Winter Care for Natural Curls

Hello Readers!

     I would like welcome and thank all of our new followers!  If you follow our Facebook Page then you know that our page will soon hit 3K LIKES!

     If you don’t follow our Facebook page, come and join the fun!  I cannot thank you all enough for all the support and participation, whether you follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Facebook or YouTube.

  

    Now, let me start this post by stating the obvious… the cold days have arrived! Some of you are probably experiencing lower temperatures than we are.  I mean, we leave in Georgia and I’m originally from Miami, Florida, which means that the coldest temperature I have experienced in my life is probably 20 degrees!  A joke right? At least compare to what some of you have experienced.

    With the cold days knocking on our door every morning, it is important to dress our little ones in layers and to keep gloves, hats and scarfs handy.  But keeping kids warm is not the only important thing we must remember.  At least not when you have kids with lots of curly hair.

     Curly hair needs extra TLC, not just during the summer months but even more so during the dry, cold days.

     Here are a few of my tips that will help you keep your curls moisturized:

#1. Check your oils: by this I mean, some oils become hard during the cold months, if it becomes hard and solid while is in its container, then most likely will not be a good idea to apply it to your hair. Unfortunately, I found that out the hard way… It did not damaged her hair by any means, but we had to re-wash and start all over again.  I love coconut oil, it's no secret, but during the cold days coconut oil tends to hardened and you will see white flakes or clumps all over the hair.  So during the following months I will be using a combination of castor oil, argan oil and jojoba oil. 

#2. Deep Condition: Deep conditioning is part of our regimen, but in order to make sure her hair continues to thrive during the cold days, I deep conditioned her hair once a week!

#3. Pre-Poo: Retaining moisturize is our main goal, so please try to remember that.  The pre-poo step always helps lessen the damage shampoo can do to your tresses therefore helping you retain moisture. I also find the pre-poo step very helpful when it comes to the detangling process.   But I always suggest that you stay away from shampoos that contain harsh ingredients and use sulfate free shampoos.  

#4. No outside time with wet hair: Okay, this is something my mother never allowed, she claimed that it was not good for your health.  I always try to wash her hair during the weekends, but see, the key word is “try”. Even when you plan your wash days it sure doesn’t mean they will always happen when you want them.  But during the cold days, I stick to washing her hair on Saturday mornings or Friday afternoons.  I do not allow her to go outside until I know her hair is dry and completely covered.

#5. Keep the curls covered:  When going outside, make sure your curly kid is wearing a hat, satin lined caps are a bit pricey, but I have an easy solution to that, the same “satin sleeping cap” they wear to go to bed can also be used under their winter hats!  Now, if you are good with the sewing machine, you may want to consider making one and you can also make me one while you are at it! J

#6. Keep an eye on your ends:  I constantly check Ms. Bree scalp and ends, and it is no different when it comes to the cold days.  If the ends of the hair start to look dry and split ends are clearly there, don’t hesitate to trim it!  If you are interested on learning how to trim their hair, please read our post on: How To Trim Curly Hair

#7. Keep it in protective style:   Styles like braids, twists last for several days to a couple of weeks since over styling can also cause damage.  You can and is highly encouraged that you continue to care for your hair even when it’s in a protective style.  You can easily co-wash hair and please make sure that scalp, hair and ends are properly moisturized which will prevent the hair from drying and breaking!

#8. Drink lots of fluids:  It is very important to make sure the kids drink plenty of fluids.  Our kids have a “water chug”, which is a mini water bottle, like a mini-me version of the 5 gallon bottles.. we try to keep them full of water. I constantly check and see how much they have drank.  Although, it is a bit difficult to keep track of their fluid intake when they are at school. 

Just remember that keeping the hair moisturized is your main objective!

Here are some ideas on protective styles! 

Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Hello Readers!

Halloween is just a few days away and with that fun filled day in  mind, I want to share this easy idea on how to carve your pumpkins using COOKIE CUTTERS! 

Last night a few of our friends and neighbors got together to make this a fun activity for the kids.  Well, let's just say that all parents were cleaning and carving pumpkins while the kids were having fun doing something else!  After cleaning all four pumpkins, I carved the "Spooked Kitty" for Ms Bree and let the record show that this morning my fingers and arms were killing me! 

While my husband cheated by using a power tool.. yes, that's him using a power saw- pfftt the nerve! I did it the traditional way.. poke, poke, cut, cut!  

Today I came across the video below on our Facebook Page and after my struggle last night, I decided to go for it!! 

Video: Pumpkin Carving using Cookie Cutters

I used the cookies cutter I used during Ms. Bree's 4th Birthday Celebration:  

*During last night's gathering, all of our pumpkin were emptied of its seeds.  

*I placed the cookie cutters where I wanted the design to be; 

*Gently tap the cookie cutters by using a small hammer or mallet until it goes through the skin and is all the inserted in place;

*Gently push the inside of the cookie cutter in order to push the cut out part into the pumpkin 

*then gently pull the cookie cutter out of the pumpkin!

This was the result to one of Ms. Bree's pumkin!

How easy  is that!! 

Have you carved your pumpkins yet?? Share your carved pumpkins with us by sending your pictures to caramelcurlznswirls@yahoo.com

Small Business Spotlight: Cookies & Cream Couture, Inc.

Hello Readers and welcome to our latest Small Business Spotlight!!  

Today's Feature is: 

Let me introduce all of you to Yaritza Thompson and her family! 

CC&S: 

Aren't they cute as buttons? Like the buttons my son used to have on his overalls when he was nothing but six months old.... we all know how cute those overalls are!! 

The official name of their online boutique is Cookies & Cream Couture, Inc. and you can also find them in Orlando, Florida!! 

Yaritza, please tell us all the social channels we can find you? 

C&CC:

My website is http://cookiesandcreamcou.wix.com/boutique

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

Instagram: http://instagram.com/cookies_and_cream_couture

CC&S: 

What can you tell us about your family and this new adventure, Cookies and Cream Couture, Inc.?

C&CC: 

Cookies and Cream Couture, Inc. is an online boutique and community for biracial families and their cute little stylers! It took me a while to come up with a name. Being that this boutique was inspired by my two amazing biracial beauties, what better name than Cookies & Cream Couture! I want this to be a community for families to post pictures of themselves and their children on our facebook and instagram page, interact with one another and share your experiences.

CC&S: 

I love seeing all the photos and parents sharing their advice with other parents!  I understand your are Puerto Rican! My step-father is Puerto Rican, born in Rio Piedras.. how I miss the food... yumm Arroz con Gandules is our favorite! :D

C&CC: 

I am a Puerto Rican, and I'm married to my best friend who is African American and together we have two beautiful children; Zion and J'adore. My husband, Ronnell, is a 4th grade teacher and I am currently in school for education as well. Growing up I never dealt with racial discrimination on any level. I couldn't imagine ever judging someone for who they were culturally, what their hair looked like, or the color of their skin. 


When my daughter was born she was indescribably beautiful. She grew into an even more amazing little girl with a head full of curls. I mean she has enough hair for three people and most of us would die for a head of hair like hers! She began noticing that mommy was different. My hair was straighter, my skin was slightly lighter, and she felt different. She wanted to look like mommy and frequently asked why I was white and she was not. Then 22 months later my son was born. He came out with the curly hair but even lighter than I was. Of course this caused even more questions and it broke my heart. 

Children at the playground talked about her hair, her little friends were confused on why hers was so curly and theirs was strait and this fed into her feeling of not being beautiful. I spoke to her about her inner beauty and that her exterior was just how God decorated her outside. I would point out different aspects of her personality that were beautiful along with different physical features and this began to help. She now looks at herself in the mirror and tells me, "mommy I am so beautiful now." With this, I came up with an idea to design shirts that represented the beauty of being biracial! They are fun shirts that celebrate them and their unique curly locks.

CC&S: 

I completely love your design but is this something new or have you always had a good eye for styling? 

C&CC: 

I have always loved styling and as a Make Up Artists, many times I found myself styling shoots, my friends would call me to take them shopping, and several times I did complete make overs for individuals who wanted a new look. When I had my children, dressing them was so fun and many times I thought about becoming an actual stylists. Well I did with them!!! Being that this is something I have always enjoyed, when I wanted to come up with something to celebrate my children, what better way than to stick with what I love. I sat down and started drawing designs and coming up with phrases, and here we are.

CC&S:

I know that your boutique is relatively new but you've been working on this project for a while now...

C&CC: 

I literally launched Cookies & Cream Couture a couple of weeks ago. This is something I have been working on since October of last year but was not able to launch until now. I am so excited.

My product was designed with my biracial children in mind and of hearing several stories from other mothers of mixed children. I would hear things like, “why do I look dirty, why do I not look like you, I want to be white, I want yellow hair, or I want strait hair.” I wanted to celebrate them. That child who is confused about being biracial, or feels insecure about their culture and looks. Being biracial is beautiful and I want to teach my children to celebrate who they are and where they come from. However, this is a line for all those who are biracial and even those who are not and have locks of fun crazy curls and need to learn to embrace it. One of my favorite shirts is our Blended To Perfection T's which have different words representing being biracial and that they are perfect the way they are! 


CC&S: 

Where or how can we place orders for this fabulous shirts? 

C&CC:

     Orders can be placed through email. By looking through the website, facebook, or Instagram, they can email their orders and a paypal invoice will be sent directly to them.

CC&S:

AWESOME (like applesauce)... as you may or may not know this, we are getting close to our 2nd Year Anniversary...YEP, can't believe that either! 

Yaritza, How do you feel about participating in our Giveaway ??  Can we count on one of your fabulous items for the winner? 

C&CC: 

YES, we would love to participate in your Giveaway! Just let us know what we need to do.. :) 


Alright readers, there it is!! Another Small Business created with our Curly Kids in mind! So make sure you visit Cookies & Cream Couture Inc's social media pages and pick a shirt (or two) for your little ones... 

Thanks for reading! 

Quick Overview on Oils & Their Benefits

Natural Oils and Their Benefit

   Hello Readers:

                 First, I want to thank every single one of you who supports and follow our blog, Facebook Page, Twitter Page, Instagram Page and Pinterest Boards, it means a lot to us!!

                Now, this post will give a quick rundown on the natural oils that are popular in the Natural Hair Care World.  I could have written a very long explanation including the origin of all the natural oils you probably have come across.  

                But I didn't.  I'm sharing with you my "To Go By List" or my "Cheat Cheat List" J  It's a summary of some of the hair benefits for the most popular oils.

(These are some of the Oils we have in our collection)

The list is in alphabetical order: 

Argan Oil

*Strengthens the hair;

* It prevents dandruff, frizziness, early loss hair;

*It helps to retain moisture.

SIDE NOTE: Argan Oil has become very popular regardless of it's price.  This oil can be used not only for your hair, but skin and nails as well. 

Avocado Oil

*Great for curly hair;

*Helps to moisturize your hair;

*Prevents Split ends; 

*Revitalizes your hair; 

*Improves shine and brittle hair.

SIDE NOTE: I highly recommend you purchase a small bottle to try on your curly strands. This oil is a bit heavy and it did not worked on my daughter's hair.  I was told that this oil works better on curlies who have tight curl pattern 4b/4c.

Almond Oil

 *It helps with moisture retention (great as a sealant); 

*It prevents split ends;

*prevents early hair loss;

*it promotes shiny hair;

*revitalizes your hair and prevents heat damage by the use of blow dryers and flat irons. 

SIDE NOTE:  You can also use this on your skin.  I've been using it along with Oatmeal Lotion to keep the kids' skin moisturized.  This oils has also become my make up remover and it keeps my skin nice and soft. 

Castor Oil  

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

                       

 

 *Castor Oil promotes hair growth;

*reduces split ends and hair breakage;

*Helps with moisture retention

*Helps with dry and itchy scalp.

SIDE NOTE:  Castor Oil is thick and heavy but I mix mine with other oils which it thins it out making it easier to apply to her scalp and hair.  

Jamaican Black Castor Oil as many of you already know is extremely thick because it is more concentrated and is use to promote hair growth.  I use JCBO every other day or every two days and I only apply it to her hair line. 

Coconut Oil

* Shields hair protein; 

*Great as a sealant; 

*light oil that can be use by all hair types;

*It can promote hair growth;

*It can strengthen hair shaft.

SIDE NOTE:  I have been using this oil since the first day.  Although I may not use it as often during the cold months it remains my favorite oil.  

Grape Seed Oil

*It prevents dandruff;

*It help to strengthen your hair; 

*Helps to moisturize your hair and scalp;

*it promotes shiny hair. 

SIDE NOTE:  I've just recently purchased Grapeseed Oil, I have not used it since we are experimenting with Almond Oil at the moment.  But one of our many mommies have mentioned the following: 

*It can be used before blow drying or flat ironing the hair- this oil can protect from heat damage, by JWC; 

*It can be used on your skin, specially if you have sensitive skin, by CS.

Jojoba Oil

* Promotes hair growth;

*It prevents dandruff and dry scalp;

*It can help with Eczema.

SIDE NOTE:  This is one of my favorite oils.  So many different uses, Jojoba Oil is part of my Oil Mix, I also use it on their skin.  

Macadamia Oil

*Promotes healthy hair;

*It protects hair and scalp from damage;

*It helps with moisture retention;

*The vitamin E contained in this oil can help to soften the hair, give the hair shine and works wonderfully with those frizzies. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*It helps to keep hair healthy;

*It prevents dandruff;

*Helps with the frizzies;

*promotes shiny hair;

*It helps to soften the hair. 

SIDE NOTE:  Add a few tablespoons to your deep conditioner or use it alone before your shampooing sessions and I promise you you will feel the difference! Your hair will be so soft and very manageable.    Just apply EVOO to your hair while detangling it with your fingers, place a plastic cap on top and let it sit there for 20  minutes or so. Wash and conditioned your hair and DONE! 

Red Palm Oil

*This oil is rich in Vitamin A & E;

*It strengthens the hair and promotes hair growth;

*it is known to have antibacterial properties. 

Well, that's all folks! :) 

Many of you have asked what oils do I use when I say "My Oil Mix".. well in my bottles your will find: 

On my daily bottle: 

*Castor Oil (Coconut Oil for the warm months); 
*Jojoba Oil
*Argan Oil
*Sweet Almond Oil

On my second bottle you will find Black Castor Oil with a pinch of Jojoba Oil. 

Do you have a favorite oil that your hair and skin cannot be with out?  Please share them with us by leaving a comment :) 

Our Style for School Pictures....

      School Picture Day is one of those day I hate and love.  I hate them because as parents, we make sure that our little ones are wearing the perfect outfit and their hair is styled just the right way but more often than not, the results are catastrophic.   Their hair is out of place, the shirts or pants have grass stains because they have been outside playing just before the picture was taken or how about the "ketchup" stains... I remember when my son took his Pre-Kindergartner pictures, he had ketchup stains all over the front of his shirt! oh boy! that was interesting to see..    

      I love picture day because it helps me keep better track of their they change over time.  However, the reality is, school pictures are one of the few pictures that we actually frame and hang for our family and friends to see.  

      After our  first catastrophe,  we made sure he took an extra outfit, got a fresh haircut and we remind him to make sure to wipe his face while he waits in line for his turn.  Let's be honest, these are kids and we never know for sure how the pictures are going to come out until we receive the envelope in his school folder.  

      After waiting approximately two to three weeks, I finally received the photos. I will be honest with all of you, I did "not" wanted to open the envelope because, I was expecting to see my son making "funny faces" or giving a "fake smile" or worst, a stained shirt or dirty shoes! 

     But curiosity won, (curiosity always wins on my end) and thankfully, this year's pictures looked great!  My son didn't make any funny faces, there was no sweat around his face, no chocolate milk mustache, his face was clean, his shirt and pants were still looking good.

         Now, guess my reaction when I opened the envelope containing Ms Bree's photos and I saw the worst smile she has ever given.   Ms Bree has always been my photogenic child, always ready to strike a pose. Ms Bree has always enjoyed taking photos BUT this year, it was her turn to make the "funny face" and give the "fake smile" my son is famous for... I guess she lost the coin toss this year as to who would take the worst pictures.  Nevertheless, she still looked beautiful.  

     For this years's school pictures, I decided to do "Half Cornrows & Two Strand Twists" and used an "old school" hair accessories, "Butterfly Hair Clips", don't they remind you of the 90's??  :)

     My little princess looked beautiful.  I believe this picture really shows how much she has grown in just this past year.  

 "Half Cornrows & Two Strand Twists" 

I used the following products: 

*Bee Mine Curly Butter; and;
* Eco Styler Gel with Olive Oil;
* Goodys elastic bands

This was my first time using Eco Styler Gel with Olive Oil and I have to say I'm very impressed.  Her twists lasted a lot longer and were more defined than previous occasions.  

     Now, I received a lot of questions as to how I do my two strand twists, how do I make them last so long and how do I do undo them. 

    I did a quick video for all of you and I hope you are able to see how I do and undo them.  

   I will try to make a better video next time I do twists. 

PART II

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Our I AM MIXED T-Shirts!

Hello Readers: 

       Almost a year ago we were given the opportunity to review the first book from the "I AM Series: I AM MIXED," written by Garcelle Beauvais and Sebastian A. Jones, let's not forget to mention the amazing illustrations by James C. Webster.   

      You can read our review here: "Book Review: I AM MIXED"

       We absolutely loved the book from the very first moment we started reading it and the kids have enjoyed reading it over and over again.  My seven year old son loves the fact that he and his sister look like the twins, Jay and Nia, the main characters of the book. 

      As parents of biracial children, we want our mixed kids to grow up feeling proud of who they are and the way they look.  We love the book because it helps the children understand that they ARE the best of mommy and daddy's world in a very fun way they can understand.
  
     My husband once described the book as one of the best illustrated and well written books for children.    So, we suggest that you take the time to look into adding this amazing book to your little one's bookshelf.   

      Now, our perfectly blended children are exhibiting the "I AM MIXED" fabulous Tees which are now available!

Love, sunshine and bubbles will keep your kids out of trouble! 

"We are mixed with all kind of goodies"...  

  

"I am all things bright and soft and light

and beautiful dark"....

"I am the best from all over the world"

               

 

I am like every boy and every girl"

To obtain one of this amazing Tees click on the link below: 

Stranger-comics: I-Am-Mixed T-Shirts by MixedUp Clothing

I AM BOOK SERIES INCLUDES: 

BOOK 1: I AM MIXED

BOOK 2: I AM LIVING IN 2 HOMES

      I Am Living in 2 Homes is now available on Kindle and can also be pre-order.  This book allows the children understand and cope with the difficulties a divorce can bring into their lives. 

    To obtain your copy, please click on the links below: 

Available now on Kindle: http://amzn.to/1iV8cba. 
Preorder Hardcover: http://amzn.to/1jIxwEl
iBooks and Nook coming soon.




     But did you know that our friend, Sebastian A. Jones has other books for children?  Let me introduce you to a few of his projects: 

Read more about it here: http://www.strangercomics.com/pinata/

COMING SOON:

Read more about it here: http://www.strangercomics.com/little-boy-po/

Read more about it here: http://www.strangercomics.com/broke/

Read more about it here: http://www.strangercomics.com/alien-ice-cream/