[labbydor]

You would think after having adopted two AA children I would know how to do this but....

I need to do something with my newest foster son (4 months now) hair. I didn't cut or trim my other kid's hair until they were over a year old so I don't want to do anything like that with this little guy. Problem is his hair is really getting long and pretty wild looking.

With my other little boy, my sister-in-law lived near me and she could come over to braid/cornrow it and my daughter's hair was pretty soft curls and was always manageable. My husband is also AA but he doesn't have a clue either.

Any advice? Directions on how to braid his hair? I hate seeing kids with their hair a mess so I really want to get his under control soon.

Thanks!

[Michelle 053002]

Is his hair long enough to corn row at 4 months? (My little Fi was slow to grow hair, she's made up for it now.)
is there a salon close to you that you could take him to and watch what they do?
Do you know how to corn row or it that what you are asking how to do? I don't want to give you advice on something you already know how to do.

[labbydor]

His hair is just about long enough to corn row. He has lots and lots of hair, even when he was 8 days old he had a head full!
My four year old son wore his hair in puffs unless my sister-in-law did the corn rows. I don't have a clue how and wish I did.

There is a hair stylist that specializes in AA kids hair near me but I'm afraid to take him there. I took my daughter (who has hair down to the middle of her back) to have her hair braided (I was being lazy recently) and they braided her too tightly. She had a big hunk of hair come out. Luckily it has grown back in but I don't want to take the chance. Would rather learn how to corn row myself.

[Michelle 053002]

I don't blame you for not taking the little guy to the salon if they braid that tight.
Do you know how to French braid? Corn rows are just tiny little french braids, but instead of taking the hair over you go under.
Part off a section of hair about 1/2 inch wide ( I use clips to keep it straight) at the top of the section divide the hair in 3, take the left strands under the middle strands, then the right under. Now add a little hair to the left strands and go under the middle, do the same with the right side and so on.
Does that make any sense to you? I am a person who can do something better then I can teach or explain it. If this doesn't make sense I can try to explain it another way.
Michelle

[labbydor]

Thanks Michelle. I get the concept, I just can't seem to get my fingers to pick up additional hair since it all seems to tangle together. Of course I've only tried it on my AA 5 year old daughter's hair and her hair is down to the middle of her back and a totally different texture than the baby's.

[ranade3]

I have been corn rowing my daughter's hair since December and I have found that using hair lotion or hair oil on her hair really helps when I am braiding. It makes it so I can get my fingers through the tangles quite easily. I often corn row the front half of her head and put little braids in the back. Her hair is about 9-10 inches long.

Nanita

[ranade3]

I just wanted to encourage you not to give up. I also took my daughter to a hairdresser where she braided so tight that my daughter's scalp was puffed up in between the braids and of course my daughter screamed through the whole thing!

When I first tried to corn row it looked terrible. I understood how to do it but it does take time to get the hang of it. The first time I thought it was good enough to leave it in there were only about 8 braids across her head. Today, 8 months later, she has 20 across the front of her head (and 19 in the back).

good luck.

Nanita

[labbydor]

Okay, so let's see if I have this straight now (I'm admittedly dense when it comes to anything having to do with hair). I section the baby's (or my daughter's) hair and clip the hair I'm not working with away. Then I put oil or grease in that section of hair and start doing a reverse braid, picking up additional hair as I go.

Somehow I think this is beyond my capabilities but I will try. I can do great braids for my daughter though!

[ranade3]

yes, that's how I do it. I also comb through the section after I put hair lotion on it to make it easier to get my fingers through. I'm attaching one of my earlier attempts at corn rowing so you can see the progression :-)

[labbydor]

Wow! I can't imagine I'll ever get as good as even your early efforts. I have a hard time making straight parts. But I'm going to give it a try.

Any advice on the type of oil/grease to use?

[ranade3]

I agree, the parting is the hardest part!!!! even with a rat tail comb. My favorite lotion is African Royale M.O.M. (Miracle Oil Moisturizer) which you can get at Sally's. I've tried MANY others and maybe someday I'll like something better.

I also bought some books that were very helpful on taking care of black hair. "It's All Good Hair" by Michele N-K Collison and "Kids Talk Hair" by Pamela Ferrell.

When my daughter first came home I was afraid to do anything with her hair! She was 19 months old and her hair was beautifully braided by her Liberian caregiver. Within 2 weeks I found a hair stylist that would braid my baby's hair for me, but she braided very tightly. Then when I first started to do my daughter's hair myself I did a lot of afro puffs and ponytailing her hair into braids. So I didn't even attempt to corn row for 5 months!

I really think you can do it but it might be easier while your baby is sleeping :-)

[ranade3]

Okay, this is the top of her head today. I just kept going smaller and smaller each time I did a new style.

[labbydor]

Can I send my daughter to your house? (Just to get her hair done.)

It looks beautiful. I can't imagine accomplishing that. Of course on the baby I'll be happy just to get the hair cornrowed, even if the parts aren't straight.

[forevermom]

Nanita

Your daughters hair is beautiful!

I hope I can get that good at doing my daughters hair. She is only 15mos old so she won't sit still for very long. You could say we go through lots of crackers and cookies during hair time.

When you corn row your daughters hair like that, how long are you able to leave it like that? I wouldn't think you take it down every day and redo.

I have been trying to do my daughters hair differnt ways that will last a few days without looking messy after a nights sleep. She has alot of hair on top about 5 inches long, but very short hair in back still. She had no hair in back when I got her at 9 mos, now it is about 1 inch long but very kinky curly or nappy.

I would love some different ideas of different ways to do her hair. Right now all I know how to do are puff balls, and some days I comb out the puff balls and braid it.

labbydor, I typically use Pink Lotion and a grease called Blue Magic or Newgro Hair Dress on my daughters hair. They seem to work well, but would love more suggestions regarding hair oils and lotions too.


Heidi

[labbydor]

One thing I do with my daughter's hair (which is pretty long) is to take the terry cloth pony tail bands in all different colors and make puffs. Then I take each puff and twist it (with grease) and add another band in a different color a half inch down. I continue doing that until the whole puff is in a banded pony tail. I usually do 8 - 10 on her head.

BTW, one hair oil/grease that I have used since she was a baby and I love it is African Pride Miracle Grow. The only reason I'm looking for something else is that I was told she needs a heavier grease now that her hair is longer and she is older.