Long before Bella was even born I owned these books:
Full of beautiful photographs of real people, they demystified natural black hair and taught me everything I know (which isn't much). When Bella was two, my friend Cathy, herself the adoptive mother of a daughter with *gorgeous* braids, helped me to put Bella's hair into the beginnings of her locks: two-strand twists all over her little head. Sure, they stood straight out at first, but within three months they were locking beautifully, and gaining the weight to lie down.
Her hair has never been combed out or brushed since that time, seven years ago. Instead, we wash it just as it is, condition it, and every coulple of months go to the salon to have the new growth (an inch or two) palm-rolled or twisted into place.
When her hair is wet, as it is all summer in the pool, her locks come more than halfway down her back.
Lovely!
Bella is BEAUTIFUL! From your pics, I have always thought she looked like a queen.
ReplyDeleteI wondered how dreadlocks worked as far as washing and such.
Oh, she is so beautiful. Her skin looks creamy and soft and I love her eyelashes. Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful girl! Sounds like the effort was certainly worth it!
ReplyDelete~Eyvonne
I have been waiting for you to write about Bella's hair. We are in the process of adopting two little girls from Haiti. I am trying to learn all I can about their type of hair. I have thought of doing locks for them, thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteBarb
Absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteShe is lovely. She will be just as beautiful 40 years from now!! Joy
ReplyDeleteBella's name suits her well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for more on Bella's hair.
ReplyDeleteMy Shayna (10) has had hers in BraidLocz for about 3 years now. I am not as happy with how the new growth looks (I uses a latch hook to stitch it) and am wondering what to do about it.
Shayna has never seen a hairdresser...I have read a couple of those books and lots on line.
"It's All Good Hair" is also a good one.
Bella is beautiful. Her eyes are very pretty, and her hair is beautiful. I never knew about dreadlocks.
ReplyDeleteChristina
Bella is beautiful. Her eyes are very pretty, and her hair is beautiful. I never knew about dreadlocks.
ReplyDeleteChristina
SHE IS TOO CUTE! BELLA I MEAN. (SMILE)
ReplyDelete(SHEA BUTTER COMMENTER)
Your children are so handsome and lovely. Tell Bella that she is charming.
ReplyDeleteMargaret in VA. the new growth aggravation is another reason that i opt for the shea butter. the hair on my girls head grows so fast, that to keep the new growth from looking unkempt, i would have to rebraid every week. that aggravates the point in my book. (the carefree factor) so i do braids every now and then but for most every day, we do two or three pigtails or a ballerina bun by using the shea butter. but braids and dreads DO help afro textured hair to grow without breakage. i do love that factor. but i just love the way the shea butter makes my hair feel silky and smooth without feeling greasy.
ReplyDeleteSHEA BUTTER IS A BLESSING!
ReplyDeletemy other comment must not have been received. i originally commented that as a black mother, i opted for shea butter for my hair and my two girls. commercial products for black hair tend to be too greasy for me. i have fine but dense, (lotta strands) curly, afro-textured hair. one daughter has fine, curly straight hair and the other SUPER, MEGA thick, soft, afro-textured hair. ONE product works for all of us. it's pure shea butter. not shea butter in a hair care product but just shea butter. a creamy shea butter (not hard and flaky) will make afro-textured hair supple, smooth and pliable without feeling greasy. i WILL not use anything else on our hair because it's SO GOOD. i love braids occassionally and love the look and carefree factor of dreads but i prefer versatility. if i want to blow dry the hair straight, i cannot do that with dreads and i like the change up option at times. so i braid their hair at times but love curls and pigtails as well. shea butter gives us that versatility without greasiness which i hate (because i love to play in my hair). smile.
katrina
where can I find shea butter?
ReplyDeleteBarb
Amazing. Does Bella love her dreds? Does she ever wish for more versatality? I personally have always loved the looks of dredlocks. When we adopt from Liberia, I will seriously considering doing this for my daughters.
ReplyDeleteAlso, pure shea butter can be found anywhere you can purchase supplies to make homemade soap and lotions. I prefer to use www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com because I find their prices very reasonable. No, I am not affiliated! :) I make our own soap and lotions and use shea butter all the time.
Cara
Gorgeous hair! May all of our children know that the have been wonderfully and originally designed by our Lord!
ReplyDeleteBella is a beautiful girl! I have no clue on haircare for dreadlocks, but they sure are pretty.
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to dreds at summer camp when a group of beautiful inner city children arrived for one week of 'roughing it' in Algonquin Park! One sweet girl decided to take out her shoulder length braids and the 145 bright plastic barrettes that held them, assuming that all 'old women' like myself - then 18 - would know how to 'fix it' for her! I was so very lost! Another older girl showed me how to do dreds and we worked on them every spare minute for days and days it seemed! What a head of hair! Her mother had more than a few questions when she picked up her daughter!
ReplyDeleteBella is beautiful and so blessed to have a wonderful new hairdresser! It can make all the difference!
I've never looked for a hairdresser for her because I have not wanted to deal with someone who was critical of my raising a black daughter since I'm white and don't know anything.
ReplyDeleteHow did you find a good hairdresser?
I found out how to do her braidlocz on line. We were going to wait until she was 10 to decide on locs, since they are so permanent. But are glad we made the choice earlier. They are so easy to care for and look great!
There's no lack of versatility, either! She can french braid her locs, put them up in a bun, and we do all kinds of twisted patterns when put it up.
Shayna is in the new Sense & Sensibility catalog and we had fun doing her hair for that!
Anna, What do you use to condition Bella's hair?
ReplyDeleteI love her hair! it is so beautiful
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you for being true to your daughter. My mommy sent me a link to your blog and GOD BLESS YOU for being such a devoted mom to take the time to do this for Bella. She's gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. You make me want my locks back!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I own those books and they are a wealth of knowledge.
Bella, you are a beauty! Your eyelashes are gorgeous...and your hair, amazingly beautiful.
ReplyDeletePlease tell your mum, I said thanks.
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted