Saturday Spotlight: Hairline Breakage Recovery

Today we are visiting with Mommy D and her Little T.  A while back, Little T was enjoying a day of play with her cousins, and took a turn wearing a headband with plastic teeth. The kids were using it as a crown and Little T put it on top of her cornrows. Some major breakage soon followed, and her mom suspects it was due that headband. Mommy D shared styles and some insights gained during the breakage recovery period.

First of all, her hairline hair seems to be growing back quickly, and my daughter has been MUCH more careful with her hair, even to the point of putting on a scarf before playing/wrestling or going to the sandbox without mommy's suggestion. She has even stopped fussing with it/taking it out/tangling it during the day. I think the reality of losing hair, losing options for hairstyles, and really being able to see her own damage finally sent the message home.

While her hair in front is growing back, I've been working hard to find hairstyles that we could do that:
1) don't stress the hairline
2) that would play down the fuzzy damage from the headband
3) would be easy maintenance and low manipulation.

Our choices are very limited, since little T's hair doesn't hold many styles without banding, and since most styles that bring hair away from the face also expose the damaged hairline and make for a very fuzzy style after only a day or two. So far, the two best styles we've come up with are small box braids with gentle cornrows or flat twists/twists.

This picture show the most recent tiny braid style. It lasted 3.5+ weeks!  I have no idea how long it took to put in, since I worked on it 20 min-1 hour each night during a week, banding the braids along with the unfinished loose hair in thick braids until it was all done, then redid the front braids into a top criss cross cornrow.

I parted her hair into four sections, then parted into tiny triangles within each quadrant. I braided a small section to the end, and let the last quarter of an inch or so curl freely. Parting carefully allowed for up or down hairstyles and some variation, but mostly my daughter liked wearing her braids down, no beads or decoration. 

To maintain the braids, I spritzed or wet her hair lightly each morning, massaged some hair butter into her scalp, along her hairline and down the braids, with emphasis on the ends. This kept her hair soft and kept the braids from getting fuzzy. When it was time for removal, I worked plenty of hair oil/butter through the braid first, then very carefully removed them one by one with the end of a rat tail comb, my fingers, or by gently working a comb through. Removal was a marathon 3 hour session that spilled over into the next morning. It was totally worth it just for the simplicity, cuteness and protective style it gave her for so long.

The twist pictures are from a month or two ago. I sectioned the hair in big areas, then created small areas and did coils. I did a few flat twists in the front to keep them out of her face/eyes at Little T's request.

I had to band each twist, then removed band the next morning or as they fell out. The style stayed as twists for a day or so, then loosened to the coils that you see in the picture after I washed it. The style lasted about a week and a half before getting way too fuzzy. Maintenance was not as easy with the braids; it was hard to work conditioner/oil into the coils without uncoiling them. Although this style looked gorgeous (she got so many compliments), it was harder to maintain, and didn't last as long as the braids, and also tangled a bit more as the twist/coils unraveled.

Something I really learned from this long break where only protective styles are done is that Little T doesn't like all that goes into fancy hairstyles with lots of accessories that need to be updated or changed after only a few days. After taking out her tiny braids this weekend, she asked for MORE tiny braids. When I asked her why she wanted more tiny braids she said "do something so that we don't have to do it in the morning."

While I love experimenting with new styles, and I think Little T also like the IDEA of fancy hair accessories and beads, it turns out that she'd rather run and play and not have to worry about keeping her hair just so. Little T also is a wild sleeper who doesn't like limiting the positions that she can sleep in comfortably.

She can be very patient while having her hair done, but I think once it's done, she doesn't want to have to think about it for at least a week. It has just been an interesting lesson to find out how practical-minded my daughter has become about her hairstyles, and to learn that some of the fancy high maintenance styles I was putting in lost their appeal for her much more quickly than for her hairstylist. 

I'd like to give a big thank you to Mommy D for sharing her process for helping her daughter's damaged hairline recover. It's important and helpful information. These are some creative protective styles too!

Goofing Around With a 7 Strand Braid

Over at PrincessHairstyles.com, Princess and her mom made a video tutorial on the impressive 7 stand braid. I have been itching to try it out since they posted the video last week. It's a beautiful, flat, woven braid, so I wasn't sure how well it would work well in curly hair. Little R was (mostly) gracious enough to stand around while I gave it a shot.

My first attempt was not so great. I wet her hair, sectioned it and added some product. The 7 sections were quite small and curled up before I could get them woven together for the start of this braid. Since that wasn't working, I decided to rope twist each little section and then braid. I clipped the end of each twist to keep them separate and give them some heft as I worked. I was able to complete the braid that way.

First Step

I think it photographed better than it looked in person. The rope twists were more prominent than the woven pattern. I'm not giving up on this one though. I think there is huge potential in the 7 strand braid for curly girls and I would love to master it.

See what I mean? The pattern is sort of visible. 

In person, it just looked like a jumble of tiny rope twists

Anyway, go check out the video tutorial on PrincessHairstyles and then give it a try. Let me know if you come up with a great way to do this on super curly and tightly coiled hair. I'll practice too!

Little B's Bantu knots and Dutch braids came out, but her cornrows stayed in. I clipped them with these cute, tiny barrettes to form a little flower garland on her head. How cheerful is that?

Jealousy, Twins, and "Good" Hair

Every now and then I am asked whether Little B is jealous of Little R's hair. When people ask, they are acknowledging the cultural preference for looser curls. Although that preference isn't part of our culture at home, occasionally we do venture out of the house so I can understand and appreciate why people ask. It's interesting to see know how twins with such different hair, and their mama, navigate through this cultural beauty standard.

Little B and Little R are fraternal twins, meaning that genetically they are no more alike than any other siblings. But the twin dynamic is a thing apart. My girls are very different in everything from body type to personality. Yet there are moments when I mix them up. Just the other day, I insisted Little B come and pick out some clothes to wear. Too bad I was in Little R's room, standing in front of her closet, gesturing at her clothes. I'm not sure when, if ever, I'll live that one down. They often say and do the same thing at the same time, but are also are vigilant in their constant evaluation of what the other has, is doing, and has done in the past. They are twins in all their rich, complex, mind-boggling glory. As they like to say, "We are twins and sisters."

Now and then I hear Little B say she wishes her hair would hang down instead of fluffing out. Sometimes, I hear Little R lament the fact that she can't have a puff like Little B's. It's jealousy, but it doesn't feel like they are reflecting a culture-based preference; I don't think one girl views the other as having hair that is more attractive - just different. It may be a subtle distinction, but it's an important one. In emotional content, the hair jealousy they express is somewhere between the pouting when one gets a Dora bandaid and the other doesn't, and the disappointment when is visited by the tooth fairy and the other is still wiggling her own loose tooth. So far, it's fleeting and superficial.

On the whole, they both seem pretty happy with what they have, aside from those wish-I-had moments that go both ways. I believe that those little flashes of jealousy are about the twin dynamic and their realization that they are two very different people. They are trying to mature as individuals and figure out what that means within their twin relationship.

In quite moments, we talk a lot about how how we all differ from each other, and the ways in which we are the same. We talk about the beauty standard in kid-friendly terms and about how sometimes people feel like they have to change the way they look to meet other people's expectations. At this age, the idea of changing one's appearance to live up to someone else's standard seems wrong to them. I hope they hold on to that.

I hope their satisfaction with the hair they have lasts. I hope our ongoing dialogue and the love and care lavished on their hair helps them both understand they are beautiful and perfect as they are. There have been a couple of incidents lately that have left me contemplative though. At the zoo one day, Little B was wearing a spectacular and well-groomed afro and Little R was wearing her hair loose with a headband. As Little B walked by a family, we overheard one person tell another that Little's has "beautiful hair." As Little R strolled by, they added, "but she has good hair." On one of the last days of school, one student's grandmother starting making a big, embarrassing fuss over the beauty of Little R's curls while reaching out to touch them. I hustled both girls out the door, thankful that their attention was focused elsewhere. Try as I might to keep profound and lasting hair jealousy at bay, I have to wonder about the next time Little B comes up hard against the beauty standard, and the time after that, and the time after that.

Knot Today Review

I was at Whole Foods a few weeks ago, just checking out the hair product shelves, not intending to buy anything when a bottle of Kinky-Curly Knot Today leapt off the shelf into my hand, and escorted me to the register. It sweet-talked the money from my wallet and then snuggled down happily my bag. Its pink swirly logo was so cute, I didn't put up much resistance.

Kinky-Curly Knot today is a leave-in/detangling product. I always thought it was meant to be used as a rinse-out conditioner because of where it sits in the Kinky-Curly product line, but after reading the label carefully, I now understand that it is only recommended as a rinse-out for waves or loose curls. For those with tighter curls, it should be used as a leave-in. I assume anyone can use it as a detangler.

Knot Today contains organic mango fruit extract, organic slippery elm, organic marshmallow root, organic lemongrass, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, citric acid, phenoxythanol and natural fragrance. It has a light, clean, fruity scent and has a whitish to clear color, with the consistency of a light lotion. An 8oz bottle is $12.

Kinky-Curly is very explicit in their instructions for use, and I appreciate that. I'm so glad I took the time to read the bottle and gain an understanding of how to use this product to best advantage. We tried it mainly as a detangler, but also experimented with it as a leave-in.

I was very pleased with the performance of Knot Today as a detangler. I'm used to heavier detangling products, so I was unsure this would have enough slip at first, but it did. Knots and tangles came right out during finger detangling. It worked beautifully without leaving heavy product on the hair. In addition to making detangling easier, it didn't leave a slippery film on my hands. I love that because it makes it easier to roll right into styling.

As a leave-in, this product isn't quite enough for my girls' hair. Their hair wasn't exactly dry, but it wasn't nearly as well moisturized as we like to see it. I know that some of you have had issues with Knot Today leaving white chunks or feeling gummy. We didn't experience that, but from the tips page at Kinky-Curly, it does look like product mixing between brands might be the root of that issue. When we tested this, we mostly used it on freshly washed and conditioned hair and had no problems at all.

I would be happy to buy this again and I'm really happy that I can pick it up at Whole Foods. Kinky-Curly products are also available at select Target stores. Here's a list. By the way, the girls loved the scent but hated the name of this product. Literalists that they are, they wanted it to be called No Knots Today and insisted on using that name.

I'm going to give two ratings this time.

As a leave-in, I give Kinky-Curly Knot Today three out of three star beads.


As a detangler, I give Kinky-Curly Knot Today five out of five star beads.



Have you tried it? What is your rating?

Braid Removal Technique for Natural Hair

By request I've made a video detailing my braid removal technique. This works for cornrows and small box braids. I was going to wow you all with the effortless ease with which I remove rubber bands. Note the long pause when I realize that I didn't actually band these braids. Typical.

Enjoy!





PS  I've added a Facebook like option at the end of each post. If you enjoy a post, let me know!

Big Flower and Three Bs

I don't know what has gotten into me over the last few weeks, but it seems that I can't stop styling the girls hair in shapes that loop and curve. Maybe it's that summer is soft and easy or I'm inspired by the roundness of seasonal treats like kiddie pools, blooming flowers, and ice cream cones. Whatever it is, my  hands seem to have a mind of their own these days when it comes to styling.

I started by washing and conditioning both girls with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose shampoo and conditioner. I detangled with a new product I just picked up at my local natural foods market. I'll tell you more about it after I've tested it a bunch. I will tell you that it was one of the happiest detangling sessions I've ever done. 

I started styling with Little R. I made a big, big flower pattern on her head by using my rat tail to draw the petals. Generally speaking, I'm not all that into what I think of as novelty styles like hearts, stars and flowes. Although parting in recognizable shapes can be adorable, I tend to enjoy it only for a day or two before I itch to take it out. The girls can't see a pattern in the back of their heads, so they don't care all that much. I wanted to do something flower-like in Little R's hair, but knowing that I would get sick of it fast, I made it super big so the flower pattern is there, but not overtly. It's our little secret. 

In each "petal" I did a dutch braid that didn't quite go to the center. I chose a Dutch braid because my fingers just want to braid underhand, but I did want to take the hair from the sides. When I was done adding hair to the braid, I finished it out braiding underhand. Once I braided each section, I gathered the tails of the braids and twisted them down into a big braid knot, securing it with cloth band. 

I kept the hair I wasn't working with clipped out of the way.

I braided all the hair outside the flower shape in two cornrows wrapping around the head. To curve the cornrows, I just moved my hands in the direction I wanted the braids to go. I tucked the end of the cornrow up into the braid knot.

Little B's hair was a joy to work with this week. I was so soft and well moisturized after our return to AOHSR conditioner. The new detangler seemed to make it even better. I wanted three Bs for my Little B this week - a combination of braids, beads, and Bantu knots.

We cornrowed the front, starting from a point just off-center of her forehead. I parted as I went this time and it worked out well. With the cornrows done, I sectioned off rounded parts just behind them. I gathered the hair in each rounded section and combined it with the tails of about three cornrows. I put a big bead at the base of each section and twisted the hair down into a Bantu knot, securing each with a little rubber band.

I finished the style off by parting down to the nape of her neck, using the rounded sections as a guide. I put a large Dutch braid in each section. I banded the ends together and tucked them under. This is the perfect place to add a little flower or a corker.

I think both girls have been longing for loose hair, so I suspect these will come out early. But who knows. I hope to come up with some very simply styles for the next few weeks, and maybe, just maybe I can convince my hands to stop making everything so round!


Sorry, the poll that was here wasn't recording votes so I deleted it. Frustrating, isn't it? Try this one instead!





If you like novelty styles, which are your favorites? If not, tell me your thoughts.

Saturday Spotlight

Welcome to the weekend and welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, where we feature the styles completed by Happy Girl Hair readers. Today we are featuring Mommy L and her very own Little B. Here is what Mommy L has to say about product choice, routines, and styling.

Little B is 3.5 yrs old and was born in Ethiopia.  I adopted her when she was 2 yrs and she had her head shaved at the time so the hair you see is a year and half of growth.  Her hair is mostly 4a and 4b and very thick, I think it’s about 7-8 inches  although I’ve never actually measured it.

As I’ve learned more about caring for her hair, I’ve tested out a couple different natural hair product lines (Blended Beauty, Curly Q’s, Alaffia, Aubrey Organics) and I think my favorite is the Blended Beauty because I love the smell of all of their products. Her hair does well with the heavy pudding moisturizers and hair styling creams, it just drinks it up.

I smooth some coconut oil in her hair most nights before bed and she wears a satin “night-night” hat to bed which helps maintain the style for the week. I will spritz her hair with a conditioner or hair lotion and water combo in the a.m. before preschool and touch up the current style a bit or change out the color of the hair ties or barrettes to match her outfit.

We usually change out the style completely on Saturdays after a co-wash and I’ll alternate styles that are a little more stressful with ones that are more gentle and try and switch up the parts so that it doesn’t always pull in the same spots. I usually have a cornrow or flat twist along her hairline in the front so that it is not so stressed out from being pulled straight back into a style, she’ll get little red bumps pretty easily in that area so that was our solution.  

We live in a cold climate so now that it’s getting warmer and there is more moisture in the air, I’m going to do some more experimenting with down and out styles now that her hair is longer. I’d like her to get to know her hair better in it’s big curly natural state and learn to love it free as well as in a style. I’ve been focused on learning to style her hair well and I haven’t let it just be free very often or for very long.

It's really fun to see this Little B's styling progression and hair growth of over a year and a half. She's so cute! Thank you so much for sharing your journey, routines, and styles with us Mommy L!

Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo Review

You all know about my almost embarrassing love of Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner (AOHSR). You all about my recent conditioner experiments and how relieved I felt when I made my way back to AOHSR. I don't think I've ever really talked about the matching shampoo though. Let's do that right now.

Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo contains: Deionized Water, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (made from organic, non-GMO soybeans), Organic Aloe Vera, Carrageenan, Honeysuckle Oil, Organic Rosa Mosqueta® Rose Hip Seed Oil; Extracts of Fennel, Hops, Balm Mint, Mistletoe, Camomile, Yarrow, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Angelica, Chrysanthemum, Magnolia, Horsetail, Coltsfoot and Forsythia; Vegetable Glycerin, Sweet Almond Oil, Linoleic Acid (Vitamin F), Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Sage Oil, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

The scent is really floral, fresh and pretty. It reminds me of a fancy, scented soap you might find in someone's guest bathroom. This scent is a bit strong, and will be a turn-off for anyone who doesn't like florals. The scent doesn't linger for us and while I'm not a big fan of florals in general, I kind of like this one. An 11 oz. bottle is usually between $9 and $12. It is available at The Vitamin Shoppe, at many natural food stores, through the Aubrey Organics web site, and through Amazon. The shampoo is fairly low-lather. I seem to have to use a little more of this product than other shampoo to get good distribution.

AOHSR Shampoo cleans very well without stripping or drying the hair. I have read a lot reviews on this products and several people talk about a drying effect, but it seems like people were trying to use it every day and/or using a lot of product to try to make it lather up like a typical shampoo. I think this shampoo works best for those washing hair much less often than every day and those who are accustomed to low-lather shampoo. For us, it is great at removing a weeks worth of product and dirt.

I have noticed some very slight irritation on my own scalp for a couple of hours after use, but I have a very sensitive scalp that doesn't respond well to shampoo. Most other shampoos leave me itchy for two or three days, so an hour or two seems like a dramatic improvement. We need to be careful with Little B's scalp too, but she has never had a problem using this shampoo. I haven't seen any sign of irritation of itchiness.

I give Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo four out of five star beads.



Have you tried it? What do you rate it?

Washing Week: Washing in Sections

Sometimes, washing tightly coiled hair all at once creates more problems than it solves. Curly hair can easily become more tangled while washing. Here are a couple of variations on a sectioning technique to help make washing, conditioning and subsequent detangling easier.

The first comes from Happy Girl Hair reader teachermrw. She learned her technique from Kim at Kimmaytube's You Tube Channel.

• "I separate my hair into sections to wash, condition and detangle. I don't manipulate the hair when washing and conditioning, i,e, pile the hair on the top of my head, as I had done for YEARS. Instead, I do more of a sandwich: I divide hair into six to eight sections, clipping each one up, and then taking each section, I apply a bit of product, and then I gently press the hair between my two hands, moving down from root to tip.  I lift up the sections to wash the scalp. Once each of the sections is washed, I take each one down, rinse it, and then re-clip it. I use the same sandwich technique to condition. I learned this technique from kimmaytube. It's a lot of clipping and re-clipping, but, it's working for me thus far. I have far fewer tangles with which to contend."

• The next option is a variation on the technique above and works well for washing a child's hair, especially with a spray that can be directed. There is a bit of manipulation here, so be very gentle. Take the hair out of a style before washing and and divide it in large sections. Loosely twist the hair in each section, without banding the twists. Wet the hair well. In turn, take each twist out to clean the scalp, work the shampoo (or conditioner for co-washing) through the hair and rinse. Retwist each section after rinsing. Repeat the process with with conditioner if you have used shampoo to wash. Co-washers don't need to repeat the process.

• For those who detangle with conditioner in: after all sections have been washed, rinsed and retwisted, take them down one at a time, add conditioner and detangle. Twist the detangled hair and rinse with twist in.

Happy Girl Hair contributor Mommy D has been experimenting with the section and twist method. "I've been loving the washing/conditioning in sections. I feel like we use less product but get better distribution. The only update on our technique is that I do retwist a section very loosely between my fingers before moving on to the next one now. It seems to cut down on detangling even further, and only takes an extra few seconds."

 Do you have a different technique for washing in sections? Share it in the comments!

Washing Week: Kola, Ginger and Shea Shampoo Review

Most regular Happy Girl Hair readers know how much I love co-washing, but we do need shampoo every now and again. We've been using shampoo more lately due to the sweaty, stickiness of summertime fun.

I'm really fussy about shampoo, so many shampoos makes my head itch and Little B's isn't far behind. I look for mild shampoos that get the job done but don't irritate our sensitive scalps. Today I want to tell you about one of those shampoos, Kola, Ginger and Shea Daily Fortifying Shampoo from Alaffia.

This shampoo contains: Aqueous Infusion of Kola and Ginger, Liquid African Black Soap (Purified Water, Saponified Shea Butter and Virgin Palm Kernel Oil), Decyl Plyglucose, African Wild Honey, Vanilla Extract, Essential Oils (Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove, Patchouli, Cinnamon Leaf)

The scent is spicy and sweet at the same time. I think it's warm and comforting. Although patchouli is listed in the ingredients, it doesn't smell like patchouli. An 8oz bottle is $11.00 at the Alaffia web site, but may be a little more or less at your local natural market.

Kola, Ginger and Shea Shampoo is a fairly low-lather shampoo, but it is easy to work into the hair and we don't have to use a lot. The hair feels very clean but not at all stripped after washing. This is the only shampoo we have ever found that works for every person in our family. It is also the only shampoo I ever used that doesn't leave my scalp irritated and itchy. It works beautifully on both girls and removes old product and dirt without causing irritation. The girls like the way it smells too.

I appreciate that I can buy this locally and that at Alaffia, 10% of all sales are allocated to development projects in West Africa. Their black soap is Certified Fair for Life and many of the ingredients are handcrafted by the Certified Fair Trade Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative in Togo.

I give Alaffia's Kola, Ginger and Shea Daily Fortifying Shampoo five out of five star beads.


What is your favorite shampoo?

Washing Week: Positions for Washing Kids' Hair

I think one of the most awkward aspects of hair care is washing someone else's hair. I certainly don't have a salon shampooing station at my house, and I'll bet most of you don't either. Finding a position that is comfy for the kids, allows us to get the hair thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, but doesn't leave mama soaking wet or with back pain can be tricky.

It's easy when they are really small; hair can be washed in their baby bath. Later it can be accomplished in the big tub while mom sits on the edge. That worked for us for a while, until hair got longer and we started using heavier products. Suddenly, the thought of the girls spending even a moment sitting in rinsed-off conditioner seemed a little icky.

We tried a few different options, some worked better than others and some worked at some stages but were outgrown. These are the positions we have used:

This one requires a handheld shower head and small step stool. It was perfect when the girls were toddlers and preschoolers. I loved it because it allowed me to bathe them at the same time I washed hair without having them sit in a soup of hair product. I had them sit on an inexpensive Ikea step stool placed on the tub floor. I warmed the floor of the tub and seat with the handheld shower head before they climbed in. I would have them hold the shower head and spray themselves whenever I wasn't using it so they could stay warm. We did a quick body wash at the beginning or end. They loved the independence of being in charge of the shower and I loved the convenience.

Bigger kids are able to stand outside the tub and have their hair washed while bending over the tub slightly. This was easy on my back but harder on the kids because their faces did get wet. It would probably be more comfortable with a shampoo visor.

Tall or older children may be able to sit on a small step stool outside the tub and lean back. One advantage here is that water and products don't get in the eyes, but this can be hard on a caregiver's back. If you like to detangle with conditioner in, twist or braid and then rinse, it is easy to have the child sit up while the caregiver sits on the edge of tub to work on detangling.

A kitchen sink with a sprayer is a very handy place to wash hair. Pulling up a chair or a tall stool makes it easy to lean over and wash the hair. As an added bonus, there is no need to bend down to reach the hair.

Bigger kids may be able to do a kitchen sink wash in the opposite direction by sitting on a chair or stool and leaning back. We use a towel to make it more comfortable. This position also works well for those who detangle with conditioner in. The child can just sit up while the adult stands.

This is by far my favorite washing method for older children because it is most comfortable for everyone. It requires a few feet of counter space next to the sink. If the space is tight, the child can bend her legs at the knees or fold them criss-cross-applesauce. I lay a towel down for warmth and fold it a couple of times at the end near the sink to support the neck. When I need to work with the hair at the nape of the neck, I gently lift the head and support it with one hand while using the other hand to wash or rinse.

One further option is to wash hair while the child stands in the shower. I find that if I'm willing to get just a bit wet, it works pretty well.  It's also a great opportunity for a child to begin to learn about hair care. She can help with the washing, conditioning, rinsing. It's a nice first step in taking responsibility for hair care. It also has the advantage of bathing the child at the same time. I use this technique often for quick co-washes.


What is your favorite place for washing your child's hair?




PS  Just in time for washing week, at Curls, buy an It's a Curl Peek-A-Boo Shampoo and get an It's a Curl Patty Cake Conditioner free! Add both to your cart and then enter coupon code: freeiac. This offer is for today only (7/20/2010). Happy Shopping.

Welcome to Washing Week!

I love to relax in the lovely summer evenings while my girls drift off to sleep, completely tuckered out by their long day of play. I love the physical reminders that this season is different from the rest. I'm smitten with smell of their skin warmed by sunshine. It's sweet to see them enjoying a little soak in the tub to wash off the sunscreen and playground grit before they get into fresh jammies.

Hair that has been in pools, on the beach, at the playground, and under bike helmets all week doesn't quite give me the same thrill. Extra sweaty scalps mean more bacteria, and the kids play outside so much that dirt, sand, and barkdust end up in the hair far more often than in the cooler months. Around here, that leads to hair that doesn't look, feel, or smell the way we would like. As summer heats up, we've had to readjust our wash routine. You know how much I love co-washing, but in the summer a once weekly co-wash just doesn't cut it. We are using more shampoo and adding a mid-week co-wash every now and again to keep hair and scalps clean and fresh.

This week at Happy Girl we are going to talk all about hair washing. We'll cover:

• Positioning kids for easier hair washing
• Shampoo reviews
• Washing hair in sections

Are you washing your little ones hair more often during the summer months?

Piggybacks Rings and Flat Twists with a Side Puff

The girls had such a busy week last so they were really ready for a wash and a new style. We forgot a sleep cap for Little B the night before the wash, so her loose hair was pretty tangled and compacted, but at least she slept on satin pillowcase so we didn't have breakage or dryness.

After washing and conditioning with AOHSR, I detangled both girls using Kinky-Curly Knot Today.  Little R's detangling took about a minute, Little B took almost an hour. At least it was a relaxing hour! I started to part Little B's hair in wedges for flat twists leading to a center puff, but it wasn't working out. I gave her a break and worked on Little R's style.

Little R got piggyback braids going around her head, leading to a side pony. It looks more elaborate and complicated than it was. It was actually both quick and easy. The inside was parted on a curve and then separated into boxes. The next row followed the same curve and box part lines. I gathered the finished piggyback braids in a low side ponytail and braided half of it.

As I was working on Little R's hair, I glanced over at Little B and saw that her hair was drying in a such a beautiful puff. I decided to change my plan and make it a day of side puffs and curved styles. I parted off a circle of hair around more than half of the hairline and flat twisted it.  I gathered a bunch of loose hair for the off-center puff and banded it. I sectioned the remaining hair into rows from the hairline toward the crown of her head and flat twisted each. I incorporated the tail end of the round flat twist into the last flat twist. I put some of the new larger beads I recently got on the end of each side flat twist and gathered the ends back into the puff.

I'm happy with the way it all turned out.  Which styles are you doing this week?

Saturday Spotlight and Strawllers Review

Today's Saturday Spotlight is part style feature, part product review. Mommy A her Little E recently tried Strawllers, curlers used to add straw curls to the hair, and have graciously shared their adventure with us.

This is my daughter Little E (age 2 ¾). I love putting different styles in her hair so when I saw Strawllers I was anxious to give them a try because I loved when Eliana’s hair was shorter and I could do coils in it.

I watched the video on their website and tried to follow their instructions. I used about 40 Strawllers on Little E's head. I wished that I had ordered all short ones and might see if I could get the longer ones cut in half as they are just too long.

I wet each section of hair before I wrapped it and used a little gel for hold. The gel did not work well. I will need to figure something else out to help hold the curl. I left the Strawllers in for about 2 hours…some sections were not completely dry. This was frustrating since I feel that I really pushed Little E's limit for hair time and since she was asking to remove them, I did – not sure how I could get them to dry faster.

I thought that my sections of hair were small enough but I think that I could easily split them in half and it would turn out better. It was an overall good experience and I will try it again with the changes mentioned.

Thank you very much for sharing the results of your Strawllers experiment, Mommy A. Little E is such a cutie! Readers interested in trying Strawllers can find them on the Strawllers web site.

If you want to try out a straw set before making an investment in curlers, you can go the traditional route and use regular drinking straws snipped down to a manageable size. Starting with the ends of the hair and moving toward the scalp, wrap damp sections of hair around the straws, and secure each with a bobby pin. Let the hair air dry, and then remove the bobby pins and straws.

If you've tried Strawllers, tell us what you think in the comments!