Well I finally decided to braid extension Ella’s whole head.  I wasn’t quite sure if she was too young at 4 to wear this particular style.    Hmmmm, I don’t think I’ll ever be interested in becoming a hairdresser as it took me 6 extremely long hours in 3 sittings.  By the end, my fingers were numb and had a sore back and feet from standing.  I am thrilled with the outcome, I just hope it lasts 2 months.  It looks cute with the braids pulled back in a ponytail or a half ponytail.  I’ve used snaps on the ends and have found they just clasp shut, no need to wrap the hair around the snap, like I normally do.   I’m using Jamaican Mango & Lime’s No More Itch Spray to keep the scalp itch free and the hair conditioned.  It smells quite yummy.

Web Address: www.snapaholics.com/au

Email Address: snapaholicsaustralia@yahoo.com.au

Mobile: 0417 064824

Yahoo Group: http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/kinkyhairstyles

Blog: http://www.snapaholics.com/au/aublog/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/snapaholicsaustralia

Afro Puffs are an easy hairstyle and can be decorated with plenty of bling. 

Grooming 

African textured hair comes in different types of textures, from thick curls which can wrap around your smallest finger to curls as tight as the spring in a retractable pen. Hair should be washed at least once a week.  The basic steps are: 

• Wash hair twice

• Condition with a detangling conditioner

• Apply hair oil to the shaft of the hair and massage into the scalp

• Comb through whilst the hair is still damp

• Apply hair wax or hair food or hair grease or hair oil or leave in conditioner

• The hair is now ready for styling, otherwise braid hair into large braids to stop the hair from matting

Here is a photo of Ella, only an hour after having her hair washed.   I’m finding I wash Ella’s hair nearly every second or third day as she loves playing in the sandpit at pre-school.  For these quick washes I just shampoo and conditioner with her hair in braids/twists and then once a week I follow the above grooming process.  If I were to leave her hair like this for more than a few hours, it would end up starting to turn to dreadlocks, especially if she slept on it.

Veils can be achieved either by braiding, twisting or leaving the hair natural. 

1                     Section the hair into 2 parts from ear to ear.  Tie the back part out of your way. 
2                    Working with the top section, split up the hair into 4 rows across the scalp. 
3                    Section 1^st row into 4 even sections and tie each section in a band. 
4                    Section 2^nd row into 5 even sections.  Select section 1, row 1 and split hair into 2 equal pieces. Now braid or twist or leave natural      and tie the piece on the left into section 1, row 2.   
5                    With the right piece of hair it will join the left piece of hair from section 2, row 1 into section 2, row 2.  Continue until all rows are joined together.  
6                    Finish hair off with twist or braids or leave natural.

            1st Row                X      X      X      X
                              /   \ /   \   /   \   /   \
2nd Row           X   X      X      X     X
                               \   / \    /  \    /  \   / 
3rd Row                X     X       X      X
                                /  \   /  \    /  \    /  \
4th Row             X     X      X      X     X 

1st photo is of my girlfriend’s daughter Taylor.  Her Veil has been braided.  2nd photo is our Ella with a twisted veil and hanging twists at the back.

Black, white and somewhere in-between skin colouring, with nappy, straight and kinky hair types is our family. 

I met my gorgeous husband Rayen who is a refugee from Sudan, whilst living in Sydney.  Shortly after, we moved to North of Newcastle to my home town and were married.  In 2003 we were blessed with our beautiful daughter Nyanaath Gabriella Rose, who we call Ella. 

From birth, I have found Ella’s gorgeous mocha coloured skin to continually need moisturising.  Bathing her in oils and using moisturisers have assisted in keeping her skin soft with that beautiful glow.     

Up until the age of one, I was able to manage Ella’s hair with products including leave-in-moisturisers and detangler mist sprays from our local supermarket.  Once she turned one, her hair started to turn with the curls becoming tighter and tighter and very dry.  My sister-in-law introduced me to a few African hair salons in Newtown, Sydney.  I have now used numerous products for kinky style hair and am yet to find what I absolutely love.  I have just started selling Jamaican Mango and Lime products and am currently trialing them on Ella’s hair.  Will keep you updated on my verdict.  

Ella had just turned two, when I was introduced to the US Adoption Hair & Skin Care Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoptionhair_skincare/ , these ladies have provided me with a wealth of information.  This is when I received my first sample of snaps from the US and became addicted!  On recommendation I bought the books Kinki Kreations by Jena Renee Williams and It’s All Good Hair by Michelle N-K Collison.  I was now on my way to creating flat twists, hanging twists, cornrows and afro puffs with plenty of hair bling – snaps, beads and barrettes. 
I continually searched the shops of Newcastle and Sydney; and Australian internet sites, looking for snaps, beads and barrettes.  I managed to find a few snaps and barrel beads, very plain and boring compared to what was on offer in the US.  I approached Snapaholics and here I am now as their Snapaholics Australia franchise.  I hope you Aussies enjoy the hair bling as much as I do!
  
♥ Happy Snapping ♥ 

Kelly

Kinky Hairstyles is a group sharing hair care information for African, African-American, Caribbean and Bi-Racial Hair as well as ideas for hairstyles including braids, cornrows,  2-stranded twists, flat twists, hair extensions, etc and other topics in relation to the different cultures. Kinky Hairstyles yahoo group was created for primarily Australian residents to share their information, however everyone is welcome to join us.  Currently our members are from cross cultural relationships and including adoptive families.

Come join Kinky Hairstyles at: 

http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/kinkyhairstyles/

♥ Happy Snapping ♥ 

Kelly

 Hair Snaps are for all types of  hair! 

 Hair Snaps are a fun, colorful way to secure the ends of your braids or twists, decorate your locs, or sprinkle in and around your hair style, no matter what kind of hair you have! They are also fabulous to combine with beads. Perfect for your little princess, or rediscover the little girl inside of you! Snaps eliminate the need  for unsightly elastics on the ends of the hair.

Hair Snaps are no bigger than a 5 cent piece and made out of acrylic.  Some are patterned double sided and some have a bar on the back.  The majority of snaps come with diamontes and over time the diamonds become loose and fall out.  It is recommended you reinforce the diamontes with either glue or glue spray.

 Simply braid or twist down to the end of the section of hair, wrap the last bit of hair around the hinge of the snap once or twice (twice or three times if you are putting beads on), and snap closed, capturing the last bit of hair between the closure.  Sometimes a bit of hair may poke out the side. Experiment with what works best for your child’s hair, and for the particular snap you are using.Check out hairstyles with snaps at http://www.snapaholics.com/au/gallery.html

♥ Happy Snapping ♥ 

Kelly

Welcome to Snapaholics Australia Hair Bling Blog.  Here you will read about new products, hair care and styling tips.  Snapaholics has been operational in Oz since April 2007 and gradually we are increasing our products to suit the Oz market.  If there is a particular product you are requiring and isn’t available on our website, please contact us at snapaholicsaustralia@yahoo.com.au 

Currently the products we carry are hair snaps; beads; barrettes; and Jamaican Mango & Lime oils, sprays and moisturisers; etc. 

 ♥ Happy Snapping ♥ 

Kelly