The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Bantu Knot Attempt. But I Worked It?

 Part of the Holiday happenings was that hubby and I got a chance to catch a movie. We haven't been to the theaters in a while, and I wanted to go see "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". I'd never read the book, all's I know is that I saw the preview a while back and knew that movie was going to be raw.

Well, raw it was (but not in the sense that I originally meant). It was great, but don't bring your young teen to watch it---I'm glad I didn't. I must've not read the ratings!

Anywhoo, I can't stop thinking about the hairstyles that were done in this movie!

 When the actress, Rooney Mara first walks into the scene, you are in for a shock. Hair, clothes, piercings, tattoos, the works. And at first, I Hated (with a capital H) the hair cut. I thought "hideous". She had a 1/4'' bang laying down--leaving a go-head-fo-head situation. Her sides appeared "scraggly" for a lack of a word (and why didn't my spell check blow up on that word)? Her sides were stringy and longer than the crown and the nape. Pair this with the 1/4'' bang and fo-head, then you have a mess.

Well, as the movie progresses, there were a variety of hairstyles done on this cut that were phenomenal in my opinion. Apparently, the 1/4'' bangs were able to be covered by the longer section of hair behind it. Those longer strands were sometimes pulled over the crazy looking bangs, and that gave a totally different look! There were a few styles with Mohawks, Bantu knots (yes, Bantu knots), cornrows (yup), ponytails, buns, beanie caps, I mean, you


name it--they did it. You have to see the movie to believe it.

 It just goes to show, hair doesn't have to be long in order to be sexy. A cute cut that allows a little length for some versatility will work wonders for a person who likes to change up their look often. This style here--I couldn't forget the Bantu knots they did on her hawk cut in the movie, and I tried to replicate it a little bit with my twists. It definitely wasn't the same, but I enjoyed the style anyways. I don't know what that blue thing is in my hair, but it wasn't supposed to be there.

I put a black banana clip about 2'' above my nape, and left about 3'' of hair out at the front (from the forehead, and going back). I did Bantu knots all the way up and down the middle section. It's a work in process for me, and I will try it again to get it less sophisticated LOL. And amp up the "punk" look!

 This served as a great protective style. I was ready to get all that hair off my shoulders and out of my face, so this saved the day while I did a little after Christmas shopping.

I couldn't remember what they did with this style at the front in the movie. I'm telling you, when you see this movie, don't blink and miss 1 hairstyle!

 So I worked it, and made it my own. That's what you gotta do. I just braided up some twists in the front and pinned them up so they could loop around some.  See this is why I love two strand twists. They allow so much versatility. 

What Do You Do When Your Hair Style Fails You?

After a 2 hour stint with a big basket of magnetic hair rollers, some Shea Moisture Style Milk, and my beloved Jane Carter Nourish & Shine, I was left with this question: "Do I know what to do with all of these products I have in my closet"? I've got it all.....you name it, I've got it. I decided not to buy any styling products until I use up most of what I have. The stash is not looking any smaller after repeated use. 

To be honest, I really only use my Aloe Vera Gel & Castor oil mixture for most of my styling. It gives me shine and define and softness too. But before I found out that my life could be that simple (and I could have more closet space), I had to spend some money. I'm done with all of that now.

So about this roller set.... it came out cute:

I mean, it started to revert before I even got to my destination. I didn't even know there was humidity levels like this in the Fall Season. Oh well, gotta revamp, because this style was supposed to last me for a few days! It was definitely going to be my hairstyle for a night out with my friend. Look what happened later that night....

Okay, this was after I went running in the park, but I didn't even sweat!!! It was like 60 something degrees out, and I thought I would be fine! Boy was I wrong. So later that night, I spent 40 minutes putting my hair in two strand twists that I would wear the next day....

Two Strand Twists Put into Up do Secured with Banana Clip

So now I've got my protective styling for the day. It looks like it will keep moisture and secure my ends. Then later that evening, I will pull it down for a twist out. This is my special plan to overcome the fact that my roller set bailed out on me. 

I think I went wrong when I didn't put a setting lotion of some sort on. I don't have one in my stash (can you believe that)??

I have 3 products on my twists now. I have the aloe Vera gel and Castor oil mix as well as the Nourish & Shine and the Shea moisture style milk.

Well, I will update in a new post once I pull down my failed roller set (2 strand twists to the rescue) tonight.

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.