Small Business Spotlight: Strands & Company

1. What is the name of your Business?

Strands & Company

2. Where is your business located?

Online shop headquartered in Austin, TX

3. Business' Website: www.strandsandco.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strandsandco

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StrandsandCo

   Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/strandsandco

   OTHER  Social Media : YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StrandsandCompany

4. Are you the owner?

Yes

5.  Briefly tell us about your business:

Looking for natural products for curly hair or textured hair? Seeking natural and organic skin care solutions? Strands & Company is proud to offer you an ever-growing selection of natural hair and skin care from reputable makers who share our vision of bringing you products that are safe for your body and provide results. Some of our products are USDA Organic-certified.

6.  How did you come to be in this line of work?

Strands & Company was born from my own personal hair journey. Managing my ethnically-mixed, textured hair has been an interesting road to travel - some parts of my hair are wavy, some parts straight, some parts tightly coiled, some parts frizzy. My hair has been chemically relaxed, frequently blow dried, and everything in-between.

After noticing my hair was thinning several years ago, I took a variety of actions to try and stop the issue. I stopped using chemical relaxers on my hair, I flat ironed and blow dried less. Less hair was falling out after making these changes, yet my hair was still coarse, dry and easy to break. Apparently, I had stopped my hair from abandoning ship... but it just didn't feel healthy.

So, I started seeking out products designed to moisturize and pamper textured or curly hair, with the added bonus of less harsh chemicals. It wasn't easy to find what I was looking for but after finding and trying a few natural products, I noticed an even bigger change in my hair - it was softer, easier to manage and most importantly, it was growing back!

I felt sure there must a store out there, focused on natural hair care brands for textured hair. While I found individual textured hair brands, and some online stores tailored to natural products, what was missing was a shop that was dedicated to both - natural products for textured hair. So I started Strands & Company, to bring a store like that to other people who had needs like mine.

7. How long have you been doing this?

I started working on the shop at the start of this year (2013).

8. Who would benefit from your product?

·         Someone with textured/curly/kinky/coily/frizzy hair who is looking for products with a high concentration of natural and organic ingredients.

·         Someone interested in skin care products made from primarily natural and organic ingredients.

9. How can our fans place their order or contact you?

Through our website, strandsandco.com.

10. Any current specials or event you want to share with our fans?

#1:
 I’d like to offer your fans a 10% discount off any order. They can use the code CCNS10 at checkout and they will receive 10% off their entire order. This discount is good through June 7th!

#2:
Sign up for our newsletter and be entered in a drawing to win the book “Better Than Good Hair” by Nikki Walton (aka CurlyNikki)

 

Book Review: I AM MIXED!

“I Am Mixed,” Written by Garcelle Beauvais and Sebastian A. Jones.

These authors gave me the honor of reviewing their book and I must say I am thrilled to do so.
 
The book was illustrated by James C. Webster, and his work is fantastic. The pictures really bring the words to life and help tell this wonderful story. 

The story is of two siblings that are biracial and attend an ordinary school in an ordinary town in this great country. While at school, "Nia" is asked by her classmates, "why is your hair not straight like Sally’s?" Her response comes from her pride and loving feelings she feels for herself because her mother has let her know how special she is, how wonderful it is to be mixed with everything nice. Her mother would say to her, “Your skin is the night and your eyes are the stars. Your smile is the moon that kisses my heart.” This is a story about love, self confidence and knowing how special each one of us is.
 
This book is great for young readers, as the short sentences on each page make it easier for them to read on their own. However we had a great time reading the book out-loud together.

I love reading books that sound like a poem and this one fits that build.

While I was reading this book to my children, my six year old son, Little B., and my four year old daughter, Ms. Bree, I could not help but notice that Ms. Bree had a smile on her face the entire time I was reading. Her smile said more to me than I can ever put into words. Bree fell in love with “Nia” and instantly pointed at the picture in the book of the boy and girl and said, "Me and Billy mama!” My daughter liked it so much we read it four times.

 

James C. Webster did a great job in capturing the children’s big beautiful smile on every illustrated page. They beam with self-confidence and pride. Not even when they are asked by their classmates, why are they different, did that smile turn into a frown. 

Overall, this is a great book about loving one’s self and how wonderful it is to be of mixed races. As some of you may remember, my six year old son came home from school once and said, “I don’t want to be brown like daddy. I want to be white like mommy!” I think that reading this book will help build our little ones' self-acceptance and build their confidence. As parents of bi-racial children, we know how important that is because the rest of the world doesn’t know what we know, that being mixed is a lovely thing that is made with everything nice and sweet and it can’t be beat. 

Buy this book for your children, your friends, your church and even your school. The book will truly be a blessing to all who read it.

Here is how you can own your own copy:

“I Am Mixed” can be downloaded now via iBooks, Kindle, and Nook, and preordered on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the August 7^th, 2013 hardback print street date!  

Here are the links: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/10QZIeE,  

Kindle: http://amzn.to/10gP0PE,   

 Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Z6ENFf,  

Nook: http://bit.ly/YYOJ3O, 

iTunes (iBooks): http://bit.ly/10kwBR4

(“I Am Mixed” is the first in the I Am Book Series.  The follow up title will be “I Am Living in 2 Homes for children who deal with divorce. It can be found at www.facebook.com/iambookseries and @iambookseries orwww.iambook.com).

“I Am Mixed is an invaluable teaching tool that all children from all races can learn from.”  – Halle Berry (from her foreword)

      

AUGUST 2013

we received our own special copy!

Small Business Spotlight: Mommasbows!

1. What is the name of your Business?

     My business name is Mommasbows.

2. Where is your business located?

     We are located in Savannah Ga and ship anywhere in the USA!  Please ask about Canada and APO addresses:)

3. Business' Website:

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/Mommasbows

   

4. Are you the owner?

     I am.

5.  Briefly tell us about your business:

     We sell quality, handmade hair bows, head bands and more.  I offer boutique clothing and just added a line "Mommasboys".  

     I love to do matching sets and custom orders.  We have done pageant hair pieces, bow ties, clip in bows for shoes and bow holders.  

6.  How did you come to be in this line of work?

     I decided to stay at home with my children.  As a Military spouse I have found that its not easy to find childcare for my work hours and my husbands!

7. How long have you been doing this? 
     I have been "crafty" all of my life!  As a little girl I made my dolls clothing, furniture and so on.  I decide to start this business three years ago when I found out we were having our first girl!

8. Who would benefit from your product?

     Anyone and everyone!

9. How can our fans place their order or contact you?

     Contact me on my page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mommasbows or email at mommasbows@yahoo.com

10. Any current specials or event you want to share with our fans?

      I would like to offer a few specials for your fans:

      $3 bows as seen in the photos!  
     Buy 10 or more and we will ship free!  This week only!

     Any order over $40 will ship FREE this week only!

If you follow us on Facebook you probably already know that I've recently purchased a few bows, headbands and flower clips!   

(She also made a set with the saying "My daddy is a Police Officer"!, and that set quickly became Daddy's favorite bows!) 

This lovely lady is very talented, just tell her what you want and she will do it!!

Don't forget to like her page, so that you won't miss her auctions and/or sales!  

REVIEW: Kids Haircare by Mixed Chicks

MIXED CHICKS PRODUCT REVIEW- PART ONE



Today we are going to review Kids Haircare by Mixed Chicks!! I'm so excited about this so let's get started:

NOTE:  Part I of this review is all about how this product worked on Little B's hair.  His hair resemble more of my hair than Ms. Bree's.  Little B's curl pattern is a loose loose curl, based on the chart below, a 3A. 

The Kids Haircare kit included:

*Mixed Chicks Kids Shampoo;

*Mixed Chicks Kids Conditioner;

*Mixed Chicks Kids Leave In Conditioner;

*Mixed Chicks Kids Tangle-Tamer.

 



This time we only used the following:

*Kids Shampoo:

Ingredients:

WATER, LAURYL  GLUCOSIDE, DISODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE, DISODIUM LAURYL SULFOSUCCINATE, SODIUM PCA, GLYCERIN,  CAPRYLYL GLYCO, CAPRYLO HYDROXAMIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) OIL

Their Claim: 

Finally, a gentle, matural, safe shampoo for our kids, now you can wash tender scalps without fuss, great for little swimmers to use daily.

*Sulfate free;
*Tear Free;
*can be used as a body wash.
    

*Kids Conditioner

Ingredients:

AQUA/WATER,CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, PANTHENOL, CAPRYLY GLYCOL, CAPRYLOHYDROXAMIC ACID, ROSMARINUS, OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF
EXTRACT, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL), EXTRACT, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA
(MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, HUMULUS LUPULUS (HOPS) EXTRACT, PRUNUS SEROTINA (WILD CHERRY) BARK EXTRACT, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT,  ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT

Their Claim:

A natural formula that leaveshair soft & manageable, now mom and dad can comb through kids hair with ease.

*Moisturize;
*Detangle;
*Fragrance Free.

*Kids Leave-in Conditioner         

Ingredients:

AQUA/ WATER, GLYCERIN, STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE, AMODIMETHICONE, EMULSIFYING WAX, METHYL-GLUCETH 20, HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) OIL, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL, SILK AMINO ACIDS, HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CAPRYL HYDROXAMIC ACID

Their Claim: 

Designed for our little ones, this styling product is alcohol and paraben free.

*Eliminate frizz;

*Define curls;

*Paraben free.

USED ON LITTLE B'S HAIR

BEFORE:

SHAMPOO:

Because his hair is so short, I really didn't need a lot of shampoo, a couple of pumps/squirts were enough.  I repeated the process twice because Little B went on a field trip and some how, a lot of things were in his hair.. ha! 

This shampoo reminds me of Kinky Curly Come Clean, it really DIDN'T strip his hair but you could tell that it was really cleaning his hair, like a good clarifying shampoo would do.

Great lather and very gentle in the little one's eyes.


CONDITIONER:

I applied the conditioner and massaged his scalp for about 5 minutes and then he played in the tub for approximately 15 min before rinsing the conditioner out. 

This conditioner worked great after Little B's shampooing.  His hair felt clean/clarified and the Conditioner just replenished the moister in his hair and then some, leaving his hair feeling silky soft. 

LEAVE IN CONDITIONER:

NOW, trust me when I saw, "a little goes a long way", so be very cautious as to how much you pump onto your palm.   

The Leave In Conditioner is very light and has a great slip, which I loved.  Two pumps was enough for his short hair.  

On the picture above you can see how shinny his hair looks. No need for a comb or pick, I only used my fingers to evenly distribute the product.

Little B. really liked these products, he said and I quote "smells nice and it doesn't pull my hair".. Basically the shampoo truly cleaned his hair and the conditioner instantly revived and moisturized his curls!  It almost felt like I had used a DC treatment instead of just a simple conditioner.

Little B is old enough to apply styling products by himself. He found it extremely easy to use the leave in conditioner.  This product was not thick so it was easy for him to apply evenly throughout his hair. 


My  husband put a "boys durag" over Little B's hair before he went to bed.

AFTER:  

 

Pictures speak a thousand words!! Little B's curls were more defined, the after pictures were taken after he had been playing outside after coming home from school!!  

Little B's hair was still "free of tangles", which is a plus for us because like every other boy, he hates combing his hair!  His hair felt a bit "thirsty", therefore I will add a bit more of the leave in conditioner before putting his Durag on at bedtime.  I will also spray some more of the  "Tangle Tamer" before he goes to school in the morning.  

Overall, the products are amazing and they worked fine for him. I loved how his curls were defined and "popping", specially around the hairline. 

STAY TUNED for Part II of this review, MS. BREE IS UP NEXT!

Small Business Spotlight: Miss. TeenyFab Couture

Hello and thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for our "Small Business Spotlight".  I am a huge fan of Miss. TeenyFab Couture and her "Afro Hello Kitty" shirts.   As some of you may know... Ms Bree one!  

1. What is the name of your Business? 

   Miss. TeenyFab Couture

2. Where is your business located?

   San Bernardino, Ca and Carson, Ca

3. Business' Website:

   Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeenyFab

   Twitter: TeenyFabCo

   Instagram: Miss_TeenyFabsMomma

   Pinterest: TeenyFabsMomma

4. Are you the owner? 
    Yes I'am

 

5.  Briefly tell us about your business:  

I love to make outfits that are sure to make other people WOW over your little darling.

From  OTT bows to fab tutus and custom shirts.  
We offer products that will set your child apart from the rest in today's world; I take pride in what I do and offering fab couture for my own diva as well as yours.

6.  How did you come to be in this line of work?

I've always loved bows so when I had my daughter in 2009 it began then  my mother in law taught me how to sew. 
In 2012 I decided to open up and started the Fb page which now my friend Shandria Alexander runs she's amazing!!! She makes sure everything runs smoothly and she also sews so were adding new items constantly 

7. How long have you been doing this?

 About 2 years for just family and friends and up and running our 1 year anniversary is coming up in July  

8. Who would benefit from your product? 

Anyone who's looking for something special for their child. We do a lot of custom items so its more then likely no one else is gonna have it. 

9. How can our fans place their order or contact you?

We can be reached through our Facebook page and at TeenyFabCouture@gmail.com 

10. Any current specials or event you want to share with our fans?

Yes we are starting the bow of the month club which we will have 6 and 12 month memberships and they will be exclusive bows that will only go to our bow of the month club members. And we also plan on doing a few giveaways in the coming weeks. 

Wow, so many cute things, is it possible to just get one?? probably not!  Now, make sure that you visit & follow Miss. TeenyFab Couture and look at all the fabulous items she has available for your little one.  

**Note: If you would like your small business to be featured in our "Small Business Spotlight", please contact me at caramelcurlznswirls@yahoo.com**