This Week: Protective Braided Styles

This week I decided to give the girls a "protective" style along the hairline to protect those sensitive edges.  I'm always trying to vary their hair styles to reduce tension on any one point, particulary the front hairline.  Both styles turned our very different, but I am satisfied with both.  Better yet, these styles required less than one hour to complete!

Sasou's Circular Protective Cornrow

 

Lady Grace's Protective Braided "Headband"

 

 

 

Share With Us: What's Your "Work-Out" Hair Do?

Before moving to France last year, you would find me in the gym at least 4 times a week. Spin and zumba classes were my favorite, but I would also do light strength building and occasionally swim and participate in a boot camp class. There is not really a "gym culture" here in France (let alone a "kids club" located withn the gym where children can play surpervised while parents work out).  came across an article today on a study pertaining to Black women avoiding exercise in order to maintain hairstyles. The article states that a third of women in the study indicated lower levels of exercise due to their hair.
Before moving to France last year, you would find me in the gym four times a week.  Spin and Zumba  classes were my favorite, however I would also do light strength training, yoga, and occasionally swim or participate in boot camp classes.  I have found that there is not really a gym culture here in France the way there is in the United States - there are not many around and the ones that do exist cost over $1200 per year and don't have kiddie care.  That said, I have had to find alternatives.  For the moment, I take Zumba classes in my neighborhood a couple times a week and will start running when the weather warms up.  So what does this all have to do with the title of this post?  Well today I came across an article on a study pertaining to Black women and exercise avoidance in order to maintain hairstyles.  So that got me to wondering what other exercising ladies out there do to their hair when exercising   Below is a photo of my post work out hair (before I got it cut a couple weeks ago). When wearing my hair flat-ironed, I generally make a high and tight ponytail and slide on a mesh or fabric type headband along my hairline. When wearing my hair curly, it's less of an issue because I rebrand my hair before sleeping.  Either way I try not to let my hair compromise my workouts...I'm a much better person to everyone around me when I exercise regularly : ) What is your workout hair do?

High Ponytail With Headband

Overlapped Cornrows

Here is Lady Grace's style for the week. I've never tried overlapping cornrows, but got the idea from another mom on Pinterest. Not too shabby for a first try!

Overlapped Cornrows

Cornrows Originating From a Single Point

I am so proud of myself! I've always wanted to do a braided style like this where all the cornrows originate from a single point. Sasou is loving it and so am I! Better yet, this style required less than an hour (with the help of Dr. McStuffins on the television, of course).

Cornrows Originating From Single Point (back view)

Cornrows With Dangling Twists

Here is Lady Grace's style for the week!  The cornrows are braided up to the crown of the head and then twisted to dangle.  I also reserved a "patch" of hair at the crown of the head which only contains twists to add some volume to the style.  I really like how it turned out and do does she!

Side View

Back View

Geometric Cornrows With Side Ponytail

Sasou insisted on red beads this week, so here is what we came up with!

Geometric Cornrows

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)