Our 1st Challenge of the Year: KLK 2013 Protective Style Challenge

For those of you who don't know we have been participating in a protective style challenge hosted by KandyLand Kurls since January.  The challenge started January 7 and runs thru March 4th...we are still in full effect, with a couple weeks to go!  We have really enjoyed the challenge as there are many benefits to wearing your hair in protective styles! Here are our weekly submission photos to date:

WEEK 1  - Two-Strand Twists w/ Flat Twists on the side

 WEEK 2- Chunky Two-Strand Twists

 WEEK 3- Mini Two-Strand Twists (I did a little dusting of the ends)

 WEEK 4- Mini Two-Strand Twists (from Week 3 after washing)

 WEEK 5- African Threading

WEEK 6- Chunky Twists

WEEK 7- Mini Two-Strand Twists

WEEK 8- Mini-Two Strand Twists (From Week 7)

BG "S" Hair Update (After Removing Locs)/ KLK Protective Style Challenge

Where are we now?!  Its been about a month and a half since removing BG "S" locs.  During this month we have gone through so bumps and hurdles with her hair...but we are overcoming those obstacles.  Here are a few things we have dealt with since going back to her natural tresses:

• Single Strand Knots a.k.a Fairy Knots
• Longer Detangling Sessions
• Frizziness
• Faithful products not as effective 

I cut about 2 inches of her hair, it looked thin on the ends and I could see thru them so I decided to cut them in order to keep focus on getting her hair back to a healthier state.  I have not kept any styles in her hair longer than a week to prevent it from re-locing since the hair was trained to loc.

Throughout this process, I have found that finger detangling doesn't work for us at the moment because it doesn't do a thorough job of detangling thus causing single strand knots.  When I find a SSK, I just snip them off. The detangling sessions have been longer because the products I used weren't as effective.  I  have since been using some new products and some old products I used at the beginning of her healthy hair journey.  We have made tremendous progress.  Comparison pics coming soon.

Stay Tuned and watch our continued progress...

**We are currently participating in the KLK Protective Style Challenge**

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

Back to Protective Style Mode (Two Strand Twists and Bantu Knots)

After enjoying a few days of big hair during BBH's Frotective Challenge, we are back to our protective styles.  But before twisting it up, I decided to do a little trimming of BG "S" ends.  I did things a little different this time.  In this post (BG "S" First Trim-Healthier Hair, Here We Come...) I discussed trimming the hair while in mini twists but I decided to trim her hair the way Precious Curls discussed in this post.  I was much more comfortable this go' round! 

I deep conditioned, co-washed and banded on Saturday night.  On Sunday morning, I trimmed the hair as I removed the banded sections. However, before trimming I applied Qhemet Biologics Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee, detangled, then trimmed and re-banded.

This is after the trim...not too much right?!

On to the Protective Style...

I went to my favorite style of course...two-strand twists.  Although the hair was stretched from banding, I lightly spritz the hair with my aloe vera mix, applied a mixture a QB Amla & Olive Heavy Cream and QB Olive & Honey Hydrating Balm (review to come) and the twisted.  OMG...her hair has never felt so soft and moisturized,  I couldn't keep my hands out of her hair!  She wore her two-strand twists out today but then I decided to do something different and try bantu knots on her tonight.  I simply gathered a section of her twists, twisted to the left and began to roll and tuck.  I think I did pretty good for my first time, I didn't use anything to secure the bantu knots, so I have no idea how long  the hair will stay put, lol...

Quick & Simple Style for Toddler (Chunky Cornrows)

BG "S" started Summer Camp at her new school this week (Yippee...) and I wanted to do an easy style for the week.  Not to mention after taking down her mini braids I needed a quick style for my sanity, lol.  My first thought was to do flat twists but since her hair is sooo thick and I didn't feel like doing them small I opted to do chunky cornrows (I'm not a pro at doing cornrows since I don't do them often, this is literally my 4th time cornrowing her hair).  So let's get to it...

I prepoo'ed with Coconut Oil, washed with SM Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and deep conditioned with Miss Jessie's Sweetback Treatment (review coming soon).  I then applied Qhemet Biologics Castor & Moringa Softening Serum, followed by Amla & Olive Heavy Cream (reviews coming soon) and then banded.

SN: This was the second time around doing this style since on her very first day at summer camp, she came home with a head full of sand! o_O (The joys of motherhood, our work is never done!)  The second time around I co-washed with Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner (review coming soon).

Taking a walk after banding in the warm weather to speed up the drying process

This style is holding up nicely and most of the ends are protected.  An easy style in is an easy style out!

BG "S" Mini Braids & Good Ole' Fashion Hair GREASE!

This post is a little late, I actually braided her hair on Tuesday, May 29th.

Recent Pic
Braids are holding up nicely.
 Going on 2 weeks.

For the first time my husband made a "hair request", he wanted me to braid BG "S" hair.  So I decided to do mini braids (mini to me) the week I was leaving town.  This is also the style I submitted for Beads, Braids & Beyond Protective Style Challenge final week.  I decided to deep condition her hair with Miss Jessie's Super Sweet Back Treatment which has protein, (I'm learning to keep a protein and moisture balance - although her hair never agrees with proteins) moisturized and twisted to let air dry overnight.

I began her hair the next day.  I decided to go back to the old way of doing things.  When BG "S" was younger, I simply used grease and water (mouths drop, lol) and never had any problems with dryness, breakage or any other issues people think/say grease cause...just a little lint.  Well, this go' round I decided to use Nature's Blessing Hair Pomade (Grease) and Water.  I used this grease when I was relaxed and LOVED it!!!  With each section, I spritz the hair with distilled water, applied the grease to the hair and began braiding.  I was very happy with the outcome...no frizz, no greasiness or stickiness, just well done braids without the hassle of going back and forth between several different products!

Will this be my way of doing braids?  Possibly...Nature's Blessing is easy to get, works great as a sealant/ styler, very affordable and this has been the only way I have gotten braids done successfully to my liking on BG "S"!  No wonder I braided her hair so much when she was younger, sometime you just have to revisit the old way of doing things.  Have you tried using grease and how did you use it?

Disclaimer: Grease worked for US but it may or may not work for you. 

Protective Style Challenge: Good Ole' Faithful Two Strand Twists

Beads, Braids & Beyond Protective Style Challenge

Week 4: Two-Strand Twists

I deep conditioned, co-washed, moisturized and banded BG "S" hair the previous night and styled it the next morning. I began by lightly spritzing the hair by section applied the SM Curling Souffle and began twisting.  The hair was shiny and nicely curled at the ends.  I used Qhemet Biologics products for the first time and I must say I am a "happy camper"!  Look out for the review...

Products Used: DC: Elasta QP DPR | Co-Wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner | Leave-In: Qhemet Biologics Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee | Seal: Qhemet Biologics Castor & Moringa Softening Serum | Moisturize: Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Heavy Cream | Styler: SM Curling Souffle

BG "M" Box Braids

BG "M" turns the big S-I-X on Friday and we're going to an indoor water-themed park!  So, I decided to do her hair in a quick style that would last for the week and be able to survive the element of all the water activities we have to look forward to this weekend (yay)!

Her hair was previously washed and dried, it was actually in a puff ball (should have snapped a pic). I started by spraying the hair with a mixture of distilled water and KCKT (Kinky Curly Knot Today) to detangle, I then applied the KCCC (Kinky Curly Curling Custard) and began braiding, this was the first time I used the KCCC on BG "M" hair.  The ends curled up on their own, needless to say she LOVED her hair and I liked the way it turned out!

I will be keeping her hair moisturized with Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner (w/ added Sweet Almond Oil) and CD's Hair Balm.

Protective Style Challenge: Flat Twists in front w/ Two Strand Twists

Beads, Braids & Beyond Protective Style Challenge

Week 3: Flat Twists in Front w/ Two-Strand Twists

I washed, conditioned, moisturized and banded BGS hair in the morning and styled it in the afternoon. I decided to try a "new" product (Kinky Curly Curling Custard-KCCC) to do both the flat twists and the two strand twists.  The hair was already nicely moisturized, so I began by spritzing the hair with a mixture of KCKT and distilled water, applied the KCCC and began twisting (the picture in the top left-hand corner is the hair with the product).  The hair was nice and shiny after twisting on wet hair.  The next morning after the hair had dried, BGS hair looked nice but it wasn't really moisturized which is a big "no-no" for BGS's hair.  I didn't experience any crunchiness like others have complained about.  The KCCC review will be coming soon, it did okay but I can't say that I was completely blown away, I get better moisture from SM Curling Souffle.

Other Products Used: Pre-Poo (Coconut Oil) | Washed (SM Moisture Retention Shampoo) | Conditioned (Curls Coconut Sublime Conditioner) | Leave-In (Kimmaytube w/ Giovanni Direct) | Moisturize (Cara B Moisturizing Mist-Daily) | Seal (Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey) 

Protective Style Challenge Check In: Flat Twists

Beads, Braids & Beyond Protective Style Challenge

Week 2: Flat Twists

I took the mini-twists out from Week 1, it was time!  Didn't have a lot of time to do her hair, so I decided to do a deep condition with Elasta QP DPR (1st time using) and then proceeded with my regular routine.  I left the hair banded to dry overnight.  The next day, I did this style after a long day, so I tried to keep it quick and simple.  This is what I came up with.  I'm hoping this style will last a week but not sure it will, we'll see!

Styling: Mini Two-Strand Twists

Styling Mini-Two Strand Twists

Styled after washing and drying overnight. Top view, side views and front view.

This was a quick and simple style.  I moisturized the hair first with Cara B Moisturizing Hair Mist and then applied Carol's Daughter Hair Balm to seal.  I sectioned off the hair in 4 sections.  The front section was for the bang which has a nice wavy pattern due to the braiding of the twists the night before. The 2 sections behind the bang I begin to flat twists from the left side and continued all the way across to the right side.  Once both sections were completed I twisted together and carefully secured with a hair clip.  The back section was re-braided and pinned up. 

Mini Twists Protective Style (January)

This style was done a couple of months ago (I know, I know).  Two-strand twists is a go-to style for Baby Girl S.  The mini-twists allow for the hair to be manipulated in various styles.  It takes a couple of hours to put the twists in with a busy toddler even while she's sleeping o_0. I was motivated to do this style when Kandy Land Kurls had her Protective Style Challenge back in January. The pictures were taken a couple of weeks after the style was actually done.