If you have kids that are mixed race with black heritage, you know the struggle with hair. It can be absolutely gorgeous, or absolutely horrific. An example, yesterday PJ had a playdate with her best friend and classmate. Of course, they wanted to swim all afternoon and didn’t give me much of a chance to prepare anything before they were both in the pool and wet, hair and all. No biggy, I’ve got the hair thing down. Here’s before and after pictures, just so you can see what I deal with. It ain’t pretty, folks! But it will be…
Here’s the steps and products used:
First step, wash hair with Creme of Nature, inexpensive and easy to get, about $10 at Sally’s. This shampoo is a detangling shampoo and really helps when hair is abnormally tangled or stressed, such as a day after the pool. BUT, do not just put in your kid’s hair and start scrubbin’. You will need to use your fingers like a rake and massage the scalp and pull through the hair while shampooing. You will see the tangles start to dissolve.
Second step, rinse and then apply Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner. Again, using your fingers like a comb, run them through the hair to get most of the large tangles out. Use a wide toothed comb to get out any tangles that warrant a little extra help. Make sure the hair is very wet and conditioned during this whole process. Then rinse. Lightly!
Third step, towel dry hair. NO! Don’t rub it like a maniac! Just squeeze the water out with the towel. We use a “turbie“. They are awesome! Especially for little kids. We got our’s at Ross dress for Less 
for like $5 bucks. Anyway, once you’re ready to finish your kids hair, just use Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner and use your fingers to run through the hair. And that’s it!
If you don’t have time to allow hair to air dry or if you want volume without frizz, use a blow dryer on low heat with a diffuser. You will get great results!
So, this is our routine and believe me, PJ has a lot of hair, very thick and very curly. She swims, surfs, plays soccer, gymnastics, etc. All of which, takes a tremendous toll on her hair. Keeping it healthy makes it easier to maintain. And the quicker and easier it is to maintain, the better it is for all of us!
Sierra Skye
/ May 25, 2009I read your blog in a regular manner, and your way of writing is just awesome.
Please keep going, smile
your sierra
sdmom22
/ May 26, 2009Thanks Sierra. This blog was a long time in the making. Me and my Hubby, Ken, also blog on a somewhat edgier platform, http://www.parentingiseasy.com. Sort of a Man’s vs. Woman’s perspective to parenting. Feel free to check us out there. I’m sure you’ll like it! Cheers and super thanks for the Kudos. I so needed that! You made my day!
Letrice
/ June 24, 2009I was reading the article about black hair on CNN.com and saw the link to your blog/website. After reading the entry on your blog about your feelings toward “good” hair and “bad” hair, I have to say it is a pretty thoughtless comment to make in this particular blog entry “OMG! You hair! It’s so, so… nappy”. Please help me to understand why you feel that stating the fact that your daughter hair is nappy because of swimming or participating in other sports and yet you get so offended if someone says to your youngest that she has “good” hair. You felt by saying that to your youngest daughter it will possibly have your oldest daughter feeling that her hair is “bad”. I’m not sure if you are aware of this but nappy has an ugly stigma attached to it and it does dredge up feelings of negativity and insecurity among African Americans. I’m not posting this to attack you, but please be mindful of the opinions you through out that are contradictory of the opinions you have given via this website. “Good” hair, nappy hair, black hair all can be viewed as offensive and if you have such strong feelings about one particular connotations you should definitely consider the reactions of the contrary.
Teresa
/ June 24, 2009I too read the CNN article today and totally agree with the comment above. Furthermore, you should consider the implication of “it’s not pretty… but it will be.” Are you implying that your daughter’s hair in it’s natural “nappy” state was not “pretty”, but once you “tamed” it with various “mixtgirl” products, it was? If your message is that black hair in it’s natural state is beautiful irrespective of texture, as long as it’s healthy, then this post is very hypocritical. Moreover, for many black girls who are not “mixt” there is no option of applying Creme of Nature, etc. to bring out “pretty” ringlets, so I presume their hair is just not pretty to you…
sdmom22
/ June 24, 2009Uncombed, unconditioned, “straight out of the pool” is not pretty. What I’m saying is that getting the right product will make life easier on all and keeping hair healthy, definitely helps with daily care. You do understand, my readership is one of mixed races and these are questions that arise often. “How do I care for my child’s hair?” I apologize if I’ve offended anyone with reference to the word nappy and will be more considerate in future posts. My idea of nappy does NOT mean hair that is 100% Black hair, as know women and girls whose hair does not ringlet, but is still gorgeous and natural and not processed.
Monica
/ June 24, 2009I understnad your point, but if the picutres are “straight out of the pool”, it is pretty! Your little girls hair does look pretty, if not necessarly it’s best 😉
sdmom22
/ June 24, 2009No, it’s not bad. Her hair is really healthy and it does take a beating. We have a pool and everyone knows what chlorine can do. It’s just that if I’m not up on it, it will get so tangled and hard to handle and therefore, will break. So, yeah, it’s work, but worth it. BTW, very interesting perspective on your son and his hair. I really would like to discuss that topic more! Maybe we can talk offline about it. Cheers!
Masha
/ June 24, 2009I was also reading the CNN article and started reading your blog. Your writing is great and very down to earth. I disagree with Teresa and Latrice, but than again there are always opposite opinions everywhere and that is great base for further discussions and progression of thess cultures.
I have to mention though that as a woman that was not born or raised in US, I find it hard to have frank conversations because someone always gets offended… and sometimes you just want to be able to agree to disagree. I have a mixed family and I just wish people would be more open to conversations instead of pointing out words and missing the bigger picture. All heritage is important and everyone is beautiful in its own right… I just wish Americans would stop being so PC to each other.
Anyway, coming back to your writing, it is very helpful and I hope that you will keep going. The most important of course are your kids and it sounds like you are on the right track. =) Have a great day!
sdmom22
/ June 24, 2009Your support is tremendous! And thank you. I welcome the discussion and difference of opinion, as that is the point. I write from the heart, plan to be true to myself and discuss real issues and open my family up to the world [that alone is scary]. I’m writing from my thoughts and experience, so I can’t speak for every other person out there. Yeah, I might offend some. But that’s not the main point. The main point is to continue to have discussion and to be open with our feelings and lives as mixed race families, kids and parents and mixed race children. I promise, now and forever, to speak freely and continue to be down to earth and forthright. For this, I expect flack. And that’s ok. I have a thick skin. But Masha, you give me strength and I needed it! Thank you!