Quick & Cute Styling Solution For Little Girls Hair!

Dimples has made big progress since she cut off all of her plaits about 18 months ago. Yeah you heard right. She cut off about 4'' off of each of her hanging loose box plaits when she was about 4 years old. It was just one of those things. Since then, I've been battling with different length hair (some of her hair sections are about 16'' long, while some are about 6'' long. This poses no immediate problems, but I was forced to continuously trim her hair to avoid breakage in places where there wasn't enough hair density for the section to avoid breakage. The term "strength in numbers" is real accurate! 

AN ANGEL'S RINGLETS

So when sending her to the grandparents this holiday, I decided to avoid any hair drama. I realize that my mother hasn't dealt with natural hair since I was a little girl, and she's not very open to any new ways to comb or handle natural hair. Especially from me! So if you're a mommy in the same predicament, make everyone's life simple by doing a lasting style for travel to the grandparents. 

She doesn't want to hear what Big Sis has to Say!

Part at a Diagonal to Avoid Showing Spaces Between Twists

Two Strand Twists and Flat Twists on Natural Hair

Jane Carter Shine & Define adds a Beautiful Sheen

Hats are Great Accessories to Most Outfits!

It's a simple style that looks like you spent hours. The styling time for this was about 1 hour (snacks and a movie included). I did my twists not small, and not large (medium I guess :o)

• I used Jane Carter Shine & Define for moisturizer. 

• I did about 8 flat twists from the hairline to the ears. I began styling by placing that horizontal part from one ear to the other. Then I did each part for the flat twists.

• Then in the rear, I did the loose twists. I did part at a diagonal so that you can't see too many spaces.

To maintain this look, it's best to put a satin scarf on the head at nights. Otherwise, if she sleeps with cotton blankets/pillowcases, the hair will get frizzy. Will your mom put the satin scarf at night? Mine won't. Oh well, there's only so much one can do to save a style LOL.

10 Things We Love About Wash N Go's on Natural Hair

 10 Things To Love About Wash N Go's.....What do you Love About YOURS?

Wash N Go's: The Summer's Answer to Cute Hair!

When we don't have a clue what to do with our hair, we do "wash n go's" around here. I mean the for real--just wash your hair, condition and go. Sometimes we use conditioner to define our coils, and sometimes we use gel. Each time we do wash n go's for some reason they come out different. There's 3 of us here, each with totally different curl patterns, hair textures, hair densities, and hair porosity. All of that determines what our wash n go is going to look like from day one.

Each of Our Wash' N Go's Look Unique

Carefree Wash N Go On Natural Hair

I'm finding out that there are ways to do wash n go's without having to sleep with soaking wet hair. You especially don't want to sleep with wet hair in the winter. For right now, we do our wash n go's on wet to damp hair in the morning, so that by bed time, everything's dry. The wash n go is a great low manipulation styling option. You can preserve this style for on average about 3 to 4 days, while not needing to comb, brush or disturb the hair too much. Meanwhile, you are able to moisturize daily. This is a great length retention method!

Different Natural Hair Types Will Show Different Wash N Go Results

Natural Hair Wash N Go's Are Quick and Easy Styling

10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT WASH N GO'S

1) IT'S A QUICK AND EASY STYLE SOLUTION

2) NO ONE ELSE'S WASH N GO WILL LOOK LIKE YOURS

3) IF YOU USE CONDITIONER TO DEFINE YOUR COILS, YOUR HAIR STAYS MOISTURIZED

4) IT SHOWS WHAT YOUR HAIR DOES ON IT'S OWN ACCORD

5) EASY TO KEEP MOISTURIZED, WILL HELP TO RETAIN LENGTH

6) LOW MANIPULATION STYLING

7) IT'S SOOO CUTE!

8) EVERYBODY ASKS "HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR TO DO THAT?"

9) YOU CAN WET YOUR HAIR DAILY!!

10) NO FEAR FOR THE RAIN OR HUMID WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you haven't figured out the way to do your wash n go exactly how you love it....it's okay. The fun thing about natural hair is the experiments that you can do on your hair to figure out what your hair likes. I have a technique for a wash n go on wet hair, dry hair, and damp hair. They each produce different results!

SEPTEMBER 2012 UPDATE!!

Hey Beautiful! I Recently Lost My Last STUBBORN 8 Lbs!! 

When the weight started to drop off, I was encouraged to continue my weight loss/toning routine--and document my progress. Want to hear how I lost 8 pounds in 4 weeks? Check out how I simply changed 3 habits and lost 8 pounds safely. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR THIS INFO PACKED ARTICLE BY ANGELSRINGLETS on hubpages.  http://hubpages.com/topics/health/2155

T's Curly Hair Routine with Eco Styler Gel

Natural Hair is So Twisted

Curly Hair Defined with Conditioner, and "Set" with Eco Styler Gel

This Wash N Go is Set to Dry. It will have a Little Shrinkage

Hey Lovelies! I was able to catch Miss T before she slipped into the shower to work her hair magic. She typically uses Eco Styler Gel to define her coils, while I'm known for playing with Conditioners. We use the clear Eco Styler Gel. This time around she used Suave Naturals Conditioner (the one in the green bottle). No Shampoo was used this time around. She only shampoos her hair when she's about to straighten it. During her curly days, it's straight up conditioners. 

Here's her step by step tutorial of sorts. How can this help you? If you have curls or coils that like to define and show their face while you are in conditioner mode, then the Eco Styler Gel will help by "freezing" what curls/coils you already have. Her technique is currently what she has figured out works for her hair. I'm sure she will be "tweaking" it as her hair gets longer, and as she gets to understand her hair better. That's the basis for building a regimen that will work.

T's CURLY HAIR REGIMEN 

1) Wet Hair Thoroughly

2) Condition & Detangle (start finger detangling, then use a wide tooth comb). This also helps to begin to define your curls

3) Rinse out Conditioner

4) Take a Handful of Eco Styler Gel (or Gel of your choice), and place it on top of your head

5) Let the water "melt" the Gel into your hair, while you distribute it with your fingers

6) Squeeze the water out of your hair

7) Style (she used a headband and "Pompadour" on this session)

8) Spritz with shine serum (can use coconut oil or a natural substitute)

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

I think this routine works well for her hair because she begins to define her curls from the moment that she begins detangling. The conditioner helps to get the curls ready to be "set" by the Eco Styler Gel. Using the water to kind of dilute the Gel is great because it doesn't take as long to dry. The only thing she thinks she needs to figure out is how to put conditioner underneath the gel. She says that it takes her hair forever to dry when she uses conditioner under the gel. Her curls are already in place by the time water hits them. The products serve only to define, shine, and "set". If she doesn't put gel in her hair, and it has a chance to dry, then her hair becomes frizzy like Izzy on Phineas & Ferb. 

Add a Bow Depending on the Outfit of The Day!

Curly Hair & Products to Control Frizz

My Curly Hair Regimen / THE QUICK ONE!

It was one of those date nights where everyone involved (hubby and I), were getting hungry and every minute counted! Whoever got ready last was the problem person, and they were gonna be blamed for everything. I looked in the mirror at my hair, and it wasn't ready yet.

I decided to rinse out my hair (I had the mixed silk leave in conditioner on). I just rinsed with water, and then showered and got out. After staring at my coils in the mirror for about a minute, I figured I needed to help it dry a little faster. I used one of hubby's old t shirts (old to me), and laid it on the hair and tied it down with a scrunchy. After it absorbed most of the water, I took it off and assessed the situation. Coils looked great, but I knew that if I just left it this way, within 30 minutes (or less) I was gonna have an Afro (and that was not the look I was going for). So, I put some more of the mixed silk leave in conditioner on throughout the whole head, and then stared again.

After the staring contest in the mirror, I decided to check out the Eco Styler Gel, cause it's good to lay down hair quickly, and give a nice shine. To apply, I placed a scoop in the palm of my hand, and rubbed my hands together. Then I started at the bang area, and smoothed my hair from root to tip with the Eco Styler Gel (smoothed between the palm of my hands). I did this all the way around the head. I also "raked" with my fingers to get the ends and separate the coils that wanted to separate. I knew that I was missing some areas, because I couldn't "get in" to the roots and some of the thicker areas. I didn't care too much, because I just wanted to lay it down for the night out. After that, well, I would just figure it out. So here's what it looked like after applying it the best I could throughout (and missing a lot of spots)

Eco Styler Gel Natural Hair Wash N Go Has Shine & Define

 T-Shirt Dried Wash N Go Quick Styling with Eco Styler Gel

I actually got 3 day hair out of this quick styling. The process took me 20 minutes max!


I was ready first, by the way.

Day TWO

Day THREE

Transitioning Hair and Exercise--How To Maintain Your Hair & Your Body!

Transitioning Hair and Exercise Hassle Free

 Transitioning Hair just requires a little creativity. You're working with two totally different textures of hair (as if working with one texture wasn't tricky enough). I decided to work with the curly texture of my hair. Because exercising and sweat would defeat any straight hair styling that I could have done.

Perm Rod Rollers Turn Straight to Curly

 That lead me to thinking.....perm rod rollers (aka cold wave rollers) do a real good job of creating tight frizz free curls that hold for a long time. But you say, "I don't have time to be putting all kinds of rollers on my head 5 times a week"! Well, this ain't that kind of party. I deal with quick, trouble free styling. So here's what I did:

Blended Curls Work Together For Texture

 1) Fifteen minutes prior to my workout, I braided my hair up into 9 to 12 braids (depending on the thickness of your hair and how long thicker braids will take to dry). At this time, pre-poo with oils or conditioner.Yeah, you get the benefit of a pre-poo too!!!

Do Ponytails, Buns, Anything You Want

2) Next, go and work out.

3) KEEPING THE BRAIDS IN....go take a shower. At this time, you can opt to wash with diluted shampoo in a bottle (this will really get to the roots). Diluted, and one that is moisturized, that will yield the best results for a clean palate of hair to style on.Or you can opt to co-wash or just rinse.

4) Condition your braided hair and rinse.

 5) Out of the shower, use a microfiber towel or t-shirt to remove extra water. Spend about 5 minutes squeezing each braid to absorb the water from the braids.

6) Moisturize each braid (do not make it too wet).

 7) Put 1 perm rod roller on the end of each braid (rolling up all of the relaxed hairs onto the natural hair slightly. You can use rolling papers if need be (but I didn't do that most of the time). DO NOT COMB YOUR RELAXED ENDS (even though they came undone). THIS IS A LOW MANIPULATION STYLING TO AVOID BREAKAGE.

8) GOOD NIGHT.

9) In the Morning, remove the perm rod rollers, and carefully undo the braids. Styling and positioning as you undo each braid. Your relaxed ends should be really curly, and your natural roots should be braid out wavy.

10) Now you have a texture with which to Style as desired.

Work With Transitioning Hair to Achieve a Texture Easily Styled

I transitioned for 15 months, and during that time I worked out 5 times a week. I sweat a lot, so I had no option but to wash my hair basically after every workout. Some way, some how I was still able to keep a hairstyle each time. The video below is a step by step tutorial.

SEPTEMBER 2012 UPDATE!!

Hey Beautiful! I Recently Lost My Last STUBBORN 8 Lbs!! 

When the weight started to drop off, I was encouraged to continue my weight loss/toning routine--and document my progress. Want to hear how I lost 8 pounds in 4 weeks? Check out how I simply changed 3 habits and lost 8 pounds safely. 

Posts By Topic

In an effort to organize everything in my life---I am making this page to help find information easier! No need to hope and wish about it, I will just update this page as more information on transitioning has been posted.



Transitioning Hair (Tips & Tricks)
How to Lay Down Your Hairline/Edges
5 Straight Up Tips For Transitioning
How to Take a Break From Transitioning Woes 
Transitioning Hair and Exercise Styling Trick 
What We Learned About Long Term Transitioning



Curly Hair Styling & Care
T's Method For Defining Curly Hair with Eco Styler Gel
Coily Hair Using the Tightly Curly Method
Quick Coil Defining Method Step By Step 
Ten Things To Love About Wash N Go's 
Overview of How to Wear Your Coily Hair 
A Quick "Pre Poo" and How that Can Help Your Curls POP!



Detangling Natural Hair
Quick Tips For Detangling Natural Hair After Long Term Styling




Length Retention 
How to Use Two Strand Twists To Grow Long Hair
How You Detangle Will Determine If You Will Grow Your Hair Long 
Steps to Take to Keep Your Length
My Low Manipulation Styling & Regimen



Journey to YOU (oh, you will want to check this often for new updates)!
What Happens When You Accept Your Natural Hair
Consistent Actions For Consistent Results: Exercise, Hair Care, Etc)
Transitioning From Relaxed to Natural Without Support
Losing Weight: Is Your Mind Ready?
My Experience Wearing A Blow Out "As Is"





BRAIDOUTS
Aloe Vera & Your BEST Braidout
Ultra Defined Braidout on Loose Textured Hair (T's)


TWISTOUTS
How to Get a Lengthy, Stretched Twistout

FLAT IRON
FINE HAIR: From Flat Ironed Straight Back to Coily


TWO STRAND TWISTS
Fro Hawk Styling With Two Strand Twists
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Bantu Knot on Two Strand Twists
Tips and Tricks to Doing Two Strand Twists on Natural Hair
Wearing and Styling Big Sized Two Strand Twists





KIDDIES CORNER!
Flat Twists and Two Strand Twist Quick Styling Idea





HAIR REGIMENS
(Dimple's) Hair Regimen

Transitioning Hair Blues? Give Yourself A Break With Braids!

Transitioning From Relaxed to Natural: Do Loose Braids!

This Technique Helps Keep the Hair From Coming Loose While in Braids

During my transition from relaxed hair to natural, sometimes I would be at a loss for styling options where I wouldn't be walking around looking......not sane. I did alright with the care and TLC part of the transition, but styling has always been my weakness. I did figure out a way to braid my hair (yes, my very own hair--no extensions) while I was transitioning. How did you keep the relaxed ends from un-ravelling, you ask? 

1) Wash/Condition Hair

2) Air Dry to about 50%

3) Blow Dry on COLD (you can put your moisturizer now)

4) Section

5) Moisturize (something Shea Butter or Pomade thick)--No Water Based Moisturizers

6) Braid (Small, but not mini)

By blow drying your hair on Cold, you will allow the relaxed hair to "swell", which will help to keep it from coming loose. It's not gonna be a good idea to do this trick on freshly cut, blunt ends. So if you just cut your ends, you gotta wait a few weeks. 

I also played with adding extensions and doing my braids too. Ain't nothing wrong with that. It gave me the opportunity to play with colors--and we all love colors!

Styling Options with Loose Box Braided Extensions Can Be Professional or Casual

I had so much fun with my braids!

Long Term Transitioners Can Enjoy Braided Extensions While Growing Long Healthy Hair

Transitioning From Relaxed To Natural Styling Options are Many!

Adding Accessories to Your Braids Helps to Add Variety To Your Styling

Braided Extensions Are A Fun Way To Play With Color!

Rock Your Coily Hair: Using The Tightly Curly Method

The Tightly Curly Method Adds Shine, Define, Hold and Moisture to Natural Coily Hair

  

 Pretty much the whole month of October was spent trying out the tightly curly method. This method was created by Teri LaFlesh, and is outlined on her popular website tightly curly.com, as well as her book titled "curly like me".  We used the Giovanni 50/50 Moisture Conditioner as our styling conditioner. 1 thing we did differently was to shingle on the Shea Moisture Curling Souffle (it has great oils in it and a light flax seed hold). I saw the difference when I did that versus when I didn't.

Quickly let me just say, this method allowed me and my little one to wear our coils. The method primarily entails the use of conditioner to coat the hair. Typically, you would rinse out your conditioner and style with a leave in moisturizer. But she reviews in her book and on the site the type of conditioners and their ingredients that would work well as a "styling conditioner" that you would leave in the hair. The weight of the conditioner stretched our coils a bit. So we were able to have a little length to work with. Additionally, the coat of the conditioner provided a sheen or shine. The style was easily manipulated and refreshed in the morning.

Coils are "set" by the Tightly Curly Method

THE TIGHTLY CURLY METHOD & MY COILS

Little Girl's Natural Hair & Easy Styling with the Tightly Curly Method

Our "aftereffects" of the tightly curly method? Soft and luxurious hair like butter. After 1 week of keeping our hair coated with the styling conditioner, our reward was soft and easily styled hair.

We will be doing this method from time to time (weather permitting). This style takes all day to dry, so it's best that you do it in the morning and allow it to air dry that day. Some of the main benefits of this method: 1) Low Manipulation (length retention),  2) Deep Conditioning, 3) Protective Coat of Moisturizer on Hair. Any Downfalls to this method? 1) All day to dry,  2) Use of A Lot of Conditioner! I can't think of any other issues as of yet.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I ADVOCATE USE OF ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS. THAT BEING SAID, THE ONLY CONDITIONERS I WOULD TRUST TO LEAVE ON MY HAIR/SCALP (AND MY LITTLE ONE AS WELL) WILL ONLY BE ALL NATURAL.

Defined Coils with the Tightly Curly Method

Products and Natural Hair: What Do You Put In Your Hair?

 IS YOUR HAIR SOFT ALL WEEK? WHAT DO YOU USE?

I've had the most easy styling week with my coily haired princess this week. I usually deal with single strand knots, tangles, shrunken hair that won't allow me to change up her style, and the usual curly haired shenanigans. Yeah I love to style her coily hair. But when we want to do some styles that require a little length, we are usually looking at her coils while they look right back at us and ask "what's up?" For school, I mostly use stretched styles on her. In the past, I noticed stretched hair that feels really dry. I can make her hair look real good. But can I keep it healthy, and soft? Yeah. Now I can. Let me tell you how..

Twist Outs are a Great Styling Option For Little Girls Too

Hair is Soft and Manageable. Use Natural Ingredients--(not to be mistaken for products)

Night Time Maintain: 5 Minutes Moisture and Plait

1) Minimize products. I found what works for her, and that's all I use in her hair. I will outline her products and regimen in another post.

2) Minimize Manipulation. After her wash day detangle, I don't detangle again. I will smooth out her hair nightly with my hands (that have shea butter mix on them). Night time regimen is simply twist big or plait big. Takes about 5 minutes (a little bit longer now that her hair is getting longer).

3) Use Natural Products. I'm not talking name brands. I mean actual 1 ingredient things. For instance, I use Aloe Vera Gel and Castor oil on her hair mostly. Then if I want to stretch it, I use Shea Butter/Mango Butter/Jojoba Oil mix. Keepin' it Real Simple. It doesn't even have to be expensive.

I think that keeping a simple product listing and simple regimen will eliminate product build up. It will eliminate the need for you to use harsh shampoos to take out the products you put in. And not having to use harsh shampoos is definitely a start to soft, maneagable hair. So is her hair soft now? Yeah. Is her hair maneagable now? Yeah. Does she scream when I style it in the mornings? No. Is she cute? I'm real sure of it. But then again, I'm her mama.

Transitioning Hair Trick #1: HOW TO LAY DOWN THE HAIRLINE

I will dedicate much time to transitioning hair information. Only because I was a long term transitioner, and I've pretty much gone through anything and everything that a transitioner can go through. During month 3 through month 7, I wore a lot of buns, and pulled back styling. During this time, the "new growth" is peeking through, but there's mostly relaxed hair at the shaft and ends. 

THE PROBLEM: How do I style my hair with all of this new growth?

SOLUTION #1: Moisturize your hair properly. At night time, soft brush your hairline (edges). Plait into braids (or not--you can do this to a plain old ponytail style), and tie down your hair with a satin head tie. Make sure to lie the scarf along the hairline so that your morning styling will have a smooth hairline (if that's the look you're going for).

SOLUTION #2: Invest in a few headbands. They must be sturdy enough to keep the hairline down. This is used after you've done your night-time scarf trick.

Transitioning Hair, Month 4 "New Hair Growth" Waves

Hair Band Helps Keep "Fly Aways" in Place

Transitioning Hair Bun Styling is Great During Months 4 through 8

Transitioning Hair and Buns Are Great All Year Round