Need Help W/daughters Hair.

I had the same issue with my 6 yr old, she would scream and yell since she was a toddler. I finally got sick of it and brought her in and had them cut it off!!
I know how horrifing that is to us moms, but it is so much easier to manage, and she can know brush her own hair. Its not short, short she wears it layered around her face and it reachers her shoulder, looks very edgy and cute! She doesn't wear ponies or anything anymore and it always looks styled!
Thats my only advice, I still use conditioners and detangler spray for her.
Good Luck!!

Hello
Adriana, I am a African American woman married to a man of Swedish/German background. My daughter's hair is pretty much past the middle of her back as thick curly hair. Her hair is thicker than her brother (who ended up with sandy blond hair). I have had trouble keeping her hair detangled. So this is what I have done. I did not want anything thing unnatural or counterproductive the the health of her hair or scalp so I used a shampoo and conditioner by Nature's Gate: Jojoba revitalizing shampoo and conditioner. You can find that at co-ops like mississippi market or whole foods. After I shampoo her hair I would take a healthy amount of conditioner in my hand and cover her hair fully with it . Let is sit for a minute to soften the hair and comb her hair while the conditioner was still in it til all the tangle comes out. It seems to cut down on the pain and the tangles. Then I would wash it out.. I would PAT her her dry not rub....rubbing her hair dry just puts all the tangles back in. Then I would use 100% pure shea butter (got at co-ops for about 8.00 a pound...the wedge in mlps has it). It is very thick so you dont need to use that much. I put some in my hand and rub it til it melts...then gently rub it in a downward direction so it doesnt become tangled.
Then braid it...the next morning when her hair it dry....I might take the braids out and then finger comb it with a little bit of shea butter or 100% almond oil. Her hair will usually stay down and not get too tangle. In between washes I would use a natural detangler call the Kiss Kids natural: knot detangler...I found that in whole foods. I usually make my own detangler with one cup pure water, one teaspoon of almond oil and a few drops of basil or rosemary essential oil. I put all that in a spray bottle and spray it on the hair. It seems to work real well.Before she goes to bed or before dinner I would braid her hair so that I dont have to worry about tanglees the next day. Hope this helps

Hi Andriana,
I find myself using Soft & Beautiful creme conditioner & Hairdress works best after washing my daughters hair. My daughters hair takes a couple of days of oiling the scalp very well for it to become more manageable.
Also limiting the hair washing to no more then once a week is needed for an African American hair as our hair doesn't produce the natural oils as a Caucasian child's head may produce.
Conditioning the hair is key when taming the hair to be controllable, once your child's hair gets used to be tamed it work naturally more controllable.

Here's what I would recommend based on my expereince: Wash her hair once a week with a mild shampoo then follow with a deep conditioner (Aveda deep penetrating revitalizer). Other days rinse with water and use a light conditioner that you rinse out (Aveda Rosemary Mint conditioner). Every day comb hair only when wet, and only after you have used some leave-in conditioner (Aveda Elixir) and gel (Aveda Flax Seed & Aloe Gel). After combing shake out the hair and use a diffuser to dry the hair a little bit. I know the Aveda products are expensive for a kid, but this has worked great for me. I'm sure there are other products that would perform similarly. Also, if you're having trouble combing her hair you could try misting it with water in addition to the products. Whatever you do, don't try to brush her hair when dry like my parents did to me for years! Ouch!

Sounds like you have gotten some great advise. The only thing I would add is to use a wide toothed BRUSH first and then a wide toothed comb. If you use a regular comb alone, you will damage the hair more.

If you can't find any of the products listed, there's always cholesterol. It comes in a large white/beige jar with red lettering at Wal-Mart. It's a great natural relaxer.

I'm a former cosmotologist - arthritic hands.

Hi Adriana,
Hearing your daughters story is like reliving my childhood. My mother is mexican american and my father is african american, so your daughters hair issues are exactly what my mom had to go through when I was a child. My best advice is to Use a type of grease called Blue magic. That is what my mom used when I was yoour daughters age. There are also a lot of curl enhancing products out there that might work. I use the curl enhancing gel by Garnier Fructice. You may also want to go to a store that specificall sells African american hair products. A great store to go to is one in saint paul called Earths Beauty supply. If you have anymore hair Questions feel free to email me at: ____@____.com

A.

Adriana

My daughter is half African, her hair is very curly and tangles easily, when it was longer we struggled to keep it from tangling, because she loved it down. Ran into the same problems you have right now. My sister works with a woman who has a wide array of heritage and her hair posed as a problem for her when she was younger the site she sent me for use on my daughter is http://store.goldenmartbeautysupply.com/motions.html
she swears by the products on here. I have been unable to get any of these as of yet so I don't know how they work, but for my daughter I use Vavoom's Glaze (salon purchase) and John Freida's Play Down (Wal Mart). I use them together with her leave in conditioner (pantene for hydrating curls), (overkill I know) BUT the best part is it keeps her curls together without making them feel like she has product in her hair. That is important to me. My aunt owns a salon and says the sleek line of hair products is the best one to use, because it penetrates the hair and it is made specially for people that want tangle free, frizz free, either straight or curly hair, and it is made for the more coarse hair (I tried it but looked like I soaked my head in a vat of oil, yet my daughters hair just looks healthy) I wish you luck trying to find the best products that work with your daughters hair. If you need more info feel free to contact me.

H.

also, if you comb her hair when it's wet, it will go through easier, and will be easier on the both of you!

Try this website. http://www.curls.biz/productcart/pc/viewCat_M.asp?idCateg... I have a biracial son. He is West Indian and white with really curly hair. We use Milkshake on his hair and it works very well. If this link doesn't work just try www.curls.biz

I have very curly hair and my children have what looks like a rat took up a nest in the back of their hair. In saying that I have found Vo5 Frizz rescue! Leave-in Comb-in Cream I put it on when the hair is damp to wet then the comb or brush will go through without too many problems. you could go to www.albertovo5.com for more products that may help. Hope this helps you.

T.

Wow you have got some great advice. I second the motion of using the Aveda line. Yes is is a little more spendy but the amount you use is a fourth of the drug store lines. They are made up of alot of water. To be sold in a slon the product can inly conain 10% water vs drug store can have 90% water. I work at a salon in BV and specilize in cruly/textured hair. I tell my clients to treat curly/textured hair like nice sweaters...wash only when necessary and use mild cleansers. Rinse with cool water every day and condition ends every day.
Please do not brush wet hair...it is at its most vulnerable state when wet, use a wide tooth comb and work from the bottom up when detangeling.

Try the California baby detangler spray or the conditioner. It doesn't have harsh chemicals, it's all organic. I got mine at the co-op, but I know you can order in online. They also have a conditioner that might work too. My son has curly too, and it can easily turn into a rat's nest. I use the spray and it works well. It also smells so good! Good Luck!

go to www.arbonne.com and click on the hair care read the info they have many great products for all type of hare care.

R. L.

Make sure you are using either a pick or a comb with very wide spaces in between. If you go to a hair salon or a store that sells salon products they will be able to help you. There are also special soaps, conditioners, and other products that should be available for purchase there. Her type of hair may require you to wash less as well. Also, you may be able to interest her in getting some braiding done - something that is really cute. Look at some books and let her pick from a few styles that you like. Good luck!

My son is bi racial and had a full curly head of hair as a toddler. I had the same issue with combing it all out. It would take about an hour and I would literally have to hold him down to do it. Their were tears and it was just terrible! We finally got what is called "pink oil" it is sold at Walgreens and Target in the hair care products geared speciafically towards african americans. It worked great!!! I just put it in his hair after the bath. After it dried you couldn't even feel it was there anymore, but it was so much easier to comb out!!! Plus it only costs a few dollars