Category: Children’s Hair

For decades, we’ve all has access to the typical Barbie doll: tall and skinny with straight hair. If you’ve ever tried to find an ethnic doll at your local toy store, you may have noticed the lack of variety regarding skin tone, hair styles and textures. Just months after Barbie was revamped with the body of an average girl, another company brings us additional variety – Natural Girls United, created by Karen Byrd. Gorgeous dolls that are made with love for children of all races to enjoy!

Yes, mainstream toy companies are producing more black dolls but the representation of natural hairstyles remains limited. Natural Girl United takes straight-haired dolls of different skin shades and customizes them with ornate handmade hairstyle; each style takes up to three days to craft. Given this limited mainstream selection, smaller toy companies have found their niche marketing more diverse alternatives. There are other companies that also seek to provide dolls generally not found at other stores, including black baby dolls with natural hairstyles, Hispanic dolls, Asian dolls, Native American dolls, Indian dolls, biracial dolls and dolls for boys:

The Pattycake Doll Company

Paradise Galleries

Maru and Friends

How important do you think it is for a child to play with a doll that resembles themselves or their mothers during their formative years? Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Love Your Hair,

Jane

Two weeks ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, seven-year-old Tiana Parker was forced to choose between her hair — adorable, short dreadlocks held back with a bow — and her school, which deemed her hairstyle “unacceptable.” Tulsa’s Deborah Brown Community School sent Tiana home in tears for not being presentable for having dreadlocks. Rather than cut off her hair, she decided to switch schools. I wish this could have ended differently, with all parties recognizing that was an opportunity to introduce a very important dialogue about awareness, differences, equality, tolerance and self-love; explaining the difference in hair textures while emphasizing the beauty in all textures! Schools offer a safe, welcoming climate for children and should focus on the promotion of understanding the culturally diverse world we live in.

As your children have headed back-to-school and are getting settled into new classes, it’s important to reinforce that they are beautiful – exactly as they are. There is no better time to initiate the discussion than when doing hair before school, you only need 5 minutes! Hydrate nourish and style your little one’s hair with these quick back-to-school styling tips; long enough to reinforce self-esteem but quick enough to get them out the door on time:

Wavy Hair Styling – buoyant, light curls

Locks Styling – maintain hydration

Straight Hair Styling – reduce dullness

Twists – fight dryness

Curly Wash n’ Wear – define curls

Coiled Wash n’ Wear – control frizz

To celebrate the vast yet absolutely beautiful differences, please enjoy our Jane Carter Solution Back-to-School Sale:

Buy Any (2):
Restore Moisture Mist
Hydrate Seal & Shine
Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
Creamy Leave in Styling Smoother
Scalp Nourishing Serum
Scalp Renew
Curl Defining Cream 6oz.

Then, Choose (1) for Free:
Wrap & Roll
Natural Hold Spray Gel
Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo
Hydrate Quench

Valid on orders $35 or greater. Offer valid thru 9/20-9/23 3am PDT. Must buy any (2) of selected JCS products to receive (1) free item of lesser value. Be sure to add your FREE item to your purchase in order to receive it!

Please share, how do you encourage your children to love the skin that they are in? Join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter!

Love Your Hair,

Jane

Does your child dread getting her hair done; going to the extreme of running to avoid you and your wide tooth comb? The fact that they are running is a clear indication that the way their hair is being “done” is painful, making the process stressful for all involved (especially YOU) when it doesn’t have to be.

They key to making the process less painful for your little one and preventing breakage is MOISTURE. I know we’ve discussed this before but I want to remind you that moisture means water, not oil…and Jane Carter Solution products are packed with the moisture that hair needs!

1. Shampoo hair with Creamy Conditioning Cleanser, condition with Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner, and rinse; gently towel dry.
2. Spray and saturate the hair with Hydrate Quench
3. Use dime-sized amount of Hair Nourishing Cream, working into hair from root to tip.
4. Part hair into 4-6 sections and secure with snag-free ponytail holders.
5. One section at a time, hold hair at the roots and begin combing thru the ends with a wide tooth comb. After the ends are tangle-free, release your hold and comb from root to tip.
6. Repeat until all sections/the entire head is done.
7. Style as usual.

Voila, untangled hair with no tears!

Love Your Hair,

Jane

Did you know that your child’s hair may be under attack, depending on the texture and how it’s styled? Well it is! From Gabby Douglas’ edges, to a school in Ohio banning “afro-puffs and small twisted braids with our without rubberbands”, to Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy being attacked online with malicious comments because of her “hair needs to be done”. This is out of control!

Hair is complex in the African-American community; our crowning glory carries a multitude of feelings, both positive and negative. The journey is real for black women and their hair, apparently starting earlier these days if you allow your child to embrace their hair as is – free. Being bullied for not forcing styles that are not healthy for your child’s hair is absurd; managing your child’s hair extends beyond relaxers and heat manipulation.

How do you feel as a parent, are you offended by such comments? Or are you on the other side and believe there are acceptable and unacceptable styles for children in public? Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Little Miss Quvenzhane Wallis hit the red carpet this weekend at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards, nominated in the category of Breakthrough Performance for her role as Hushpuppy in the film “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” The 9-year old is currently filming as the starring role as Annie in the movie’s 2013 remake. All of her red carpets moments have been hits – from her pooch purses to her age appropriate style!

Pretty in Purple, Quvenzhane topped of her ensemble with a gem studded purple flower to accent her high ponytail. Her hair looked healthy and shiny; African-American natural hair requires extra attention to maintain its beauty, even with children. MOISTURE is essential, it is the only way!

Recreate her look using the following Jane Carter Solution products:

• Wash and condition with your favorite Jane Carter Solution shampoo of choice
• Condition with Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
• Detangle and hydrate with Quench
• Seal in moisture with Seal & Shine
• Apply Hair Nourishing Cream to protect hair and achieve a sleek blowout for the ponytail
• Style as normal

Quvenzhane is having one extraordinary ride; we love her here at JCS! Don’t forget to text Jane Carter to 22828 for your chance to win a free 8oz bottle of Quench.

Love Your Hair,

Jane

Children suffer from dry scalp just like mom and dad. Hair is a part of the largest organ of the human body, the skin. The scalp is skin that we don’t see, and sometimes don’t consider, because it’s covered with hair. Proper care of the scalp begins with adequate hydration; moisture is essential for curly hair!

The fix is easy – nourish the scalp! The best way to keep your scalp hydrated and nourished is with products that help replenish the lost moisture. Remember, water equals moisture. Mist hair and scalp with water, spritz on Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner, then apply Nourish & Shine (or Scalp Nourishing Serum) to scalp to retain the moisture. If their hair is in cornrows, make sure to regularly rehydrate the hair and scalp.

Remember not to over wash and to avoid detergent based shampoos that hard on both hair and scalp, opt for sulfate-free options like Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo SLS-Free.