Protective Style- Dark & Lovely Au Naturale Products

(Affiliate links are included in this post)

Here we have another protecting style using my favorite hair products from Dark & Lovely 'Au Naturale' Line. 

If you missed our review on these amazing products, you can find our full article here: Dark & Lovely- Au Naturale Product Review.

Ms. Bree's hair was washed and blow dried a few weeks ago and has been kept in one long braid.  While blow drying and keeping her hair in one simple braid made things easier for me, it's definitely not healthy for her curly tresses in the long run.  Bringing me to the decision to style her hair into this simple and protective style.  

Now, just because her hair is in this style doesn't mean I won't have to touch her hair for the next few days.  Contrary to everyone's belief, her hair still has to be co-washed, moisturized and her scalp needs to be protected from the elements by applying oils.   

Ms. Bree's hair was washed and dentangled.  Due to the length and thickness of her hair, styling her hair requires two days.    

Here are the products I used: 

1. D&L- Moisture L.O.C. Super Quench Leave In Spray;

2. D&L- Au Naturale Moisture LOC Soak It Up Oil Cocktail 
    (or your favorite oil)

3. D&L Au Naturale Anti Shrinkage Coil Moisturizing Souffle

3.5. Eco Styler Gel Argan Oil
      (just a small amount, adding a bit of gel at the same time you apply the souffle will 
      create a better hold and the style will last a bit longer)

As Ms. Bree gets older, her schedule is getting busier and busier.  She wore the above hair style for a week. 

After a week of sporting half of her hair in box braids, it was time to finalized her style.  Using the same products and following the same steps, I braided the top part of her hair. 

       

I also took advantage and re-moisturized some of the ends on the bottom braids and now her hair it's completely styled and ready for the next few days.  

Please remember and I cannot say it enough, protective styling too often can be detrimental to curly hair (give your scalp and hair a break in between protective styles) and make sure you continue to keep your hair clean even when it's in a protective style, co wash and re-moisturize your hair and scalp as often as needed. 

Natural Hair Care: Daily Tip #8

Hello and welcome back!! 

Our friend, Keianna, owner of Chi Chi Sophistication Natural Hair Studio has a really good tip for today: 

Daily Tip #8:

"Using rubber bands on natural hair is not a crime.  However, they must be installed  and removed correctly".

Here is another tip, soak the rubber bands in oil (i.e., olive oil) for a few minutes to prevent them from pulling and breaking your hair.  I buy the tub of black rubber bands at the Hair Supply stores.. the tub usually lasts me approximately a year it contains 500 rubber bands.

I only use rubber bands to secure the end of a braid or twist.  

We hope today's Natural Hair Care Tip was  helpful!!  If you missed any of our previous Daily Tips, you can find them here: 

Natural-Hair-Care-Daily-Tip #1

Natural-Hair-Care: Daily Tip #2

Natural-Hair-Care: Daily Tip #3

Natural-Hair-Care: Daily Tip #4

Remember to Connect with

Website: Chi Chi Sophistication Natural Hair Studio

(240) 754-7239

LATEST NEWS on Princess Truly New Book!

From Author Kelly Greenwalt:

Ready for some TRULY exciting news?!  I have release dates and new covers to share with you!!

Princess Truly and The Hungry Bunny Problem, 2nd edition
will be released in just a few days on
August 5th, 2015;

 Princess Truly and The Courageous Cape Chase 
will be released  August 15th, 2015!

 Princess Truly and The Courageous Cape Chase is our newest book and we are so excited for you to read it! Princess Truly and Sir Noodles help Rowdy Wrigley find his special red cape and his courage too.

I am Truly, 2nd edition will be released
August 30, 2015

Princess Truly and The Hungry Bunny Problem,  has a fancy new cover! I am Truly,  does too plus it has a few new illustrations you won't want to miss! 

AUTHOR's BIOGRAPHY:

Kelly Greenawalt is a wife, adoptive mother and children's book author living just outside of Houston, Texas. She has always been freckle-faced handful with a vivid imagination and a passion for storytelling. Her first book, "Princess Truly and The Hungry Bunny Problem," was written for her daughters when she noticed a critical shortage of books featuring smart and capable princesses, especially black princesses with gorgeous natural puffy curls. What started out as a small, independently published project turned into something TRULY magical. In partnership with Amariah Rauscher, she founded Lemon Starfish Books. Lemon Starfish Books is a publishing house on a mission to ensure that all children can find engaging books featuring main characters they can identify with. 

More Princess Truly Items: 

Does your little bunny love to color? There are a free Princess Truly printable coloring pages on Lemon Starfish Book's Website and Enjoy!

Are you planning a TRULY special birthday for your little bunny? Click here for FREE printable invitations. Princess Truly Birthday Invitations.

You can read our full review on Princess Truly's first book here: Princess Truly & The Hungry Bunny Problem.

QUICK VIDEO- Updo Style

Hello Readers... 

School Pictures were last week and due to our very busy schedule and the bad weather I have not been able to braid her hair into a protective style.  

This is a very simple and quick style that anybody can do. Here is a video for all of you.. 

 

Our Back to School Hairstyle

Hello Readers...

I can't believe it's that time again... School is back in session for our little babies... But between you and me, I have to admit, I'm glad!  Summer Camp can get very expensive after a few weeks.  

Little Man is now a Second Grader and Ms. Bree is a Kindergartner, where has the time gone? I can't believe our son will be turning eight years old in just a few weeks :) 

Because the children attended Summer Camp at their old school.  Which has similar camp hours as their current school, it definitely made the entire process of preparing the kids for a new school year a lot easier. 

I have always try to prepare myself mentally for the first day of school and I'm the first one to say that I always fail miserably.   

I have always hated the idea of children crying, I've never been able to manage listening to  a child cry and even worse when it's my child.   I'm sure all of you can relate to this and know exactly what I'm talking about.  

My daughter has always been my social butterfly! The child who is not shy or afraid to ask a stranger to look at her dress, her hair style or whatever it is she is proud to show. 

This time, she shed tears and was very uncertain of herself.  Unfortunately, her best friend was not assigned to the same classroom and all she saw were new faces, which I believe, can intimidate anyone. So I could understand how she felt.

  

As a parent, it was difficult  to see tears rolled down her little face, my first thought was.. "I can take her home and we can try this tomorrow", but what good would that have done? So, I had to pull my big girls panties all the way up  to my neck (okay maybe not that up, after all that can't be very comfortable... hahhaaaa) and I had to remind myself that she was going to be just fine. 

Regardless as to how many times I told myself that she was going to be fine and she was going to have fun once her day started, leaving her was not an easy thing to do!

To be honest, I expected for my son to go through a meltdown, he has always been my baby and has had confidence issues.  He has gotten a lot better and during the first day of school he demonstrated how much he has  grown.  We could see the nervousness in his eyes but he quickly gave me a kiss and sent me on my way.. :)  

I wish I could prevent or at least prepare all parents and children for the first day of school so less nerves could be experienced and/or less tears be shed but I can't.. but what we can do is give you ideas on how to style their hair so that your little princess can have more confidence on herself... 

BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRSTYLE

I opted for Pony Tails and Braids.. something very simple and semi protective for the first few days of school.

Products Used: 

1. Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer; 

2. Castor Oil Mix;

3. Pony Tail holders; and

4. Flower Barrettes (or your favorite accessories)

Here are some other amazing Hair Ideas: 

by Danielle L.

I found the below image and poem on Google and has stayed with me and I thought I would share it with all of you! 

We wish all of your little ones a great school year!

Wash & Go Style

WASH & GO STYLE

using GIOVANNI LEAVE IN

In order for a successful Wash & Go I always follow these steps: 

1. Hair has to be extremely wet; 

2. Apply our Oil Mix; 

3. Apply Giovanni Leave In; 

4. Apply a little bit of Eco Styler Gel.

5. Let it air dry, preferably indoors. 

70% DRY

*Remember- don't mess with it!! 

100% DRY

PICNIC DAY AT SCHOOL

For me, it's really important to follow with a Deep Conditioning and a Protective Style. 

This time we used Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Conditioner:

Spring Break Hair Style

          Spring Break has come and gone for us.  For some of you spring break has not arrived yet and for others, spring break will not be happening due to the snow storms we've experienced during this winter. 

Since my children were going to be spending a few days with Grandmother and Papa, I needed a style that is easy to maintain.  It has been a long time since Grandmother had to take care of a little girl's hair and she has always expressed how she wouldn't be able to style my daughter's hair. 

With that in mind, I decided to do a very simple style that could easily me modified and easy to maintain.  Box Braids & Cornrows... how easy is that?

The last time I styled the front section of her hair in cornrows was a few weeks ago.  The cornrows were styled from the hair line towards the back.  

Therefore, I decided to change the directions of the cornrows in order to give her hair line a break.  

Remember it is not healthy to style the hair in the same direction all the time.  

  

I was glad to see that her hair lasted.

For Saturday's festivities, I spritz water all over her scalp and braids; 
I applied our oil mix to every row very carefully; 
Then I applied Bee Mine Curly Butter;
I rubbed Bee Mine Curly Butter on my hands and then applied carefully to each braid and concentrated on her ends; 
I re-did braids (only to those that were coming lose) and
Then finger coiled the very end of each braid.  (I did not had to use the rubber bands at the end of the braid to secure it because the braids)

She insisted on wearing a flower therefore I did a "Half Pony Tail".. I "rope twisted" the front cornrows and gathered them at the back of her head by using one of our "ouchless elastic band" and clipped the flower on the top.   

Now, her braids are all ready to face another week!