Hi cmdavis,
For starters, I phoned my beauty salon which caters to all ethnic
groups such as Asian, Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, etc. The very best
comb to use is a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends of his short
curly hair and working your way to his scalp. Gently! You can do
this when the hair is wet or dry.
If doing so while wet, please make sure you've put in a leave-in
conditioner (more on that). Comb at least once a day. If you'd like
to brush his hair use a natural boar bristle brush. Both the brush
and comb can be found in most grocery stores beauty section, or in a
drugstore. You can also find these at Beauty Supply houses, but
that's not necessary.
Information found on the internet:
--------------------------
AdoptiveParents.com
Building Racial Identity: Hair is an adoption issue
by Marta Barton, Liza Steinberg and Beth Hall
http://www.adoptiveparents.com/articles/building_racial_identity_hair_is_an.php
"Hair is an adoption issue.
For White parents of Black children (full or biracial), doing your
child's hair is totally different from doing your own. It's something
most White people never had an opportunity to learn about. It is
essential to your children's sense of identity and self-esteem that
they are given the opportunity to look like they are well-cared for
and groomed; this is particularly true for transracial families,
already subjected to unusual social scrutiny by others who aren't
quite sure you are really a family. How your children look can shape
the conclusions outsiders draw. Children notice others' assessments
and often interpret them as evidence of their own inadequacy. Young
children are very concrete. They need to feel beautiful and handsome
to contribute to a sense of pride in who they are. If their hair is a
source of frustration and unhappiness, not just for them but for you,
they may begin to develop low self-esteem."
----------[edited]
"How often should you wash your child's hair?
Probably not daily; maybe only as often as once every week or two.
Water is a drying agent. Most African Americans have to be very
careful about keeping enough moisture and oil in their hair. Frequent
washing may dry out the hair, preventing the natural oils to
moisturize."
---------- [edited]
"What is a relaxer? Should you press or straighten your child's hair?
Relaxers are chemicals which straighten hair. These should not be
tried without professional consultation, and they are rarely suggested
for children under 6 years old. To press hair means to heat it, making
it straighten. Again, very young children do not usually have the
patience for this kind of procedure, which should be taught by a
professional the first time.
Are there specific styles that are appropriate or not for African
American children?
Yes. Generally, for boys, close cuts are considered attractive. Be
careful about trying to have young children look too hip. Girls' hair
is generally allowed to grow long and kept tied or braided every day.
Since we don't want our children to have any extra burdens, we should
be very careful about choosing styles from our own personal
preferences over what is common among Black American families. African
American children in White homes already stand out and often need the
comfort of looking like mainstream African American children while
still maintaining a bridge to their daily community.
Should I take my child to a professional salon or do it at home?
It is a very good idea to go to a professional salon that specializes
in serving African Americans, where you can learn how and what to do
with your child's hair. We recommend asking African American friends,
others who would know, or Pact, to recommend salons open to helping
White parents of Black children. A wonderful side benefit of this
activity is the experience it gives you of being the only one of your
race present in the salon or barber shop, while your child is one of
the majority. Further, it offers you a chance to connect to new people
who are the same race as your child. Also, it speaks volumes to your
child about how much you value them within the context of their race.
Nothing is as nice as to see your children leaving the salon with an
extra strut in their step because of the fuss and attention they have
just received. It's easy to feel great about yourself when you look
great!"
-----------------------
At BlackHairCare.com these are survey results of shampoos and
conditioners being used:
http://beauty.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackhaircare.com%2F
"What shampoo are you currently using?
23% Creme of Nature --- Best
15% Motions --- Better
13% Pantene Pro-v --- Good
9% Avlon Kera Care
9% Breakthru
9% Suave
5% Infusium23
20% All Others
What conditioner are you currently using?
22% Creme of Nature --- Best
17% Motions --- Better
15% Pantene Pro-v --- Good
10% Breakthru
8% Avlon Kera Care
7% Suave
6% Infusium23
5% Organic Root Stimulator
10% All Others"
-------------------------
An excellent website with lots of personal recommendations - Adoption:
A Family Choice
African American Childrens' Hair & Skin Care
http://www.adoptn.org/hair.html#aamom
Google search using a combination of the following keywords:
african american hair child comb brush products
I hope this information is helpful to you,
tlspiegel
Google Answers Researcher |
