My Homemade Shea Butter Coconut Mix

Have you made any homemade mixes?  If so tell us about it!  Since moving to France, while Sasou's hair has thrived, Lady Grace's has started to suffer from severe dryness.  While dryness is beyond common in naturally curly hair, it has been magnified since our arrival and I have decided to take matters into my own hands and go moisture crazy! LOL. But seriously, I have come up with a plan of action that involves a weekly moisturizing regimen and daily maintenance.  While I certainly plan to continue to use commercial products, I have also decided to use some homemade mixes, as well. For starters, I decided to make a Shea Butter Coconut Mix (with bit of Argan and Olive Oils).  Why this combination?  Coconut oil is a carrier oil and is better absorbed into the hair than many other oils.  I used cold pressed, virgin, organic coconut oil.   There is also much written on shea butter  - it has been used for ages on the Continent and is known for its healing, restorative properties - plus it is a great sealant to keep that moisture "locked" in.  Argan and olive oils help with dry scalp and dryness in general.  So there is my logic!  The mixture was quite easy to make, but finding the components around Paris was a bit more involved.  This weekend I plan on using some of this mix for a deep (and hot) conditioning treatment (will probably combine it with a bit of Shea Moisture's Deep Conditioning Masque and a bit of Castor Oil, which is also good for those with moisture challenges).  Wish us luck!

Final Product (in an old Nieva container)

Ingredients (shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil and olive oil)

Single Bow

Here is Lady Grace's style for the week which I call the "single bow"!

Top View

Back View

Showcasing: Hairstyles in Brazil

Português:  Estamos felizes de ter "membros" de todo o mundo e pensei que seria divertido "apresentam" alguns países de tempos em tempos. Vamos começar com o Brasil! Mostre-nos seus penteados lindos para as meninas!  Note:  Espero que esta seja uma boa tradução :)

English:  We are happy to have members from all across the world and thought it would be fun to "feature" certain countries from time-to-time.  Let's start with Brazil!  Show us your pretty hairstyles full of braids and curls for little girls!

Double Strand Twists & Twisted Beaded Cornrows

So after great difficulty in finding "inspiration" for a creative style for Sasou this week, here is a photo of what I came up with this evening...and I like the results! The style is simple, will last for at least a week and is easy to "touch up".  I used a commercial twist and loc gel to maintain the hold until my Carol's Daughter Loc Butter arrives.  It is amazing what good product can do for hair.  Sasou's hair has really grown over the past year and has become more and more healthy.  Go Sasou!  What do you think of this style?

Double Strand Twists & Twisted  Beaded Cornrows

Where do you get your "hairspiration"?

QUESTION:  Ladies, let's talk...where do you get your "hairspiration"?  What inspires how you style your hair or your little girls' hair on a given week?  Let's share ideas, photos, etc...

I almost always find my inspiration visually.  For example, when I saw the second ballerina from the left with double strand twists, I knew that was a style that I wanted to try on Lady Grace (see earlier post) and it turned out to be adorable on her.  As the weekend approaches, I'm searching for this week's inspiration.  We'll be sure to share what I come up with over the weekend and love to see what you come up with, as well!  So tell us...what's your "hairspiration"?

 ~ Janee

"Hairspiration" for Double Strand Twists

What is Your Moisturizing Routine?

Lets share: What products are you currently using as part of your "moisturizing" routine?

I was so happy to come home to my delivery of Shea Moisture products! There has really been an emergence of "commercialized" hair products on the more natural side of the spectrum for African American hair in recent years. I use many of them for different reasons. At the moment, we are using the Shea Moisture line for general maintenance (explanation below), but I do use Miss Jessie's for braids and Carol's Daughter Loc Butter for twists, among others. I've used Shea Moisture in the past and we are currently using it now. We are using Shea Moisture for the moment for two reasons.  One, it is free of sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, propylene glycol, paba, paraffin, phthalates, and synthetic color and fragrance.  Two, since our arrival to France Lady Grace's hair has become super dry.  Perhaps something to do with the water.   Her hair is still in good health by I feel that her ends have suffered a bit. Therefore I've been looking for products that's can give and help her hair retain moisture and nourishment. I'm hoping that Shea Moisture will help do the trick!  I absolutely love these products, especially the shampoo.  I don't deep condition every week since one would run the risk of over conditioning - maybe every few weeks.  But I have been spraying water and applying a bit of curly pudding or several sprays of the reconstructive elixir oil every few days in an effort to keep the hair moisturized, especially the ends.

Shampoo
Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus OR
Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention

Conditioner
Shea Moisture's Yucca & Baobab Volumizing
Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque

Leave In Moisturizer
Shea Moisture's Curl & Styling Milk

Moisturizer for Styling/Braiding
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding
Shea Moisture's Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixir
Note: I used to use mineral and petrolatum based products but everything I've read suggests that those types of product aren't necessarily good for our hair...but that can be the subject of another entry.

Shea Moisture Products That We are Currently Using

Braided French Roll to the Side

This week Sasou will be wearing a braided "French Roll to the Side".  I recently learned that when doing styles that require a bit more geometric precision, for me at least, it is soooo much easier to part and section the hair before beginning.  It also forces me to clearly think out the desired look.  Sasou's hair has come a really long way over the past year.  Her hair is now extremely healthy and responds to most product quite well.  I usually do her hair on Friday night and it can last up to 10 days if necessary and still look pretty good - she has great texture for cornrowed styles.

Finished Product - Side View with
Braided Bangs

Sectioning the Hair

Old-School Box Braids

This is a style that I sometimes wore as a little girl. I like this style for it's simplicity.  Additionally, it is a bit different than the cornrows that Lady Grace typically wears, so I feel like it  gives the "stress points" a chance to relax.  What I don't like about this style is that because the boxes are fairly large, the style tends to get "fuzzy" much faster.  That said, the larger sections are conducive to "touching up" fairly quickly during the week.  I'm thinking that there may be a way that I can pin the braids to give a different look as the week progresses...we'll see.  I'll post again if I come up with something creative!

Finished Product - Demonstrating the concept of
"shrinkage" to my husband

Finished Product
Front View

To achieve this look I made all of my
 parts and sections before beginning

Two-Strand Twists & Diagonal Cornrows

After a day of running errands, it was Lady Grace's turn to get her hair fixed!  After a washing and deep conditioning, I decided on a double strand twist style. I used Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding for each twist and finished the style off with a few spritzes of Shea Moisture's Reconstructive Elixir Spray on the scalp. I'd actually intended to give her double strand twists throughout.  However, as I reached the top (and dinner time approached), Lady Grace became a bit irritable and unwilling to continue sitting.  So, I decided to create diagonal cornrows from the crown of her head to her forehead so that I could finish up faster.  To create this style, I sectioned and clipped the wet hair into six sections, and twisted the hair section-by-section.  If a section became a bit dry, a few spritzes of water "revitalized" the hair to it's twist-ready state.  Also, I took care to run the Curly Pudding down the hair shaft from root to end, ensuring even application and twisting all the way to the ends.  I like the results!  What I love about two-strand twists is the style diversity.  For example, the twists can just hang naturally or can be manipulated into ponytails or even held back with a headband or clips.  I am trying a new method of maintaining the twists at night (to avoid the fuzzies), and if successful will post the process.

Two-Strand Twists With Diagonal Front Cornrows

The Double Twisted Tuck With Dangling Cornrows

So I decided to get a head start on the weekend hair routine for the girls by doing Sasou's Friday night.  My inspiration for this style actually came from the Facebook page of Girls Love Your Curls.  I've been using Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme on Sasou's hair lately, which seems to respond well the product.  I didn't wash her hair this week so I used the Baby Buttercreme liberally on each section to be braided not only to moisturize, but to produce smoother looking cornrows.  After braiding, I finish off the style with Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixer.  I'll post another time about why I absolutely love this product for all of my childrens' hair.

Double Twisted Tuck With Dangling Cornrows

The Next Morning's "Braid Out"

Here is the result of a few cornrows and use of Kinky Curly the night before. After gently undoing my three cornrows, I gently fluffed the hair with my fingers, allowing the hair to naturally fall into place. Usually at this point I rub a bit of Kinky Curly's Gloss Pomade for a bit of shine. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it...guessing one of the kids got into it!  To achieve this look, click here. Sorry about the picture clarity...no one in my home was overly excited about taking pics of my hair this morning!

Back View

Close Up #2

Close Up #1

Version Française: Voici le résultat des tresses et l'utilisation de Kinky Curly la nuit prècèdente. Après avoir détresser les tresses, les cheveux se mettent naturellement en place. D'habitude, je utilise un peu de Gloss Pomade de Kinky Curly pour rendre les cheveux plus brillant. Pour obtenir ce "look", cliquez ici. Désolé pour la clarité des photos...

"Curl it Up" With Kinky Curly's Curling Custard

While I generally blow dry and flat iron my hair after washing, at the end of my hair cycle I sometimes "curl it up" with Kinky Curly's Original Curling Custard. Unlike the directions on the Kinky Curly youtube video, I use the product on dry hair (a week old) to achieve my desired curly/wavy style. While I generally "rebraid" the hair each night while wearing this style, it can last about three days before it's time to move on.  Click here for photos of the final product! As a disclaimer, I should mention that I do not have a relaxer, so I'm not exactly sure how the product would behave on relaxed hair.

Step 1: Divide and Section the Hair.  Starting with dry hair, divide the hair depending on the whether you want more of a curl (4-5 sections) or a wave pattern (3 sections). Tip: It is not necessary to part the hair with a comb.  I find that well defined parts with a comb make it more difficult for the hair to "hang" naturally the following day.  This time around, I wanted more of a wavy look so I only worked with 3 sections.

Step 2: Apply Product. Apply a small amount of product to the section that you are working.  I probably use 1/3 teaspoon for each section of hair. Tip: You can use a fine-toothed comb to ensure there is even application and to prepare for step 3.  Don't apply too much - a little of this product goes a LONG way!  If you add too much the hair can be stiff.  If you use just a bit on dry hair and follow these instructions you will have bouncy curls or waves.

Step 3:  Cornrow Each Section.  After applying the product, immediately cornrow the section.  I use little black rubber bands to secure the ends.  You can also use little roller rods (those hurt my head).

Step 4:  Spray Hair.  Using a spray bottle give your cornrows several sprays.  The hair is meant to be "gently" moist not sopping wet.  I find that using a little water helps with the curl/wave pattern when starting with dry hair.

Step 5:  Silk Scarf.  Tie your hair with a silk scarf and go to bed!  In the morning all you will have to do is take down your cornrows, fluff and go!

Dry Hair

Sectioned Hair

Hair in Cornrows
(after product is applied)

Curling Custard

The "Old-Fashioned" Bow

Most little girls love to have pretty bows, barrettes and headbands in their hair. My girls are no exception! As you will see in the photo gallery, I will occasionally use beads but not too often for fear of hair breakage caused by the rubber bands used to secure the beads. However, I am trying to teach my girls that in more cases than not "less is more" - i.e. it is not necessary to light up your head like a Christmas tree, as one of my aunts likes to say. LOL. Beauty also exists in simplicity. That said, I love the simple beauty of the old fashioned ribbon. I found the perfect ribbon box at Michael's Arts & Crafts some time ago that is just large enough to accommodate our primary color schemes.

Silk Scarves & Satin Bonnets! (Les Foulards & Bonnets)

While I am by no means a hair expert, I do believe in protecting hair at night.  I remember when my youngest, aka "Lady Grace" was a baby how I would find her little curls woven into the cotton-based crib sheets every morning.  At that time, I found silk crib sheets to resolve the problem.  Since then, and when the girls will tolerate it, I tie up their hair with a silk scarf or at the very least a satin bonnet.  When neither is permitted, I lay a super-sized silk scarf over their pillows as a compromise!  In addition to protecting the hair, silk/satin covering certainly makes for longer lasting hair styles.

Je ne suis pas expert de cheveux, mais je crois que la protection des cheveux est tres importante.  Je me souviens que quand mon plus jeune, était un bébé, je trouvais ses petites boucles tissées dans les draps de son lit tous les matins. Heuresement, j'ai trouvé les draps de son lit en soie pour résoudre le problème. Depuis ce temps, et quand les filles se tolérer, je utilize un foulard en soie ou un bonnet de satin. Si non, je mets un grand foulard en soie de très grande taille sur leurs oreillers en guise de compromis! En plus de la protection des cheveux, un foulard rend les styles de cheveux plus durables, sans doubt.