Pretty Side Banded Ponytail: Curly Mixed Hairstyles

Did you know summer months can wreak havoc on curly mixed hair? The kids are more active, sweating and playing in chlorinated water, causing you to shampoo it more. Excessive shampooing can make the hair dry and cause breakage. It’s tough! Biracial hair (and curly hair, in general) requires lots of moisture. Summer months can make it difficult to maintain.

These curly mixed hairstyles that will help protect biracial hair from drying out during the hot summer months. Nourishing products, like Johnson’s No More Tangle’s Detangling spray, helps you style hair while keeping moisture in. Using Johnson’s No More Tangles regime, I wanted to create a pretty curly hairstyle that my little princess loved while also keeping her hair nourished during fun, active summer days.

To start, and before styling, I washed Alina’s hair with Johnson’s No More Tangles 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner for thick/curly hair. I like it for a few reasons. First, the price point is awesome. I use intensive deep conditioners on her hair, so it’s nice to give my pocket book a break on shampoo. Second, it’s tear free and doesn’t dry out Alina’s mixed hair. It’s also paraben-free, phthalate-free and triclosan-free. After using the No More Tangles shampoo, her hair is squeaky clean, but not breaking apart clean. Third, it gets her hair much more clean than a standard co-wash does. And for her wild, summer escapades, her hair needs it!

After shampooing, I follow my regular mixed hair care routine for super hydrated ringlet curls.

Step by Step Curly Hairstyles: Side Banded Ponytail

*Excuse me while I do some deep breathing. When did my baby grow into such a tall, beautiful girl?! Gosh, that happened overnight.*

You’ll need a parting comb, Johnson’s No More Tangles Leave-In Conditioner (to help add/lock in moisture and better manage the hair while styling), bright colored, small rudder bands (I like the ones below because I can cut them out when taking the style out. Be careful not to create hair breakage by using these!) and Johnson’s Detangling Spray to help style on second/third days.

– Using the parting comb, make a deep part at the hairline and connect to hair on right (or left) ear. Use the comb to smooth the hair down, adding the leave-in condition as you go to ensure proper moisture. Tie it together with a small band.

– Part out small sections, from side to side, banding as you go. As a tip, comb out tangles section by section instead of all at once, moving down the ponytail. Similarly, smooth out the sections as you go. As a personal preference, I did not want to pull too tightly on my daughter’s scalp and, thus, wasn’t too worried about the hair looking completely flat (or straight). The wave and texture of her hair is all natural, and doesn’t bother me. By keeping the sections small, we were able to create an elongated ponytail that Alina loved!

– Join each section with the one above, like you would a French braid. Keep detangling the hair with the comb or your fingers as you go, smoothing the hair with the comb before you band until you’ve reached the end of the hair.

I really loved the banded ponytail ending with her beautiful curls in a low ponytail (as seen in the first picture of this post above). I thought it was a beautiful combination of healthy maintenance for active days, yet still showcased her gorgeous curls. However, Alina LOVED this long ponytail. It made her feel like a princess! And, in reality, keeping it banded all the way down definitely helps to keep the hair healthy and protected.

We kept this curly hairstyle in for 2/3 days. I was shocked at how well is held up after sleeping on it. We only needed a bit of No More Tangle’s Detangling Spray and combing to smooth down the edges to get the style refreshed for another day.

How do you keep your curls healthy during the summer months? Follow along the #NoMoreTangles hashtag to see how other moms are taking care of their kids’ hair.