Curly Girl

As someone with stick straight hair, I never really had to try hard to “do” my hair.  I could easily brush through it, put it in a pony tail, pig tails, or braid it.  I’m also lucky that on the rare occasion that I pull out the curling iron, I don’t have to use a ton hairspray to get the curls to stay.  Actually, the more hairspray I use the sooner the curls tend to come out (I think it may be because the weight of the spray is pulling the curls down).  People are often envious of my natural blond highlights and nearly every time I go to a new salon I am told that people pay good money for my hair color.  I’d consider myself lucky in the hair department – I don’t need special conditioner, I don’t have to spend hours straightening my hair, or use any gel, hair spray or other expensive products to get my hair to stay how I want it.

As a mom of a biracial child whose African roots show themselves in her beautifully curly locks, I am not as lucky.  It takes a solid 30 minutes or more to comb through Buggy’s unruly hair, and another 15 to get some lopsided pig tails – the only style I’m actually decent at.  Recently, I’ve been attempting to branch out and try different hairstyles on my little princess.  Here are some of my more (and less!) successful attempts.

The 5 little puffs look

The one ponytail with giant bow style

Two pig tails

The “my daddy did my hair today” pony tail.

Multiple pig tails braided

The every day fro

The one tip that I can pass on to other moms (and dad’s) came from a good friend of mine.  She  recently suggested I comb Buggy’s hair when she’s in the bath (or shower).  I don’t know why I never thought of that before – but it’s like magic!  I now wash her hair then put conditioner in it and give her a few bath crayons.  She colors the tub walls while I comb the conditioner through her hair.  Then a quick rinse with the detachable shower head and she’s good to go.  When wet and combed out, Buggy’s hair reaches down between her shoulder blades!  It’s beautiful, and she’s taken to shaking her head side to side to feel her perfect little curls bounce around her face and neck.

I still struggle to get her fluffy locks under control, and the humidity of the south is definitely not in her favor, but the longer it gets and the more times I practice the better I get, and the tougher her scalp gets!