Why are people so precious about little girl curls?!

[Curlyhaircatastrophy]

Semi light hearted
My daughter has lovely curls. The kind that are commented on wherever we go. Everyone loves the curls.

Every morning there is the battle of the curl. By this I mean her hair is like candy floss when she gets up. Then we have the tussle of detangling spray, a wide tooth comb and inching my way through it all, to the chorus of “mummy stop!”. Yes, I have researched and tried many shampoos/conditioners and sprays. I have tried only washing her hair when absolutely needed.

Her hair is much better and easier when I give it a little trim every now and then. Family and friends are genuinely offended when her hair is cut.
“How could you cut her lovely curls?!”
“Why on earth would you cut those curls!”
“Her hair is too short!”

Now my daughter has never had long hair, it just doesn’t grow. So she sports a curly bob that gets neatened up. When cut, the curls bounce beautifully and our lives are peaceful for a while.

Why are people so affronted by cutting her hair?! What is it about curls?! Why does she need to have long hair?

For full disclosure she is 3 years old and has zero opinion on her hair or length of it

It’s not a girl thing, it’s a curl thing.

As above, little boy curls are also adorable.

But whyyyyy?

Not why are they adorable, why can’t they be cut

Because curls in western hair are unusual and therefore seen as special. Girls in general are under pressure not to cut their hair anyway. DD(8) has a pixie crop, her choice, abs do many people were aghast I’d let her have her long hair cut off.

I was in a queue in a coffee shop yesterday behind a mum and little girl (maybe 3 as well?) with the most gorgeous blond curls. I couldn’t stop staring and everyone who walked past commented. I have no idea why though!! My hair is brown and straight so maybe I just envied them???

It’s a curl thing. My dd is mixed race and has A LOT of curls. She does it herself now, but those years of caring for them were hard, tears and tantrums and knots.

People used to stop her in the street and give her money for ‘one of her curls’ and it used to really upset her. And she’s never eaten crusts after someone told her they make your hair curl!

So people think her curls look lovely, and you are confused when people prefer them not cut off??

I mean it's your child hair, do what you like, but surely 'wanting the lovely thing kept' is not some vastly difficult concept to get your head around.

'I mean it's your child hair, do what you like, but surely 'wanting the lovely thing kept' is not some vastly difficult concept to get your head around.'

This

It's just something people say

Nothing better then little girl curls! Adult curls like mine are awful though, my hair is frizzy and hard to manage. Both my daughter and I use tangle teezers to keep the curls under control.

Op have you tried using a tangle teezer brush on her hair, it will work out the tangles in no time without any upset ...

I think because curls on little girls just look so cute , that is why people may comment if you cut the off...but it's your daughter's hair, and you are the one having to style it, so if cutting them off is easier for you and your daughter then of course you should do it..it's only hair, it will grow back again

Moaning sickness- I don’t “cut them off”. I trim a centimetre if that and it makes the curls tighter. She still has lovely curls, just a little shorter. Hence my question about why people make such a fuss. Perhaps my original post was a difficult concept for you to get your head round.

Ds had wonderful ringlets when he was little. Old ladies would ask for one and he would have his hair ruffled by tourists - he used to clamp his arms over his head when he was in his pram when he would see a tour group of Asians coming towards him (for some reason Asians loved his hair and we live in a touristy area).

Tangle tamer brushes are brilliant.

Have you looked into the curly girl method for caring for her curls?

It should make the mornings less fraught!

Ignore those fools, they don't have to manage her tangles.

As other posters have said it's a curl thing. DS2 has white blonde curly hair, it's grown so long that it's getting in his eyes and is uncomfortable for him, but if I mention to family and friends that it's getting cut they seem genuinely shocked.

DS does get mistaken for a girl an awful lot though, I think many people consider curly blonde locks to be a girly trait.

Tried the tangle teezer... still tears. Perhaps she has superhuman strength curls!

They are treasured because they are so fleeting.

Yeah, it's a curl thing.

My oldest DS had long hair as a toddler and a lot of people were very critical of long hair on a boy etc. His hair was poker straight.

My youngest DS has long hair (he's four) and he gets a lot of positive comments about his hair. The only difference is that his hair is curly. People sometimes mistake him for a girl but when they realise he's a boy they don't ask why I haven't cut his hair (like people did with DS1). They simply state his curls are lovely.

Ignore those fools, they don't have to manage her tangles.

I wanted to cut dd's hair short because of the effort of caring for curls. I am not sure the hairdressers I discussed it with would actually have agreed to do it. It's bizarre and annoying and sometimes I'm still.tempted to do it just to make a statement!!

(Also, totally get how annoying suggestions are butwill mention that palmers manuka honey leave on conditjoner changed our lives and has made me stop threatening to cut it off).

Sometimes people just don’t like to see anything aesthetically pleasing disturbed.

My neighbour told his gardener to cut back a bush a lot. Bush has really pretty red leaves. Wasn’t in the way of anything or overgrown. Neighbour just wanted it smaller. Gardener did it, but was really visibly uncomfortable doing it.

I'd look into the curly girl method to reduce your brushing problems in the morning too. Sounds like you may need to condition more. It might help to tie her hair up at night and use a satin pillowcase.

My eldest ds had the most beautiful chocolate brown ringlets when he was a toddler, then one day his dad decided to give him a hair cut and chopped them all off when I was out. To say I was mad would be an understatement. My other 3 dc all have poker straight hair and it's much easier to care for.

I get that people love the curls. I would love them if I didn’t have to deal with them too. But I actually think the fuss that is made is really verging on, if not being, totally rude. It’s ok to trim a child’s hair, regardless of curls, and it keeps the curl looking neater so I just don’t understand the fuss. She still has a mop of curly hair

Palmers Manuka honey you say? I will add it to the shopping list!