can apply to your daily routine. I also try to focus on the health, safety and well being of our children for there is more to a method than just whether it is pretty and if it has longevity. I also want to make sure every style and/or tip I suggest is safe and comfortable to boot.

Our last post was mainly an encouragement post for moms (and dads) who may sometimes tire of the constant undertaking of caring for virgin, ethnic hair. The later portion of the entry, however, briefly described a hairstyle created on my younger daughter’s hair incorporating beads.

I am happy to announce that after five days the beads were still on her hair. I only had to swat her hand one time for reaching at one. None ended up in her mouth and the style stayed neat and flattering. I would recommend this hairstyle. If my daughter can maintain it (miss blankie totting, floor rolling, tub splasher) most any child can.

Note: the hair style lasted for about 6 days. I took it out and have since re-styled.

Also see: Your Task Is A Gift

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Your task is a gift

There is one thing that I am sure of and that is that God gives us no more than we can bare. Let me explain. I prayed for daughters (at least one). The good Lord gave me two. I prayed that they would have bountiful, full manes that were thick and beautiful. He gave me just that. That is where my prayers ended. I should have prayed for patience and endurance as well. I did not have the fore site at that time to understand that with such gifts came an awesome responsibility to steward them.

God has an interesting since of humor. At first, I did not get the joke. Those bountiful heads of hair almost became a noose around my neck as I began to lament, wail and complain about my task of caring for their hair and the time consumed in doing so. For a moment, I wondered if I had made a mistake in asking for the gift. Then I came to my senses (sometime ago) and realized what I already knew in my heart. The opportunity to care for two heads full of hair is a blessing. And God, with his interesting sense of humor had indeed already entrusted me with every tool I needed to handle the enormous job. Now, I embrace caring for my girls´ hair. It is a family ritual. It is time spent bonding and growing together. It also is a task that has reminded me of the real meaning of love and given me a glimpse of how we must seem to HIM. Caring for this finite human race is arduous, though HIS care for us never wanes. HE grooms us and grows us. HE nurtures us and cultivates us just as a good mother does for her own child’s hair.

These comforting thoughts came to my mind as I was styling (more like wrestling with) my youngest daughter’s hair today. I was reminded that a parent's reward may not be instantaneous, but to see our children healthy and happy…when you really think about it, it is all worth it in the end.

Below is the only picture I could capture of a very restless two year old who would not be photographed today.

The products I used to create this style are Organics Texture My Way and Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk. Instead of our usual box parts we did attention-grabbing triangular parts. As you can see, we tried a new accessory today, pink beads. Unlike the Sidewinder Hair Holders, she did not reach to pull them out one time (some braids were left without beads intentionally). As a matter a fact she hasn’t even touched one bead yet (very interesting). I am keeping a close watch on her as I do when any accessory is attached to her hair, but so far so good. Beads can be found for $0.99 a package at your friendly neighborhood beauty supply store. Invest in a threader, it makes the job a whole lot easier. This style, by the way, should last about a week. An update is forth coming.

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Accessorize for a not so good hair day!

In the Semi-mini Braid Experiment we spoke about styling methods that give moms (and dads) a break from daily styling. The experiment (though touch and go for a moment) ended up being a glowing success. But are there other ways to keep your child looking neat and stylish? When shampoo day is still two days away, but her hair is on its last leg, how can you maintain your child’s optimum cute quota? Add accessories of course! BUT not just any old random accessories. Too many bobbles or thinga-ma-jigs can cause her to end up looking like a Christmas tree. And if not applied with care and thought, she could just end up looking unkept or like an afterthought or (heaven forbid) like she was the stylist instead of you (visions of dress up in mommy’s accessory closet come to mind).

To avoid all the wrong outcomes, let’s take a look at a few tips that may get you to shampoo day looking like a winner. Keep in mind these tips are not just for “not so good hair” days, but can be incorporated any day to up your girl’s cute quota!

Hats: Hats are a no brainer to add to any ensemble, whenever it’s raining outside, but hats should not be reserved for the rain. Hats should not be reserved for just big girls either. My little girls love hats. I don’t mean a plain old baseball cap. I’m talking rhinestones, leopard prints and bright colors on berets, page boys, fedoras or beanies (knit caps). Pin a flower on the side and we’re talking cuteness through the stratosphere.

A beanie with a bow

Photo courtesy of www.littlelids.com

To pull this look off and make it look intentional, try to pull at least one color out of the outfit your child is wearing to match at least one color in the hat. In the case of a multi-color hat, like a leopard print, for example, tone down the outfit just a little (no plaids or clashing prints). An even better combination would be to dress her up in a bright solid color like pink (maybe a pink top and denim bottom) then add a pink flower to the leopard print hat. Sounds a little quirky, but try it, you’ll be surprised at all the compliments your little one will receive.

A traditional child's beret

Photo courtesy of www.littlelids.com

Head bands: Head bands are another obvious choice when the hair is not quite perfect. Unfortunately, I have seen some good head band wearing and some not so good head band wearing. Let’s explore wearing a head band the right way (this tip applies to big girls as well).

Doubling or even tripling thin stretchy head bands can be used to add style and hold back unruly hair. Mix up three colors that may be found in your child’s outfit and pump up the sound on a casual look.

Wearing a super wide band can cover the part of the hair we don’t want to be seen, but can accent your daughter's beautiful face. Again, use your judgment on adding color. But a wide fabric head band looks super cute and similar to the hats mentioned above, you can really make it look stylish by adding a pin or flower.

Wide orange headband

Photo courtesy of www.trimweaver.com

Embellished head bands are my absolute favorite for little girls. Now, I must add my disclaimer and a BIG word of caution before I describe this look. I am wary of recommending this look for big girls (i.e. women), because it can come across a little cartoon-ish, clown-like or themed on an adult. Of course, this is fine if that’s what you are going for. But I digress…

Embellished head bands literally come in hundreds of styles and looks. There are lace ones, leather ones, ones with huge rhinestones and ones with every flower you can think of. There are ones with bows, glitter and ones made of patent leather. There are even those that are made of feathers (got to love feathers). There are also head bands with a combination of the fore mentioned additions, like rhinestoned flowers, leather and lace with rhinestones and rhinestones on feathers. The combinations are endless. Can’t find one you really love? Bring a one-of-a-kind uniqueness to a look by making one yourself (more on that in another post).

Patent leather and rhinestone headband

Gap

Black feather headband

Gap

Purple rosette headband 

Gap

When wearing one of these fancy embellished head bands, the accessory becomes the star and not the hair style. This is a good thing if you are trying to draw attention away from a not so great hair day. In this case create a simple hair style, like one pony tail pulled up on top.  Really any simple look will do that will allow the head band to be placed in a non-obstructive manner.

Finally, since we are talking about children, with any style you choose to create with the above suggestions, make sure you child is comfortable. Ensure that the band on the hat is not squeezing her head. Adjust the head band so that it is not too tight behind the ears, otherwise her cute little look will not last very long because she will not keep the item on her head if it hurts.

Below is my four year old wearing her super oversize Rosette Head band (Gap). Here the big, satin embellishment camouflages all the flyaways and covers up the fact that she is in need of a reset (shampoo and style). She looks super cute and very in vogue. Try this look and no one will know you are concealing a thing…I won’t tell ;-).

She's always singing...

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