This year in Mali, Eid (the holiday celebrating the last day of Ramadan) and the first day of school were only a week apart.  Lucky for the girls, the proximity of these two important events helped their mothers justify spending money to style their daughters’ hair.  Lucky for me, I get to look at the girls all day long, all over town.

Modern way to use yarn and rubberbands

The classic hanging braids with modern beads.

I hope this cutie petutie keeps her smile tonight when she sleeps on those rough coils.