Hello, I have emailed you before, about my daughter from Haiti with straightened hair. I have ordered your book, but before it is sent I have a question. I took out my daughter's braids yesterday after they had been in her hair for 3 months.
Then washed well and then I spent almost 2 hours combing out the tangles. The result is that from her scalp there is 1 to 1.5 cm of healthy frizzy hair and then about 7 cm of thin long wiry hair.
I have now tied this hair in four braids on her head but it looks more straggly, I wonder if it wouldn't be better to have the hair cut off again to the healthy part.
I would so much like her to just have her own healthy hair again, what is your advice, I am really a bit desperate and am already dreading having to wash it next weekend and comb it again. Big tears from my daughter and therefore also from me. Actually I don't want to have it braided anymore and want to wear it naturally. That is also why I ask when your book will be published and otherwise what advice do you give me?
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Hi,
Aiaiai, my heart bleeds when I read this. As I said, braiding is a very bad idea for a child, let alone a baby. Relaxing is a no-go but extensions can also do enough damage to make a child permanently bald.
The hair roots are not yet fully grown. Extra hair and false braids hanging on hair that is not yet fully grown puts heavy pressure on the immature hair roots with all the consequences. It can be compared to a baby that can grow deformed if you constantly let it walk with extra weight. If the hair roots can come out of the pores due to the weight, the floodgates open. Then you have a great chance of permanent baldness and that at this age.
Cutting it off seems to me not only a good choice, but the only option. The relaxed part would eventually break off anyway. Nothing wrong with a short haircut. I would really let the hair rest for a while.
Your daughter can then possibly grow an afroot. You don't have to braid or twist. Just let the hair grow and become healthy.
Combing carefully is very important. Use the No More Knots for this. Do not pull the comb through the hair, but start at the ends to remove the tangle with quick rhythmic movements. Hold the hair by the scalp so that she does not feel this. Only when the tangles are out can you pull the comb through the hair. And always use the No More Knots when combing the hair. Hair should never be dry. Dry frizzy hair is brittle. Not combing at all is also fine. The hair certainly does not have to be combed every day. If you want to be a bit fancy, you can use the Loc Glove to make beautiful tight curls in no time. Other child-friendly products to keep the hair nice and soft and supple are Silky Shea Hair Butter and Curly Twistout Hair Cream .
The easiest is probably braidlocs. These are beautiful thin dreadlocks. This way she never has to comb her hair and her hair can grow very long. All you have to do is wash it and go to the hairdresser every 2/3 months to keep up with the new hair growth. See my blog about Braidlocs.
I will send my book as soon as possible and hope that you can make a choice. I would appreciate it if you would keep me informed of your choice and how your daughter's hair is doing.
Gr, Mireille
