The Trim: A New Years Resolution in August?

Among my mommy friends we seem to back and forth about whether it is necessary to trim our little girls' hair. I decided to do so (this is the second time ever) for the reason below.

We've all read articles about the connection between length retention and the health of the ends of our hair. While I am not obsessed with hair length, I do think there is definitely truth to that argument. The logic goes that often times we say that our hair just doesn't grow (past a certain length). Truthfully, the hair is indeed growing.  However, in many cases the ends of the hair (which have been around the longest) may be damaged and excessively dry which can cause breakage (at the ends) at a faster or same rate as hair growth from the root. I know for a fact, that with our busy schedule sometimes I'll look up and nearly a week has passed and I've not given the the ends of my girls hair the attention and maintenance needed (i.e. moisturizing the ends). In addition to a trim, which was less than 1/2 inch, the girls got a deep oil treatment/conditioning per-wash for Sasou and post-wash for Joelle, which incorporated Shea Moisture Deep Conditioning Masque plus castor and olive oils for good measure - all under a heat cap!   

I also think that excessive use of barrettes and rubber bands to hold beads can also damage and weaken tender ends.  That said, over the past few months between swimming and travel back to the United States, I've totally slacked (bad mommy) and felt the need for a trim to begin with a healthier "slate" of hair as we begin the school year in a few weeks. Along the same line of thinking, as soon as we get through the swimming season, I am planning to change up our hair routine a bit to include more double strand twists for Lady Grace in particular and fewer rubber bands and barrettes and more "protective" styles in general. While I wasn't exactly sure where I was going with this post, it appears to be a New Years Hair Resolution in August!

Getting a Hair Trim

"Is Hair Care Oppressing My Black Daughter?"

I recently came across an interesting article on the Root, “Is Hair Care Oppressing My Black Daughter?”  The person posing the question is a (white) stepmother, who is caring for her husband’s (black) daughter from a previous relationship.  The stepmother also has a biological (white) daughter from a previous relationship, of the same age, who does not have a hair care regime – i.e. she can “get up and go” or "wash and go" in the morning, whereas the (black) stepdaughter doesn't do so - instead she gets her hair "fixed".  The stepmother is questioning whether a negative message is being sent to her (black) stepdaughter, who needs to get her hair “fixed” either daily or worn in braids.

Personally, I agree with most of the points made by the author, in response to the stepmother's question. While I believe that the stepmom is sincere, I think the question speaks to the issue of what is “normal”.  What may be “un-normal” hair regime practices for one culture, may be perfectly “normal” for another culture.    Personally, I find washing, conditioning (sometimes with a heat cap), moisturizing and styling my girls’ hair on a weekly or biweekly basis perfectly “normal” within my cultural context.  Additionally, a lot of sharing and bonding takes place during the time that I spend on keeping my girls’ hair healthy and happy.  We take pride in getting our hair "fixed" whether we are braiding, twisting or rocking afro-puffs!  Upon finishing each hairstyle (usually braids or twists), my girls love to look in the mirror to see how they got their hair “fixed”.  Finally, hair textures are all different (even among blacks) and require various levels of attention and care to maintain health.  Black hair may be on the more demanding side of the care scale, and I am OK with that – we work with what we are given!  I hope the stepmom can learn to be OK with that too.  

Photo: Generic Image (Thinkstock)
From The Root

The Politics of Brown Dolls & Self-Image

So I was recently thinking about the politics of self-image and dolls as pertains to the purchases that I make for my children.  For purposes of full disclosure, I should say that we are an African American family living in France.  We have lived in countries, both in Asia and Europe, our kids speak fluent French and we enjoy an ethnically diverse group of friends.  Our children are well accustomed to people of different cultures and backgrounds. We actively teach them the importance of embracing and being proud of one's (African American) heritage, while also stressing the importance of respecting and valuing the cultural backgrounds of others.  We teach them this life lesson not only by explicitly stating as much, but living our lives as examples, as well.

I digress.  So, back to the part about embracing African American heritage, I generally purchase brown dolls in an effort to ensure that my girls have a positive self-image.  I know that they are interested in Tinkerbell and her fairy friends and blond-haired Barbies with high heels, as well as Snow White and her friend Cinderella.  In fact, I was stunned when one of my girls told me she wanted yellow (blond), long hair but no braids!  While explaining that there is nothing wrong with blond hair, I felt it was important for me to communicate the beauty of being a little brown girl with cornrows, twists, and plaits by reading books like: "Happy to be Nappy" and "I Love My Hair!".   That said, for the near term, I plan to continue to "gently" encourage my girls to embrace dolls like: American Girl's Ady and dark-skinned "bitty twins", the numerous variations of Princess Tiana, and Target brand baby dolls.  Much to my delight I recently found that the Lalaloopsy line comes with some brown varieties as well, with one doll called Dot Starlight!  I love how my girls delight in playing with Doc McStuffins!  How awesome is she!  A little six-year old "doctor" who treats her stuffed animals.  I hope there will continue to be a proliferation of dolls of all ethnic backgrounds and skin hues and that my girls will internalize a positive self-image and be able to embrace not only little brown dolls, but others, as well.  

Welcome your thoughts!

Two of Our Favorite Dolls - Doc McStuffins & Tiana

Mommy Hair: My Parisian Hairstyle!

Since it had been far too long since my last trim/haircut (just before we moved to France last August), I decided that it was time to find a salon and stylist. After a bit of research, I decided on Polished Hair Care on the Champs Élysées. The salon is owned by an African American woman resident in Paris. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience despite having a sinus headache. I will definitely be back for my "quarterly" trims. Although I generally enjoy braiding the girls' hair, I on the other hand don't particularly enjoy getting my hair done! Ever since I grew out my relaxer four years ago, I rarely make it to a salon. But this time around, my hair definitely needed some TLC!  Here are a couple of photos of my trim and flat iron:

My Parisian Haircut - Pic #1

My Parisian Haircut - Pic #2

Deep Conditioning Heat Wrap for the Girls!

As part of my ongoing effort to nourish and hydrate my girls' hair, I decided to purchase a "Hair Therapy Wrap", several weeks ago. I have used it twice on the girls' hair and have noticed an appreciable difference in the ability of the hair to retain moisture. Additionally, the hair just seems "happy". What I like the most about the heat cap is the ease of use. Just pop the cap with the gel inserts in place in the microwave for a minute or so and voila! With this heat cap there are no wires so the girls are free to roam about during the 20 minute treatment. At the moment my conditioning treatment includes Shea Moisture's Deep Conditioning Masque combined with a bit of olive oil and my homemade mixture. My mom says I'm trying to be like Madame CJ Walker since I've started creating my own "potions" to meet the girls' hair needs. LOL! After applying the deep conditioning mix, I place a plastic cap over the hair, followed by the just microwave-heated Hair Therapy Wrap. it's a tad big for a child's head, but it works for us!



Lady Grace Wearing the Hair Therapy Wrap

Product Packaging

This Week: Protective Braided Styles

This week I decided to give the girls a "protective" style along the hairline to protect those sensitive edges.  I'm always trying to vary their hair styles to reduce tension on any one point, particulary the front hairline.  Both styles turned our very different, but I am satisfied with both.  Better yet, these styles required less than one hour to complete!

Sasou's Circular Protective Cornrow

 

Lady Grace's Protective Braided "Headband"

 

 

 

Share With Us: What's Your "Work-Out" Hair Do?

Before moving to France last year, you would find me in the gym at least 4 times a week. Spin and zumba classes were my favorite, but I would also do light strength building and occasionally swim and participate in a boot camp class. There is not really a "gym culture" here in France (let alone a "kids club" located withn the gym where children can play surpervised while parents work out).  came across an article today on a study pertaining to Black women avoiding exercise in order to maintain hairstyles. The article states that a third of women in the study indicated lower levels of exercise due to their hair.
Before moving to France last year, you would find me in the gym four times a week.  Spin and Zumba  classes were my favorite, however I would also do light strength training, yoga, and occasionally swim or participate in boot camp classes.  I have found that there is not really a gym culture here in France the way there is in the United States - there are not many around and the ones that do exist cost over $1200 per year and don't have kiddie care.  That said, I have had to find alternatives.  For the moment, I take Zumba classes in my neighborhood a couple times a week and will start running when the weather warms up.  So what does this all have to do with the title of this post?  Well today I came across an article on a study pertaining to Black women and exercise avoidance in order to maintain hairstyles.  So that got me to wondering what other exercising ladies out there do to their hair when exercising   Below is a photo of my post work out hair (before I got it cut a couple weeks ago). When wearing my hair flat-ironed, I generally make a high and tight ponytail and slide on a mesh or fabric type headband along my hairline. When wearing my hair curly, it's less of an issue because I rebrand my hair before sleeping.  Either way I try not to let my hair compromise my workouts...I'm a much better person to everyone around me when I exercise regularly : ) What is your workout hair do?

High Ponytail With Headband