Mini Twists with time management

I love Girls Love Your Curls. She has the most brilliant and simple ideas. This time management method can work for adults as well as children.



Her girls hair looks gorgeous!

KiddieWraps Review

Lil KnapsGirl ready for bed.

I purchased a KiddieWrap and have no association with the manufacturer or maker.

Product: KiddieWraps Satin Hair wrap (Blue Island Flower)

Size: One size fits most (adult & child)

 Claims: KiddieWraps satin hair wraps can make every hair combing session a pleasant one by making your child's hair more manageable to comb. Our satin hair wraps stays on all night to prevent tangles, split ends and unwanted knots.

Price: $5.99 + $5 shipping

I used the KiddieWrap on loose hair and a cornrow style. LKG's hair was noticeably less dry and tangled when her hair was loose. This is her first foray into head wraps and she is a wild sleeper and was able to "twirl" it off just before dawn the first night. The second night it was backwards when she awoke but still on her head. 

By the time I braided her hair she was used to it and even let me put in on for naps. Her cornrows are not a week old yet and are fairing pretty well.

 Day 2

Day  3

The idea is that a satin bonnet is hidden beneath an attached decorative bandanna  This is proposed to be in case you MUST go out in public. The bandanna serves dual purposes to camouflage the fact hat you are in public in a protective sleep wrap and to help it stay in place while the child sleeps. I really liked the thought and hence my order. My only complaint is that when the wrap arrived it appeared to be assembled incorrectly. The smooth side of the cap was facing out toward the bandanna, not at her hair. I don't know if this was a mistake or intentional but I thought the "slicker" side was to face the hair. In spite of this, the "rough" side of a satin cap is better than dry cotton sheets and pillow cases. Overall, this is a good product for wild sleepers and children, I don't find the cost a deterrent because at this point I've realized you get what you pay for on the protective sleep wrap front. 

What I Learned: Buying multiple cheap sleep bonnets just doesn't make sense if you really use them regularly, spend the money so you can wash it without worry.

A little off hair...

Being a new mother, I am often found watching my her favorite children's shows. I recently began following a children show on twitter called Bino and Fino. The show is produced in Nigeria and I was initially attracted by the title character Fino's cute afropuffs.

Fino's hair is adorable.

Here are the shows claims:

Bino and Fino is the wonderful educational Nigerian cartoon show about a brother and sister who live in a modern day city in sub- Saharan Africa. In each episode Bino and Fino, with the help of their friend Zeena the Magic Butterfly and their family, discover and learn things about the world.The show is for children mainly between the ages of 3 and 6.

Zeena the Magic Butterfly


It was created to provide more animated children’s content for the kids around the world to enjoy. As a parent, wherever you are in the world it is hard to find genuine, quality African made educational media that show wonderful aspects of African culture to your children. This is especially so when it comes to cartoons which kids are captivated by. Africa is telling its story. Bino and Fino will help tell that story to children.

Fino also stars on a Seasme Street style I love my hair t-shirt.

The Bino and Fino merchandise is adorable as well.

I watched a free preview episode and found it delightful the characters were attractive and just as informative and engaging as Dora or Diego. If Bino and Fino were available on television in the US I would love to let my little KnapsGirl watch it.

You can suppport Bino and Fino here on indiegogo

5 things I am not doing to my Lil KnapsGirl...

I've been noticably absent from the blog getting used to being a mother. My daughter is now six months old, she was born with a full head of hair. I take care of her hair but I don't:
-try to type her hair
It's not long enough to really style. The moisturizer I use works so there is no need.

-try to "really" style her hair
If she has on a headband or a barrette she's fine, she's a baby.

-compare her hair to anyone else's
Not even mine, she is an individual and her hair is individual too.

-try to maintain/prolong her baby texture
It is what it is, it will be what it will be.

-get overly excited everytime someone compliments me on the length of her hair
She can pick up on that and I don't want her learning that hair length is important before she can walk, talk, read or count.

Her hair is styled with a spritz made from water, Coils by Nature Shealoe Leave-In Conditioner and coconut oil.

"Crazy, wild and wacky hair"

Lalaloopsy has crazy, wild and wacky hair that you can bend any way you want!

I recently saw a television commercial for a doll with bendable hair. My first thought was, "This will be great for little natural hair girls". I continued watching as her hair was made into tight curls and big waves standing in a halo away from her head. My heart swelled as I imagined my lil knapsgirl playing with one in the future, then I heard the voice-over, "crazy, wild and wacky hair".


"...lots of silly styles."
I'm immediately tired. The constant microaggresions against textured hair even extend to dolls. I shouldn't be surprised our society takes every opportunity to let children of color know they aren't "normal". The message was clear to me people with hair that can stand out from their head, hair that is tightly curled is "crazy, wild and wacky hair".

I just thought their hair was cute and curly.

Silky Wraps Review

  

Girls Sleep Bonnet

 
Roxy at Silky Wraps was kind enough to send her product to us for review. I wore the bonnet to cover a twist-out right before the new year. I received the bonnet pictured above with a beautiful black with white polka dot  lining. Here are the products claims from the site:

Silky Wraps is a modern collection of stylish head wraps & bonnets designed to maintain healthy hair for a variety of hair textures.
Hair Wrap:
- Protects hair from moisture loss.
-Helps preserve your style as you sleep and play.
-Adjustable.
-Generously sized to cover nape and edges.
-Durable and comfortable.
-Suitable for all hair types.
You worked hard to get your style, now protect it with Silky Wraps 

This bonnet does everything it claims and in addition will looks adorable on your little KnapsGirl with the optional ribbon closure.

After two days of wear, My twist-out was preserved without being "squished", It has a more substantial feel than other beauty supply satin bonnets I've owned. I assume the heavier feel will translate to better life in the washer. There are more sedate designs for ladies but I was happy with the rainbow butterflies. :) Roxy also makes wraps for relaxed hair. The wraps cost $19.95 each, that being said and regular readers knowing how cheap thrifty I am, I have found that in this area, it is good to make an investment. I have bought countless beauty supply satin bonnets and long rectangular scarves and they have added up to more than $20 before the year was over (they only seem to make it few months in the washer). I purchased a similar product( at the same price) and never looked back. The only drawback I did find was that the rippled bonnets edge may leave an impression on the forehead. Silky Wraps informes me that it is available with a flat edge. When you decide, in my humble opinion, think carefully about how active your little one is while asleep.

Classic Diva Wrap - review here

I give Silky Wraps 5 of 5 Knaps 

because of:

-the beautiful colors ( appealing to girls)

-good quality (kids do put things through a test)

-competitive pricing with similar quality items

Follow this blog to win our next contest, the prize will be a Silky Wrap!

Lacefront wigs on children

Derby City Naturals said it all in her blog. I will only add that in viewing the posters response video she compares images of children playing with, switching and modeling wigs to what she did in the initial video.

There is a vast difference between children playing with wigs and applying a lacefront wig to your child and telling her how beautiful she looks.

The mother seems to be a very talented wig designer/stylist I just think she doesn't realize the impact of her actions.

Homemade Natural Hair Barbie

I was amazed by by the beautiful custom Barbie dolls created by Tabloach. The dolls had braids, locs, BAAs and TWAs. I found a tutorial on how to afro-lize my Barbie.

Here she is as she arrived:

Before

And here she is after her new texture and styling:

After

You can find the tutorial here.

What do you think? :D

Monica's Happy Hairstory featured on Chocolate Hair/Vanilla Care

My story is here.

Little Miss Happy Headed

How wonderful is this! A pageant for little natural girls.
Information on entry and sponsorship can be found here.

Beautiful babies for our beautiful babies

Comb Coils

Puff w/ twist bang

While browsing etsy I happened on these gorgeous natural haired rag dolls at GloryKids. These beauties were featured as one of Oprah's Favorite things. I love them but some may find them pricey at $40 -$150 depending on the doll. I can't help thinking that I would make myself broke so a daughter of mine could see herself in an adorable doll.

Box Braids















Princess Tiana Braid/Loc bun

KnapsGirls are cute but these girls are FLY.

I think the Knaps Girls are the cutest little natural girls online but they would definitely be able to go out and play with the FLY girls from the blog Its Only The Beginning:Graphic Design – Photography – Natural Hair…A Little Bit of Everything
The adorable girls are available as individual prints for $25 each here.

Childrens Hair Care - Part 2

Moms that want this look want this look for their daughters.

I wrote previously about parents poor hair care on their children. I believe this begin with the parent ( especially the mother). If a mother suffers from hair delusion what can she offer her daughter. Hair delusions include but are not limited to the belief that all length is good, any hair that looks good is good regardless of health, straight/loosely curled hair is superior to kinky/tightly curled hair, hair texture can prevent growth and oils moisturize.

The mothers seem oblivious to the fact that the heads of hair they covet are those of celebrities. A celebrity's appearance is part of their job, they have a TEAM devoted just to caring for and styling their hair. I don't expect my hair to look like that of natural celebrities for that reason. I don't have a team of stylist. If you don't have a team why should you look like them, relaxer or not.

I believe these women place this same pressure on their child, expecting them to look like the children on the relaxer boxes. The child doesn't have a team and in most cases not even a well informed parent. They bear your disappointment through demeaning words or caustic chemicals.

If you teach these delusions to your child in addition to the messages she gets from the larger society what will she think? I have seen the results. She is a four-year -old who teases another four-year-old because her shrunken natural hair doesn't show length or swing and flow. She will call her peer "bald-headed" and "ugly". She will ask with all the malice a child can muster, "Who did your hair?". She will learn she is not perfect the way she was born and will want to let her peers know too.

Childrens Hair Care - Part 1

I have been making some very pointed statements in chats recently in regards to childrens hair care. A couple of people misunderstood my stance, I should begin by saying I am a teacher. I have spent years viewing many tiny heads of hair. Teachers like social workers and doctors sometimes see the worst of what society has to offer.

I have seen many happy, healthy heads of hair atop well-adjusted minds. I believe that this is a result of their upbringing, the example set by their mother, the language used in reference to them and their hair.

I have also seen the opposite:

-bald/thinning hair in girls under 5
-weave/braids attached to bald/thinning hair
-hair broken off to TWA length at age 4
-all manner of negative comments made within ear shot of the child (her hair is just so nappy..)
-comparison made to other children hair in front of child ( I wish she had hair like that girls.)
-relaxing hair as soon as possible after scalp trauma ( like rash or skin infection)
-hair pulled with extreme tension
-extreme dryness
-relaxed children insulting natural children
-long hair children insulting short hair children

I know some of this is done in ignorance and some in neglect but it doesn't make me ( or the child) feel any better. So if you catch me on a chat sounding a little preach-y about caring for children's hair please remember I probably saw some ignorant perversion of hair care that week.

Sesame Street is on board!!

Where was this proud little girl when we were growing up? She's around now for our daughters and that's what's important.


A natural hair Muppet!! I love it!!

Lil Better Butter has its own thread!!

I was skimming blogs and rings on Sunday morning when I noticed that Lil Better Butter was mentioned in a thread. I went to read it and was pleasantly surprised by how well it was praised. I want to say I know only one person who wrote on the thread all the others were regular ol' etsy customers. If you ever wanted to know what Lil Better Butter was like read unsolicited descriptions here on the Lil Better Butter thread on Our Natural Kids.

Beautiful Head of Hair on TV

I was watching Royal Pains this weekend as was struck by a beautiful head of hair. The glorious halo was a fluffy twist-out atop the head of child actor, Skia Jackson. The episode is titled "Big Whoop".



I loved that both her pretend mother and older sister wore straight styles and she did not. I assume a person of color was involved in the casting because it seems when they are not the family is too "match-y, match-y", loc'ed mom, dad and child. We all know that that happens about as often as a white family all being blond because they ALL bleach.

I googled the adorable Ms. Jackson and found her head shot featured the same glorious coif with the addition of an adorable headband.

Our Natural Kids

Our Natural Kids Mission: To share ideas & resources while promoting healthy hair care and maintenance for children with kinky. curly, nappy or multi textured hair

I was featured on Our Natural Kids a wonderful site created by The SistahChick of YouTube fame and The Sistah Cafe blog. This wealth of information helps mothers and others take good are of their little natural charges hair. I commend her for forming such a needed group. Many of us have negative if not traumatic memories of our hair as children because our caregivers were not well versed in natural haircare.

I am honored that she has included me and also endorsed Lil Better Butter and AvoCoco Cream as healthy and child-friendly.

3-Yr Old Getting A Weave

I thought we were making progress and then this mother has the audacity to do this on national television!! So sad, she should have stuck to 'hair-pieces' like she said they had done in the past. The little girl keeps saying "ouch" during the whole process. SMH



3-Yr Old Getting A Weave Shows Problem: “Mommy It Hurt, I Look Pretty Now My Hair Is Long!” [Video]

You know your natural when...

You know your "natural-minded" when even your art projects have natural hair. My students said it looks like me. What do you think?