Gracie’s Eczema continues!
08 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, african american hair dandruff, african american skin, black hair, dandruff in growing hair, dealing with adoption, domestic adoption, ezcema, Interracial Adoption
So I just had the strangest six weeks with Gracie’s hair. Even though I have been keeping it braided about two weeks out of every month with no issues, she suddenly had six weeks of dandruff that I had never seen before. It was like a mass exodus of her scalp. Some friends of mine told me that their young daughters had gone through this before, sometimes when the hair is really growing. I switched out her shampoo/conditioner and oils to those for dandruff and also spoke with her stylist at Curls To Cuts Children’s Hair Salon. After I tried all of her suggestions I decided it was time to take her to see her dermatologist. Of course it cleared up right before our appointment! Needless to say her dermatologist suggested that we use a special prescription oil for dandruff when it flares up and she also commented that Gracie’s skin needed more moisturizing. I was hesitant because I’ve always used organic, all natural shea butter on her skin twice a day and she was suggesting something more along the lines of LUBRIDERM®. I again have a hard time with this because I’ve always been told that water based lotions will not work for her skin. However, I believe in hearing out all advice and following it for one month and then making my decision. So, after reading all the labels I settled on AmLactin three times a day and at night we are using Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Any thoughts on that? So far the repetition of four applications a day has helped keep her skin softer and her hair cleared up completely so there was no need to use the oil on it. So we’ll see how things go from here. I just want my baby to feel good and not have those bad rashes and dry skin!
Happy Birthday Gracie!
10 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in African American Hair Do's, Family Time Tags: adoption, african american adoption, dealing with adoption, domestic adoption, Family Time, five year old, Gracie Bray, Interracial Adoption, parenting
Five years ago today my sweet precious Gracie was born and her two wonderful parents chose us to be her forever family. Without their sacrifice and boundless love she would never be in my arms today and my perfect and completely loved daughter. Today we celebrate her birthday and honor her parents who loved her more then any of us will ever truly be able to comprehend.
Five days old
Scalp Twists – 2010
15 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american hair, african american toddler hair, african toddler scalp twists, black girl hair, black hair, black hair preparation, black toddler hair, hair styles for natural black hair, Interracial Adoption, natural hair, short black hair styles
As usual I started out with my regimen:African American Toddler Hair Preparation but have recently changed from exclusively using Carol’s Daughter to using this technique and then I let the Creme of Nature sit on her hair with an electric heated cap on for about an hour on medium or high depending on if it bothers her or not. I then blow dry it with comb attachment and then just used the heating comb (no flat iron) set at 300 to briefly and quickly come through (slow process as you don’t want to burn her) and then I was ready to go.
I first sectioned the hair and did Toddler Afro Puffs in the back of her hair where the hair is too short to twist (at least for me – I am sure others can handle it) and then I had my ending point for my twists. Then I sectioned of the hair into rows and clipped the extra hair away. Then I twisted the hair tight against the scalp with one hand while using me other hand to keep the twisted hair anchored. As I moved back and twisted toward the back of her neck I continued to smooth out the hair that was coming into the twist to keep it from bunching up and leaving bumps. While doing this I used a mixture of Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter and Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter to keep the hair moist. After I finished I added some Extra Virgin Olive Oil (right from the pantry) to keep the scalp from drying out or hurting from the tight twists.
For more hair do’s – here is my page of just African American Hair Do’s
Afro Puffs 2
24 Mar 2010 4 Comments
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, Gracie Bray, Interracial Adoption, motherhood, natural hair, plat, plating hair, three year old
So Gracie Girl and I did some cute Afro puffs this week. As usual I started out with my regimen: African American Toddler Hair Preparation but have recently changed from exclusively using Carol’s Daughter to using this technique and then I let the Creme of Nature sit on her hair while she runs around with a shower cap on. I then blow dry it with comb attachment and then just used the heating comb (no flat iron) set at 300 to briefly and quickly come through (slow process as you don’t want to burn her) and then I was ready to go. Using a clip, I sectioned out her hair and began the puffs. They are SO LONG now, and as you can see from the below pictures, I no longer have to complain as I did in this post: Toddler Afro Puffs!
The big differences that I have done since August of 2009 is to have a set day, once a week to wash/condition and then “do” the hair. Another thing I did for about a month was I let her hair go without doing any manipulation to it, only wash/condition and brush out. A friend also told me in October to use Dr. Miracles Gro Line and when CVS ran a special I did buy it and use it for a few months. I didn’t like the smell but her hair was growing. I also always make sure she has a satin pillow and her hair wrapped in a do rag at night. The wrapping of the hair was a tough process but after she spent a few night with my in-laws, “Meega” and “Pop Pop” she was all set to wear it from then on. Grandparents have magical powers!
Anyways, you can see how much longer the hair is in the before and after pics below. Oh!, Lastly, I started using Extra Virgin Olive Oil from my pantry in her hair every day. All I can say is that the hair is growing. Nature or Mommy or both, I don’t know. On to my baby girl:
Before - August 2009
After - March 2010
Before - August 2009
After - March 2010
After - March 2010
Gracie’s hair braided!
16 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's Tags: african american adoption, african american hair, Gracie Bray, Interracial Adoption, natural hair, plat, plating hair
So today I sat down and did my usual routine which you can read about here: African American Toddler Hair Preparation and then straightened her hair using the techniques here: Flat Iron with Afro Puffs. However instead of using the flat iron, I simply brushed through the hair using the heating comb. And instead of pulling it into afro puffs I decided to section out the hair and then braid the small squares. I liked how it turned out and it will train my hands to braid smaller and smaller sections of hair as well as work on the dexterity.
The back of the head could have been smaller braids but I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to do it and if I had to take it out, I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t take all day! She loves it and I do too!
Flat Iron with Afro Puffs
11 Mar 2010 3 Comments
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, Gracie Bray, Interracial Adoption, natural hair
To learn more about Gracie’s hair and how I prepare her hair to begin styling it, please visit here:African American Toddler Hair Preparation. To learns more about the tools used in creating this look, please visit here: Gracie’s new do!
For this particular style, I have changed this up a bit. I currently am using Pantene’s “for women of color” line of shampoo and conditioner Learn more about Pantene Relaxed and Natural. After I rinse I use Creme of Nature’s leave-in Jojoba Treatment and cover her hair with a plastic cap while she runs around and generates heat to really condition her hair.
Then I use the same tools I used in my previous post. I blow dried the hair using a blowdryer with comb attachment, a heating comb and then flat iron to straighten out the hair.
The only real difference in doing this and just going straight to Afro Puffs from the wet/conditioned hair is that you get straighter hair which means less puffs for you, it hold a bit longer and then you can do bangs, as I did here with Gracie’s hair. It is damaging to the hair, I do not do it often, but sometimes she likes something a little bit different.
Now on to my baby girl!
Toddler Afro Puffs
09 Aug 2009 26 Comments
in Adoption Wonderfuls, African American Hair Do's, Family Time Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, Family Time, Interracial Adoption, natural hair
I think that my daughter has THE SHORTEST hair in the history of African American toddler hair. Sometimes I walk through the stores and see these gorgeous little infants with these amazing afros of perfect Black hair and I wonder, “is it me – am I the problem?” However, I don’t really believe that I am, even if I’m behind the curve on managing, caring for and doing her hair. But sometimes it’s discouraging and makes me feel like I am inadequate in being her mother because I just don’t have a three year old with a huge head of hair. My friends and family reassure me that every hair is unique and that it all grows at a different rate and for the most part I know this, but I still feel doubt at times. With that in mind, Gracie’s third birthday just passed and we have a habit of taking our kids to get their pictures made around their birthdays. Since they are 20 days shy of being exactly two years apart, it is a good marker for me as to how much her hair has grown. So today I spent some time today looking at her hair over the past three years in those pictures decorating our hallways and was reassured that I am, in fact, doing alright but still need a lot of help and always will!
Tonight I attempted to pull all of her hair into afro puffs. I haven’t attempted this before because her hair, unless it is straightened with a pressing comb and flat iron, doesn’t seem to be long enough in order to go into the puffs. However, when Gracie was about a year old, I used to do around 16 tiny little puffs all over her head in order to help it grow. So if I can get those tiny puffs to go into a pull, I can do pretty much about anything.
So we sat down, her in her rocking chair, movie turned on and mommy behind, her gigantic tackle box of hair products in hand and I sprayed and combed and pulled and sprayed and pulled and banded and pulled and sprayed for a good hour and I was able to do it! It took 22 puffs, some tinier then others but we did it. Enjoy the pics of Gracie’s first (without straightening) full head ‘do!
The real dilemma now is find 22 matching barrettes to put in her hair for tomorrow!
The tackle box of Gracie's hair accessories!
Mommy did my hair!
Grow baby, grow!
Pressing Comb and Flat Iron – Toddler
02 Aug 2009 6 Comments
in African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, african american toddler hair, flat iron, Interracial Adoption, natural hair, pressing comb
Today I tried my hand at using a pressing comb and a flat iron to prepare Gracie’s hair. My neighbor, Jacquie did it for me a few weeks ago, pictures are here : Gracie’s New Do! Then a few days later, she went with me to our local beauty store and helped me pick out the pressing comb and small flat iron and a few other things that she used in Gracie’s hair the day that she did it for me. I love this lady! If it weren’t for her, I don’t think I’d be doing half as good as I am with styling and taking care of Gracie’s precious African American skin and hair. Here are some pics of my attempt at doing her hair. The next time I do it I will take detailed pictures so that if you are interested in re-creating this do, it’ll be a bit easier to follow.
Good to note here that pressing and flat ironing the hair isn’t something you want to do but every couple of weeks. We had a pretty quiet day today so I decided that it would be a good trial day. Enjoy!
Gracie’s new do!
23 Jul 2009 2 Comments
in African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, Black toddler hair do's, flat iron, Interracial Adoption, natural hair, straightening african american hair
My neighbor Jacquie, who is always helping and advising me with Gracie’s hair, took Gracie last week to do her hair for me. After washing and conditioning her hair, she used a blow dryer with a comb attachment, a pressing comb (an electric comb that heats up to comb out the hair) then she pulled it into puffs and finished it off with a ceramic flat iron to give it curls. The result was amazing. I had no idea that Gracie’s hair was that long, could be that straight or that soft. I am going to start working every few weeks to try and learn her technique!
Blow dryer with comb attachments
Pressing Comb
Ceramic Flat Iron
Gracie's Pretty Hair
Quick Hair Bows
08 Mar 2009 Leave a Comment
in African American Hair Do's Tags: adoption, african american adoption, african american hair, Interracial Adoption, natural hair, two year olds
My friend came over this weekend and asked me to show her how I did Gracie’s hair. So after me getting over my serious control issues, I finally walked away after giving her a quick lesson on separating the hair and making clean lines and pulling the hair into puffs. A dog groomer by trade (and a soon to be kicking butt at Naval Boot Camp enlisted as an Aviation Structural Equipment Mechanic at E-3 level) she gave me a great way to put ribbons in your daughter’s hair. Now this may be something that everyone knows but I had never seen this and thought it should be listed on my African American Hair ‘do blogs.
So here we go.
Ribbon, rubber bands, scissors
Ribbon (at least one inch long) and one rubber band
- Fold the ribbon over to make this shape
Push the top of the ribbon down to create the bow look, You are not twisting the ribbon or tying it.
This is the end result - if she let go, the bow would fall apart so hold on tight!
Next, holding the rubber band and bow, place the bow into the center of your rubber band so that your finger and thumb meet behind the bow.
While still holding onto the bow, pull one loop of rubber band through the other to make a knot.
Your bow is now secure and with a convenient loop to place into your daughter's hair. Making a lot of these when you have time will ensure a quick decorative addition to your daughter's 'do with less hassle and without having to redo the bows over and over again as they come loose or are uneven.
The End Result
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