Little Girl's Hairstyles - Question and Answer "How do you get them to hold still?"

Here's a great question from my FB page:

Do your girls ever get all antsy while you're doing their hair? What do you do? My daughter always picks the most complicated do's and then she gets bored half way through.

Thanks Beth for this question! And YES, of course my girls get antsy! Have you seen these hairstyles?

The Loopy Do

Side Pony with Twist Braids

Twisty Updo

Twist Do

So I say to you Beth, YES, my girls get antsy! Especially when I mess up a hairdo I'm photographing and have to start over! Ugh. Well, there's no secret to keeping them happy and patient, because they aren't! Who would be after sitting and having their hair pulled and braided and yanked on for 10, 20, 30 minutes? We know how patient our little gals are, so here's what I do. I've shared some of these before.

If I know I'll be doing something a little more time intensive, I prepare them by asking them. "Honey, Mommy wants to do something really pretty today with your hair for your party/church, etc. Is that ok? It will take a little bit of time, ok? You'll look sooo pretty when we are done!" (Or something to that effect). If they are being resistant at that, then I usually try to pick something quicker. BUT, if they are open to it, I give them the option of watching tv while we do it, or offering a snack. A snack is a clincher for my 4 yr. old.

Another trick is if the snack is gone and you are still working away, let them have your squirt bottle (if you use one) and spray it in the sink. My youngest usually ends up spraying the mirror too, but whatever you can stand. This is also great if you are trying to give them a haircut, and need them to stop squirming. My youngest also likes to do her doll's hair when I'm doing hers. I just open up my big box of elastics, give her a comb, and let her have at it.

There's no science. The thing I do most often is just talk to my girls. This is our time to chat and talk about whatever they want, and most of the time it's enough. My favorite conversations have taken place while I'm doing their hair. Ask them about their toys, their friends, favorite cartoons,etc. Most of all, just enjoy the time together!

Thanks Beth for the question! I hope you all had a fabulous Mother's day!

Little Girl's Hairstyles --Q & A "What Hair Products Do You Use?"

I told you all that I will never show my OWN hair on here--because I detest doing my own hair! But, I am sure many of you have similar hair strife, right!? 

I had a reader ask me what products I use on my own hair, since I've mentioned that my hair is thick, curly, and as such, dry dry dry! Well, with the help of some good stylist friends, who get product for me at their salon distribution stores, I've found some really great stuff. So, here it is! Hopefully this is one hair care tip you can use on yourselves, friends! Here is what is in MY shower:

My two favorite conditioners in the world are:

Biolage Conditioning Balm (see below)

Redken All Soft Conditioner

If you ever get dry damaged ends, and need an awesome deep conditioner:

It's a 10 or

Redken Real Control Intense Renewal

I love love Biolage. They are formulated specifically for drier hair (curly hair tends to dryness, since the hair shaft itself is more porous), and I love their Hydrating Shampoo.

Now on to styling products:

Since curly hair tends to be dry, and doesn't have a lot of natural shine, I like to use a shine serum. This is not just for when you straighten your hair either-although it's wonderful to smooth on the ends when you do--but I use this when I'm mixing up my styling concoction for when I want my hair curly.

My favorite shine serum is:

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny (you can see how it's almost gone!) I just use one squirt of this, and mix it into my hand along with a dollop of Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt (see below), and a squeeze of Redken Curl Refiner (see below).

These are available at your salon, or if you have fabulous friends (like mine) or stylists that will get them for you at a discount, then you are blessed. I'm a die hard fan of these hair products, and no, I don't use these on my girl's hair. These are for ME and ME only. :)

For some tips on little girl hair care, see my post here.

Some basic rules if you have curly hair (or if your girl does!).

• Don't wash it every day. I used to think this was horrendous, since I'm a clean freak, but washing it even just every other day does wonders for the elasticity and strength of your hair. As I said before, dry hair is more porous, this is what gives it it's texture and curl. It also makes it break easier. The natural oils from your scalp hydrate your hair and keep it healthy, Washing your hair too much strips away these necessary oils, and, thus, split ends and breakage. The curlier your hair, the drier the hair shaft will be.
• Getting frequent hair cuts (8-12 weeks) is also a must for good hair health--especially if you are trying to grow it out!
• If you have really dry ends, and don't want to cut off several inches, try masking your hair ends in one of the deep conditioners I mentioned above before you get in the shower. You can let it sit while you shower and then reapply conditioner again. You can also put it on your ends and put on a shower cap, and blowdry the shower cap for 5 or so minutes, then wrap your head in a towel to keep the heat in. The heat will open the cuticle and allow the conditioner to do it's job.

Here's to your happy healthy hair!

Little Girl's Hairstyles -Q & A: How to get the gals to sit still long enough to do their hair!!??

A recent comment (and many many others) have led me to share just some things I do to get my gals to sit still and let me play with their hair.
This is what my friend Angelia said:

I can't get my fiance's girls to sit still and play beauty shop. I even got a comb and everything. I want to play with their hair so bad, but they just run around like boys. :0(


Well, here's what I do ladies:
 
1. I go to my girls' bathroom and grab 3 things: Their small step stool, the garbage (for hairs that are combed out),  and the basket that I keep all of my hair 'tools' in (elastics, combs, hairspray, spray bottle, etc.). It's portable and I keep it under my bathroom sink so it's ready to go.
2. I park them on the small stool in front of the TV (gasp! I know). I turn it on to their favorite cartoon (or whatever they'll watch).
3. If that is not going to hack it that day, I offer a variety of my wondeful homemade nutritional snacks...such as candy, fruit snacks, pretzels,etc., to eat while they watch TV. (I am teaching excellent habits here.) 
 

My basket

This usually works 9 times out of 10 with my 3 year old. My 6 year old has been through this enough that she'll stand still for me in the bathroom and we just chat while I do her hair. But, like I mentioned in my last Q & A, it just takes repetition. Kids will get used to a routine and you can have your 15 minute window of hair time. I've found that having all my stuff readily available helps too, because if I'm constantly getting up to get something, they like to get up too and run away.
 
I hope that's doable for some of you! Don't give up--they get used to it, and LOTS of compliments help them start to like the whole 'getting pretty' time.  :)
 

Little Girl's Hairstyles -Q & A: How to keep hairdos in?

I have been getting a lot of questions and I try my very best to respond to them, whether through email or if there's a link to your blog. BUT sometimes I can't find a way to respond directly back to you, and my only option is to just add another comment. And frankly, ladies, I just don't think that's sufficient! SO, I've decided to post some of your questions from time to time, and hopefully give you a decent answer, and perhaps some of the rest of you will find it helpful as well.

So, my first question comes from Caroline:
"Any suggestions for preventing the children from taking the hair down? My girls are ages 4, 2.5 and 14 months. We can get the hair up, but then they want to take it down later. I've explained to my 4 year old we have to keep it in (esp. when she starts school this summer). Anyway, would love any tips in that department."

Well, my friend Caroline, this is something I actually get asked a lot! And honestly, it wasn't until my girls were a little older (maybe ages 2 and up), that they did leave their hair alone. For us, I think it was a combo of some of the following:

1. Mom is hair crazy and you know you'll be forced to endure another 15 minute hair doing session if you touch that ponytail.
2. There's so much hairspray and elastics in your hair that it will hurt if you try to rip it out yourself.
3. You get SO many compliments from mom (and others hopefully) that you start liking having neat and tidy hair.

I think mostly I've badgered my kids enough about their messy hair, they've just finally accepted that when we are around other people, their hair needs to stay pretty. But when we are at home in our PJ's (like now), their hair can be as crazy and messy as they want.  I know if you consistently sit them down and do their hair, from a young age, they will get used to it and understand it's just that part of being a girl! Good luck! (oh and tiny elastics work great in teeny girl hair--harder to pull out!)

And here's a handy tip to getting out the elastics when it's bathtime or bedtime: Use a seam ripper! Also, only use nice coated elastics (see my Goody Elastics post) on little girl hair. The normal regular rubber bands are MURDER on fine little girl hair (on any hair really). Ones like the Goody elastics can usually slip right out of their hair if you take it out carefully.

Here's a wonderful tip from one of you lovely readers:
Just a note about using the seam ripper to remove tiny elastics... Make sure you don't catch any hair as you cut the elastic out or your girly will end of with a bit of a "haircut". Maybe that's common sense to some (LOL!!) but I learned it the hard way! ;P

Thanks for your question! Keep them coming!