[anivan]

I am so frustrated that I am not capable of doing more with Sydney's hair. One of the other parents at daycare yesterday sort of made fun of her hair yesterday and it felt like I was kicked in the gut. It was a joking "what are you going to do with her hair" type of comment, but it did hurt. It's too short to do anything with at this point and I have been buying lots of different products trying to find something that works. I knew this would be a struggle, but I didn't realize how much of a "thing" it would be for me. I don't want Sydney to ever feel bad about her hair, but if I don't figure this out soon, I fear she will start to understand the comments and feel bad. Does any of this make sense? I'm just venting. Attached some pictures of her. She's so darn cute! Just wish her Mommy could figure out the hair thing....

[DianeScraps]

At age 2 I really wouldn't worry about it, there really aren't many 2 yr olds I have seen that have a nice 'style' and if it is styled it really doesn't last very long. (even my 7 yr olds styles don't last very long!)

[Wisdom]

She is really cute. I remember reading your posts about going to bring her home! I'm AA and I know that AA hair is very fragile and takes a lot of loving tender care. It's hard to do much if it's too short. The style with the headband is cute. How do you care for her hair? (What products do you use? How often do you wash it, etc?)

[anivan]

I know I'm not supposed to, but I end up washing it every other day. She's an active toddler and lots of junk ends up in her hair. I have been using Cantu products with her. Shampoo, conditioner and leave in conditioner. They smell yummy and seem to be working Ok. Maybe my expectations of what a product can do are too high. I just shampoo and condition it every other day. I leave the conditioner on her head for 5-10 minutes and pick through her hair with a wide toothed comb. I rinse the conditioner out right before she gets out of the tub and after she gets out, I add the leave in conditioner and work it through to the ends. Anything I'm missing? I can do pigtails on her, but it's not easy with a squirming toddler and I feel like I do more damage by messing with it too much.

[anivan]

someone had told me that I should invest in satin sheets for her crib. It was something about less breakage when she sleeps on it at night. Any merit to that one?

[Yash]

Anivan,

I heard the same thing about satin headscarf, I don't know but it doesn't hurt to try. Though those satin sheets are slippery.

My daughter's hair looks to be about the same length as Sydney's. I used to put on barettes but either she or 2-year-olds at her daycare would take them off. And I stopped using them all together when one of the little girls tried to swallow one and almost choked.

Cute headbands get taken off. So I've become a fan of brush and go.

[musemoon]

My kiddo has a lot of thick curls.

I usually pull them up, but I also leave them loose. I condition every Saturday with a conditioner only and I spritz her hair everyday with a fine mist of water, lavendar and olive oils (not too much oil, just a light mist) but I douse the hair really well with it. This has been the only thing that has kept my kiddo's hair from breaking off and getting into thick knots (even with daily combing) her hair used to get very corse and dry. Now it stay beautiful most of the day and if it does get dry, I just spritz it again (the spritzing also helps to remove debris and is it softens the hair, wets it and makes it very slick for a little a few moments while it dries and I can pull stuff out of it)

The trick to the spritzing is a very fine mist so that it doesn't get too oily or too wet.

Also try Carol's daughter Hair Milk, this also made my kiddo's hair gorgeous, but it's a little pricey :-)

[anivan]

do you have a "recipe" for the water, lavender and olive oil solution? Is it equal parts? Aria's hair is beautiful! I'd love if Sydney's hair could look like that. Do you ever wash or do you condition only?

[anivan]

Originally Posted by Yash

Anivan,

I heard the same thing about satin headscarf, I don't know but it doesn't hurt to try. Though those satin sheets are slippery.

My daughter's hair looks to be about the same length as Sydney's. I used to put on barettes but either she or 2-year-olds at her daycare would take them off. And I stopped using them all together when one of the little girls tried to swallow one and almost choked.

Cute headbands get taken off. So I've become a fan of brush and go.

I agree about the barettes! She just yanks them out and the headbands don't last long either. One night in church Sydney yanked her headband about an inch off her head and then let go! Ouch!

[Wisdom]

I'm not familiar with Cantu products, but it sounds like you're taking good care of her hair. Although, is there any way you can wash her hair less (like once a week)? I'm wondering if washing it too often is drying it out? I saw a product on the Today Show today that was a no rinse shampoo for babies, to use in between regular shampoos. I think it was called High Chair Hair, to be used when babies get food in their hair. Of course I know nothing about this product, so don't know if it's worth buying.
By the way, I think that other parent at the daycare was rude and you should not give her a second thought.

[Linny]

I'm with Wisdom on the comment about the other parent. From the photos you've posted, I sure can't see that you could do too much more to her hair...it's short...so what else COULD you do---put in extensions!?!?!?!?! Gee-whiz!!!

Just to add....we've adopted three babies---two girls, one boy...within the last six years. (We're hoping for another AA baby too!!!)
At any rate, I've had those kinds of comments made to me too.....and not soon after, have some other person come along (also AA) to tell me that their hair is fine and dandy. I DO believe at times, there are those who're gonna say rude things, just because...for whatever reason, KWIM?
I found myself--early on.....getting a bit more concerned, thinking, 'okay..what ELSE could I do....unless, like I joked about....put extensions, elaborate braids, etc....in their hair??"

And then, after a couple of pep-talks from some AA friends......I finally figured out that it was just those rude folks....either because of racist attitudes, or for whatever reasons. (Odd things I've realized too, is that some of these women...had babies who's hair looked absolutely HORRIBLE...dried out, etc...and here they were telling ME how to do hair??? (rolling my eyes here).)

I agree you might be washing her hair too often and therefore, drying it out too much. But other than that.....it's short...she's gorgeous and you'll do fine.

Sincerely,

Linny

[Celesyee]

I, too, agree on there really isn't much you can do with such short hair other than the head bands and barrettes. But, I also agree that washing every day may be too much.

We wash Devin's hair twice a week with all natural Hawaiian Kukui Nut shampoo. We don't use conditioner, but we do massage his scalp with Hawaiian Kukui Nut oil after each shampoo and before combing in the mornings. If your unfamiliar with kukui nut oil...it is a very light oil, which can be used in cooking, skin, and hair. The oil does not build up, does not clog, and is often used to treat dandruff, excema, dry skin.

To prevent breakage, we use a wide tooth detangler comb followed by a natural boar hair brush to help evenly distribute the oil.

You can check out Oils of Aloha or Hawaiian Bath & Body. Or feel free to PM me about it.

[musemoon]

Hi Anivan :-)

Everyone is giving you great advice and I wanted to add that Syndey's hair looks great, it's just short but my dd's hair was that short at her age too.

The mixture is 1/4 oil (1/8 olive and 1/8 lavendar) to 3/4 water. Mix really well (shake before using) and spray the whole head, then go through with a comb or a natural bristle brush with wide bristles.

I only condition Aria's hair, I don't use soap on it. The conditioner is seems to keep her hair really clean, I never see dirt and it doesn't smell, it's really healthy. But it wasn't healthy when I used soap and didn't do the daily oil and water spritz.

You will find a balance that works best for Syndey's hair, but try some of the suggestions. I was pulling my hair out until I read this forum and got the suggestions I now use as daily hair care.

[anivan]

Originally Posted by musemoon

Also try Carol's daughter Hair Milk, this also made my kiddo's hair gorgeous, but it's a little pricey :-)

I tried the Carol's Daughter Hair Milk and absolutely hated the smell. I didn't really notice that it did much for her hair either. I should try to sell my hardly used bottle of Hair Milk, shouldn't I? It WAS spendy...

[anivan]

Thanks to all for the great responses. I agree that the daycare comment was rude. I live in the midwest so Sydney and her hair are kind of a novelty to a lot of people. I try to be mindful of that and turn stupid comments into learning opportunities, but sometimes mama gets tired of teaching!

Sydney's hair is short and any type of style I try results in a lot of hair pulling on my part and tears on her part so it just doesn't seem worth it. I will try to wash it less. I remember once seeing something about how conditioner has a small amount of detergent in it and that you can condition only without ever having to shampoo. It's just so completely opposite of my fine, stick straight, white person hair.

Thanks again to all! You guys are so helpful! ~Ann