After I wrote Black, White and the Cornrow Inbetween my Nigerian friend from the U.K. asked for some pictures of my hair creations. So, here they are. I also did some cornrows with beads on my oldest daughter a few days later who has very long, straight blonde hair (if you look closely you can see it in one of the pictures below) but I did not get a picture of them before I went out of town and now they have deteriorated signifigantly.
Enjoy the pictures!
The next pictures are of my baby girl Ro. This was her first full cornrowing with beads. Check out the parts on the top.
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July 4, 2007 at 7:12 am
refinedone
*Clapping*
I see your girls are styling and profiling!
…good job, you a step ahead of me..( can’t for the life of fix does beads in)
My Friend, well done …
July 4, 2007 at 11:03 am
mama2roo
how in the world do you get the girls to sit still long enough to do that?
July 4, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Emily
Wow!! The hair is fantastic! And your daughters are just beautiful
July 4, 2007 at 7:27 pm
everydaymiracle
E-
You know, I used to wonder the same thing before I had experience in such things. It is a cultural thing. Little black girls learn from the time they are very small to behave so their moms (or someone) can braid their hair.
You have to understand that the braiding is only maybe 1/2 the process. First, the old style has to be taken down, then the hair combed. If it is a wash day it then has to be washed as well. All of which comes before the actual braiding. It literally takes hours.
We do a variety of things for entertainment. I usually start them out with toys and books during the first stage and then put on a video for the actual braiding.
Roseline is a big whiner and cries a lot. I am gentle and she is not even hurting most of the time. She just wants it to be done so she can shake the beads and show off in the mirror.
Claudine is amazingly patient, and easy to work with. She learned to be still in Haiti where she will tell you in no uncertain terms that the women who did her hair there hurt! So, she pretty much thinks she has it made with me. Her hair line came in about two inches after I began doing her hair. They kept it so tight it fell out.
Sherri
July 4, 2007 at 7:28 pm
everydaymiracle
Refined One,
You my friend need a “beader”. I will send you one as a gift if you will e-mail me your address.
Thanks for the compliments. It always means a ton from a “sistah”.
Blessings,
Sherri
Emily,
Thanks for the kind words!
Sherri
July 5, 2007 at 4:33 am
refinedone
Sherri, anyone says your not a “sistah” you show them your “skilz”
Sister you are a Sistah…lol!!!
will email you later. Thanks in advance.
July 5, 2007 at 7:45 am
mama2roo
You know, doing hair must really enhance attachment and bonding with all that close, together time. What a blessing.
July 5, 2007 at 11:02 am
everydaymiracle
E-
Yes, it is absolutely bonding time. As a matter of fact, I think I will post a poem I wrote a bout it.
Check it out.
Sherri
July 5, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Kristie
So impressive and so beautiful, Sherri! I love the pictures. Claudine & Roseline look gorgeous!
July 8, 2007 at 11:16 am
Pericles
Oh my, your children are beautiful inside and outside! Truly is it written: Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story. I really agree with you that we can learn so much for children. I’ll share something here to encourage you. Last week I was sharing with the children in my Sunday School class about the Holy Spirit. I felt a need to teach them about communicating with God, so I shared with them about spiritual senses, spiritual gifts especially of tongues (but I did not force them to speak it if they felt uncomfortable), and how to sanctify our mind, heart and imagination to God alone. Actually it was just a short sharing with many stories about Philip being transported in the Spirit, Daniel in the fiery pit, etc. Then I let them in a prayer (without laying on of hands) to repentance, to open their spiritual senses and to sanctify their body, soul and spirit to God.
Next thing I knew, this week they were telling me they saw Jesus in their dreams, they heard His voice, they saw Jesus standing behind a brother while I was praying today, they even felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in our stuffy room (without any windows). When I heard this, I asked them how Jesus looked like and really, their stories fitted to a T! I was so stunned that I asked them to pray for me! God bless all His little children!
Today these verses (see below) came alive for me today and I could not stop praising God!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16).
“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
July 10, 2007 at 8:02 am
Cheryl
Hi Sherri,
I am also an adoptive mom to two Haitian born children. I just wanted to make a comment about the beader. Do you know you can use a crochet hook as a beader? I find it works just as well–maybe even better than the beader that comes in packs of beads. I have also used a beader that looks like a tiny latch hook but I still prefer the crochet hook.
An AA woman who used to do my daughter’s hair taught me how to use the crochet hook to put beads on braids. The size I use is a size 12 (UK), it has a very fine hook on it. I thread up to 4-5 beads on the crochet hook, wrap the end of the braid on the hook and slide the beads onto the braid. Sometimes my daughter will thread one hook while I am using another.
Just thought I would share…
In Him,
Cheryl
July 10, 2007 at 8:44 am
everydaymiracle
Thanks, Cheryl! That is a great idea. I usually have two beaders going while we do hair. I hand an empty one to Claudine and she threads the beads she wants and then hands it to me and I give her the other empty beader to to put on beads while I use the first one to place the beads on the end of the braid. It goes pretty fast that way. As a matter of fact, we usually race to see who can get finished first between her placing the beads on the beader and me putting them on the hair and securing them with the elastic.
Sherri
September 19, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Crystal
I was wondering if I can get some help. I am white and my daughter’s father is Jamaican. I want to learn how to cornrow her hair but don’t know where to start. Her father & his’ family are not involved in her life so that isn’t an option. I pretty much just make parts in her hair and make ponytails and then braid the pony tails, or part hair in the middle and then make two braids hanging down her back. She has the most amazing hair and loves having it done. Does anyone have any ideas? I want to be able to learn to do her hair so that I can teach her, not someone else. Thanks so much!
May 6, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Brianna
Hi,
You do a beautiful job with your DD’s hair! I was just online looking for some braiding inspiration and found your blog. I have a “Hair Blog” if you want to check it out. It’s at http://www.girlscurls.blogspot.com.
Sincerely,
Brianna
September 19, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Crystal
By the way, your daughter’s hair is GORGEOUS!!! That is exactly what I want to be able to do!!
September 25, 2007 at 7:08 pm
everydaymiracle
Crystal,
My new gig is teaching white moms to style black hair. Check out my monthly series of articles at http://www.rainbowkids.com. It is primarily an adoption website but I think you might find the articles helpful as well.
Sherri
October 3, 2007 at 9:32 pm
leemom11
Thank you so much for your series in Rainbow kids. I wish I’d had it a couple of years earlier, but better late than never. I was doing pretty well with twisting and braiding my dd’s hair, when an AA woman at the hospital we frequent, said I should use relaxer to get rid of the kinkiness and make it easier to work with. Well, I followed the instructions to a T, but not only did the stuff not relax her hair very much, it ruined it! I had to cut it all off… it was awful. Now it is taking for ever to grow again. As it grows, what can I do to keep it healthy, and how can I style it when it is still short, but too long to just let be? What would make it look better when it is not braided or twisted? Thank you again. Your dd’s hair looks beautiful. —Lee
January 20, 2008 at 8:02 am
syscott
Job well done, mom!
Listen, don’t let the color barrier define who you are or your girls. Let your love for each other define who you are!
September 6, 2008 at 1:58 pm
jamyra
i really luv the way their hair is done but even though i cant braid yet i still think that it looks very pretty and keep up the good work and pictures.
April 16, 2009 at 1:59 pm
etrebelle
Hi
Your daughters hair looks gorgeous, thats an amazing job you do! Please can you help me, I have a little girl almost 3 yrs old, I am white and my husband is Nigerian. We have decided to take her next week to the hairdressers to have cornrows, this is her 1st time and I am worried as to how she will be while the lady does her hair.
Her hair can get very knotted easily and she cries and whinges a lot when i comb and stlye her hair at home. Does it hurt much while you are doing the hair or is easier and less painful when it someone who is trained or taught in styling the hair like this?
Also, what is the best way in looking after it once it is done?
I am really new at this and any help and advice you may have would be truly appreciated.
Thanks!!