Mixed Race Hair

[KatieMac]

If I start it here they can move it to the right place (If they decide to start a topic (& ever decide what to call it))

where do I start......

oh im glad to find this Dd not mixed race but her hair seems to beher hair is mass of cork screw curls when wet its right down her back but more shoulder length when dry and no brush get through it .Some days i end up just tying up and using spray in condtioner and seperate with my fingers

So far i been going to the afro carribean hairdressers in town for their help and were trying differnt products

KatyMac, I use Herbal Essences as a combing conditioner, as recommended on tightlycurly. Have tried specialist products but they're no better on my DDs' hair.

ilythia, my DDs' hair also goes fluffy/tangly overnight. I plait it (using advice from It's All Good Hair - but just basic plaits, or bunches for DD2's shorter hair, nothing fancy) every other day and that keeps it under control. If I do want to leave it loose, I tie it back overnight then re-style it in the morning: olive oil/water spray; more combing conditioner; comb through then separate and smooth through the curls (as described on this page.)

HTH :)

PS If it's plaited/tied back and still goes fluffy at the front, I put a wide hairband on them to cover the fluffy bits! Also helps if they wear a hairband overnight.

DD wear a headscarf at night (which really helps)

She has been reading the website & really thinks she wants to have a go at this

We have been eliminating silicones so it's a bit of a 'seachange' to have them back again

& we don't use shampoo so we need to think about that too

You don't need to use shampoo tho, KM. If you're following the tightlycurly method, you can skip the shampoo stage, as she says on this page.

She is using an original source (mint & teatree I think) conditioner which she loves & we thought the miracle moist might be ok, but we will look for a herbal essences one to leave in

I'd've thought miracle moist would be fine but herbal essences def works for us. Mint and teatree can be very drying ingredients - she probably needs something a lot richer.

So we need a different rinsing conditioner then - I'll have a look when I go shopping

We hope to try this weekend

I'd really like to try the tightly curly method, but the define step puts me off a bit: it looks like it takes a very long time...

A very rich combing conditioner that I like, and mentioned upthread, is the naked "smooth" conditioner, for long straight hair, funnily enough! It contains jojoba oil, smells lovely and really helps with detangling. I usually mostly rinse it out though, haven't tried leaving it in.

KM: I used Alberto VO5 as my DDs' rinsing conditioner for a while, then ran out and started just using Herbal Essences for both rinsing and combing which gave the same results.

mammya: The defining takes hardly any time at all, especially when you're used to it. And DD1 has as much hair as the woman in the pictures (except she's 7, so scaled down a bit!). I use the 'smoothing' method on her. DD2 has shorter hair, more tightly curled, and I 'twirl' hers. Looks gorgeous. :)

Thanks Franch, I'll give it a go then! My DD's hair is very similar to that of the woman in the pictures, although not quite as long (but getting there!)

Go for it mammya! Sounds like your DD's hair is just like DD1's.

I'll let you know how it goes!

I thought the plaiting overnight might be the case, unfortunately DD's hair is ear length and because the curls aren't too tight they donb't hold together well, so looks like I am going to have to keep trying to grow it out and twirling as best I can.
Still looks cool today though, and she had it in bunches all day yesterday!

No chance will she wear a hairband at night, she's 3

Ah well, ilythia, if it's that short you'll be able to 're-style' it in the morning (as described above) in no time. Do you leave it in bunches overnight? That works for DD2 but her curls are probably tighter than your DD's.

Hello there, brand new to Mumsnet, and it was this strand that got me hooked.

Got 2 kids - mixed obviously. I'm mixed myself (southern african, greek, portuguese), hubby white.

Daughter (3) has got gorg soft curly hair, but goodness does it get dry and knotty!

I've made up a concoction with Olive Oil, Avocado oil and Coconut oil, Jojoba oil

Put on straight after wash, comb/brush out only ever whilst wet, and put hair into twists or braids, only 4. Not enough time in the day! .

BEDTIME: Just 4 braids or twists, either leave in next morning or loosen depending on my instructions from 'Madame'

Top up lightly with oil on mid section of hair and ends through the week as needed.

Works an absolute treat

p.s has so far never suffered the dreaded lice attack from nursery, despite the usual/expected infestations.

The separating into curls is not going well

Welcome KnackeredOne! Lucky you for not having had to deal with lice, I can tell you with mad curly hair it's a nightmare! You can forget about combing them out, unless you want to spend your whole time doing it... Just in case your dd catches them, I swear by Hedrin.

KatyMac, what's the problem with the separating into curl? That's the bit that's worrying me the most with the tightly curly method (haven't tried it yet)

So much hair she has about 50 fat sausages; I don't think that was the idea

Total total disaster

Her hair is crispy, solid and as dry as a bone

Actually it's not too bad I mean it looks like a bad afro wig but there are parts which are quite smooth, but because it's been in sausage curls it's all over the place

Major re-think

Oh dear that doesn't sound too good. Which conditioner did you use? Maybe a different one would work better? How about putting some hair butter after the combing conditioner?

I am black British oh is white Irish

I use baby shampoo and was dd hair once a week

While hair is semi wet use pretty and silky spray comb hair our with wide tooth comb then use Dark and lovely beautiful beginnings and then style

I find unless the child has very long hair a pony tale is not really a good look as you can see their nappy knots

Go for 4 bunches or six then plait to the end with a bobble

I really hate seeing children especially mixed children with their hair done done especially when the parents hair is done , last week in asda I saw a little girl with dry nappy knots and 3 large dreadlocks sticking out she looked awful it was very sad not sure if she didn't know how to manage the hair or had just not even tried .

Even though it is sometimes hard I do believe its our duty to look after their hair and skin after all it comes with what relationships we have chosen to have.

Mammya - Washing conditioner Original source, combing conditioner=miracle moist (Aussie)

We bought some herbal essences, 2 different ones to try

DH is using the Pro-line oil moisturising conditioner; which isn't ideal but will calm it down.

Maypole I think that is a little harsh; you can see from my profile that my DD's hair is beautiful and in lovely condition. I am just trying to improve the way she can care for it by herself.

KatyMac you DD is gorgeous! And yes, her hair looks very similar to my DD's hair.