I was just thinking, I've never really gotten into my Hannah Hair routine. I know so many of you are curious. And I was thinking someday Hannah's going to want me to keep my mitts off her hair so here is going to be the documentation for how I do her hair, as of today.
I have received tons of advice, friends and strangers alike and I pretty much have tried every suggestion. I have figured out my favorite way to do Hannah's hair that I think gets the best results.
You will also have to know that just as white people have vastly different types of hair, so do black people. There are different letters and numbers to use in categorizing Hannah's hair, I haven't quite figured out what her "hair type" is. But I don't think that really matters at this point anyway. Her texture is kinky enough that it's dry and doesn't need washed much, but it's soft enough that when I style it, that style comes out kind of easily, no matter what rubber bands I use.
All that to say, what works for Hannah may not work for Olivia down the road (let me interrupt this sentence to say that I am glad Olivia's hair isn't growing. Hannah's takes long enough, I don't need two heads of hair to do - yet), may not work for another black/biracial child, and may not even work for Hannah in two years.
I remember washing Hannah's hair on December 23rd (because that was my birthday) with It's a Curl for babies and then using a leave in conditioner from Meijer in the "ethnic" aisle.
Then I remember at some point in January thinking I should probably wash it again. Not because her scalp smelled or anything but because she got a bunch of food in it.
I haven't washed it since then.
Every day, though, I spray a water/leave in conditioner mixture into her hair and comb it out and then I style it. The two cornrow braids (like in this picture) are the easiest because even though they take some time, about 20 minutes, I can leave them in for 2-3 days before I have to redo them.
At the end of the braids I use non breaking rubber bands that I coat with some shine stuff I got at Sally's, and then I also rub that into her part and along her hairline.
I've tried Pink Lotion, but I don't like it. I've never tried Carol's Daughter, but I should. And I have some awesome and super expensive shampoo/condition/leave in conditioner set that someone gave me that I have no idea where I will get it again when it's gone so I ration it for special days.
So the basics...I spray her hair with leave in conditioner and comb it, and never wash it.
I'm sure someday we are going to have to deal with straighteners and all that. I'm just going to enjoy the simpleness for now.
3 comments:
Thanks for that. I was wondering... Have you seen Chris Rock's documentary on black women's hair? It was so fascinating and funny! Check it out.
i am thinking washing hair once a month sounds fantastic! all the hair stuff is a battle at our house.
Hey Abby! Please wash that girls hair every two weeks. Not once a month! LOL!! Also, Carol's Daughter is great! and also Jane Carter "light hair dress" I use that on my boys hair. It's not greasy or anything. Pink Lotion Sucks! You were right in NOT using that. Also, please don't give that girl a Relaxer(straightener) until at least middle school, if not ever. I recently stop using that no Lye damaging stuff and have just grown out my natural hair. To straightened I used the "chi" flat iron. I realized those chemicals were drying out my hair and causing it not to grow as long as it could. It's been over 2 years and I now get compliments about how healthy long and healthy my hair looks. Sorry, totally made this a longer post that initialy. Anyways, I don't have any tips on little girls hair b/c I didn't have a younger sister nor do you have a girl, but maybe someday I can experience what you are. :) My mom had 4 girls and I can only imagine! Have a good day!
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