[leaabc123]

Hi all,
Our 2 girls are AA. I can do basic box braid styles, can not corn row yet. I was wondering how to add beads to the ends of their braids and how to keep the beads in?

Any tips?
Thanks

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by leaabc123

Hi all,
Our 2 girls are AA. I can do basic box braid styles, can not corn row yet. I was wondering how to add beads to the ends of their braids and how to keep the beads in?

Any tips?
Thanks

I had this same problem!! I remember trying EVERYTHING to get the beads onto her hair.

You need the tiny rubberbands sold at Sally Beauty supply (or other haircare places). The plastic bands break-so avoid those.
After you braid her hair, wrap the rubber band around the ends the way you normally would-but only do it once. Take the slack (rubber band) and stretch it out so you have a somewhat flat piece of rubberband. Push it into the bead and pull it through the other side. The hair will come through with the rubber band. It's like threading a needle. The rubberband is the thread and the bead is the needle. When you're done adding the beads, just wrap the rubber band a few more times.

I hope you can understand the directions. I wasn't sure exactly how to explain it.

PS: I can't do cornrows either-but I can usually find a teenage girl nearby who is thrilled to "practice" on Maire-Kate. I have become very good at braiding, though. I've had plenty of black people ask me "Who did her hair?". That's a great feeling-because I was always worried that I'd never get it right

[leaabc123]

Thanks for the tips. I will have to look around for the right size beads now, if and when I decide to add beads to her hair. I might wait until she is a bit older as hr sister is in a grabby stage right now and I don't want her pulling hair out of her sis's head.

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by leaabc123

Thanks for the tips. I will have to look around for the right size beads now, if and when I decide to add beads to her hair. I might wait until she is a bit older as hr sister is in a grabby stage right now and I don't want her pulling hair out of her sis's head.

I worried about M-K choking on the beads so I waited until she was about 3 or so before I started using them. They had bigger beads but they were still small enough for her to choke on. They mostly fell out at night. When I'm changing the sheets, little beads end up all over the floor or behind the bed!

[Misstik333]

I have a similar question, but about shells. I would love for my daughter to have the little white shells (wish I could describe)... Does anyone have experience with those?

Also, how can one learn to braid properly? Are there any good books out there to try? Also, how on earth do you keep them still that long? My daughter is 2 1/2 and I think because of her exposure at birth and because of her hair texture, her head is very sensitive...

Help?

[sneezyone]

I think the shells you're thinking of are called cowry (sp?) shells. If you want to learn how to braid I suggest taking your child to an aa haircare professional and arrange for lessons. ou can watch, learn and practice. As for sitting still - it's something most aa girls learn from an EARLY age. Practice makes better. Tender-headedness was not something my mom/aunts or older caregivers had any patience for but lots of professionals can be quick about it and that makes it easier.

[Misstik333]

Thank you, Adrienne!! I think you are right in that they are cowry shells.

Unfortunately, there aren't any local AA specific salons and the childrens' "salon" here that does all types of hair doesn't do braids and couldn't refer me.

There is a mom in my wee one's daycare that braids her own daughter's hair. I might have to just see if she can help me.

Thanks for the informaiton and suggestions! Much appreciated!!

Missy

[whoownsthis]

I tried putting beads in using Kat-L's technique, but I must have bought the wrong bands at Sally Beauty Supply. The oil I use in their hair (water/oil spray, plus oil on scalp and brushed into hair for moisture and sheen every morning) made the bands melt and break almost immediately. And those that didn't break immediately did later during playtime and that night in bed.

Oil: "Africa's Best: Ultimate Herbal Oil" (ingredients: soybean oil, walnut seed oil, kiwi fruit extract, olive fruit oil, castor seed oil, sesame seed oil, jojoba seed oil, carrot seed oil, sweet almond oil, tocopheryl acetate, cafflower oil, calendula extract, yarrow extract, cucumber extract, carrageenan extract, ginseng extract, sage extract, comfrey extract, aloe extract, fragrance).

It smells great (like baby oil), but doesn't contain mineral oil or petroleum, which would tend to melt latex.

Bands: "Proclaim: Professional Braiding Rubber Bands" (clear/transparent, "super stretch, soft & springy, snag free, will NOT break hair"---true, but the bands themselves break)!

Any ideas? Am I using the wrong bands, or the wrong oil?

[chanibelle]

Adrienne do you remember when people used tin foil on the end of their beads? lol I never did, I used rubber bands,but boy that hair style was funny!

[nesesweetgirl]

Hello Everyone, I enjoy all the information you are all given out. I am always writing this stuff down but I know no child is going to sit long enough for me to read while I am doing their hair. Is there a magazine out that shows step by step ways of fixing different hair styles? The last thing I want to do is damage their hair. Does anyone want to come out with "Children of color hair styles for dummies" for me?

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by whoownsthis

I tried putting beads in using Kat-L's technique, but I must have bought the wrong bands at Sally Beauty Supply. The oil I use in their hair (water/oil spray, plus oil on scalp and brushed into hair for moisture and sheen every morning) made the bands melt and break almost immediately. And those that didn't break immediately did later during playtime and that night in bed.

Hi,
It sounds like you bought the plastic rubber bands instead of the actual black rubber bands. The plastic ones are terrible. I've had the same experience you had. You have to buy the tiny black rubber bands.

For the person who wanted to know how to get her daughter to sit still, I started doing Maire-Kate's hair when she was about 1. I'd give her a treat, put on Teletubbies, and sit her between my legs so she couldn't wiggle away. She gradually got used to sitting. She's almost 7 now and rarely complains.

[florobin]

The easiest way to put on beads is to use a bead threader. You can find a threader in some packs of beads. I haven't seen them sold separtely.

After breading your child's hair. Place the beads on threader. You'll only be able to put on 5 or 6 at a time. Then insert the hair through the opening on the threader then slide the number of beads you want onto the hair.

Then bring hair over the last bead and secure with a rubberband. I find that rubberbands work better the latex bands. And I use the smallest bands when putting on beads. I usually buy rubberbands from WalMart in the black hair care section or the Dollar store. The beads shouldn't come off.

Good Luck! You'll be a pro at it soon. Keep practicing.

[tammiep1]

I was reading a question about looking for a "Book for Dummies to haircare." When we adopted my daughter a friend gave me a book called It's All Good Hair: The Guide to Styling and Grooming Black Children's Hair. I found it very helpful as I was working my way through the haircare dilemma. I recieved a lot of information from friends, family, co-workers but it was all very different. This has some great hairstyles and shows the steps to creating them. Unfortuanately, Isabelle's hair is not quite long enough to do alot of the styles but I look forward to the day I can do them. I found the book on Amazon for less than $10. Good luck