The Truth about Satin Pillowcases/Bonnets/Sheets etc!!

They are THE BEST things EVER!

Soon after realizing that Q's hair was curly I knew I had a lot of learning to do! One of the first things I read was to have her sleep on satin. Satin sheets, satin pillowcase, wear a satin bonnet to bed, etc. I didn't think I'd be able to get her to keep a sleep cap on, so I opted for the pillowcase once she was old enough for a pillow. 

The carseat also always reeks havoc on Q's curly hair, so I made a make-shift satin cover from an old satin pillowcase. It goes over just the headrest on the carseat.

Fast forward a few months - I hadn't really given these things much thought after the fact. Q rarely sleeps the whole night in her own bed, so often she's off the pillowcase half the night anyway, and the satin in the carseat just didn't seem slippery enough to be making much difference. Besides - I was still detangling quite a bit and noticing that her hair was much more matted after sleeping, etc, just as it was before.

Or so I thought!

Fast forward even farther to NOW - and I realize how wrong I've been!! We were recently out of town for 2 weeks and I thought about bringing her pillowcase and then just decided not to bother. What good does it really do anyway??

And we used a rental car and carseat - so no cover there.

What a difference~! I admittedly stand corrected!!! And I want to share it with the world!! SATIN is fabulous!!!!! :)

I wanted to get a picture, but I never managed to. Q's hair was unbelievable while we were gone! Take the detangling and matted-ness that we have normally and multiply it by at least 4!! No joke! It was absolutely nuts! I had NO idea the satin was helping so much!  (I guess that's what I get for not appreciating a good thing! lol)

I do think that some newer, slipperier satin would still be beneficial for us (ours is a bit old and bally) but even some is apparently better than none!! Now ....

Let me state it loud and clear! - I will be forever grateful to satin pillowcases, satin sheets, satin sleep caps and satin carseat covers!! I vow to never go on vacation without them again!  :)

Why Should I Braid My Hair?

Q's sporting Box Braids again!
She actually let me do them all in one sitting this time! Must have had a captivating movie. :) lol - well, a new one anyway.

The dress is Happy Green Bee - I absolutely LOVE them!

I used to do something similar to this on my own hair in high school and college! :) I just thought it looked neat. But it wasn't until just recently I've been learning (prompted by a protective hair care challenge over on Beads, Braids and Beyond) that there are some big benefits to braiding.  Note: However, like with anything, there are those  who claim the opposite! 

Benefits of Box Braids:
* This style is easy and fast to maintain once it is in the hair.
* It prevents tangles and knots.
* Doesn't require daily restyling.
* Keeps hair secure (even layered and short hair!)
* Can give the hair a break from the "daily grind" and allow it to rest.
* Less likely to get damaged (therefore the hair can just focus on growing longer!)



 

 

Beware of the Braiding Pitfalls! ...

* Do not braid too tight.
* Do not leave the braids in too long (Two months is the limit generally agreed upon - however I don't think I'd want to leave box braids on a little toddler for anywhere near 2 months! I'd say 3-10 days is about all I'd feel comfortable with for the next few years.)
* If you notice stress on the hairline or little bumps on the scalp - take the braids out immediately.


Continue to care for your hair even while it's in braids - 

* Wash your scalp, condition your braids, add moisture! (just like normal)
* Sleep with a silk or satin scarf (Lycra swim caps or sleep caps can work, too) over your braids to keep them from getting frizzy as quickly. A satin pillowcase works, too, for kiddos who won't keep a cap on overnight!
* Avoid drying your braids with a regular towel (actually it's best to avoid drying unbraided hair with a towel, too - it can cause breakage.) instead use a microfiber towel or some T-shirt material and gently squeeze out the water - do not rub!
* "Braid Spray" is recommended for daily use - to make your own combine distilled water with a natural oil (like jojoba or almond or grapeseed oil) and an essential oil, like lavendar. A mixture like this is good for your hair and your scalp! It can also be used instead of washing the scalp as a means of cleansing.   (Q's review on this recipe will be coming later.)
* Tea tree oil can be used to clean the scalp if it becomes itchy - always use diluted and be reserved about using tea tree oil on kids! (it's strong stuff! Often used for dandruff.)




When it's time to take out the braids -

* Remember that the average head of hair loses 100 hairs a day! You should and will have more hair falling out than normal when you remove the braids! It seems like a lot - but that hair that would have come out earlier hasn't been able to get out of the braid - so if you've kept the braids in for 4 days - the average head of hair would now have 400 hairs fall out when the braids come out! It looks much worse than it really is. :)
* Another tip (depending on your texture needs, etc) that I've read is to gently detangle the hair before you wash it. Getting rid of the "shed hair" first makes for much easier combing and washing.

 

Great Times for Box Braids!

* Camping

* Spending time away from the "usual hairdoer" (if the default hair person is unwilling or resistant, especially)

* Swimming

* Busy days (box braids are quick and easy once they're in!)

* Windy seasons!

* When you want the fun of wavy hair after the braids come out. Braids add waves to straight hair (especially if they're braided when wet and then allowed to fully dry before being removed.) Braids also give curly hair a funky wavy look - known as the "Braid Out." :) Very cute!  Plus, this method of getting wavy hair doesn't involve a curly iron , crimping iron or other heat method which can be damaging to any kind of hair!

Here is a quote from buzzle.com, "It is believed that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Africans, and Asian peoples all wore their hair in braids, which not only looked good but also helped keep hair off the neck in hot climates."  Interesting! I didn't know that so many cultures embraced braiding like this! But I can sure see why!

Moldy Hair?!?

Today's post was researched because of a comment that was posted to the blog on an old post (I have comment moderation on anything older than a week so I make sure to notice when people write!)

I didn't end up publishing the comment on that post because I felt it should get "spotlight" attention :)

Here's what "M" had to say:

"As a curly haired girl myself, I just want to say that you actually shouldn’t style hair while it’s wet. Apparently, it can actually grow mold (I know, gross!). I used to sleep with it wet in a pony sometimes until I read that and now I am anal about making sure it’s fully dry before pulling it up. Just wanted to let you know in case you hadn’t heard that one before. :)"

I want to say a big Thank You to this lovely lady for her input. However..... I have been doing some reading and I haven't found much to make me worry about my current routines.

First, from my own experience, I've gone to bed uncountable times with my hair wet. As a child I had very very long thick hair that was always braided into one big braid at night - and I never had mold. Now, granted, I have straight hair, but I'm not really sure what difference that would make? Maybe curls (texture) would hold the water better??

So I "googled" it. I got a whole lot of nothin'!  (well not quite nothing...)

There were a lot of sites talking about hair molds - as in ways to set and style your hair. There were also sites that dealt with mold in the environment and how that affects hair growth, etc. But I found very few about moldy hair. Most of what I did find showed that it's possible, but they were forum posts with few helpful answers.

Which led me to try naturallycurly.com's forums! and The Long Hair Forums! (There wasn't much as far as quantity, but the quality was worth it on these two sites!)

From what I can tell, mold in hair is possible. But it isn't very common. "Mildew hair" is more common, however, or a musty smell. 

(some say that MOLD actually can't grow if the hair is kept clean because mold is a bacteria - hence if you have clean hair, or rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar - that will kill the bacteria. Other sources, however, say that isn't true and that fungus and mold can grow anywhere! lol)

 The conclusion seems to be that if you keep wet hair up tight for more than 24 hours, not letting it have any air to breathe - that mold or mildew could start to form. Or give you a musty smell. If you smell something or have doubts you can try rinsing with ACV and water in a 50/50 mix. (I do this anyway instead of conditioner!)

This could happen with curly or straight hair, thick or thin - but people with more hair (long or thick) will be more prone to it because it's harder for the hair to breathe when it's up tight like that.

Things to know about Musty/Mildew/Moldy Hair!

*Do not leave your hair in a tight wet bun for longer than 24-48 hours.

*If you need to have you hair up like that while wet, it's best to re-style the bun a few times throughout the day. (Shake your hair out and let the air get to it before you put it back up.)

*Having your hair styled in such a way that still lets the hairs dry is fine. So feel free to put in a ponytail, or do some braids and styles with wet hair - Just make sure that the hair has the ability to dry on it's own. If after 24 hours the hair isn't dry inside the style, it might be a good idea to undo the hair and let it get some air.

*Pay attention to your hair. A funky smell could mean mold, it could mean you need a new hair care routine, etc.

* Essential oils can be a preventative measure as well - see quote below :)

"Mildew is a fungus so "technically" it's mold... Well, that's another great reason to use products with essential oils in them, especially tea tree, peppermint, geranium, lavender, lemon, bergamot & cinnamon. I did a search and found all of these cited in real scientific studies as having both antibacterial and fungicidal properties. I think it's much healthier for different reasons to at least partly diffuse before going to bed." 

- courtesy of a forum post on naturallycurly.com

Final thoughts from me?? Well, it's good to know that this is a concern, however, I'm not really concerned! I will continue to style Q's and my own hair while it's wet. I will continue to make sure that our hair is dry within a reasonable time after styling. and I will probably invest in some EO's!


What are your thoughts?? Have you ever worried about moldy hair? Have you ever experienced it??

Coconut Oil and Shea Butter

This post is another that has been a long time in coming :) But it's finally here! 

I wanted to talk a bit about the oils we've been trying in Q's hair. First, I had wanted to either make my own "products" or stay away from them completely - well I'm starting to think that was some pretty naive thinking! lol!

First I had heard that I could just wet her hair with water and gently comb in out with a wide tooth comb every morning. (This works well, we still do this most mornings) I thought that sounded good - easy enough - and non-intrusive.

BUT I felt like there was more I could be doing to help the hair stay moisturized - and defrizzed. After naps and after being in the carseat (for any amount of time) Q's curls just love to get matted and frizzy, looking like we never detangled them at all!

So I got satin pillowcases and covered the back of her carseat with a piece of satin. 

(The satin was old, so maybe not as slippery as it could have been - I'm thinking I'd like to try some other fabric)

... the satin DID help! But not enough.

Next I have read about adding coconut oil to the hair for moisture...I've done this! But on Q's light hair anyway, it is VERY easy to get too much - which then just makes her hair oily and greasy looking. Not moisturized and healthy! 

Then I heard about African Shea Butter (which is also a key ingredient in many good products for curly hair) so I decided to try some! www.thelegendsofafrica.com 

I love the stuff! I still have to be careful not to use too much at a time, but I find that it's more forgiving than the coconut oil, and less "greasy" - maybe it absorbs into the hair better? I'm not really sure! But I found in also worked quite well in keeping her curls from tangling in the carseat. 

(Coconut oil worked too, as far as keeping tangles at bay, but Shea Butter was better!)

(her hair is still wet in this picture - I add the oils to wet hair)

Just natural (un-attacked by the carseat as of yet!) and dry...

So now our "daily routine" is to spray with water and detangle, then add Shea Butter! 

(organic, unrefined)

And I've stumbled on another "routine" that we're just starting and I think is working well ... every so often (twice now - lol) I cover her curls with coconut oil and olive oil and let it sit. Then I wash out the majority, but not all ... then the next day I braid her hair and keep it up, letting the oils get a chance to really soak in. Wash again that night and get all the excess oils out ... this leaves Q's hair SUPER soft and looking fabulous!!

Tips for Curly Hair

This is just a short list - and probably very obvious if you've had any expereince with curly hair before... but I hadn't!! When I started I needed to know EVERYTHING. I have very very straight hair and had NO idea what to do with Q's curls! So, for all of you that are in my boat - here's a place to start!

1. Comb hair when wet!
2. Use a wide-tooth comb (not a brush)
3. Avoid any and all shampoos, conditioners, and products with any ingredients that end in -cone. SLS is bad too. (Sodium Laurel Sulfate)    (Visit Naturally Curly.com for more info on products!)
4. Don't be afraid to space out the washings - water does a great job even without harsh soaps! Especially on young heads. Washing too often and using soap too much can actually cause hair problems and extra oil production.
5. Spritz hair with water to "revive" your curls later in the day, if needed. This can also work for a "second day hairdo" if you have added product the first day and not washed it out yet - you can just spritz and go the second day!


I hope everyone had a Blessed and Fun EASTER!!!!!

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is a new experience for me! But I'm learning there are many uses for it. Most commonly it is used as a moisturizer. Whether it works because it's a fat and locks in the moisture so the hair can use it - or whether it is moisturizing in and of itself - I don't know! I've read things from different sources that seem to conflict with each other. But the one thing that still holds true, either way you look at it - Shea Butter can help moisturize your hair! Keeping it soft, supple and shiny, too!



Here are a few links to browse :)

Hair Boutique  (a thread in their forum about recipes to make yourself - all for your hair! Some include Shea Butter as an ingredient, and some don't.)

a GREAT clip from this website helps me understand the stuff a lot more!...


What is African Shea Butter?
Shea Butter is a fat derived from the fruit of the karite tree in Africa. Reviewing the Cosmetics Database, as it stands now, shea butter has a toxicity rating of 0 and its scientific name is BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII. Hopefully, more research can be done on this product so more benefits can be found for its use.

The website is called Natural Hair Grows.

 And here's a post about Hair Butter Recipes! Taken from The Blacker the Berry..... 

How to Get the Elastics OUT!?!

This is just a quick post to let you know that if you're wondering what the best way to get those tiny elastics out of your little one's hair is....You're NOT alone!

Rubber elastics can be hard on hair and cause breakage - but I find them very convenient to use! So to safeguard against damage, I've read that it helps to soak the elastics in olive oil, or coconut oil, for an hour up to a day before using. (Too long isn't good either, tho. Gotta find the happy medium!)  This makes them softer and easier on the hair strands.

I like to make the first one or two times around the hair nice and tight, and then let the last one be really loose in comparison. I find that makes getting them out so much easier!

SO - how to get them out?! There are two methods that I use the most:

1. With my fingernails, I pick out the part of the elastic band that I left loose(ish), pull it up and then thread the hair back out loop by loop, just like I put it in.

2. My other method is to use a baby fingernail clipper - find that loose piece and just clip it! I am very careful not to clip any hair tho! Otherwise that kind of defeats the purpose! lol


These are my little "secrets". If anyone else has any tips and ideas they'd like to share - go right ahead!

Goody Clear Elastic Bands ~ 52 Bands

Follower Question!

I LOVE my followers/readers! ((hugs))  And this is a question I've been thinking I should address, anyway, so thanks for the motivation, Penniless! :D  Here is her question ...

"I tried doing one of these hairdos (not this one exactly) on my little boy (he's got long hair till he'll be 3 years old- for religious reasons)... and i couldn't get him to keep his head in one place long enough. Twists, braids, whatever- I couldn't do anything that required precision. I ended up making him a whole bunch of layered ponies... but how do you get your daughter to stay still????"

 I'd like to tell you that I have a magical system and all you have to do is follow it, and they'll sit still as long as you need...but I don't! :)  I have to admit - for all the fancy styles you see her, Q's watching a movie! She has two concert dvd's and some old-school Winnie-the-Pooh that she watches while I mess with her hair. (Which explains her zoned and spacey expression in some of the photos! lol)

Before I took the "easy" way out (hair time is really the only time she watches TV, so she sits really well, and if she gets too squirmy - then the movie goes off.) we employed the use of things with small parts, things that took thought and detail to work with, to keep her brain and hands busy while I messed with her head. We still use this method occasionally! Things we use are puzzles, crayons, Light Brights, Legos, things to sort from one cup to another, etc, even while she ate breakfast sometimes! I usually have her sit in her high chair when we use this method, too, that way she is less likely to just get up and leave on me!

Another method we've done is to have her sit on the counter by the sink, in front of the mirror. She gets to look at herself or watch what I'm doing this way.

And if we need to do (or repair!) a style and we're not at home - I have her sit on my lap and look at a book, if available....I also keep this kind of thing as SHORT as possible!

Which is another thing to mention. I found, especially when starting out - that the more simple the style - the better! I wanted her to learn to like having her hair done, not learn to dread it every morning. I stuck to styles with NO braids or twists. I also avoided clip-only styles because she would just pull them out immediately. I favored the little elastics. But even then, I could only get about 3-5 in her hair before her attention span (and patience!) was used up! I love styles like Woven Piggies, Step-Ponies, and a Knot when I need to be quick! (I also have one more in the "archives" that I need to do again and get posted - it's adorable, and quick, too!)

I hope this helps! Thanks for the question, Penniless!

Hair Gel - Homemade and Natural!

I don't like to use a lot of products in, well, Anybody's hair. :) But especially small baby's and kid's hair. It usually contains soooo many potentially harmful chemicals, etc, that I just want to avoid it. (Not to mention that many products can dry out the hair and make it damaged and harder to manage.)

However, sometimes you just need extra hold! and curls often (so I'm learning) respond well to a bit of product - whether it's to hold the shape of the curl, or whatever. So I began looking for alternative options. I found a ton!

This is the only one I've actually tried so far - but I like it so well that I haven't felt the need to keep searching! :)  Here's the "recipe" ...

Take approx one cup of water and 2 Tablespoons of flax seed. (Whole, not ground) Place in a pan on the stove and bring to a boil. Then let it simmer on low heat for about 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

And that's it! You can add an Essential Oil for fragrance if you want it to smell pretty. :) I added Sweet Orange to mine tonight. (My favorite is Vanilla, though! But I couldn't find it....)

I keep ours in the refrigerator and it lasts about a week or two.  :)

Enjoy!