Happy Holidays from the Blessed Curly Gurlz !

Winter Hair Care Tips

MadiMelzCurlz at 5 months old (2005)

As the seasons change, the way we dress, our activities and even our diet changes too. With these few adjustments we would want to also consider maintaining the health of the hair. Wanting the hair to stay healthy is one thing, but doing something about it is another. Consistency and patience are key to a successful hair journey. While we may have great products that cater to our hair needs, we also need to adjust to our environments to maintain our hair’s health.


Here are some tips that can benefit yours and your Blessed Curl Gurl’z hairs to maintain healthy hair:


1. Deep Condition/ Cowash more often – Many of our workplaces, schools, homes are heated with artificial heat and can therefore dry the hair along the cold brisk air outside. Our hair thrives when it is well moisturized. Shampooing less and Conditioning/cowashing more will keep the moisture the hair needs to withstand the changes to the environment. After shampooing, sometimes there is a stripping feeling to the hair where you will definitely need to follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.



2. Wash-N-Go’s – Many love the “Wash-‘N-Go’s" or wearing the hair slightly damp and it is simply simple. Let us remind ourselves that one can get extremely sick by wearing their hair wet while being outside in the cold. Another reason why you would not want to do a Wash ‘N Go would be the experience of the hair freezing and easily breaking.



3. Hair Breakage – During the winter we wear scarves, hats and sweaters that are made with fabrics such as wool. For example, wool tends to dry out the tresses and also pull on the hair causing slow breakage. The areas that tend to get affected the most are the edges and the nape of the neck. To avoid these types of problems, you can line the hat with a satin or silk fabric as a barrier to protect the hair. If you’re not crafty, you can simply tie a scarf around the head prior to putting on the hat. Putting the hair up while wearing a scarf will also aid in keeping the hair healthy. The more protected the hair, the less damage.


 4. Protective styling – The hair will not rub as much on the sweaters that will cause hair dryness. Tucking your hair ends away during the harsh weather season will keep your hair from damage while staying moisturized. Not to mention that they are beautiful, you can also have fun with different styles to enhance the beauty of your hair.



5. Oils – BlessedMomOf3 and I use oils on our Blessed Curly Gurlz’ hairs, scalps and skin. We massage certain oils on their scalps, mix it with their shampoos and/or conditioners and use it as a daily moisturizer to help seal in the moisture their hair needs to stay healthy. Not only do oils moisturize the hair and body, but different ones do have several beneficial factors. Research the oils to see what best fits your healthy hair and skin needs.



6. Hair Products– In some cases, you may have to use a product that will do a lot for the hair this winter season. Something that may have been a bit too much for the summer but great for the winter. Other cases, you may just have to use more of the products you already consume to balance the amount of needed moisture.



7. Using less heat to NO heat – Using heat will help the cold air cause more dryness to the hair. We barely use heat to no heat on our daughters’ hair and rely mostly on protective styles such as our favorites: Twists, cornrows and plaits/braids.



8. Moisture, moisture and moisture – Moisturizing the hair is not just limited to the summer, but also recommended for the winter too. As mentioned before, between the extreme temperatures of the indoors and outdoors, moisturizing enough will help the hair to stay protected.



9. Stick to what works for you – There are several ideas when it comes to hair care. But remember to always stick to what works for you! Your hair will be happy and stay healthy.


Have a wonderful and safe winter. We hope that these tips benefit your Blessed Curly Gurl(z) and you too!

Post by Sdestra,


Mom to MadiMelzCurlz

Hair Types, Textures and Curl Patterns

Blog Post By: The Blessed Mom Of 3 (mom to AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz)

Many people ask the question "What is my hair type?" at some point during their hair journey. There are so many articles, charts, pictures and etc... about hair typing that can be quite confusing and a bit overwhelming. Here's what hair typing is in a nutshell...

The Hair Type Classification System was started by Andre Walker (worked on the Oprah Show). He is basically categorizing curly hair and placing it into different hair types. The hair type classifications range from 1-4, "a-c".  Hair Type is not the same as Hair Texture. However, your hair texture & curl pattern are used to determine your Hair Type.  Knowing your hair type can equip you with the knowledge about the products that work best for your hair as well as styles, hair care tips and recommendations for all curly hair types.

 

We used this system in determining our Blessed Curly Gurl'z Hair Types and put together this detailed video to break it down for you.

 

 

 

For more information in determining both you and your Blessed Curly Gulrz' hair type check out http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types

I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to leave any questions or comments.

~blessings to you

 

*TheBlessedMomOf3*

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The Itch to Touch

As I felt the vibrations of the plane landing on the tarmac in Tampa, FL.  I said a little prayer of thanks and was so relieved.  I hate flying but I can bear it as long as I have a good book, music and/or crochet needles with a skein of yarn stuffed in my purse.  MadiMelzCurlz loves flying and watching her DVDs
(Keeps her quiet). 

10 minutes later, I'm pulling my carry-on from the overheard compartment and I hear MadiMelzCurlz say..."You can't touch my hair because..."  I looked down and see this young woman pulling her hand back with a look of offensiveness.  I asked confused and shaking my head, "What are you doing?" and kept my gaze at her.  She said, "Her hair is so cute...I just wanted to look at it."  Right then, I wanted to remind her that looking doesn't constitute touching.  But smiled and calmly said, "Sorry, but I rather you not touch her hair, it's still a part of her body and I have to protect her."  She stood there looking appalled and then cut her eyes at me...I chuckled a bit and shook my head.  We were stuck there standing in our same spots because we were waiting for the passengers ahead to move it along down the aisle.  Still standing by my and my daughter's seats, I was hoping the woman would let us cut through....yeah right...(laughing)!  Of course she didn't...then looked back and cut her eyes at me again. I extended her the same courtesy this time, glancing to see if MadiMelzCurlz caught my bad side.  It was wrong...but the bad side of me knew it felt right :-)

I have had people at times that tell me that MadiMelzCurlz' hair is adorable and they reach to touch...and I gently pull her back.  Then I get the looks as if I didn't have the right to do that.  But she's my child...I can't have strangers just come up and touch her.  I have had others who would compliment and then ask me if I wouldn't mind because they wanted to feel how soft her hair is.  It's also good practice for my daughter so that she knows people have to ask permission before they just do something.  If I never said anything to anyone when they wanted to touch or grab her hair and succeeded, she would think that it is okay for randomn people to touch her.  So, I was proud when she told the young woman that she couldn't touch her hair, something I constantly tell her.

What are your views on strangers wanting to touch your Curly Gurl'z hair?  How do you approach the situation if and when it is about to happen?  What attitudes have you received when you respond?  What do you tell your Curly Gurl in regards to people wanting to touch her hair?  And share ways to approach a situation to diffuse it from the start.

Thank you so much for reading!

-Sdestra (BCG mom)

BCG's & Their Input About Hair Styles...

Blogger Post By: TheBlessedMomOf3 (mom to AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz)

There used to be a time when I could either see a style that I liked or get creative with my own style and try it out on my BCG’s.  Those times are long gone! No, no, no... These BCG’s have graduated to voicing their opinion when it comes to styling their hair (I wonder where they get that from…lol). It all started by them picking out their own hair accessories. Then they wanted to coordinate their accessories with their “Outfit Of The Day!!” LOL!!! Slowly but surely, things began to escalate!

My oldest BCG, JoifulzCurlz (age 7) does her research when it comes to choosing a style.  She will actually look at blog pictures or some of the albums that I created of her hairstyles and pick out her top 3 favorites. Then she’ll bring them to me and ask how long each style will take to complete. She then checks her “calendar” to see what events she has coming up for the week to assess how long her style will last...lol. We then negotiate and come up with the best style for her. 


My youngest, AngelzCurlz (age 4) is a little easier to deal with but she is still quite vocal about how she wants her hair. Her problem is that she changes her mind quite often. She’ll decide on a quick and simple style like two-ponytails but quickly change her mind to whatever style she sees her big sister flaunting. Most of the time, I’ll allow her to change her mind but when I am burnt out from doing her sisters hair (she has a different texture and her hair is much thicker) I will put my foot down and make her stick to the original plan.

I have decided to embrace the fact that my BCG’s really care about their appearance. They love to see their hair freshly done and they run to the bathroom mirror to inspect their new style. They later come back thanking me for doing their hair with the camera in hand. Next comes the posing for pictures time!!  They have become accustomed to me taking pictures of their hair at every angle you can imagine. I seldom have to tell them which way to turn so that I can get the best picture, they’re pro’s at working the camera…lol. They love hearing compliments as well as giving compliments to other curly gurlz they may see. I guess I need to count my blessings. I don’t have to deal with the hair battles of them not wanting to sit for a long time. If anything, I’m the one who needs a break here and there.

If you too have an opinionated BCG then you can relate to this topic.  Here are a few tips to help things run smoothly:

~ Allow them to look through blogs, pics or magazines to pick their style (age appropriate). I have learned that if I do a style that they love, they’ll do a better job at preserving it. My BCG’s are quite active but they are more cautious when it comes to flipping on the trampoline, rolling in the grass or pillow fighting when their hair is freshly done. They’ll also remind me to moisturize/freshen up their twists, braids or pony’s and to wrap their hair at night.

~ Allow them to help pick out accessories (bows, barrettes, hair clips, hair ties). It cuts down on the negotiation process, the scowled up faces and the attitudinal problems that could potentially occur.

~ Let them partake in the styling process. I let my BCG’s count out how many hair ties, beads, barrettes and etc… I’ll need for their style. This way I won’t have to shuffle through their accessories trying to find what I need. While I prep their hair they lay out all of the tools and hand them to me when I ask for them.

~ Divert their attention by offering alternatives.  If there is a style that you don't want to do, allow your BCG to practice this style on her doll :). This may sound strange but it definitely helps when it comes to putting your foot down and sticking to your guns. There are some styles that my BCG's choose that I just don't have the time or patience to do. I'll often suggest that they try to replicate that style on their dolls hair and this usually makes everyone happy.

I hope these tips are helpful. I know that I am not the only mom who deals with this when it comes to styling your BCG’s hair.  I would love to hear your stories, feedback and tips so please share.

~blessings to you

*TheBlessedMomOf3*

Tedious/Intricate Hairstyles: Experience, Tips & Distractions

Blogger Post from Sdestra (featuring MadiMelzCurlz)

My daughter, MadiMelz kept complaining while I did her hair at one point (a few years back...she still complains but not much) due to length of time it takes to style her hair.  This is when I want to be adventurous and do tiny twists, braids or a combo.  I like to wash, untwist, detangle, unbraid, rebraid and retwist her hair to last another 10 years...lol.  And between the washes, I would style the twists too to keep them looking fresh.  As much as she loves the end result of her hair style...she hates the process at times.  It even came to a point where she complained about having too much hair!

She said, "Mommy...I have too much hair, can you please cut it?"  I looked at her and thought to myself...all that hard work isn't going any where and do you know how many people would love to have as much hair as you do!!!  But I was not going to burden her with that...she's young and at that age, the world somewhat revolves around them.  All she knows is that it takes long to do her hair.  But for me, it's priceless because I can make the styles last for 2-3 weeks.  Brush here, gel here, moisturize there, wash on this day, throw on a scarf and voila!

When I want to do detailed styles, I dedicate a day for it...that's right...a day.  So I can break up the times I do her hair.  That also helps me in the process because I have a baby boy who is a bundle of demands with a strong personality...I wonder where he got that from?

I started playing movies for MadiMelz, sometimes have her read a book to her baby brother, she plays games on her DS and sometimes she falls asleep and that's when I go for the kill and do it all.

What I felt was not fair to myself was when I had an image of a style I wanted to do for a particular event, I set myself up for disappointment.  Especially when time runs out on me or I let time run out on me...whichever it is, time is a factor.  If we plan on going somewhere, I have to be realistic and do a quick style on her hair if I haven't had a chance to twist, braid and all that other good stuff too.  Just keep it simple and cute which I'm getting the hang of.  Here are the repercussions if you try to do the hair in intricate and tedious styles especially if you have a small window to do it to prepare for any event.

-You get very impatient

-Your blood pressure rises

-In turn, your voice rises because your Curly Gurl will not sit still

-You get flusterred
-The style doesn't come out the way you invisioned
-You are subconsciously being a little rough with the hair
-You're rushing and keep watching the time...trust, it will keep going without you...
-Your Curly Gurl feeds off that energy and doesn't cooperate
-Your Curly Gurlz complaints are becoming annoying just because you're in a different mind frame
-When you're done, not only that you aren't happy with the style...but you are ripping and running to get yourself ready and yelling at everyone else like it's their fault..lol.

I'm not saying I do all of these things...but I can imagine what it can be like in some instances,



For BlessedMomOf3 and I,
These tips help us when it comes to detailed/tedious hairstyling of our Curly Gurlz:


~Watching a favorite TV show or movie
~Prepare their favorite snacks
~Allow them to play a game on a handheld device (DS, Leapster, Your cell phone with fun apps)
~Place a variety of their favorite books in front of them for their reading pleasure
~Allow them to play educational games or watch child appropriate shows on your laptop
~If they have an older sibling, allow them to play a card game or board game together
~Offer them 2-5 minute breaks every half hour or so
~Or dedicate a day (if possible) to do the hair and break it up to make it work around other things that need to be done.

What tips can you share that has helped you?  Believe me, the best feeling is to get that hair done and have it last a few weeks is priceless!

Thanks for reading!

-Sdestra

"My Daughter's Hair Is Not Growing, Why?"

Many of us who are currently on a hair journey went through the phase where you think your hair is not growing.  And many of us learned that your hair will always grow, it's just that you need to maintain and retain what you grew out of your scalp.  That means if you don't care for your hair ends, which is the oldest section of hair on your head, it will slowly break off.  As a result, you think your hair is not growing.  Those ends must stay moisturized being that it tends to be vulnerable to dryness, brittleness and split-ends.  Protective styles tend to be a great way to protect those hair ends and also help keep it moisturized as long as it is being moisturized.

But what about our/your young Curly Gurlz who we are diligently caring for their hairs to acquire a successful hair journey?  We received a few questions about why does it seem like a child's hair doesn't grow when the ends are moisturized and taken care of... And we had also pondered on the same thing at one point during or daughters' hair journies. 

You're doing all of the right things:

*Washing/Conditioning
*Combing from ends to roots
*Moisturizing and moisturizing the hair ends often
*Cowashing
*Using Oils
*Using less tension when braiding/styling
*Staying away from those hair candies that have metal prongs in them
*Tying a satin scarf around their heads or have them sleep on a satin pillow case

But the hair still falls at the same point on the back as it did a few months ago.

The hair is going to grow regardless.  Us being adults, we stop growing at around a certain age...so during our hair journey, as long as we retain the hair we grew, we will see the length as it comes.  But for our little ones, it's a different story.  Some children go through growth spurts and despite that, the hair will seem like it's "not growing" because of the physical growth.  Sometimes the physical growth will "take away" the length of the hair because the child has gotten a bit taller.  If you really want to keep track of your Curly Gurlz' hair progress, you may want to use a ruler/measuring tape/paper clips (lol) to measure the hair, rather to go by where it falls on the back.

One day you can claim that your 6 year old is APL. Then next year, despite all the tedious care you put into the hair, you say that same child who turned 7 is a little past APL...you would think that the hair will fall somewhere a bit further than last year's.

This may be relevant information to some and not to all.  Each child is also different and unique because of the way they were designed by God. 

But do keep this in mind...

*Your child's hair is growing,
*Keep moisturizing and using protective styles to protect the hair ends and retain length
*Measure the hair instead of relying on where it falls on the back to protect yourself from discouragement & disappointment.
*Try focusing on the health of your child's hair and the growth with be an added bonus :)

Hope this helps

Written by Sdestra
(Mom to MadiMelzKurlz

(Disclaimer:  We are not experts, but merely sharing information that has helped us during our Curly Gurlz' hair journies)

Virtual Play Date!!!

We have been invited to a play date hosted by Kandy over at Kandy Land Kurls & by a participant, A Mother's Love.

Thanks so much for including us and allowing us to join in on your playdate.

We must list 10 facts about our little ones to share with everyone else. This is a shared blog that consists of 3 BlessedCurlyGurlz so we will each share some facts about them, separately.

~BlessedMomOf3
(Mom to AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz)
I will share 5 facts about each one of my daughters!
AngelzCurlz (age 4)
1. She has so much personality but you would never know it because she rarely speaks to anyone outside of Hubby and I.
2. She spent a year in preschool and did not say a word to her teacher the entire year...lol
3. She loves to sing, dance and put on a show for her siblings.
4. She could write her name, her siblings names and correctly spell up to 10 words  before she turned 4!
5. Her favorite food is Lasagna and her favorite snack is carrots :)

JoifulzCurlz (age 7)
1. She has no idea how atheletic she is! She has a natural talent for basketball, gymnastics, track, tennis and soccer. She's better than most boys her age and a few years older.
2. She loves to read chapter books (Junie B Jones is her favorite)
3. She has tons of energy and hits the growund running from sunrise to sunset.
4. She's very outgoing and loves to make others laugh.
5. She loves to sing and go to church :)

~Sdestra
(mom to MadiMelzCurlz age 6)
1. She loves to read her Bible (The Sweetest Story Bible).
2. She loves to dance and recently performed in a recital.
3. You can hear her sing her heart out and she can hit those notes!
4. She understands more than she speaks French-Creole (Haitian Language).
5. Extremely active in everything that requires physical energy.
6. She loves her grandfather to pieces! (My father)
7. Adores her baby brother and thinks I don't know what I'm doing.
8. She wants me to cut her hair because it's too long...lol.
9. She loves Haitian, Thai, Indian & Mexican foods (I cook them all).
10. She loves to talk A LOT and will have a full blown conversation with anyone for atleast an hour.


To join the play date, post 10 facts about your little one/ones in the comment section below. If you have a blog, post 10 things about your child/children. Next thank and link back to the person who invited you to the play date and invite a few other blogs to participate in the online play date!

We would like to invite: Mochamom (Cherish My Daughter)

Protective Hair Styles

We believe that protective hairstyles are essential for hair retention and can ultimately give you the added benefit of hair growth.  Protective styling helps to prevent breakage since your hair may be breaking off faster than it grows. What protective styles do is keep your ends "protected."

When wearing protective styles, be sure that your ends are put away and that you moisturize your ends at least 3 times per week.  Moisturizing and sealing your ends helps to protect your hair from shedding and dryness. 

Try any of these protective styles and see if you experience more hair retention.  But please be patient, things do not happen over night :-).  Taking pictures from time to time of your Curly Gurlz' hair progress will help you compare progression. 

~ BUNS: This is a simple style that works for any occasion, especially dressy or formal ones. All you need are bobbypins and/or an elastic/ouchless band. Buns work on relaxed and natural hair with a relative amount of ease. You can part your hair down the center or on one side if you prefer.  Feel free to add hair accessories such as flowers, a decorated barrette, clip on hair bows or head bands to give it that added touch.

~ 2 STRAND TWISTS/FLAT TWISTS:  This is a very popular protective style that we love to do on our BCG's.  It is not only simple and durable but it is quite versatile and can be worn for any occasion. Twists work best on natural hair because it gives the hair a better hold without unraveling. They work for children and for adults.  The variety of ways in which they are worn give you fashionable styles while still protecting your delicate ends.

~ BRAIDS: You can either braid, cornrow or do a combination of both on your daughter's hair. Wearing this protective style also gives you versatility and longevity. You can easily get 2-4 weeks of wear out of this simple, low maintenance style. Like twists, braids can also be worn for a variety of occasions and worn fashionably with added accessories. You still need to care for your hair and scalp while you're wearing them. So be sure to moisturize and protect your hair by wrapping it in a scarf every night. And to keep the hair looking fresh after it starts to look a little unruly...you can moisturize the edges and use a light gel to smooth the hair and tie it down with a scarf.

~ CORNROWS: The cornrow hairstyle involves braiding the hair very close to the scalp. Cornrows come in a variety of designs and are worn on both your hair and your daughter's. One of the advantages of cornrows is that they allow the hair to be worn long, without the requirement of chemical treatments to keep it under control.   Cornrows can provide many benefits such as length retention, hair protection and offer many style possibilities. They are quick and simple to do and allow an endless amount of creativity. They can be dressed up or add color coordination by adding hair accessories such as beads, flowers, head bands, barrettes and etc... But be sure not to braid too tight, this can cause too much tension to the scalp and hair being pulled.

Other protective hairstyles include bantu knots, box braids, banding, african threading, low pony's (with your ends tucked away) and weaves/extensions/clip on pony's and etc...  We personally do not use weaves or extensions on our BCG's hair simply because of personal preferences.  We have found that the use of the protective styles previously listed have been beneficial in providing them with healthy hair.  Protective styling can be considered as styles that don't require so much work and mostly protect the hair ends.  For more pictures of these type of styles please click on the tabs "Styles" and "Braids/Twists" on the right and you will be directed to a variety of pictures.

Feel free to share your ideas !!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY~ Celebrate those wonderful dads!!!

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it...
Dad
- Author Unknown

Have a wonderfully blessed Father's Day!

With Love,
BlessedCurlyGurlz, Sdestra & BlessedMomOf3

Hair care: Sun, Skin & Swimming...

YAY, IT'S SUMMER TIME!!!!!

It's getting hot outside for most of us and we can't wait to pack the cooler, the bathing suits, the car and hit the road to jump into the water! Whether it's the pool, beach, lake, even enjoying the outdoors in the sun...there are some things that you can do to intercept some of the damaging things that can affect the hair & body.

Chlorine & Salt Water- Chlorine & Salt can cause so much damage to the hair. One of the ways to protect the hair before getting into the pool is to wet the hair prior to going in. Remember that the hair is like a sponge and will absorb what you put on it. And since the hair is already wet prior to getting in, the chlorine will not have much room to get in.  It will penetrate LESS into the hair. Another thing that has worked with our Curly Gurlz is to saturate the hair with conditioner prior to getting into the pool.  It is also important to wash the hair right away and not let the chlorine or salt dry.

Hats- Hats can and will protect the hair from the harsh heat and rays from the sun. Extreme exposure to the heat without any protection can cause the hair to become extremely dry and brittle over time. Put that hat on!  They are stylish and so much fun!

Sunscreen- This is important for the skin and to protect it from burns and other damaging affects in the future. The skin is the largest organ on our bodies.  And just as it protects our internal organs from the elements, it would be good to protect it too so it can do it's work for us.  Another affect the skin have is that it regulates our body temperature in the summer.  When it gets hot, it responds by releasing/secreting sweat through the sweat glands to help cool the body. 

There are many misconceptions about certain skin tones/shades out there in regards to the use and non use of sunscreen.  No matter what skin tone/shade you are, sunscreen is a must for everyone!  Protect your skin. 

Swimming Caps - Swim caps help in reducing the amount of water that goes into the hair.  Personally, it does not prevent water from wetting the hair, but it will not saturated.  The less chlorinated or salted water that is exposed to the hair, the better.  For some, it may be uncomfortable to wear, but it does it's job.  Swim caps are good for those that swim almost every day.

Conditioner- .  Washing with a moisturizing conditioner into the hair atleast 1-2 times a week will help with restoring moisture in the hair that may have been lost during the grueling heat from the sun and the water. Leave-in Conditioners work great in the summer and there are some out there that do have sunscreen in them

Heat- Not only does the heat from the sun can damage the hair, but heat sources like the blow dryer, flat irons and such can also take a toll too.  Trying to do more styles where you can air dry will keep the hair from getting hit so many times with heat.  Too much heat will and can damage the hair and cause slow breakage where length will be difficult to retain.

Protective styles - Protective styling are hair styles that keep the hair off the shoulders. Children get irritated easily especially in the hot heat. There are plenty of styles you can do with your Curly Gurl'z hair that will keep from tickling their skin, but also help in keeping the hair ends protected too. Protected ends equals retaining length.  The styles are endless...you can refer to one of our tabs with plenty of photos for inspiration!

Moisturize, moisturize & moisturize! 

Try not to get too worked up or overly concerned about your Curly Gurlz getting their hair wet. If their hair comes in contact with chlorine just be sure to do a good wash (with a non drying clarifying or non chelating shampoo) and condition once the fun has ended for the day. Deep conditioning throughout the week will be beneficial as well. This is good for those who are frequent swimmers. If you don't have a clarifying shampoo you can add baking soda to your shampoo. This will help remove some of the chlorine from her hair. If you plan to spend the day outdoors or at the beach apply Sesame oil. It is a natural blocker of UV rays. Most importantly relax, make plenty of cherishable memories and HAVE FUN!!

And don't forget to drink plenty of water!

(Everything on BCG's blog is for informational purposes only, we are not experts and suggest taking and using information at your own discretion.)

Patience With Hair (Tips & Ideas)

 We do get frustrated at times, especially when we are first starting a healthy hair journey for our Curly Gurlz.
The more you take your time, the less time you waste.  Many of us get frustrated with so many different things.  Among them are of course, the hair.  Whether it's our own or our child's(children's) hair, we tend to sit there and rack our brains to figure out how to style it.  Sometimes we do so many hairstyles that we forget them. Here are some ideas to help you with your frustrations that has helped us along the way.  And please, by all means, share what works for you when it comes to styling!

Some ideas & tips:

~ Keep in mind that you will not produce your best work when you're frustrated.  It is important that you set aside some quality time for tedious hair styles... especially if you are trying a style for the first time :).  When you're caring for natural hair, you really need to be as gentle with the hair as possible.  You want to avoid ripping and pulling the hair apart. This not only causes more frustration but it can lead to breakage, shedding, split ends, hair loss, an irritated scalp and much more. 

~ It is beneficial/healthy for the hair when you style your Curly Gurlz' hair while in its damp/wet state.  This helps the hair to become more manageable and less tangled.  Be very careful not to over manipulate the hair (do excess combing/brushing) so that retention and growth will not be compromised.

~ A great idea is to have your Curly Gurl(z) watch a favorite show or movie, read a book or indulge themselves in a handheld game.  That usually keeps them distracted while you work on their tresses.

~ Find styles that you can recycle!  You can twist or do individual braids on the hair.  For a few days, you can have it out.  Next, you can put it all in a ponytail.  Half in a pony and the back half down.  If the hair is in twists, you can just unravel the twists and wear a beautiful twist out. 

~ Take pictures of the styles as you do them.  They can help later if you're stumped on a hair do.  And if you see one that you like, take note of that style to reference back to, so you can try it out.

~ Try not to get complicated with a hairstyle especially if it's the day of a special occasion and you want to do something fancy.  If time allows you, do it the night before...that way you can correct a mistake and/or decide on a different hairstyle.  And what helps with a simple style is when that moment comes to get dressed and the style says "no", you can quickly do another hairstyle that will not leave you flustered and in dispair.

~ Sometimes the simplest styles are the ones that stand out.  Remember, you can also accessorize the hair with beautiful flowers, barrettes, bows and clips.

~ Find a regimen that works.  A regimen does not have to be complicated.  It can be as simple as a wash, cowash, conditioning, moisturizing and styling.  That's it!

~ Start combing from the bottom up.  Starting from the top may and will cause the tangles to compress and cause a tangled mess.  Then you will go through the daunting task of tedious detangling, hair breakage and hair knotting (knots in the hair is a form of split ends).

~ Keep the ends moisturized.  If you have the hair out in braids, twists, wash/gos and even a style that allows the hair to flow freely, be sure to moisturize the hair.  Especially the ends.  This will help retain the length of your Curly Gurl'z hair and when it comes to detangling, it will not be as annoying.

~ And let us not forget that sometimes the Curly Gurl wants to play in her hair!  Sometimes they can wreak havoc and cause some damage.  Especially if she loves her hairstyle or feels that she wants to make it look a certain way.  Now, let's calm down, you know our Curly Gurlz want to be and feel independent!  We can sit with them and have a part in what they want their hair to look like.  Encourage them to watch you when you style, by sitting in front of a mirror.  Ask them what they would like their hair to look like.  You can also get a doll's head for them to practice some techniques that you've used on their hair.  Teach them some braiding techniques (if it's possible depending on their age), how to moisturize their ends, and show them the products and what it is used for.  Educating them will help the Curly Gurl have a better understanding on what is going on. And to encourage them to keep their hair healthy and beautiful.

Don't forget to remind them how beautiful they are as a whole.  They will appreciate who they are and will worry less and not compare themselves with their peers.

Hope this information helps you along the way with your Curly Gurlz' healthy hair journey!  We encourage you to share your wonderful tips!  God Bless!

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! Let's celebrate those wonderful moms!

The BlessedCurlyGurlz along with Sdestra & TheBlessedMomOf3 would like to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers out there.  Being a mother is such a blessing!  Not only are we mothers, but we are daughters, aunts, granddaughters, great granddaughters and god daughters.

We are especially blessed to have such great role models in our mothers, to look up to.  They have taught us to be the strong, caring, nurturing women that makes us the moms that we are today.  We can only hope and pray that our Blessed Curly Gurlz will one day embody all of these characteristics and grow to be the best mothers they can be. 

We pray that you are able to enjoy your special day with your loved ones. It is YOUR day to sit back, relax and enjoy the love that your children, husband and loved ones shower you with today! So, whether you're a mom, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt or friend be sure to acknowledge another mom on that special dedicated day. Wish them a Happy Mother's Day and thank God for allowing them to be in your life... thank him for entrusting you with the job of being a mother as well :).

~Blessings to you~

Easter & Church & Hair, OH MY! (Part II)

Easter weekend was amazing!

Beautiful weather, Easter egg hunts, Church Service & Amazing Easter dinners! Now....last blog, we discussed hair and what we were going to do with their HAIR! We were both contacting each other and discussing what we wanted to do. We both didn't want to do anything too complicated, but we wanted our Curly Gurlz to shine in their dresses. You know how they get when they wear their fluffy dresses, hold the cute purse, little shoes that are adorned with flowers & rhinestones, their tiny finger nails brighten up with pastel colors, and their hairs are on point! So this is what we came up with for the Easter weekend.


Over here in Metro Atlanta (Georgia), for MadiMelzCurlz (Sdestra), I went with a simple updo and a twisted bun adorned with a pink flower to match her dress. We went to church Sunday morning and walked out feeling blessed of course!

Later that afternoon, we went over a family friend's home for an Easter Egg hunt with her hair still styled in that high twisted bun style.  She enjoyed her afternoon with friends, activities, running to get the most eggs, food and especially the candy!

The twisted bun didn't take long to put together at all.  With a high ponytail, twists, hair pins and a scarf to keep the hair looking neat and sharp, it was as simple and as classy as I was hoping for it to be.  She thought it was cute and became more "princess" like...lol.  And of course the many compliments and questions of how I did her hair and where I got her flower (hair candy from).  And I was even stalking some mothers about their daughters' hairs!!!

Check out the video for more details
MadiMelzCurlz' Easter Hair Video

Here in the Charlotte area (North Carolina), the weather was gorgeous all weekend. The kids attended Easter Parties & Egg Hunts at school. They made crafts, took pictures, played games and ate tons of candy. After those festivities, I made sure we shifted our focus to the real meaning of the holiday. The ultimate sacrifice God gave us through HIS son Jesus was what it was all about. The children were so excited about their dresses, hair and accessories but they didn't cease to thank God for HIS son Jesus. They became teary eyed while thinking about how Christ died for our sins. They rejoiced in knowing that he rose again! 

So, Resurrection Sunday was finally here!!! I chose to do an updo for the girls because of the humidity that morning. We used Flexirods for the first time to create both of their styles. Here is how JoifulzCurlz wore her hair...

I chose to put her curls up in a high pony/puff with a few simple curls hanging in the front.  They had hats also but they chose not to wear them because they didn't want to mess up their hair...lol. 

AngelzCurlz wore a similar style but I chose to cornrow the front of her hair as she tends to be a little more energetic :). This style went perfectly with her dress and they both received a ton of compliments which they proudly accepted!

Here is a picture of AngelzCurlz in her dress.  And here is a picture of her hair close up.  I decided to put her flexirod curls into a high side pony with a few curls hanging to the side.  She felt like a little princess :).  Our wonderful day ended with a delicious home cooked meal, prepared my ME!  After eating, we all enjoyed some much needed quality time together as a family.  Thank You God for your son JESUS!  Check out their video for more details:JoifulzCurlz & AngelzCurlz' Easter Hair Video                                                

Easter & Church & Hair, OH MY! (Part I)

Greetings Beautiful Ladies!
This is the time to celebrate the life of Christ, how he died for our sins and rose from the dead. Then there are the Easter egg hunts, the Easter parties, the Easter candies, the Easter dresses & shoes....and the EASTER HAIR! Easter seems to be one of the occassions where we go "ALL OUT" on the hairstyles for ourselves and our little Curly Gurlz. Our clothes have to look prestine, shoes too hot to trott, the colors must be sharp and the family has to compliment each other while walking up the stairs to church. So what are your plans for styling your Curly Gurl'z hair?
We tend to try to think outside of the box. But keep in mind, don't make it too complicated. Look for some ideas or inspirations. If you're limited with what you can do as far as styling, there are hair accessories such as flowers, hats and other head adornments that can enhance the beauty of the hair. Braid outs, Flat twists, buns (high, low), twists, cornrows, blow outs, curls galore, a combo of styles such as a bun at the top with curls in the back....
We are still working on what we're doing for our Curly Gurlz' Hairs for the Easter Weekend....but eventually we'll come up with a style, either early or at the last minute during times of desperation! Don't let that happen to you!

Around the Easter Weekend, we'll share with you what we did in "Easter & Church & Hair, OH MY! Part II". It will consist of what we did to make our Curly Gurlz shine on Easter Sunday and during the weekend of activities, so stay tuned! And please share too!

So what are you doing with your Curly Gurl(z) Easter Weekend?

Building SELF ESTEEM Within Your Daughters!!

Building a healthy self esteem is a crucial part of raising a happy, healthy, BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER. This is something that we strive to work on building within our daughters whenever the opportunity presents itself. We are constantly telling them that they are beautiful, loved and blessed. We want them to grow up to be strong, God loving girls who can look within themselves and find all of the love and support they need. We don't want them to look to others for self worth, acceptance and acknowledgement but we want them to walk in the confidence and assurity that they posses inside.

In our research on this topic, we came across this wonderful article that we'd like to share with you all. We found the information to be beneficial and we hope that you all will be inspired by it. We will post the link below for further reading.

What is Self Esteem?
Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, "I am competent", "I am worthy") and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame[citation needed]. Self-esteem can apply specifically to a particular dimension (for example, "I believe I am a good writer and I feel happy about that") or have global extent (for example, "I believe I am a bad person, and feel bad about myself in general").
~Wikipedia (The Free Encyclopedia)

Signs of Unhealthy and Healthy Self-Esteem
Self-esteem fluctuates as kids grow. It's frequently changed and fine-tuned, because it is affected by a child's experiences and new perceptions. So it helps to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem.

Kids with low self-esteem may not want to try new things, and may frequently speak negatively about themselves: "I'm stupid," "I'll never learn how to do this," or "What's the point? Nobody cares about me anyway." They may exhibit a low tolerance for frustration, giving up easily or waiting for somebody else to take over. They tend to be overly critical of and easily disappointed in themselves. Kids with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions, and a sense of pessimism predominates.

Kids with healthy self-esteem tend to enjoy interacting with others. They're comfortable in social settings and enjoys group activities as well as independent pursuits. When challenges arise, they can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others. For example, rather than saying, "I'm an idiot," a child with healthy self-esteem says, "I don't understand this." They know their strengths and weaknesses, and accept them. A sense of optimism prevails.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/self_esteem.html#

What can you do to help build your daughters self esteem?

1. Build a strong foundation. From her first breath, remind your daughter on a daily basis, through words and action, that she is strong, smart, and beautiful. Research confirms that girls with low self-esteem most commonly receive less praise and more criticism from either parent.

2. Limit her access to media early. The messages you work diligently to provide will quickly be challenged if you don’t filter media that blatantly contradicts them. A great deal of television and print media set unrealistic physical standards and portray over-sexualized, disempowered girls and women. Unchecked, it will shape your daughter’s sense of reality, self, and the standard she is expected to meet for acceptance, desirability, and success. Additionally, it’s essential that you help her to achieve media literacy so even when she’s engaged with it, she’ll have a more discerning mind. An easy place to start is the Dove Real Beauty Campaign Web site where, in addition to taking quizzes on self-esteem, she can take one on image manipulation so she realizes how unreal print media images frequently tend to be.

3. Create open lines of communication. Hormonal shifts that begin the transition into adolescence can begin as early as eight or nine years old. The further down the adolescent path she is, the more difficult it will become to establish lines of communication that will essentially become lifelines in your efforts to guide and protect her throughout her teen years. The best place to start, if you haven’t already, is by talking with her about her day on the way to school and at the dinner table every day.

4. Encourage her to find and use her voice. I always tell the girls I work with to think of their voice as a muscle—the more they use it, the stronger it will be. Speaking on behalf of your daughter most or all of the time limits her workout time.

5. Seize the power of organized sports. The earlier you can get and keep her involved the better. The opportunity to develop strong relationships with other girls while working toward a common goal and to develop confidence related to something she does rather than simply how she looks, talks, and acts is essential to building and maintaining self-esteem. In case that’s not enough, research shows a significant decrease in participation in risky sexual behavior among girls who play sports.

6. Remember that knowledge is power. This is particularly true as it applies to your daughter knowing and understanding her own body. It is especially important that she have a solid understanding of the powerful and changing cyclical role hormones play in the female body every month and the impact they have physically, emotionally, and psychologically on a daily basis. She cannot value or protect a body that is foreign to her.

7. Make no subject taboo. From sex to drugs, making any subject off limits to your daughter (whether stated or implied) will only ensure her journey down a path of shame, ignorance, and ultimately, danger. If she cannot get open, honest, and accurate information from her parents, she will get it from less-educated sources that may leave her misinformed and far less able to protect herself.

8. Dads, be aware of the power of your words and actions.

The way a father expresses his value and respect for women directly impacts the way his daughter sees herself and the degree of respect and overall value she will expect to receive from boys and men.

9. Moms, never forget that you are her most important role model. More than half of girls recently surveyed as part of a national report on self-esteem said their mothers criticize their own appearance. It is imperative that we do whatever is necessary to get ourselves to a place of knowing and understanding our value as women, if we have any hope that our daughters will do the same.
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22111/98589-girl-power-nine-ways-build

We challenge you all to focus on building self esteem in your daughters. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts on this subject. Take a moment to share what steps you have taken and if you were successful. Leave an encouraging word for another mom that will motivate them to begin to apply these principles in their daughters lives. Thanks so much for reading this. We look forward to your comments.

Please take a look at the corresponding video on our video page!

How we started: The beginning of a child's hair journey

MadimelzCurlz Natural Hair Journey

I started my daughter's natural hair journey when I started mine back at the end of 2007.   This is when my beautiful sister in law told me about Fotki, a photo sharing site where so many women share their hair journies. And I was hooked.  As far as my daughter, I was doing so many things to her hair...vaseline, tight rubberbands, water, etc.  But I was left with was dryness and crazy looking edges.  But I thought I could fix that.  I was using J&J baby shampoo to wash.  She was born with a full head of curls and they weren't soft because of the dryness.  I changed her shampoo and then looked at some of the natural sisters regimen from Fotki.  But natural or relaxed heads, had oils in their regimens.  I kicked myself for throwing away the jars I had of shea butter when I moved down to Atlanta.  I thought I had no use for the seven containers anymore that I paid a $1 each for from a street seller in NJ...lol.  Anyhow, I started to incorporate some products in her and I noticed her hair flourished.  The main thing that made her hair take off was mainly the techniques I was using.  I rarely used the rubber bands, I learned a technique to comb her hair, I learned to cornrow and most importantly...I learned more about patience.  I always say that if you have patience, you waste less time than if you rushed.  Although our journies consist of a relaxed head (me) and a natural head (MadiMelz Curlz), I'm happy to say that the journey has been wonderful for the both of us.  Funny thing is that I do more with her hair than my own....I just want her to shine.  So here's a question I've been asked a few times...will I ever relax my daughter's hair.  I won't relax her hair at all. I honeslty don't want her to when she becomes of age to make that decision.  Under my care, I found a way to take care of her hair and saw results.  So if I can manage her hair in it's natural state, why relax it?  But for now, my stance is to let her see what I do with her hair so she can be armed with knowledge.  At the end of the day, it's just hair!  We know there are more important things in life to enrich the soul to prepare for life.  It's our responsibility to SHOW great subconscious examples in everything that we do...they internalize that and in turn will make them beautiful inside and shine outside.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! – Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)

Please take a look at MadimelzCurlz Natural Hair Journey Video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXHY2kjYbo

God bless you all!
-Sdestra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz Natural Hair Journey

After having my first daughter (JoifulzCurlz), I began experimenting with styles and just about every baby product (Johnson & Johnson, Gerbers, Just for me)… just to name a few. I grew tired of using flaky gels and shampoos that dried out her hair without giving me a long lasting hairstyle. So I started to search for products that contained moisture, shea butter and all the other “good” ingredients for your hair. I was completely clueless as to what I was actually searching for.  My extent of hair knowledge was limited to jherri curls, relaxers, over processed hair, heat & color damage. I experienced this first hand for 30 years of my life. I just knew that I didn’t want that for my daughters… there had to be something better for them. Just as I got into my healthy hair care research, baby girl #2 (AngelzCurlz) was born. I knew that I wanted to incorporate my new found hair knowledge in the beginning of her hair journey as soon as possible. I basically began to shampoo their hair with a mild shampoo and I moisturized their scalps with baby oil.  I figured it was light, with very little harmful products for their scalps and skin. I too stopped relaxing and decided to begin my natural hair journey along with them.
For years my staple products included pantene (shampoo and conditioner), bb super grow and fantasia ic gel. They were not the best choice of products but at the time, they gave us pretty decent results. It wasn’t until about a year ago when I decided to try Kids Organics Shea Butter Conditioning Shampoo, 100% Raw Coconut Oil and 100%Unrefined Shea Butter. I was shocked at how moisturized the girls’ hair became after using these products. I have continued to use these products as well as Jojoba Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I am so happy that the 3 of us have gone on this Natural Hair Journey together. I think the key to our journey has been research, patience and perseverance. Healthy hair doesn’t start over night so it is important to get started as soon as possible so that you can begin to see good results. I encourage you to photo document your daughter’s journey (whether relaxed or natural) because it will show you their progress even when you don’t think you’ve had any. Get started and enjoy the journey in the process!!

Please feel free to view AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz Natural Hair Journey Video!
http://www.youtube.com/user/BlessedCurlyGurlz#p/a/u/0/8p3jqDJkREY

BlessedMomOf3
"Stay vigilant and refuse to be overwhelmed."

Stylish Blogger Award!

We were blessed to have received the
 "STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD!!!!



We'd like to thank "A Mother's Love" http://shirlenslove.blogspot.com/ for thinking of us!
As recipients of this award, we were asked to:

-Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
-Share 7 things about yourself
-Award a few blog you feel deserve the award

Since we are a 2 person team, we've decided to share our facts separately. So, here they are:


Sdestra (mom to MadiMelzCurlz)
1. I'm a Haitian woman that was raised in New Jersey.
2. I love to crochet, sketch, decorate and cook.
3. I must carry my Pink "A Mother's Bible" to church and on trips.
4. I'm a hardcore couponer with the zippered binder that make store managers follow me around.
5. I took a Japanese course in highschool for 2 years and can write my name to this day in Katakana.
6. I believe that people wear many hats and because you know them while they wear one hat...you can't defend them in the other hats that they wear.
7. My pet peeve is when a friend or family member starts to act "brand new" on you.


BlessedMomOf3 (mom to AngelzCurlz & JoifulzCurlz)
1. I am a "PK" (Preacher's Kid)

2. I am a HUGE tennis fan (football is a close second)

3. I am a born again christian
4. I have a passion for acting, cooking, running (falling back in love with this) and everything HAIR!!!
5. I am a self sacrificer to the heart
6. I find the humor in life!!!
7. I can play the flute, violin and the drums! YES, the drums!


Now it's time to share the love to a few deserving bloggers (please show your support for them):
 A Mother's Love
 Beads, Braids & Beyond
 Happy Girl Hair 
 Kandy Land Kurls 

Welcome!!!

We are truly blessed by your visit to our blog. Together, we've created this platform to showcase our BlessedCurlyGurlz by highlighting a variety of styles, techniques and information to share with you all. Please feel free to click on the tabs on the right side bar and it will lead you to your desired information. We will do our best to update this blog on a weekly basis so check back often. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions so please don't hesitate to leave them at your leisure. For any additional information, personal questions or concerns please send us an email and we will reply at our earliest convenience. Again, welcome and enjoy the information we have conveniently provided for you. 

~Blessings to you,

Sdestra & BlessedMomOf3