O.K..... This post is mainly about me asking for help and tips! Elle's hair is finally growing and is long enough to pull up into tiny little twists. It is about an inch in length (longer if you straighten the curls) and is rather adorable as it is. Everything we have read tells us that learning to maintain her hair will be one of the most loving and reassuring things that we can do for her. And besides that, I love her hair and want her to grow up loving it too! Now I recognize that that may be a momentous task, because what girl really loves her hair the way it is? I don't think it matters what your ethnicity, our desires are always for what is on the other side of the fence, so to speak. Anyway...
Here is what I am doing so far:
*We only shampoo (at the most) once a week, with an organic shampoo. Otherwise we are are just using VO5 Moisture Milk Conditioner to Co-wash.
*Everyday in the morning I spray her hair with a leave-in conditioner/detangler and then apply a little bit of Tresemme curl enhancer.
*She likes to brush her hair, (because Addie brushes hers everyday) so we got the tangle teezer brush and will brush it once a day. Right now this does not seem to be a problem because it is so short.
*Then at night we will apply another round of leave-in conditioner and, if I can remember to get it out, she sleeps on a silk pillow case.
*If we go to the pool I try to remember to apply some conditioner to her hair before she takes the plunge! :-)
Whew... I think that is everything, I am sure that list will grow as her hair grows! But now it is your turn to share all you know with me!! I really want to learn to do this right, so she has beautiful natural hair and I figure now is the time to learn because it is all coming in as we speak! Here are some of my questions/thoughts...
*Do any of you have recommendations for certain products?
*Maintenance routines (such as washing, combing,ect)?
*Tips for how to detangle? Braid?
*How to find a good stylist when she needs a cut?
PLEASE, PLEASE leave your comments or any great links you have found - Thanks!!
Here is what I am doing so far:
*We only shampoo (at the most) once a week, with an organic shampoo. Otherwise we are are just using VO5 Moisture Milk Conditioner to Co-wash.
*Everyday in the morning I spray her hair with a leave-in conditioner/detangler and then apply a little bit of Tresemme curl enhancer.
*She likes to brush her hair, (because Addie brushes hers everyday) so we got the tangle teezer brush and will brush it once a day. Right now this does not seem to be a problem because it is so short.
*Then at night we will apply another round of leave-in conditioner and, if I can remember to get it out, she sleeps on a silk pillow case.
*If we go to the pool I try to remember to apply some conditioner to her hair before she takes the plunge! :-)
Whew... I think that is everything, I am sure that list will grow as her hair grows! But now it is your turn to share all you know with me!! I really want to learn to do this right, so she has beautiful natural hair and I figure now is the time to learn because it is all coming in as we speak! Here are some of my questions/thoughts...
*Do any of you have recommendations for certain products?
*Maintenance routines (such as washing, combing,ect)?
*Tips for how to detangle? Braid?
*How to find a good stylist when she needs a cut?
PLEASE, PLEASE leave your comments or any great links you have found - Thanks!!
Hi Blair!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are doing a great job! My thoughts are (and it's hard because I'm not there looking at her lovely hair and I can't feel it) is you may be doing a bit too much. Because curly hair is so delicate it can break easily and it sounds like you want length! I think you only need to put the conditioner on once a day at most (If you want her hair to be curly). If you are going to straighten her hair then only put product on when it's wet. Actually really you should only put product on wet hair anyway which is why I suggested you only put the conditioner on once a day. Are you wetting her hair everyday? That may be too often as well. Call me so I don't write you a dissertation on hair! (j/k it shouldn't be that hard. You can do it!) Love you all.
Hey there! I'm a friend of Robin Morales :)
ReplyDeleteI am going to post a few comments here, but if you want to talk on the phone or e-mail back and forth... can you try to find me on facebook? (Erin Elizabeth in Victoria Texas).
For starters, I'm black, and I have 3 sisters (and 5 brothers :P ) all with different textures of hair.
Personally, I wash my hair at most every other week (If i'm swimming or sweating a ton), generally only once a month if I have a lighter month... if that :P With african american hair, washing it too much can cause it to dry out and become brittle and break easily.
RIght now, brushing may not be a problem, but the older I got the rougher brushing became on my hair. It literally began tearing it out. I wanted to brush my hair because I thought it was cool, but eventually I had to give it up.
Instead of leave-in conditioners, we have generally used hair/scalp oil, and applied it to our scalp and through our hair. Regardless of what kind you use, conditioning is a good thing, helping keep minerals and oils in our hair keeps it from getting brittle.
We have always slept on normal cotton pillow cases. I am sure silk doesn't hurt, but it isn't absolutely necessary either. We have worn hair wraps on and off, ranging from silk do-rags (sp?) to "stocking caps" (literally a piece of hosiery or tights).
I would wash her hair after she swims, because the chlorine can damage her hair, then moisterize it. I am not sure applying conditioner *before* she swims helps all that much.
Products: My favorite hair/scalp moisturizer has always been TCB Naturals. It comes in a little clear tub with a green lid... it is thick, almost like vaseline. We part my hair and rub it along the scalp, and then just rub it on my actual hair.
Detangling is a night-mare... there isn't exactly a one size fits all solution... one sister's hair detangles best wet, another dry, and all with patience :P
My mom always just trimmed un-even edges herself...
Last but not least, as a small child, puffs and twists are cute and fun, but the older we got, the more we wanted just normal "pony-tail" hair styles. There are many natural solutions ranging from learning to braid and or style her fro, to sisterlocks (which is what I have) or extensions, which one of my sisters prefers.
If you would like, I can message my number to Robin so we can chat on the phone... or... I think my mother lives near you and she would be more than willing to fix your daughter's hair/show you some fun things you can do with it, and answer questions.
Marylou and Erin,
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your help and advice. Really, the only thing that I know is what I have read and so I am trying to sift through it all and figure out the more "important" things to focus on! I am sure that in the not too distant future I will be talking to you on the phone. :-)
Thanks again!
~Blair
Blair, I'm glad to hear that you, Brandon, and the kids are doing so well! We actually have friends here in Cincinnati who adopted a little girl from Ethipia last summer. They have been practicing natural hair care and braiding lately. Here is their blog: http://stercustaureum.blogspot.com/. I would LOVE to get you connected with them. They are fabulous parents of a sweet and beautiful little girl!
ReplyDeleteCathlin Bradley