Here is an attempt at copying a hairstyle worn by Wil Smith’s daughter.  I was able to do the top part correct but didn’t know where to part the other triangles.  I’ve added brown and pink hair extensions plus lots of bling.  The hairstyle is a day old in the photos and already starting to fuzz.

I am totally in love with hair extensions at the moment!  Although I’m not too keen on the painstaking hours it takes to braid the hair extensions.  Here are photos of my third attempt at a whole head of extensions, 115 braids in total.  They are decorated with Pearl Rose Beads, Glitter Heart Beads, Clear Glitter Barrel Beads, Glow-in- the-Dark Heart Beads and Pastel Flower Snaps.  The Pastel Flower Snaps, securely close shut over the extensions.     

How to Tree Braid Hair Extensions  

1.     Section a piece of natural hair.  I normally work from the nape of the neck up, in a brickwork formation.2.    Take a piece of fake hair and fold in half over the sectioned natural hair.  Fold the fake hair so one section crosses over the second extension. 3.    Start to braid4.    To continue past the natural hair, it helps to have the natural hair moist, to allow it to tuck inside the braid neatly.  Before you get to the end of the natural hair, take a little bit of hair from both fake sections and add to the natural hair.  This will allow 3 sections of hair to be kept on braided, after the natural hair finishes.5.    Once you reach the length desired, cut the hair and whilst pinching the braid together with one hand, use your other hand and light the fake hair with a lighter in quick short sessions.  In between melting the hair with the lighter, pinch the braid together with your fingers to manipulate the end of the hair to the desired finish.  You can also leave the end of the hair extension free, this looks extremely good if you use curly or kinky hair extensions.  6.    Melt any fake hair sticking out with the lighter and trim any natural hair with scissors.  Do not try to melt the natural hair.7.    If the extension is thin enough, you will be able to add some beads to it and finish off with either a snap or a knot in the hair.  

I finally attempted large Hanging Twists ending with the Bow Barrettes.  This is the first time I’ve used these smaller Barrettes and they hold firmly.   They are capable of holding a larger amount of hair, than what I’ve used in this photo.  With this style, Ella reminds me of the girls that you see on Sesame Street .  I’m not very creative when it comes to decorative parts.  I even drew the parts on paper before I started.  They didn’t turn out the way I would like, but they are ok for my first attempt. 

 Thought I’d try something different for a change.  Instead of finishing off piggyback braids with an Afro Puff, I attached colourful hair extensions.  From the 8 sections of piggyback braids, I split the hair into 3 or 4 sections and attached the hair extensions by braiding them in.  In the photos, you can see the piggyback braids had been in for a few days, by all the fuzzies that had already escaped.  The braids are decorated with Princess Hearts, Glitter Barrel Beads and Pastel Snaps.  For the piggyback braids, I’ve used snagless bands which are available from the shops.  Occasionally a band might break, over the duration of the style, but I usually manage to knot the band back together again.

Here is Ella with 2 different Christmas hairstyles she wore through the month of December.  Firstly, I shortened the hair extensions she had been wearing for a month and added Christmas Bling (Gold/Silver Snaps, Glitter Stars, Red/Green Barrel beads).  I really like this length on Ella. Next was Flat Twists and Hanging 3 stranded Twists.  I like to attach the small dental bands at the end of the Flat Twists as the Twists stay neater for a longer time.  I was able to snap close the Gold Snaps over the dental bands. 

  Today’s hairstyle includes Princess Combo Hearts and Flowers in Pearl, Clear Glitter Barrels, all finished off with Bello Panda Flower Snaps.   The hairsyle is a braided veil with hanging braids at the back.   

Australian African Network is a Sydney based group for people who are in mixed African/non-African relationships, couples & families - and who are mixed African & non-African heritage.

AAN was established in 2005 to support and strengthen connections between African and non African Australians, and between Australia and Africa.

Our aims are:

• to support mixed African and non African Australian families, including adoptive families
• to foster and encourage bilingualism amongst African-Australian children
• to foster communication and connection between African and non African Australians in diverse ways, including dialogue and discussion (seminars, workshops, conferences, meetings etc), arts, media, and social functions.
• to develop personal and community connections between groups and individuals in Australia and Africa
• to actively resist racism and support a multicultural Australia

AAN is currently being managed by a volunteer management committee of 6 people. There are currently vacancies only for African heritage committee members.

Getting involved
For more info please contact: admin@australianafricannetwork.org.au or call Annie on 02 9560 3806 or Jill on 02 9568 3590.

http://australianafricannetwork.org.au/ 

Piggyback Braids or Twists is where you have sections within rows.  Starting off with the first section in the row, you join it onto the next section and so on until the end of the row.    Style can be achieved with dry or wet hair.  You may like to use hair gel or wax to hold the style in place. 

1              Slice the hair into an 8 or 10 slice pizza. 

2                 Within each row (slice of pizza), create 4 sections. 

3                    Tie first section from hairline with a band.  This is optional using hair bands. You may like to place a bead on top of the band. 

4                    Braid or Twist hair to the next section, tie hair with a band.  Continue this step until you get to the end of the row.   

5                    Once all rows have completed, tie hair into a ponytail.  You may like to complete ponytail with Braids or Twists.  

 

 

Cornrows are a traditional African hair art formed by braiding the hair along the scalp in different patterns.  Cornrows are like an inside out French braid and can be done in 1 or 2 simple rows binding the hair back  or to a more complex style of  lots of small cornrows swirling all over the scalp.  The difference between cornrows and single braids are cornrows are attached to the scalp whereas single braids move freely.  1                   Part the hair in the desired number of rows. 

2                   Using the same instructions for braiding, take a small amount of hair from the point where you will want the cornrow to originate, and braid two stitches. You may like to use hair gel or wax to hold the style in place. 

3                   Pick up some loose hair and add it to the middle section whilst keeping the hair held tightly.  Braid one stitch, pick up loose hair, braid one stitch, pick up loose hair, and so on. 

4                   Finish off with a band or snap or continue into a hanging braid. 

Note: Whilst trying to make the braids secure, don’t pull hair too tightly as you may cause bumps and scalp problems resulting in hair loss.

Braids are an inside out Plait.  Plaits are done over handed, whereas Braids are under handed.   

1          Separate the hair into 3 equal proportions – one, two and three, from left to right

2          Position hands close to the scalp 

3          Pulling tightly, cross section one under section two. Section one is now positioned in the middle with section two now on the left.  Cross section three under the section in the middle  (section  one). Now place the hair on the left under the middle section, then the hair on the right under the middle section and so on.