curls

4 Realities About Curly Hair You’d Be Shocked to Learn

June 11, 2017 By Diedre 7 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. All products recommended are ones that I use and love

Having curly hair some days feels like a blessing and others a curse. It has it’s own personality and takes a bit of practice to train. Because of its beautiful unpredictability, curly hair confuses people. Here are a few facts about curly hair:

Coarse Texture Doesn’t Mean It’s Rough

Even though my five year old has curly hair, she’s made this assumption. She was just telling my coworker the other day, “Mommy my hair is soft, and yours is rough.”

Ouch. Burned by your own child. I used this opportunity as a teachable moment. I informed her that have smaller curls and a different texture DID NOT mean that my hair was rough and hers was soft.

All Curly Haired Folks Don’t Necessarily Want to Wear it Straight

I get compliments all the time on my curly hair.

In the next breath, people always ask me “Have you ever thought about straightening yours or your daugthers’ hair?”

“I bet it would be so cute that way”

I spent most of my life with straight hair, and believe me, I love straight hair too.

But don’t get it twisted….straight hair is not “the more professional” “more beautiful” version of curly hair. My girls and I love our hair curly, just how God made it thank you.

You Can Only Wear It Multiple Ways

A friend and I were discussing hairstyles. I told her about curl formers and how I hadn’t quite mastered them yet. She asked me why I wanted to use those when my hair was already curly.

Curly haired folk like diversity too! Just because your hair is naturally curly doesn’t mean that it can’t be manipulated in different styles. It can be styled into large curls, small curls, wavy curls, the options are endless!

It can be styled into large curls, small curls, wavy curls, the options are endless!

Curly Hair Doesn’t= Short

I used to fall victim to this assumption too. As a young girl, I always wondered why my hair was curly in the shower, and then thick and tangled after it air dryed. I used to say that an afro was not for me.

When I saw people with curly hair, I was always amazed at how long it was after they straightened it.

If you have curly hair, then you know all about shrinkage! I’ve been asked on many occasions if I’ve cut my hair, when in fact, my hair shrunk due to the weather or wearing it in a different style.

What questions do you have about curly hair?? I’d love to answer them for you!

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Email me at arethoseyourkids@yahoo.com or join my Multiracial Motherhood group on Facebook.

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Detangling 101: 5 Ways to Achieve Beautiful Curls Free of Tangles

April 2, 2017 By Diedre 17 Comments

*This post contains affiliate links. All products recommended are ones that I use and love*

If you were blessed with a head of curly hair, some days styling your hair can make the curls feel more like a curse instead of a blessing. Detangling can be a challenge if you don’t have the right products and you don’t know what you’re doing. I’m here to make it easy for you.

Pre-poo With A Natural Oil (Like Coconut Oil)

For those of you who like going the natural route, this is perfect for you! What does it mean to pre-poo? This simply means that you apply oil to your hair about 15-20 minutes before a shower, then wash it out before you begin your regular washing routine.

I’ve used many natural oils like jojoba, tea tree, olive & coconut oil. Coconut oil is probably my favorite because it solves a myriad of skin issues. It reduces inflammation, dandruff & itchy scalp. Cantu also makes a variety of oils that are hydrating for your scalp & hair.

Not only is it good for your scalp, but it works wonders on detangling. I love to use it after wearing a protective style for an extended period of time. oil is also great for penetrating dry strands & bringing back a beautiful natural shine.

Not only does it make detangling easier, but it is also great for penetrating dry strands & bringing back a beautiful natural shine.

Deep Condition

If going the pre-poo route seems like too much maintenance for you, then deep conditioning is the way to go. Find a conditioner that you love, apply to your hair, and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. To get the maximum benefit of deep conditioning, I suggest sitting under a hooded dryer.

If you have young children, put the conditioner on their hair when you first put them in the bath, then wash it out right before you take them out. Sitting under a dryer is not really an option for little ones. If they are afraid of getting water in their face, then try using a splash guard like the Baby Kids Soft Shampoo Bath Shower Cap Hat Waterproof Shield.

Deep conditioning is a great way to bring life back into your curls, and the conditioner does most of the detangling work for you.

Use A Leave In Conditioner Or Detangler

I have two daughters and both of them have curly hair in different textures. If I had to do without all products except one for them, detangler would be the one I would save.

Our favorite detangler is Kinky Curly Knot Today. It is lightweight and can handle any amount of tangles. I love it because it works for both of my kids.

I’ll be honest, I use detangler & leave in conditioner. The leave in conditioner leaves the hair soft and moisturized after a wash. There’s no fear of dry hair in the morning. My favorite is Cantu.

It’s affordable, smells great & always does the trick. The best thing about Cantu is that it works for both of my daughters & me! It’s the one products we can all share.

Using A Wide Tooth Comb (Or Your Fingers) Makes Detangling Easier While Wet

Instead of fighting with your curls when it’s time to style, do yourself a favor and detangle in the shower. Water does wonders for curly hair.

Once you find a good deep conditioner that moisturizes & detangles, use it to do the hard work for you.

In small sections, work the comb (or your fingers) through each section of hair. Once you do this, styling will be a breeze.

Use A Steamer

Moisture is curly hair’s best friend. It reduces shrinkage & breakage. There are several steaming options: You can use a handheld steam (my favorite), sit under a steamer, or use the steam from a hot shower.

My favorite way to steam is using the Q-redew. The steam moisturizes my hair and instantly melts the tangles away. I am left with soft, manageable hair. It’s also a great way to intensify a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment. I love that the Q-redew has long prongs that act like a comb, so sifting through the hair is a breeze.

What method of detangling works best for you??

Was this post helpful? Then share it with someone who struggles with their curly hair.

Do you need more curly hair help? Then The Frustration Free Guide to Curly Hair is for you!

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Everything You Need to Know About Biracial Curly Hair

December 4, 2016 By Diedre 27 Comments

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

As a mom of 3 biracial children, it has been a challenge to find the right products to help me care for their curls.

I have naturally curly hair myself, but it is a very different texture from my children. Finding the right products has been a costly, and at times, frustrating venture.

Understand that Biracial actually means Multiracial

Don’t make assumptions about the hair. Just because the child is mixed with two races, doesn’t mean that their hair isn’t infused with all the other genes in their bloodline.

Parents with thick wavy hair can produce an offspring with thick, kinky curls.

Detangle, Detangle, Detangle (while wet)

I cannot say this enough. Curly hair loves water. Never try to detangle curly hair while dry (ouch!!) Often naturals talk about finding a conditioner with good slip.

Slip means that the conditioner aids in detangling and glides through the hair.

Wide Tooth Combs are a Must

Wide tooth combs assist with detangling by gliding through the hair instead of pulling. The best way to detangle a head full of curly hair is to make sure the hair is damp or wet. Detangling curly hair dry is a big no no!

Your child will thank you!

Establish a Night-Time Routine for Healthy Hair Care

Curly hair tangles easily, so having a night time routine to reduce tangles is essential.

At night you have several options: braid or twist hair, put in a pineapple (basically a high pony), or sleep with a satin cap.

Find a Good Conditioner (Leave in and Wash out)

Curly hair naturals talk about co-washing all the time. This basically means washing hair with conditioner instead of shampoo.

Even though cowashing can add moisture back into dry hair, I still love the way shampoo cleanses and makes my daughters’ hair feel squeaky.

your child suffers from a dry, itchy scalp, then a conditioner with tea tree oil may do the trick.

Don’t Fight the Curl, Embrace the Curl

I have heard of many women who are at a loss with their biracial child’s curly hair.

Find products that make the curl come to life naturally instead of finding ways to straighten it. When you find a good conditioner, the curls will respond by spiraling.

Add Gel

Gel has been a game changer in my house. I was always afraid to use it because I didn’t want hard curls. I didn’t realize that there are so many on the market made with non-drying, natural ingredients.

So how do you know if a gel works for your child’s biracial curls? The right gel holds your curls in place gently without residue. Gel is a wonderful tool to add shine, hold & definition.

It’s also great for keeping the frizz away, and to give your style staying power.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

A good deep conditioner once a week is a must, especially when your child’s biracial curly hair seems to be lifeless and lack moisture.

Hot oil treatments are also a great way to bring moisture into dry hair. Simply heat the oil of your choice (I love jojoba, almond & coconut) in the microwave for a few seconds, pour over their head and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

Sitting under a hooded dryer will ensure the oils penetrate the hair and scalp. Then wash out.

Recently I’ve discovered a fabulous line of oils, Mammoth Oils. The wonderful thing about this brand is that it combines several natural (avocado jojoba, coconut, olive, castor, argon & almond) oils so you don’t have to!

The creator of the brand is multiracial and she couldn’t find what she needed in a product, so she created her own!

Want to try out this brand for yourself? Enter code CURLYKIDS for 15% off at check out.

Don’t be Afraid to Experiment!

What works for one biracial child’s curly hair, will not necessarily work for your child. I’ve been guilty of being a product junkie–buying different products because I’ve been scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos.

When you are watching YouTube videos, try to find someone who has a similar texture to your child’s texture.

Subscribe to Beauty/Hair boxes

There are several companies that make monthly subscription boxes full of products specifically for curly haired individuals.

The boxes are full of a variety of product brands in full and sample sizes. This allows you to try different products for $25-$30 a month without going broke and purchasing products that don’t work.

Are you a total loss when it comes to styling your biracial child’s curly hair? Purchase my e-book, The Frustration-Free Guide to Curly Hair to answer all your curly hair questions + get a guide to products by curl type!

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The Must Have List to Protect Your Curls from Summer to Fall

September 5, 2016 By Diedre 46 Comments

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.*

Every summer that I spend a considerable amount of time outside or at the beach, the sun wreaks havoc on my curls. I also struggle to keep my daughters’ curls from getting into a tangled knotted mess.

Here are a few tricks I’ve learned to protect my curly locks from dryness & heat damage:

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Mixed Chick Hair Dictionary: A Cheat Sheet of Terms for Curly Hair

March 21, 2016 By Diedre 49 Comments

Mixed Chick Hair Dictionary? What is this you ask? Well, having curly hair puts you in a category all by yourself. Since becoming natural, I’ve had to learn several new terms myself. If you are raising “mixed chicks” or children of other ethnicities with curly hair, there are a few terms you ought to become familiar with. Here’s my cheat sheet for you:

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