Hair Tools

These are the tools that I use on my daughter.

This is the comb I use every day. I use it (the wide comb side) for daily brushings. Before I brush, I always make sure I add some sort of conditioning product first, so I'm not combing into completely dry hair. If I've recently flat-ironed my daughter's hair, I add the heat serum first before combing through her hair. This can be found at any Beauty Supply Store. I usually go to Sally's Beauty Supply Store for my products. The pick side on the end is useful when you are going natural style and want to fluff the hair out.

Rattail Comb: This tool is essential for forming parts for hairstyles. The metal part will give you more accurate parts. However if you have a younger child, or one that won't stand still, it is best to use the one below.

This rattail comb will help you form parts. They won't be as clean as the one with the metal tip, but won't accidentally injure your wiggly baby or child.

This is my own personal brush I use on my hair. I never ever use it on my daughter's hair, unless I've flattened her hair and it's silky and pin straight. However, once I have straightened her hair, it makes a great finishing tool on her hair.

When putting my daughter's hair into sections for braids, special parts, etc. these are the ONLY elastic bands I will use. I find them to be higher quality than the ones I've tried from different stores/companies. Always, always cut them out of the hair when you are ready to take them out. They are only available at Sally's Beauty Supply (which you can buy online if you don't have one nearby) and are available in black, clear and assorted colors.

This is my "Solid Gold" (not really) hair dryer that I use when I'm going to straighten my daughter's hair. I always feel like Marilyn McCoo is going to start singing when I use it. I use it with the pick attachment and slowly blow out sections of my daughter's hair from scalp to end in preparation for the flat iron. This is available at Sally's Beauty Supply, but can probably be found elsewhere on the internet as well.

This is my flat iron. I'm absolutely in love with it. It's not the cheapest one, but it's the one my daughter's African American hairstylist recommended. It's extra wide, so I can flat iron more hair at a time. I got mine at my salon, but if you google it, you can find it online and search for the best price. It's called "Izunami Wide Styler". If you choose to go with another flat iron, choose one with ceramic plates.

Sources: Sally's Beauty Supply
Claire's (located at most malls) is where I get all the fun hair accessories to dress up my daughter's hairstyles.

Skin Products I Use

Carol's Daughter Shea Soufflé
Only product I find that leaves my daughter's skin moisturized all day without it getting ashy. My favorite scents are Ecstacy or Mango Melange, though it comes in other scents as well.




Aquaphor
Can't really say enough about Aquaphor. It works on anything from diaper rash, eczema, dry patches of skin, tattoo healing, and dry lips.




Sources:

www.carolsdaughter.com

Aquaphor is found at Target, online, drug stores, etc.

Hair Products I Use

Tui Herbal Shampoo (Carol's Daughter)
does not strip too many oils from the hair during shampoo.



Tui Hair Smoothie (Carol's Daughter)
the best conditioner I've found. Leave it in for 15 minutes & pic/comb through hair while conditioner is still in the hair.



Black Vanilla or Tui Leave-in Conditioner (Carol's Daughter)
Great daily leave-in conditioner to use before picking or combing the hair.



Hair Milk (Carol's Daughter)
hair finishing cream that will leave curls well defined with no frizz. Very strong perfume scent but it fades fairly quickly.



Healthy Hair Butter (Carol's Daughter)
extra conditioning, especially good to rub into the scalp. Also use it when braiding sections of hair. Also a good conditioner to use before bed.



Tui Hair Oil (Carol's Daughter)
Another finishing conditioner.



Thermafuse heatsmart serum (thermafuse.com)
The only conditioner I add to the hair when I'm flat ironing or touching up hair with a flat iron. Do not use the other products (beyond the shampoo and hair smoothie) when planning to flat iron the hair.




Sources

www.carolsdaughter.com
(Carol's Daughter also found at some Sephora stores and at Sephora online)

www.thermafuse.com

Flat Ironing At Home

Marlie has been on this I-Must-Have-Straight-Hair kick since she had her hair cut and it was blown & ironed straight by her hair stylist. In fact, Marlie has been asking daily to have her hair cut again.

As much as I want her to be happy with her naturally curly hair, I must admit it is MUCH EASIER to deal with. Her hair is silky & easy to comb through WITH A BRUSH!

So last night when Marlie had a bath, she asked me to take her newly washed & wet hair and make it beautiful again. *sigh*

I of course had to purchase items prior to be able to do this.

I got the flat iron the hair stylist recommended.

And I went to Sally's and explained to the lady that I needed a hair dryer for the purpose of blowing straight my daughter's hair... oh and she's from Africa. She recommended this hair dryer, that I'm pretty sure was used on Solid Gold.

And... I also picked up this oil/serum from the hair stylist when we were there since she used it on Marlie's hair.

That stuff is freakin' expensive! But it's my new favorite product. I love love love what it does on Marlie's hair and I even use a tiny bit of it on the ends of my hair. Plus it smells just like cotton candy. I mean, come on! Cotton Candy!!!

You ready for the result?

Marlie loves it. And I'm pretty proud of myself being able to actually accomplish it on my first try. Whew knew?!

Update: I have since learned how to get the ends to lay more nicely after flat ironing. First of all... the blow drying step is ESSENTIAL in how the hair will turn out after flat ironing. If you skip that step, the results will not be the same. (I know it makes the hair super frizzy when you blow dry it, but it will be much more straight and silky after the flat iron than without the blow dryer)

When flat ironing, you start from the scalp and work your way slowly to the ends. (not leaving the heat too long on the ends) I find if I start to curl the flat iron slightly under, as I'm reaching the ends, they come out slightly curled under and looking nicer, like this...

Salon Day

Last week I took Marlie to have her hair done for the first time at a Salon. For the past 4 years I've been the one trimming her hair. Once I suggested the idea, she couldn't wait to go. Like she was born to be pampered or something. And I kind of think she was.

I worried about her getting scared while she got her hair washed or with the hair dryer. Let's face it, even Mama doesn't own a hair dryer, so she's NEVER seen one or heard one before.

Miss Robin (Marlie's hairstylist) suggested I bring in Marlie a few days prior to the appointment to meet her and get a tour of the salon. Obviously Miss Robin had worked with kids before. She knew exactly how to make Marlie feel special.

On the day of the appointment, I brought an eager Marlie in to the salon. She was ready to be pampered!

First she got her hair washed.

Then she got her hair combed through.

Then they dried it with the hair dryer. Love her expression as she watched in the mirror.

Then it was time for the flat iron. I had never seen Marlie with straight hair before.

After she had pin-straight hair, Miss Robin gave her hair a trim. Then my little princess was finished and ready for the camera!

I bought the salon recommended flat iron and a hair dryer with comb attachment so I can recreate the look at home, or at least attempt to recreate it. Ladies and gentlemen... at the age of 35, I finally have a hair dryer. The first in my adulthood. *takes a bow*

Now if I could just figure out how to turn the darn thing on...

Triangle Parts

Due to popular demand (from my facebook buddies) I have decided to do a little hair tutorial on how I did this...

The items needed:

hair detangler

wide tooth comb

rat tail comb

(for babies and squirmy toddlers)

(for kids who can sit still and cleaner parts)

hair bands from Sally's Beauty Supply (available online or in stores)

(I have not found any other hairbands that can compare to this brand)

The flower clips are from Claire's. (available in stores only)

1. Spray the hair with detangler and comb out with a wide tooth comb.

2. Grab rat tail comb to start making parts.

3. First do a part from forehead to back of neck, separating the hair in a right side and a left side. (don't freak out.. I altered the images in photoshop to show which part to do first)

4. Make a part from ear to ear.

5. Do the first diagonal part.

6. Do the second diagonal part.

7. Now that you're done making the parts, it's time to put each section into a hair band, like making little pony tails.

You can either keep the hair like this, braid each section of hair (adding a second hair band at the bottom of each braid), or make zulu knots like I did in the top picture. I find the hairstyle stays together for the longest (2 weeks) when I put the hair sections into braids.

8. For making zulu knots, take each little pony tail and twist the hair tightly to form a little "knot". Secure the end of the hair by tucking it under the knot and adding a second hair band around the entire knot at the base.

9. Afterwards, you can add hair clips for decoration, like the flower clips I used. Just slide them in, just above the zulu knots.

10. Get someone to give you a back massage because you'll likely need it when you are done.

Tip: Sometimes if I don't feel like doing the entire hairstyle at once, I often make the parts and leave them in the pony tails stage. Then the next day I will style the pony tails.

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