Locs For Children

[Locs]

I have decided to locs my childrens hair. Have done it for the following reasons:

1.They seemed to be extremely tenderheaded, combing their 14 inch long hair would take up to 6 hours
2.They love swimming, going 2 or 3 times a week, and the washing, combing plaiting was wearing me (and them) down

1. I don't want them to have chemicals in their hair at this age (or any age if they follow my advice:))
   

4.It was taking literally a whole weekend to sort out, not leaving time to have fun.
5.I have yet to find a product that is actually any good for African/Carribbean hair, something that works removing tangles improves manageability and provides much needed moisture (not oil!).

I feel that black hair products don't really have enough market research or investment. The black hair issues of decades ago have not been adequately addressed.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

To be honest why fight the curl:)Have found children love their hair this way.

I started their locs with tiny two strand twists.

Are you thinking about locs for your child? Do you think there is still a stigma over locs? What do you think about black hair and the time it all takes?

[puddingz]

What ages are they?

[Locs]

They are in the junior school

[Patttsy]

bump

interesting thread, or would be if anyone replies:)

[tenalady]

My black friend has always tried to steer away from traditional ways of styling her kids hair because she has felt there is a stigma. Not sure where this stigma stems from is a it a black stigma or is it something you think other nationalities my associate with a stigma. My view is, if its easy for you and your kids then do what you have to do to be happy and dont worry about the stigma. Btw my friend has now embraced all styles including beads, maybe she has found it all too much hassle too

[Locs]

To be honest I think there is still a stigma to wear locs, maybe that is why there are not many replies to my OP.

Tenalady I agree, everyone, where possible should do what is convienent(sp?) and locs is just that for me and my children, a hairstyle that makes life easier.

What I was really trying to do is get a discussion going with regard to black haircare industry and black haircare products. I think that the haircare industry have really missed a huge opportunity when it comes to meeting the hair needs for people from an African and/or Caribbean origin. Statistically we spend something like 3-4 times (cited as up to 7 times in one American study) more on haircare and products than Caucasian people (possibly looking for the magical product), yet I don't think we have had our special needs met in any real way.

Does anyone agree or disagree?

[Patttsy]

bump for Locs

[crouchingtigeress]

Do you mean that there aren't enough products?

[Blu]

If I had a child with black hair, I would locks it up -I think it looks great on kids. Where I live, I am under the impression that it is kids from quite cool, 'conscious' families who have locks, and is a definite identity, but not one with a stigma.

[lOCS]

Crouchingtigeress, there are many products, but not many effective ones, if any.

By locsing my children's hair I avoid the whole product issue, as locs doesn't need anything more than shampoo, conditioner, and an occasional spritz of olive oil and water and no more worries about tangles!

[SleepyJess]

What are locs? Dreadlocks?

My sister (adopted) is Nigerian. She has always battled with her hair and I fully agree that there some real gaps in the market for products for this kind of hair. We live in Kent and she has to trek up to London to get the products she need. She goes form straightening it into a shoulder length style to sometimes having a friend put extensions in, which only seem to last a very short while! She buys the cheaper products/hair but she still pays out a lot!

I see black ladies often with such beatiful hair (beads/extension/plaits etc) but feel sorry for them for how they must battle with it for it to look that good!

[Mercy]

My SIL has locks and has done for years. I don't recall her being on the receiving end of any disapproval just because of her hair.

However, she has visited several countries in Africa and her hair does cause a bit of a stir.

[crouchingtigeress]

Locs, I can definitely see the advantage of locksing the hair, particularly if your children are active. Alot of people plait their children's hair with extensions for this reason.

I originally thought, from your first post, that there were not enough products. I think there is too much, I just end up using almond or african pride oil now.

I was seriously considering locksing my hair untill a friend told me that she had to retouch it often, and that they became tangled when swimming. It kind of crushed the carefree image I had in my head.

[Patttsy]

Crouchingtigeress, tightening locs need only be done once a month and takes about 40 mins or less depending on how many locs your wear. I do this for a couple of mates of mine. So it is still relatively carefree.

[Locs]

I only tighten my children's locs once a quarter, and can do this over a couple of evenings.

[crouchingtigeress]

Once a quarter is very good

[speedymama]

A lot of the negativity surrounding natural afro hair actually comes from black people. How many times have you heard people talk about good or bad hair, nappy head etc? Why do so many black women choose to wear weaves that resemble caucasian hair? (obviously women are free to wear hair how they choose). There is a subconcious shame that pervades the black mentality when it comes to our natural hair and it derives from the time when we were slaves and treated worse than a domestic animal. It also has parallels with the view that having lighter skin is more preferable to a darker hue. When cosmetic giants decide to cater to the black pound, they nearly always use light skin black models. Naomi Campbell is too black for them, despite her penchant for weaves etc. Music videos always show light skin black women with long straight weaves, very rarely do you see an Afrocentric, sexy black woman. Hollywood favours the Halle Berry or Thandie Newton types rather than the likes of Marian Jean Baptiste.

I wear my hair in braids because it means that I don't have to do much with it. However, I am really thinking about twisting my hair myself now because I'm fed up with spending £100 every 12 weeks to have my hair braided. However, I don't how long the twists will last or how to care for them.

[speedymama]

Does anyone remember the Eddie Murphy film, Made in America. He played some rich Prince who came to America to find a wife. He met 2 sisters, one was dark skin and the other light skin. Not surprisingly, he ended up with the light skin one. I saw it at the cinema with my brothers and when Murphy finally made his choice, someone behind us echoed what most black women probably thought. She said "No surprises there then!"

[Patttsy]

2 strand twists don't usually have a long wear life, speedymama IME.

Depending on how active you are eg swimming, sports (working up a sweat) and whether you prefer to sleep without a scarf.

If you have the kind of hair which mats easily then no longer than 4 weeks tops.

HTH

Patttsy

[speedymama]

Thanks Pattsy. That is what I was afraid of. The reason I like braids is that they are low maintenance, I just get up and go . I just wish I could do the braids myself to reduce the costs but then, it would probably take me all weekend!

[speedymama]

I have just found this website and thought I would share it. I love this woman's twisted hair. If I could get mine to look like this, I would keep this hairstyle for life!

[Patttsy]

Speedymama, you should think about dreadlocs if you want a hairstyle for life

[flutterbee]

Speedymama - With regards to your light skinned v's Dark skinned post, I have to say that this is no different from Hollywood/music videos always choosing tall slim model type leading ladies instead of someone who was short/overweight/too skinny/small boobs/big boobs

It is annoying and down right insulting to anyone who is not perfect by Hollywoods reckoning, I do not however feel it is a racial issue.

[Patttsy]

Flutterbee, I think I agree with Speedymama on this one.

Historically, this light skinned vs dark skinned issue has it's origins in slavery and deep seated racism.

[Patttsy]

Speedymama, I was so keen to see this lady's hair I clicked on your link even though I am at work and by clicking I will set off my bosses Spyware system

Yeah her hair looks good