Kurly T-spot (Braids and more)

Chunky Beads for Chunky Braids

2011-05-11T08:35:00.001-04:00

Hey y'all! We have had these beads since before Kurly T could walk. I would put her hair in about 7 or 8 ponytails and add these chunky beads. This was before I learned to cornrow. We used to use them all the time, so we've decided to revisit them. I put 2 ponytails up front separated by a zig zag part in the middle and did 2 rows of chunky cornrows in the back. I cornrowed 2 small braids in the front around the ponytails to tame her "halo" or else I would have to touch this style up daily, which is a no, no because we like low manipulation styles around here. I added ribbons around the ponytails for cuteness. This style was really quick because the braids were bigger and as an added bonus we can change the ribbons daily to match her outfits! How fun! Hope you likey! Happy Styling ladies!

Length Check

2011-04-21T16:04:00.001-04:00

Hey y'all! I just took Kurly T's braids out and decided to see how long her hair was. So here is our first official length check. It has grown so much since last year. Yay for length retention! I think moisturizing and sealing along with protective styling and low manipulation have attributed to our progress. While I am happy with the length, I am more focused on healthy hair. Enjoy!

Cornrows and Boxbraids Remix

2011-04-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

I've been stalking YouTube like you wouldn't believe. I did my Big Chop back in January and so I needed some tips quick! I ran across a video of a style that I wanted to try for Kurly T. It's by AfrikanHairGod and he is really talented. I've added the video below. He did flat twists, but I'm not good at those yet, so I did cornrows and box braids. I'm also trying to give Kurly T's ends a break from beading too often so this style was perfect. I washed, conditioned and banded overnight and styled the next day on stretched hair. Here is my version. Hope you likey! Happy Styling!

Products Used:
Mixed Chicks Shampoo and Deep Conditioner
Giovanni Direct Leave In mixed with water (spray bottle)
Castor oil to seal
Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Style & Shine to style (Love this stuff)

Beaded Flat Twist Tutorial by AfrikanHairGod

Cornrowed Ponytail

2011-03-07T15:04:00.001-05:00

This weekend was super busy and we had a very small window for hair time. Therefore, I had to use.... dun, dun, dun...the blow dryer! I know, I know, heat = no, no right? But I used low heat and the cool shot to dry and stretch her hair. I made sure her hair was well moisturized and sealed (Suave Almond and Shea Butter to moisturize and castor oil to seal)before using the blow dryer. To my surprise her hair was easier to work with than when I banded! Since I had to take her braids out, wash, dry and style the same day, I had to do something and It turned out to be a great idea! Like I said, I was pressed for time so I did some larger cornrows. But I still think it turned out cute. Hope you likey! Happy Styling!

Cornrows to the side

2010-12-08T09:56:00.004-05:00

I wanted Kurly T to look extra cute for Thanksgiving so I came up with this style. I really like it and we got lots of compliments. She looked like a little woman! Hope you likey! Happy Styling!

Here is Kurly T and the Kurly Boy. They are crazy about each other!

The Beads are Back!

2010-11-11T11:41:00.010-05:00

Beads, beads!Oh how we've missed thee! We went without beads for 5 weeks, yay us! I must admit that I missed them terribly, probably more than Kurly T. I have concluded that I didn't see any damage to Kurly T's ends as a result of the use of beads. As stated before I normally add additional product to the ends, use rubberbands soaked in olive oil and never put them on too tight. So I think that has helped with keeping her ends healthy while using the beads.

This week I cornrowed X's in the front, 1 row of straight back cornrows and the rest in box braids (I did a short cut). We washed and conditioned with our beloved Mixed Chicks, moisturized with Giovanni Direct Leave In mixed with water and sealed with castor oil, oiled scalp with our oil mix and banded to dry overnight. Then styled with Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy Natural Herbal Style and Shine. The hubs really liked how this style came out (he normally likes everything but has never been so verbal), I was hoping she didn't look too "boyish" with all her cornrows going to the back, but alas she's still cute and as girlish as she can get, being the big ol'tomboy she is! Gotta love her though! We hope you likey! Happy styling!

Here is Kurly boy and Kurly T. The pic on the right was taken 2 weeks after her style, you see how her "halo" is making it's appearance. I'll tame it one day!

X marks the spot!

2010-10-23T12:51:00.005-04:00

We are continuing with our bead break so I've decided to put some braided ponies in Kurly T's hair. I washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks, moisturized with Giovanni Direct Leave In mixed with water and sealed with castor oil. I used Taliah Waajid Kinky Wavy Natural Herbal Style & Shine to style. I love this stuff! I parted from ear to ear, then put 2 ponies up front. Then parted an X in the back part of her hair and separated the hair into 4 ponies. I used double rubberbands soaked in olive oil to band the ponies. I braided 5 braids per pony and added extra product to the end to twirl to give the curly look. I added some ballies to the front 2 ponies and matching Goody pony holders to the back. I liked this look because I was able to change the colors of her hair accessories daily giving a whole new look! We will definitely be doing this again. We hope you likey! Happy Styling!

Cornrows and Box Braids

2010-10-23T12:42:00.002-04:00

Ok, so last time I was talking about giving Kurly T a rest from the beads so we've done box braids. I got the inspiration from Aisha and her Kurly kid who was featured on Beads, Braids and Beyond with some lovely box braids. We washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks, moisturized with Africa's Best Kid's Organics Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizer, oiled with our oil mix and sealed with castor oil. I did the box braids on damp hair using Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Style & Shine. After using that sample a few weeks ago I was sold. I love this stuff! Kurly T hasn't had unbanded box braids in a while and when I used to do them, they would frizz before I'd get done braiding down to the end. These box braids are smooth and shiny all the way to the end. I added a little more product on the end to twirl the braid and keep it from looking bushy and to give it a curly end. I must admit that after I was done I missed seeing her with her beads. But I started playing around with different barrettes at the end of her cornrows and headbands and they did the trick. So we were still able to accessorize without damage. Yay! Kurly T's dad said she looked "grown," and he missed her ponytails, but he likes it. We hope you likey. Happy Styling

**UPDATE**
I really enjoyed Kurly T's hair in this style. The Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Style & Shine had awesome hold for this style. Her braids were not as fuzzy as I thought they would be. However, her hair wasn't as shiny after a few days, but it was definitely moisturized because I sprayed her hair daily with our spritz bottle of my leave in concoction. I missed her beads terribly, but the ribbons, headbands and elastics were a nice touch. I think I'll invest in more of these type of accessories while we're on our bead break.

Kurly Kidz Korner (Kurly E)

2010-10-04T14:48:00.006-04:00

The Kurly T-spot is proud to introduce the first Kurly girl in the Kurly Kidz Korner! Meet Kurly E!

Kurly E (5) lives in Holland with her mom, Bridget (31), dad and older brother. They are 100% Ghanaian!

Read on as Bridget tell us more about Kurly E's hair...

What is your daughter's hair care routine?
In the winter she always has kinky twist or braids with attachments due to the very very very cold weather here. The weather is really killing our hair and if you leave it just like that without putting it in any protective style, then get ready for hair damage. Her style stays in for 4/6 weeks (in between I shampoo her hair), then when its taken out..her hair rests for 2 weeks then I start again.
But in the summer (our fave season..lol) I wash her hair either weekly or every 2 weeks. But I style her hair weekly and sometimes it stays 2 weeks, it depends on how it looks at the end of the week. Washday is Saturday, thread it (typical african way to stretch hair, something like banding but with thread), Sunday morning give her a cute style for church then after church she get her style for the week.

What kind of products do you use on her hair?
I have been changing products lately. But my current products are: Jeba hairfood (with sheabutter, bought it in Ghana), Kids Organic shea butter conditioning shampoo, Beautiful Beginning Kids Cholestrol, PCJ detangling spray and the oils I use are EVOO, almond oil and coconut oil.

Have you ever used chemicals on her hair?
I have never used any chemical on her hair and will never use it either. I love her hair the way it is (4b). The texture is also very soft and easy to handle. So as long as I am in charge I will keep her hair natural, because it's beautiful. I am teaching her to embrace it with love so when she grows up she will keep it that way too.

How did you learn to do her hair?
I learn how to braid from my mother I think..lol..I can't even remember, just learned it somehow. But I learned to cornrow only 2 years ago. I used youtube video's to learn, and it is getting better. But about the creative styling, I learned it from Aisha (she is a guest blogger at Beads, Braids and Beyond). She is just amazing with her styles, so I am very very happy that I know her, because I am learning so much from her!

How does your daughter feel about her hair? What is her favorite style?
My daughter is happy about her hair. 99% of the styles I make for her, she loves it and she gets a lot of compliments about her hair from people, so that makes her embrace her hair more. She doesn't really have a fave style, because she likes almost everything, but she likes it when there are beads in it.

What hair care tips would you give to other moms?
Never use any chemicals on a child's hair. Natural is best because that is what u got from the one above. Use the right products so u can handle the hair and just give as much attention as possible to your child's hair. Make her feel pretty, so that she will embrace her hair.

Thanks Bridget for sharing Kurly E's hair with us!

**If you would like to have you child featured on Kurly Kidz Korner, please email Mom2KurlyT@yahoo.com

Veil with Cornrow "Halo" and a Puff

2010-10-04T14:31:00.002-04:00

Okay, so it was Kurly boy MJ's 5th birthday party this weekend so that left very little time for hair! So I opted for a quick but cute style. This probably will only last for a week, but that's okay. I washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks. Detangled with Giovanni Direct Leave In mixed with water, oiled, banded and left to air dry overnight. I didn't have a style idea in mind, which is totally unlike me! I normally think for days about what I'm going to do to Kurly T's hair. But I needed something quick so I did a veil. The pictures below are actually of 2nd day hair. At first it was just a veil and the puff but after picking Kurly T up from school on Monday, her "Halo" was all over the place! That was such a no no. So I came home and cornrowed the "Halo" to tame it and added a bead at the beginning for sheer cuteness. I really like this style. I really like that there are no beads on her ends. I've been wondering if excessive beading causes damage, after all I do use them on almost every style. I only use olive oil soaked rubberbands to secure them and I never put them on too tight. But her ends are looking kind of ragged. What do you guys think about beading all the time? Let me know. We hope you likey! Happy Styling!

Cornrow Mohawk with 3 strand twists

2010-09-28T08:42:00.005-04:00

Hola Mamis! I'm still feeling twists so I've decided to do some 3 strand twists on Kurly T. We washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks, I detangled with Suave Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner because the slip is amazing and so is the smell! We oiled and banded to dry overnight. This time we styled with a sample packet of Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Shine and Style. I got this sample from the Taliah Waajid Natural Hair Care Center in Atlanta, GA. They are right around the corner from where I work and I never knew it. The place from the outside kinda looks like a hole in the wall, but, I digress. This product was creamy and thick and we like that! It smelled awesome, kinda like a sweet candy. It gave awesome curl definition when I applied it to the section to be braided, so we might have to use this on an "out" style. It left the braids and twists shiny and didn't weigh them down. The twists came out plump and juicy, this will be an awesome twist out! We've also used the Protective Mist Bodifier from Taliah Waajid. It is an awesome detangler and moisturizer. I put it in a spray bottle and add water and oils for a spritzer. Our glitter beads are from Curly is Cuter. We hope you likey! Happy Styling!

**UPDATE**
The Taliah Waajid Kinky, Wavy, Natural Herbal Shine and Style is the TRUTH! After 2 weeks her braids had very little fuzz! OMG! This is my new favorite product. I picked some up at the local BSS for $4.99. I can't wait to use it again! I probably could have left these cornrows in for another 2 weeks, but my Kurly T is an active 2 year old and she likes to roll around on the floor and ground outside so it's a must that we wash often.

Cornrows and Triangle Banded Sister Twists

2010-09-20T16:51:00.001-04:00

I've had Senegalese Twists in my hair for about a month and I felt like doing some twists for Kurly T. We washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks, oil and banded to dry overnight. I used Blended Beauty to style with, cuz that's what we're loving right now. I cornrowed the front and parted the back in triangles, banded and sister twisted. Sister twists are 2 strand twists that have the 2 strands twisted counter clockwise individually before twisting them clockwise over each other. (I hope that makes sense). Our butterfly beads came from Curly is Cuter! We love them! We hope you likey. Happy Styling!

Cornrows and 2 Ponys

2010-09-13T20:54:00.001-04:00

Hey y'all! We're back again with another style! I love Blended Beauty! I can't say it enough! We washed with our trusty ol' faithful Organix Coconut Milk and conditioned with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner. I mixed our oil mix in the conditioner along with some Rosemary Oil and Peppermint Oil and did a deep condition (DC) for 15 minutes with a plastic cap. We went on vacation to the beach and I had to wash chlorine and salt water out of her braids a few times. So I thought we'd DC this week. My lil lady did very well at keeping her plastic cap on for the full 15 minutes (mind you she's only 2 years old!) After rinsing out the DC we conditioned again with Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner to get the smell of the DC out. (The DC didn't smell bad, just super mint-y!) But the Suave Almond and Shea Butter conditioner smells so good! It gave awesome slip so I detangled with it before rinsing. I moisturized with Giovanni Direct Leave-In and sealed with coconut oil and put in banded ponytails to dry overnight. The next morning I styled with Blended Beauty again, this time using Curly Cake Shake to moisturize and comb(never comb dry hair)and Down and Out Styles to cornrow. Again, we got shiny, moisturized braids! I love this stuff! A little goes a long way and the hold is a-ma-zing! For more info on Blended Beauty Products click HERE. Hope you likey. Happy Styling!

More Braids x 3

2010-08-04T11:32:00.010-04:00

Once again, I had 3 heads to do! It didn't take as long this time as last time though. This time I washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks and used Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles and Jelly Cream to moisturize and style with (Review coming soon). OMG, I love this stuff. Now, I love the Bee Mine for styling too, but the Happy Nappy Styles has a much thicker and stickier consistency. It helped me grip the twins hair very well, since their hair is relaxed (Not my doing and so disappointed about that, but I digress...). With the twins I didn't have to band, I put their hair in 2 french braids and they slept in their bonnets. With Kurly T, I banded overnight to dry as usual, but since we had an outing to go to (We took 4 toddlers and a preschooler to Monkey Joes Indoor Inflatable Playground), I did it a little different? You likey?

Her hair looked similar to the twins, minus the braids. Sorry, no pic of the twins, I forgot.

I used the Blended Beauty Jelly cream to moisturize the hair before combing since it was dry. (We never comb dry hair, right? Right.) Then on each section to cornrow I added a small amount of Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles. The combo added sheen to the hair and kept the hair from sticking up out of the braid. I like the way these styles turned out and we've got lots of compliments. Hope you Enjoy and Happy Styling!

Crazy Braids x 3

2010-07-18T18:42:00.006-04:00

Hola Mamis! This weekend I had to do 3 heads!! Can you say OMG?! I washed, conditioned, oiled and banded Friday night and let air dry. Saturday morning I started a day of braiding from 10 am to 10 pm (with lots of breaks in between). I think the braids came out super cool and they love their hair. None of the designs are the same, but they are all similar. Let me know what you guys think!

Kurly T's Design up close

My triplets

I thought this ended up looking like a butterfly, cool huh?

I taught myself how to cornrow one year ago this month. If someone would have told me that I'd be able to do styles like this after a year, I wouldn't have believed them. My daughter has been extremely patient with me and my learning curve (lol). So for all the mommies who say they can't braid, just give it a try and practice, practice, practice. Happy styling ladies!

Bee Mine Moisturizer, Curly Butter and Daily Spritz Review

2010-07-15T11:24:00.004-04:00

We're back with Part 2 of the Bee Mine Product Review. We left off with Kurly T's hair wet, oiled, banded and left to dry. Today, I will apply the Bee Mine Balanced Cream Moisturizer and Bee Hold Curly Butter to style and finish with the Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz.

Bee Mine Balanced Cream Moisturizer
8 oz $18
2 oz $5.50

This product moisturizes like a dream! After removing the bands I applied the moisturizer through her hair and began to style. The scent is amazing, it reminds me of candy and Kurly T loves the "bee lady".

Bee Hold Curly Butter
8 oz $13.97
2 0z $4.50

After applying the moisturizer to the hair, I applied the curly butter the each section before cornrowing and twisting. It kept the braids and twists frizz free! I did cornrows in the front and banded box sister twists in the back. I wasn't sure if I liked the mixture of braids and twists but we got lots of compliments. We hope you likey!

Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz
8 oz $12.97
2 0z $4

I spray the juicy on Kurly T's hair daily for an awesome moisturizing shine. It smells like candy too and we both love it.

I really love these Bee Mine products and will definitely consider them staples in our regimine. I am still loving the fact that these products are silicone, sulfate, paraben and protein free! The next products I would like to try in this line is Deja's Hair Milk and Bee-u-ti-ful Moisturizing Deep Conditioner. Thanks again to Bee Mine for allowing me to review their products. If you are interested in Bee Mine products click here .

**UPDATE**
After 7 days Kurly T's hair is still holding strong! I love Bee Mine!

MJ is Kurly T's older brother and he wanted to be included too.

Bee Mine Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner Review

2010-07-15T11:22:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I know you guys are tired of seeing me mention the Bee Mine products and saying that the review is coming soon so....Here it is!! Part 1 anyway, lol. First, I would like to thank Bee Mine for allowing me to review their products. I will be reviewing the Peppermint & Tea Tree Nourishing Shampoo and Avocado Cream Balanced Conitioner along with the Hair Growth Serum with Sulfur.

Before washing with Bee Mine, Kurly T's hair had been in an "out" style this week of a small veil up front and 2 puffs in the back. Here is what it looked like after I took out the bands....

Bee Mine Peppermint & Tea Tree Nourishing Shampoo
8 oz $12.97
2 oz $4

I had used some product this week that contained mineral oil and wanted to make sure I washed really well to get all that out of her hair. I only needed a small amount of the shampoo to get a good later. I can't quite put my finger on the scent, it smells like a mixture of cough syrup and cocoa butter, it wasn't terrible just different. But it doesn't linger so that's good. I only needed to wash once to get her scalp really clean and to remove old product from her hair. And as I said, a little goes a long way with this and that's always a plus for us!

Bee Mine Avocado Cream Balanced Conditioner
8 oz $12.97
2 oz $4

The conditioner didn't have as much slip as I would have liked, so I knew I wasn't going to be able to detangle with it. I left it on for about 5 minutes, while Kurly T ate some chips, lol.

After rinsing her hair felt very soft. I love anything that doesn't make her hair feel like a brillo pad. The scent was similar to the shampoo, but again, it didn't linger. I used my regular detangler (Giovanni Direct Leave In) to comb through her hair and sealed with coconut oil. I oiled her scalp with our oil mix (tea tree, grapeseed, sweet almond, and coconut oil) and banded her hair in 10 ponytails with 3 goody bands each. I'll leave this overnight and style tomorrow.

Mango Scent Hair Growth Serum with Sulfur
8 oz $15
2 oz $5

I opted to choose this product because of the benefits of sulfur that I've read. Sulfur increases the circulation of your scalp, nourishing your hair follicles resulting in hair growth stimulation. A lot of moms at Kurly T's daycare ask what I use to get her hair to grow so long. Personally, I don't think her hair is amazingly long, but I know that everyone's hair grows and there is no product that will grow your hair long. It's about the way your hair is taken care of to retain the growth. But I wanted to see what this serum would do for us. Before I used this product on my daughter I tested a small area on the back of her hand to see if she would have a reaction to sulfur, as some people can be allergic. No reaction...we were good to go. This scent definitely smells like cough syrup. I only applied this product around her edges. This product is designed for those that have alopecia, hair loss, balding or thinning. Kurly T's edges are shorter than the rest of her hair, I call it her "halo" and it drives me crazy. I will have to continue using this product before I can fully report on the success or failure.

Overall, I like the Bee Mine Shampoo and Conditioner. I am loving the fact that these products are silicone, sulfate, paraben and protein free! If you are interested in Bee Mine Products click here.

Messin Up My Curl Pattern

2010-07-09T11:21:00.001-04:00

ROTFLMBO! I was cracking up at this cuz ppl like touching our hair. I know they like it, but please don't touch. Hope you get a good laugh!

And the winner is...

2010-06-22T20:09:00.002-04:00

Jennifer! Congrats Ma'am. Send me an email with your full name and address so that I can send you the goods. Thanks for following!

50+ Followers = Giveaway :: CLOSED

2010-06-15T12:34:00.013-04:00

Thank you so much for following us! I have been waiting for the day to reach 50 followers so that Kurly T-spot can offer our first giveaway. It isn't much, but it's a small token of our appreciation and a start of what is to come.We are giving away 2 packs of fun beads! You can mix them with pony beads or use them by themselves. Kurly T can't get enough beads! 1 pack is multi-colored cubed beads and the other pack is pastel colored flower beads.

To enter the giveaway please leave a comment in our box stating that you follow our blog, how we've helped you (if we have) or what you would like to see in the future. Please your comments by Sunday, June 20, 2010.

Thanks again for following!

Off Center Mohawk

2010-06-14T11:35:00.019-04:00

My twin stepdaughters had the cutest style done by their auntie, so I copied it and added my own spin of course! Now we've got triplets! I washed and conditioned Kurly T's hair with Organix Coconut Milk and HEHH (our old faithfuls). I used Giovanni's Direct Leave In as a moisturizer and oiled her scalp with our oil mix (tea tree EO, peppermint EO, rosemary EO, coconut, grapeseed, and almond oils) and sealed the ends with coconut oil. I put her hair in 10 medium braids to stretch and dry overnight. The next day I styled with Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer and Curly Butter, then spritz with Bee Mine Juicy Daily Moisturizer. We have been getting 2 week hair using the Bee Mine products. These have definitely become styling staples. I used rainbow pony beads in the back and butterfly beads for the bangs. We hope you likey!!

Cornrow Ponies w/ Signature Bang

2010-06-02T21:23:00.012-04:00

I love love love Bee Mine! Last week we got 2 week hair! Umm, hello! We never get 2 week hair! This week we washed and conditioned with Mixed Chicks (review coming soon) detangled and banded overnight. The next day I styled with Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer and Curly Butter, then spritz with Bee Mine Juicy Daily Moisturizer. I like using the Bee Mine products instead of the Eco Styler because I feel like the hair is being moisturized as it holds. And boy does it hold! Enjoy!

Side Cornrows and Box Braids

2010-05-18T10:23:00.004-04:00

Hola Mamis! Everyone is doing protective styling all over the place...so we're on the bandwagon too!! This week I did some side cornrows and box braids. I used Mixed Chicks shampoo, deep conditioner and leave in (review coming soon!). I attempted to stretch the hair overnight but it didn't dry all the way (maybe next time). I used Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer and Bee Hold Curly Butter in coconut cream scent (review coming soon!) for hold and got a nice result. I have been misting with Bee Mine Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz for moisture and shine. I used our clear glitter beads that we got from Curly Is Cuter and then we were done. Kurly T stayed awake the whole time, which was about 3 hours. She is Mommy's big girl! I really like this style and we've got lots of compliments already. We will be doing this again. Enjoy!

...And in case you were wondering...yes, she's wearing a "beater" but she's still cute lol.

Halo Puff

2010-05-03T21:50:00.005-04:00

I don't know why, but Kurly T's hair is the longest in the back, the thickest in the middle towards the front and short on the sides. I think she looks so cute when she has her hair in 1 puff but those side hairs come loose after a while giving her a wild "halo" look. So I tried to get the "halo" before it got me...lol. I parted a circle all the way around her head, made 1 ponytail, cornrowed her some bangs and decorated the "halo" with some butterfly beads that I got from Curly Is Cuter. They are so adorable!

This 'do was supposed to be a ponytail with little coils. Well, that didn't really work out so well. I put the coils in with Curls Gel-les'c and they were okay. Kinda puffy at the base but really coily at the ends. Well the next day they looked like this...

Her father said "She looks like Medusa...but she's cute!" So I quickly grabbed our spray bottle of water and Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier and separated the coils for a "coil out" and we got a juicy coil out puff! Let me know what you think!!

We have an announcement....

2010-04-30T12:32:00.007-04:00

Mom2KurlyT has decided to transition to natural hair!

I have been thinking about it for a while now and I've decided to do it! Thank you to Nikki of Beads, Braids & Beyond for posting this awesome topic: Should Mommy Be Natural Too?

It has been 8 weeks since my last relaxer and I have about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of new growth. It took some convincing to get the hubbs on board because his main question was "what is it going to look like?" To be honest, I don't really know. I haven't been natural since I was 12! This is definitely an opportunity for me to "walk the walk." Thank you for those of you who have supported me in this decision and for those of you who think it's a bad idea, oh well! It's MY HAIR! Stay tuned for updates in my transitioning. Wish me luck!

Here is a pic of my first transition style: The Braid Out

Sorry for the blurry pic, I took it with my phone. Blame my unsteady hand!

Veil Mohawk

2010-04-28T10:32:00.004-04:00

Okay, so after our DC I did a veil style into a mohawk on Kurly T. I have been getting tired of cornrowing lately because it takes me sooo long (I'm so not a fast braider). So what I did was part the hair in 4 sections and did a veil style on each section. Then I braided the ends of the hair that was in the middle secured the braids in rubberbands (soaked in olive oil of course) to make small ponytails in the shape of a mohawk. Then I added some beads in the color of the rainbow and voila! Instant cuteness. Let me know what you think. BTW...Kurly T's hair is getting long. I'll have to do a length check soon.

No style would be complete without our "signature bangs" I like this. We will be doing it again!

Deep Condition/Deep Treatment on a toddler

2010-04-24T18:34:00.019-04:00

Okay, so I've been stalking the Curly Nikki Forums about deep condition (DC)/deep treatment (DT) and maintaining moisture. I've been wanting to DC Kurly T's hair, but I had no idea what to use. I consulted Nikki G of Beads, Braids and Beyond and she told me to use the HE Hello Hydration (HEHH) since I use it as a leave in anyway. Great! Nothing new to buy. Well...maybe. I've also been doing some research on oils and have bought some from GNC. I found a youtuber (ulovemegz) who mixed her oils in her conditioner for a great DC. Even though she is not natural she had some beautiful hair!! So...here is what I did:

After washing the scalp with Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo, I cowashed with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner (Can you tell I like coconuts?)Then I applied the DC concoction and covered with a plastic cap and left on for 1 hour. She watched Yo Gabba Gabba and Dora The Explorer, then we were ready to rinse it out. I was shocked that she didn't try to rip off the cap. That would have been normal Kurly T behavior, but nope. See...she amazes me all the time!

To make the DC mix, I squeezed about 1 1/2 handfulls of HE Hello hydration into a bowl (sorry I didn't measure, lol) added 10 drops of Rosemary Oil, 5 drops of peppermint oil, approximately 1 tbsp of almond oil and 1 tbsp of grapeseed oil. I slightly amended this mix from Tia of Her Best Hair

The oils made the HEHH smell like a totally different product. The smell reminded me of Christmas..it was probably the peppermint oil, lol. The amount of conditioner I used is way more than I use for her normal leave in. I wanted to make sure her hair was completely saturated with the mixture to get good results.

Below is some info about the oils that I used:
Rosemary Oil - The use of rosemary oil on the hair and scalp helps stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and thus promotes healthy hair growth.
Peppermint Oil - Peppermint oil is very useful for hair care as it gives a cooling effect to the head, and removes dandruff and lice.
Almond Oil - Almond oil prevents hair loss, provides shine and strengthens hair.
Grapeseed Oil - Grapeseed oil helps strengthen your hair. It is an odorless oil, and can help add shine and moisture to your hair.
Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is used as a natural conditioner for hair. The molecular structure of coconut oil makes it easier to penetrate through the hair shaft and works with the natural hair proteins.

After we rinsed out the DC, I added our normal amount of HEHH and detangled, oiled the scalp then sealed with Coconut Oil (Yep, more coconuts!). I did notice that her hair detangled even more easier than it usually does. The rosemary and peppermint oil wasn't as strong after I washed it out and her hair was very shiny after we styled. I would definitely do this again, but I will try with the Lustrasilk like Tia uses. Okay, Mamacitas...stay tuned for pics!

**Update** Kurly T got into my BRAND NEW bottles of almond oil and grapeseed oil and spilled them all over her clothes, her dora couch and the carpet. *sigh* I'll have to run out and get some more and knowing me some other stuff too. I have totally turned into a PJ!!

Sale! Sale! Sale!

2010-04-24T17:15:00.003-04:00

Rite Aid has Organix shampoo and conditioner and ALL Giovanni Hair Care Products buy one get one free (BOGO)!!

***Update*** ULTA also has Giovanni Hair Care Products BOGO 1/2 Off if you don't have a Rite Aid.

Kmart has the large 33.8 oz Aussie Moist conditioner 2 for $12, and Wal-mart has it rolled back for $5.

I'm sorry for enabling any Product Junky-ism, but I had to let y'all know. Happy shopping mommies!

***Update*** I bought the Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner and Direct Leave-In Conditioner. I'll let you know how it works for us!

Curlformers Giveaway

2010-03-24T12:20:00.002-04:00

Beads, Braids, & Beyond is giving away Curlformers!! Visit her blog to enter the giveaway!

Need Beads??

2010-03-09T12:57:00.006-05:00

Curlyiscuter.com has some accessories that you might not be able to find in your local BSS. I just ordered some of those cute butterfly shaped beads! Oh, yea and enter for the free give away! (No purchase necessary)

Thanks Nikki!

Basketweave "updo"

2010-03-09T12:45:00.003-05:00

OMG! Kurly T looks like a little lady!! I had no idea it would come out so cute. I hope you guys like!

Of course, I had to add our signature "bang". I used a purple mix of beads in the ponytail and purple star shaped beads in the front. Again, lots of compliments. This style took about 4 hours! She slept while I did the back. I would do it again, but it would have to be for a special occasion or something. But I love the results!

I'm still using the Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner as a leave in and it keeps her hair smelling yummy all week! I'm hooked!

Criss Cross Boxes and a Side Pony

2010-03-09T12:39:00.004-05:00

I am a fan of these criss cross boxes. I just like the way they look. The last time I did them I used black rubberbands and this time I used pink and purple. I think the colors pop against her dark hair. Anyway, I hope you like it. We got lots of compliments on this one!

I alternated between boxes and cornrows on the side. I added the boxes to the cornrows for the design. I used bow shaped beads. They added lots of texture to this style and Kurly T wouldn't stop shaking her head to hear her beads dance!

Kurly T is on Happy Girl Hair

2010-03-01T16:02:00.004-05:00

Check her out on Happy Girl Hair

Thanks Joyful Mom!

Triangle "Box" Braids

2010-02-17T09:52:00.003-05:00

Here are some banded box braids parted into triangle shapes. I was trying something new. I think it turned out cute. I used square shaped beads on the ends. Let me know what you think!

Please don't mind my hand in the way, she wouldn't hold still. But she's only 2, she still has ants in her pants. LOL!

Organix Shampoo and Herbal Essence Conditioner

2010-02-15T21:26:00.010-05:00

Ok, so thanks to Nikki of Beads, Braids and Beyond, I've decided to try the Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner.

I got the Organix for $5.99 and the HEHH for $5. What a steal, huh?

They both smell delicious! I didn't have to use a lot of the shampoo but I piled the conditioner onto her hair and used it as a leave in. It was super easy to detangle! I was able to style in no time. I greased her scalp with the BB super gro and used the Smooth n Shine Conditioning Gel for her edges.

My camera is on the fritz so I tried taking pics with my phone, but they didn't come out as light as I wanted. But the style is criss crossed box braids into 2 ponytails with our signature "bang." I added heart shaped beads cuz they are Kurly T's fave! It was my first time trying this style and I really like it. I think next time I'll use some colored rubberbands. Hope you like it!

Zig zag conrow and ponytails

2010-02-15T21:19:00.004-05:00

I am still working on my curving/zig zag cornrows. I think they look okay. Hope you guys like it.

I got these cute ponytail holders from walmart! I love "Wally World!"

Kurly T's Hair Journey

2010-01-28T22:16:00.010-05:00

This is my baby's hair journey from 4 months old (April 2008) to 21 months old (September 2009)

Take note that her hair texture changed somewhere around 7-8 months.

Random Styles

2010-01-27T21:33:00.014-05:00

Side View

Back View

Side View

Front View

Sorry, I had to cut off the bottom half. She had a "boogey" nose, LOL.

Kurly T's Toddler Hair Care Products

2010-01-26T09:00:00.024-05:00

Here is our product history...

When we started out I thought it was best to get products geared towards baby right? Well, yes and no. As long as the products don't have harsh chemicals it is okay to use on baby, depending how old though. I started using products on Kurly T at 4 months. Her hair wasn't responding just to Johnson's Head to Toe. It was out of control. Here is what we started out with...

We used these from 4 mos old to 12 months. Although, we still use the Soft and Precious Detangler from time to time.

Then one of my friends (Hey Jenn!) told me about Kid's Organics Shea Butter detangler. That was one of our biggest issues (detangling). So I decided to get the whole line! (The growth lotion was free with the detangler and we love free!)

We used these from 12 months old to 18 months old. I didn't have any problems with these products. Her hair smelled great (almost like candy) but was dry.

Then I noticed that my step daughters' hair had been really growing fast, so I asked their mom what she has been using. She told me it was Mane and Tail. My mom used to use that on me when I was younger, so I thought I couldn't go wrong. So I bought the econosized bottles at buy one get one free at CVS. (I told you we love free!)

We have been using these since July 2009 because I wanted Kurly T's hair to be long and healthy. (When stretched it is past her shoulders, so good so far) I didn't have a problem with these products. They are both really thick. I use the conditioner as a leave in for detangling and it worked nicely. Her hair smelled nice but was dry.

In addition to the mane and tail we're using...

(Sorry this pic is sucky, my camera is on the fritz! I need new one, any ideas?)
I soak her rubberbands in the olive oil. I use the Smooth N Shine for her edges and I grease her scalp with the BB Super Gro (I'm planning on switching to coconut oil and unrefined shea butter as soon as this is gone). I just started using the Braid Refresher and I've only used it twice. It smells great and keeps her braids from getting frizzy so soon. I leave her styles in for about a week and it's been okay so far.

Then about 2 weeks ago, I came across Nikki's Blog Beads, Braids and Beyond and found her Hair Regime for her Kurly girl "A" and was hooked. Now we're gonna try...

I picked these up at Walmart. $5.99 for the Organix and $5 for the Herbal Essence (Cheapest I've found so far since I did price check a few places before buying...what?? Y'all should know I'm frugal by now).

I'll let you guys know how they work out. I'm ubber excited to do product reviews. I will also be trying a shea butter/coconut oil mix (to replace the BB Super Gro) and Giovanni Direct Leave-in (for a moisturizer).
Please leave comments below and email suggestions to Mom2KurlyT@yahoo.com