Any MNers with Afro hair - I tried this in Chat but go no replies!

[Nezzi]

I've had enough!!!

The time, effort, expense, it's all too much. I have my hair relaxed and in a short style but keeping myself looking human is becoming impossible. I used to do my own hair in between salon visits but since having DS 7 months ago I no longer have the time. It's quicker for me to go to the hairdresser and back rather than do it myself. I'd have no chance trying to do it at home. As you can imagine, paying for a wash & blow-dry every week is too expensive so I just end up looking & feeling crap half the time.

Tell me ladies, what do you do?

Mrs Henry, it was Natalie I was referring to from Floetry, the one with the locs. I love the colour and the way she styles them. I considered doing the locs thing but a friend reminded me that if I got sick of them I'd have to virtually shave my head, no combing them out, so I didn't bother.
Just looked up that Frederic Fekkai stuff too (Space NK), bloomin expensive stuff. I don't think I'll be buying any.
I've got some great ideas and product tips from this thread, I'd never heard of a twist out or Sista twists before.
Can't wait to get rid of my relaxer now, thankfully my hair grows quickly so I shouldn't have to wait too long.
Interestingly, the last time I went natural my hair grew ridiculously quickly

Off topic but going to eat my Hotel Chocolat Easter egg now, one half milk, the other half dark, my 1st egg since I was a kid

Just ordered £20 worth of samples from Anita Grant
Watched this vid on you tube too, I love this girl's hair.
Still can't believe what people post on there tho!

Wow! So pleased this thread's mushroomed! In case anyone's still interested, I avoid silicones because they make the hair look good for the day they're used, then totally frizzy and dried out after that.

Mrs MH I wish you would come and tell me what to do with dd's hair, it often looks a mess

I got loads of tips from the mixed race hair thread and use the anita grant stuff mainly, but her hair still looks fuzzy about 5 minutes after I've styled it. We live in a very white area and I'm a bit scared to ask complete strangers for advice after I approached a lady (african) who hissed at me that a good start would be for white and black not to mix in the first place!

I took her to an afro hairdresser (the only one around) and she charged me £35 to put dd's hair in single plaits that only lasted a day before starting to come undone

I've been told that cornrows will stay in better but I can't seem to get them right...

Hi Claire

I'm going to reserve comment on the ignorant African woman and move on.....

I'm guessing you don't have any relatives or friends that you can ask for advice? What type of brush/comb do you use? Mabye she just has true afro hair, being mixed race doesn't necessarily mean having loose curls as I'm sure you know, in which case it will be puffy. Your DD would probably look fab with afro puffs! Where do you live, could you take a trip to another hairdresser to get some hands on advice? Cornrows do def stay in for longer but they aren't easy to master. I'm sure there's a vid on youtube

Thanks Nezzi
DD's hair is a real mixture, mostly it is really tight curls, afro hair in places and very loose curls in others. There are pics on my profile, the bridesmaids ones are just washed, the huge one is a day after washing when it was combed out and the ones where it is up are how it looks most days, though usually with extra frizz

We're in North Somerset so I probably need to go to Bristol to get her hair done, just seems a bit unfair to make her sit all the way there then sit still to have it done at this age...

I've watched Youtube vids but just seem to tie myself in knots, it takes practice I suppose.

Oh, relatives are in Africa, friends dc have very different hair to dd so haven't been able to help much.

Brush, I now use a tangle teezer, easiest I've found so far. Combs I've tried all sorts! Mostly use wide tooth one as find it easiest though

Claire, your children are gorgeous! Your DD has the most beautiful eyes & lush lashes As for her hair, I think it's lovely! Sorry I can't advise you re products but I honestly think it's a case of trial and error. I'm going to give the Anita Grant stuff a go, they seem popular and effective.

Oh I thought I'd replied but it seems not...

Thanks Nezzi , I am also very of the lashes.

Her hair is lovely the day it is washed and usually the day after that but it is after that that it goes downhill...