A valve actuator is provided in which a complementary set of pinions, each driven by a pair of racks, are located on opposite sides of the valve to be actuated. These attachment strands are braided or intertwined directly into the braids formed in the native hair of the wearer as those braids are being formed, without need for additional sewing and thread, adhesives, or other attachment apparatus. Each of the slide seats is coupled to a respective crank arm of the drive wheel, and engages slidably the slide groove in a respective lever arm so as to be slidable along the slide groove.