Fantaye has extremely tight and kinky hair. It has been a challenge for us to work with and a challenge for her because combing it out and getting it braided is painful for her and she basically cries for two hours. It is has been a humbling experience for us as parents because we are out of our element with her hair and not at all adept at working with it. We have gotten a lot better, but she still cries in pain when we take her to her Ethiopian stylist for new braids every 4-6 weeks. Her stylist says that she has a sensitive head, but also that her hair is harder to work with than most. Relaxing her hair is not an option until she is much older, so at her last appointment we decided to explore an alternative style. Twist dreadlocks. Her hair is twisted in little corkscrews and after a few weeks, we will put in a locking creme that will keep them like that for 3-4 years. I think they are totally adorable and she is excited because now she can put in barrettes and clips and do girly styles like a ponytail or pigtails. I can't wait to see how this style plays out over the next few years... The upkeep is easy, we can still wash it and we can retwist the ends to keep them from fraying too much, but that is essentially it. Wish us luck!
Julie
3 comments:
I love the twists!
Hi!
I'm glad you found a style option for her that will help with the tenderness she experiences, but just wanted to point out that her hair isn't hard, and that you may be mistaking her hair texture for roughness.
Its different from what you may be used to and it could be that the products and techniques being used to style her hair are just not right for her.
You should check out these two blogs:
One by a woman with adopted little girls from Ethiopia with kinky hair.
It just takes time and patience.
I see that you have already locked her hair but just wanted to share in case that doesn't work out (Locs can get VERY messy and pick up a lot of lint, especially with her hair type.
Also as a woman of color with kinky hair, I worry that she will begin to think that she has "problem" hair that needs to be locked or should've been straighter to be manageable .... That just isn't right/fair.
And it should be okay to be different... I don't know, lol.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care and good luck! I know how frustrating it must be for you and her.
http://www.happygirlhair.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateHairVanillaCare
Just wanted to share this post from the blog of the woman with 2 daughters from Ethiopia.
http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/2011/07/freedom-to-rock-natural-hair.html
Post a Comment