Kinki Kreations: A Parent's Guide to Natural Black Hair Care for Kids [Paperback]

Jena Renee Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2004

For parents, the ultimate styling manual for African American children with wavy, curly, and kinky hair, from an award-winning stylist to the stars who lives by the motto “Healthy care for natural hair!”

Even with her renowned styling talents, Jena Renee Williams found herself put to the test when a sad little girl and her mother came into her salon one day. The girl’s hair was limp, nearly lifeless, and she had nasty burns on her scalp. After calling on her mental and spiritual reserves, Williams patiently worked on the girl’s hair, ultimately giving her Senegalese twists. Both mother and daughter were delighted, and their happiness over the new style inspired Williams to write a guide that would show parents how black children can celebrate their natural hair, helping them to avoid the potential damage caused by relaxers and develop self-love at an early age.

Kinki Kreations offers step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions for styles that can be created in less than fifteen minutes. This innovative handbook reveals expert techniques for crowning little heads with afros, braids, cornrows, twists, and a variety of other all-natural styles. Tips for proper shampooing, caring for newborns’ hair, and finding the right salon are included too. Best of all, Kinki Kreations showcases Williams’s work in dozens of adorable, helpful photographs.

A styling book with both sheen and substance, Kinki Kreations gives the world a sparkling new key to self-esteem and authentic beauty.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

For parents, the ultimate styling manual for African American children with wavy, curly, and kinky hair, from an award-winning stylist to the stars who lives by the motto "Healthy care for natural hair!"

Even with her renowned styling talents, Jena Renee Williams found herself put to the test when a sad little girl and her mother came into her salon one day. The girl's hair was limp, nearly lifeless, and she had nasty burns on her scalp. After calling on her mental and spiritual reserves, Williams patiently worked on the girl's hair, ultimately giving her Senegalese twists. Both mother and daughter were delighted, and their happiness over the new style inspired Williams to write a guide that would show parents how black children can celebrate their natural hair, helping them to avoid the potential damage caused by relaxers and develop self-love at an early age.

Kinki Kreations offers step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions for styles that can be created in less than fifteen minutes. This innovative handbook reveals expert techniques for crowning little heads with afros, braids, cornrows, twists, and a variety of other all-natural styles. Tips for proper shampooing, caring for newborns' hair, and finding the right salon are included too. Best of all, Kinki Kreations showcases Williams's work in dozens of adorable, helpful photographs.

A styling book with both sheen and substance, Kinki Kreations gives the world a sparkling new key to self-esteem and authentic beauty.

About the Author

Dubbed “the Michael Jordan of braiding,” JENA RENEE WILLIAMS opened Kinki Kreations Braiding Salon in 1996 and Kiddie Kreations, a children’s salon, four years later. A master barber, braider, stylist, and dreadlock expert, whose clients have included Oprah Winfrey and Teddy Pendergrass, Williams lives in Philadelphia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harlem Moon (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767913698
• ISBN-13: 978-0767913690
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the bunch, August 22, 2005

By 

a mom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kinki Kreations: A Parent's Guide to Natural Black Hair Care for Kids (Paperback)

I purchased Kinki Kreations along with Michele N-K Collison's "It's All Good Hair" and Pamela Ferrell's "Kids Talk Hair" and found it to be the best of the three books. While I loved the beautiful color photographs in "Kids Talk Hair," I found it to be lacking in detailed directions for creating the cute hairstyles in those photos. On the other hand, I loved the basic diagrams in "It's All Good Hair," but found the book less inspiring than the other two. I was also bothered by the section on using chemical relaxers in children's hair as I think it is important to embrace natural hair care. I liked Kinki Kreations because of the gorgeous photos, the step-by-step instructions for all of the hairstyles, and the positive way natural hair was presented. I also appreciated the author's acknowledgment of the book's value to non-black parents of black children, as this is the category my family falls into.

While I'd recommend buying all three books if your budget can handle it, this is definitely the one to buy if you only want to spring for one. The only thing that would make it better would be color photos and perhaps a little lengthier treatment of boys' hairstyles.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty of Natural Hair, December 1, 2004

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kinki Kreations: A Parent's Guide to Natural Black Hair Care for Kids (Paperback)

Do you remember when you were a young girl with newly pressed hair? You could not go out to play for fear of ruining your hair. What about your first perm, do you remember how you felt? Well I do, I felt like I went bald. I repeatedly touched my hair to make sure the limp strands were still there. Since those days the standard for African American beauty has evolved to include our hair in its natural state, the best state for it to be in.

Jena Renee Williams has put years of experience with natural hair care into KINKI KREATIONS, a natural hair care guide for children. She takes you through step by step in an easy to follow manner, starting with using the proper tools, to preparation, styling and maintenance. There are black and white photos for each style described in the book for the reader to have a visual of the finished style. The styles she creates are beautiful and age appropriate.

I love this book. I wish it existed when I was a little girl. It embraces natural hair care, shows readers that natural hair is manageable and they can achieve beautiful hairstyles for their children. Jena Williams has done a wonderful job in promoting natural hair care.

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Hair Help!, August 16, 2006

By 

Mocha Mom (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kinki Kreations: A Parent's Guide to Natural Black Hair Care for Kids (Paperback)

I loved this book! I got my first relaxer at 8 or 9 so I have never learned to care for natural hair. This became a big problem when my daughter was born with a head full of it. I got through the baby stage OK, but now she is two and her hair is thick and kinky. After using styles that put too much stress on her hair, big chunks started to fall out and I knew I had to do something. I went to the Web to see if I could find a site or book that talked about hair stlyes for African-American children. I found Kinki Kreations and went to the nearest Border's the next day. I immediately began to use the tools and suggestions in the book, which was easy to read and understand, and had lots of illustrations. This was incredibly helpful to a novice like me. Within two days I had washed, trimmed, and combed out her hair as the book instructed and put it into little twists. I have never gotten so many compliments on my daughters hair! Her hair has stopped breaking, it's growing rapidly and is strong and healthy. The natural oils recommended have worked wonders. My heart sang when my little girl told me, while admiring her new twists in the mirror, "Mommy, I like my puffy hair". I am indebted to Jena Williams for sharing her knowledge and philosophy in this great little book.