Chocolate Hair / Vanilla Care : Natural hair care for kids, adoption, and family life.

October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween! (and Hello Kitty Costume Video)

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween and share a little video of Boo wearing her homemade Hello Kitty costume at a couple events this past weekend. Can't wait to head out tonight for some trick-or-treating! She's had some excellent practice with her costume, so shouldn't have any problems tonight. Even the wind at Saturday's trip to a school carnival were no match for Boo!

Hairstyle for School Pictures 2011

I don't know about any of you, but we somehow ended up with school photos the same week as Halloween. I know that whomever planned that at Boo's preschool had no idea how much that might affect some people's costume plans, because it's not so easy for some of us to go from one style on Monday to a completely different style on Wednesday. Thankfully Boo's Hello Kitty costume came to the rescue, as her hair was completely covered so I could style it however I chose.

Family Friday: Homemade Hello Kitty Costume (with DIY Instructions)

When Boo asked to be Hello Kitty for Halloween this year, I was a little dismayed. Not because I didn't like the idea of Hello Kitty, but because I didn't like the Hello Kitty costumes that were available (I could write a whole post about this particular costume and how I don't want my three-year-old looking like this one.). Thankfully she asked me early enough for me to make her a more age-appropriate costume, one that was unique and really looked like Hello Kitty.

Sleep Caps Giveaway: Winner Announcement

And the winner of the awesome sleep cap prize package (valued at over $60), sponsored by Sleep Pretty and SilkyWraps is....

Sleep Caps: Wearing On or Above the Ears?

Since we've been speaking about sleep caps this week (have you entered the sleep cap giveaway yet?) I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss a simple question: Should your child wear his or her sleep cap on top of the ears or above the ears?

Introducing New Child Sleep Caps

Okay, I know I’ve been hinting at this on our Facebook page for a while now, but the time has finally arrived to announce the launch of these two new sleep cap designs. I feel very blessed to have been involved in their development, so everything I've written below is based on months worth of use, having tested these products in various stages of development. Between the two, we've found everything we've needed in a sleep cap.

Family Friday: Halloween "Boo's"

It's that time again! Time to "Boo" the neighbours! If you've been reading this blog since last year, you might remember the "Boo's" we passed around last October. (If not, you can see what they looked like at the bottom the "Saying Goodbye to Free Hair" post.) This year we spent less time actually making the "Boo's" and more time passing them out.

A Week in the Life of a Preschool Afro

Although I've already outlined "Maintaining Free Hair: Wash-n-Go Preschool Style," I was asked this last time Boo had free hair how we actually prepare her hair for sleep and what we do when she wakes up in the morning. Here are a few photos that outline how we cared for her afro during her most recent week of October Free Hair.

Wordless Wednesday: Costumes of Halloweens Past

As I'm hot-glueing, cutting, pinning, and sewing Boo's first homemade Halloween costume this year, I couldn't help be take the time to wax nostalgically about the last three Halloween's we have celebrated as a family.

Co-Washing (or No-Pooing): The Basics

(photo by qmnonic)

One of the early basics that I learned when carrying for Boo’s hair is the conditioner-only wash, or “co-wash.” Also referred to as the “no-poo” (i.e., no shampoo wash), co-washing is exactly what it sounds like: washing the hair with conditioner instead of shampoo.

Wicked Halloween Hair Style: Black Widow

Okay, I'm just going to put it out there right here at the get-go that the idea for this style was not mine. I saw the photos from Keyative Styles and was just floored. Seeing as how Boo will likely be attending a private school next year that will not allow for such creative styles, it was going to be this year, or none at all, if I was going to give it a go. So I gave it my best shot!

Family Friday: Father-Child Night at Preschool

Today's Family Friday post does not include me. It's just all about Boo and Daddy. Last night was Father-Child Night at Boo's preschool, so I got the house to myself for the evening while Daddy got to meet Boo's teacher and fellow students for the first time this school year.

Hair Length and Shrinkage

As we head into the end of Boo's "October Free Hair" week, one of the things we have been talking about in our house is shrinkage. Shrinkage is what happens when hair that is curly appears to be shorter than it really is. The curls wind up on themselves, and the tighter the coil, the more shrinkage there is. I think this is one of the hardest lessons to teach Boo when it comes to understanding her own hair. Part of learning to love her own hair is learning to understand, and hopefully have a healthy relationship with, hair shrinkage.

Moisture, Butters, and Oils: An Overview

(photo by daveynin)

It is often said that oils are not the same thing as moisturizers. This is true. But there is some confusion when people talk about how they’re moisturizing with things like coconut oil; because it’s an oil, how can that be? What is a moisturizer and what is an oil? What’s the difference between the two? And where do things like shea butter fall in these categories?

October Free Hair

It's been a while since Boo has rocked her fro. In fact, the last time she did so was for "Fros on the Fourth," so she was due for a chance to be style free for a while. Besides, I always like to give her scalp a rest for at least a week here and there, especially if it's showing signs of stress. Although I'm not seeing signs of stress, Boo asked to have an afro, "like the pretty lady I saw on the computer" (I don't even know to what photo she was referring). Far be it from me to say no to that!

Family Friday: Want to Be Featured on Our Blog?

This Friday am thinking about all of you, the wonderful readers who have made this blog what it is today. I've been so impressed with the styles that you have been sharing on our Facebook page, but especially with all of the tips and advice you've been giving to help out one another. This just warms my heart.

Style Update: Side Flat Rope Twists with Pinned Buns

We're heading toward the end of the week after having set our "Side Flat Rope Twists with Pinned Buns," and I'm reworking the style a bit for both variety and because the bobby pins were starting to come out and I was getting tired of putting them back in. This is an excellent option for the style if your hair doesn't work well with bobby pins, or if you child is too young to handle having them in her hair.

The Pre-Poo: Conditioning Hair Before Washing

After mentioning briefly in "Side Flat Rope Twists with Pinned Buns" that we pre-poo'd Boo's hair the night before styling, I've received several emails asking what exactly a "pre-poo" was. It's not that complicated, but there's also not a specific "right" answer. In short, a pre-poo is something that you do to help condition the hair and/or scalp before washing, replenishing moisture and shine, prior to stripping it during the washing process.

Side Flat Rope Twists with Pinned Buns

Ever since I found the mini bobby pins a month or so ago I've had a jumble of pinned styles rolling around in my brain. I saw something very similar to this style in a video (although I can't remember where), however the sides were greased back into a ponytail. Styles where the hair is pulled into a ponytail don't seem to last very long on Boo, especially now that she's back in preschool, so I opted to do flat rope twists instead.