Fros, Fashions & Finds: A Back to School Hair Care Routine

By Megan Davis

Soulcial Scene Contributor

As young scholars begin the process of getting back into the school swing of things, parents are juggling work schedules with the kids’ school and extracurricular activities. Not only are the schedules being managed, but this also means that there is even less time to fit in hair care. Just the thought of “wash day” can make any busy mom or dad tired before the day arrives. If your child is tender headed, the idea of tackling hair, and maybe the child, is an even more daunting task which lies ahead.

One thing that isn’t often at the forefront of a parent’s mind, is their child’s level of comfort when it comes to caring for their hair. From making statements like “your hair is so nappy”

or “your hair is too thick” to popping the child with a comb so they can be still are ways to cause a child to feel that their hair is viewed in a negative way. When children hear this, they may grow up believing that either they themselves or their hair is bad.

Battling a tender-headed child’s hair when time is limited is a challenge, but the mission can be accomplished with a plan of action and a lot of patience. Take a look at five steps to overcome the Tender Headed Blues.

Positive Affirmations

Successful hair care for kids with a sensitivity to the comb starts in the mind. Instead of complaining that your child’s hair is too thick or nappy, celebrate the blessing of having a full head of hair and curls that are strong and healthy. Children hear many negative comments outside of the home, from other kids at the bus stop and maybe a teacher who is culturally insensitive to natural hair textures and styles. So think positively when speaking to your son or daughter about his or her hair as it helps to encourage self acceptance and self confidence.

Schedule A Routine

There’s nothing like rushing to get a child’s hair cleaned, dried and styled when there is no time to really do it right. Planning ahead helps everyone to be more at ease when the time comes. Set a regular day and time, such as Sunday night before bed time. When your children know the routine, they will be more likely to be a willing and cooperative participant in their hair care.

Use Proper Tools

Have you ever tried to bake a cake while missing the eggs or oil? When we substitute ingredients, we don’t always receive the same results as when we have everything necessary to bake the cake. Gather supplies in an inexpensive bin or tote to always have them handy. The basic supplies you’ll need are:

●      Shampoo and conditioner

●      Moisturizer and oil

●      A shampoo comb or detangling tool

●      Plastic sectioning clips

●      A microfiber towel

Additional items you may wish to include are a timer, music, DVDs, books such as “I love my hair” by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and a doll with long hair to comb.
 

Include Your Child in the Process

Growing up, many who are now parents heard their names hollered from a back room to tell them to go in the kitchen and get the hot comb and towel. As children, we were plopped down in the small kitchen next to the hot stove and given a jar of Dax or Blue Magic to hold while our hair was yanked through a tiny toothed comb, and we were threatened not to move or else. We were given some kind of style with a horrible short bang that flew up during the day and had to be rolled with a pink sponge roller every night. The laughter that accompanied those styles will never be forgotten. Today, we have the luxury of smart phones with Pinterest and Instagram where we can look up any type of style and hundreds of pictures will pop up. We can now give our kids style options and let them choose from two to three styles. With that, we can get to work creating the style they have selected and encourage them to practice the styles on their dolls.

If your child is fidgety by nature, give her frequent breaks such as every 20 minutes where she can get up and dance, get a snack, or use the restroom. You can time yourself to be done by the time a movie goes off or have a section done by the end of a song. Any of these things encourage a child to be active in his hair care routine and promote a healthy idea for getting his hair done. These additional tools sometimes serve as distractions for a child who flinches every time you touch his head, but over time, he can learn to sit still and make it through each session feeling a little better each time.

Take Your Time

Even when there is very little of it, patience is needed to accomplish the goal of managing your child’s hair. When working in small segments instead of trying to get it all done in an hour or before having to go to church etc., you may find that even though you have taken breaks and worked in smaller sections, that you get the job done in less time than what you planned for. If you become frustrated, take a break for yourself to avoid taking it out with the comb. After all, the comb is a maintenance and styling tool and not a weapon. Hopefully these tools will add sunshine to both you and your child’s “wash day” experience.

Bonus Tip

If you’re having a difficult time grasping a hold of these simple steps in caring for your child’s hair, try enlisting the help of an older child, a relative or consider going to a beauty school which offers services for a reasonably low price. Do what is needed to ensure that your child’s hair care routine is a positive one as she too will grow up with those experiences in mind when it’s time to begin caring for her own hair or her child’s hair.

Copyright © 2017 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:33 -0700.

More Articles....

Again, Why Are You Running for Office?

Make Becoming a Foster Parent Part of Your Fall Routine

LMHA Helps Families Find Permanent Housing

Statement from the Lucas County Democratic Party

Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green by Jimmy McDonough

Back to Home Page