Also, being black and a new mom, I was afraid of being measured by the look of my daughter's hair. For years, black women are social prejudices exposed to with the associated natural state of our hair. The company has rated this as unprofessional or "sloppy". Although these discriminatory ideals of beauty have finally emerged, understanding how I see myself and how I wear my hair has been difficult.
I don't want this for my daughter. I want her to wear her hair with pride and know that she is more than her hair. I recently read the book Hair Love to Sophia before bed, which celebrates a girl's natural texture and the specifics of her hair. I want to convey to you that regardless of its texture, your hair is still beautiful.
And yet, despite all of the articles and bulletin boards I found on Children's Hair, I haven't found any resources specific to baby black hair. One night I fell into a hole in YouTube, which as a young mother is basically my solution for everything. There I found several videos of black mothers who had the same problems as me. I was so comforted to know that I was not alone and that they had real advice beyond "it happens".
Ten months later and after a little trial and error, I finally have a better understanding of how to take care of the hair of my now two year old child. Every other Sunday she gets excited when I tell her it's time for her laundry day. By letting her pour water on her own head, I'll ask her questions about what she likes or what book she wants to read. She will hold her elastic bands for me while I straighten her locks. And when she's done, she looks in the mirror and says: I'm pretty.
I am proud to feel that I am sharing something with her and teaching her to love her hair. And now if another new parent is looking for tips on their black baby's hair, I can share what really helped.
Wash once every two weeks.
I washed Sophia's hair once a week, but I soon realized it was too much. It dried his scalp and caused dry spots. Now we wash and care for every two weeks with the Shea Moisture Kids line , and between washes I treat your hair with African shea butter mixed with organic coconut oil.
Find a soft brush to detangle.
This unraveling brush was following me all over Instagram and I finally decided to buy it. It's an absolute game changer. It is a fully plastic brush with soft, flexible bristles that exerts minimal pressure on the hair and scalp. I use it after washing Sophia's hair and while the conditioner is still there. Detangles easily and prevents breakage.
Cut off the curls and stretch them with elastic bands.
This technique is a great way to stretch a toddler's curls without exposure to heat. After conditioning and untangling her locks, I divide her hair into six sections and use black elastic bands to keep her hair in place. It takes about 20 minutes and I do it while she's watching her favorite show (which is currently Blue's Clues and You ). This style can last about a week and then I usually take it apart and comb my hair or rehydrate it and put it back into this style.
This technique makes my baby's hairstyle much easier.
Invest in a hat and coat for laundry day.
Despite my daughter's affinity for the bathroom, she cried, screamed, and kicked every time I tried to wash my hair. She just couldn't stand the water running down her face. This shield hat your aunt found on Amazon is a lifesaver. It is flexible, resilient and adjustable so that soap and water cannot get into your baby's eyes and ears. He turned a once almost unbearable washing day into a fun experience for both of them.
Cynthia Simpson is a casting producer for Condé Nast. Follow her on Instagram @naturalcyn .
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