Caring for African American children’s hair can be a daunting task for parents, especially those who have adopted a child of color. To ensure their hair is healthy and well-moisturized, it is essential to wash the hair every week to two weeks, depending on the child’s hair type. Shop for appropriate products and choose a shampoo with a pH level of 5-6.5. If you are unsure, ask for a stylist’s recommendation.
Adoption STAR offers an annual Hair and Skin Care Workshop to help parents learn about caring for natural afro-textured hair. Terria, a non-profit organization providing culturally specific hair and skin care resources for foster and adopted children of color, shares tips and resources to help parents care for their child’s hair.
When a black child comes into a white family, caring for their hair can seem like a daunting task. To avoid unnecessary breakage and hair loss, use a wide toothcomb or pick when combing the hair and avoid fine toothcombs as they can snag and pull out curly/kinky hair. Invest in a quality brush, such as natural boar brushes, and moisturize the hair daily.
Shampoo must be used sparingly to avoid drying out the hair. It is not necessary to wash more than once per week in most cases. Develop routines that make your child look forward to having their hair done but make sure they see hair care as a normal, natural process.
For African American children, hair care directly relates to self-esteem; the better they look, the better they feel about themselves. Acknowledge the importance of hair care and ask for product suggestions from others. Learning to care for your child’s hair requires perseverance and understanding the importance of hair and skin care in adopting a child of color.
📹 AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS HAIR CARE ROUTINE + TIPS FOR FOSTER & ADOPTIVE PARENTS /CHRISTY GIOR
I filmed this African-American kid’s hair care routine to help other foster and adoptive mamas. Or anyone else that does not have …
How to take care of black hair for white parents?
The Ten Commandments of Black Hair Care for White Parents is a guide for adoptive mothers to learn how to care for their children’s hair. The book, “Brown Babies Pink Parents”, is six weeks old and has received positive feedback, particularly regarding the chapter on hair. The author, a white mother of African American daughters, shares her own experiences with learning to comb her daughter’s hair. The most frequently asked question is about hair care, and she is proud to say she did it.
The book’s mission is to pass on these hair lessons to other mothers. The Ten Commandments include not washing your child’s hair daily, treating it as your own, applying oil to their scalp daily, combing hair regularly despite tears, screams, and tantrums, committing to learning hair maintenance, seeking professional help when in doubt, practicing, avoiding sandboxes, not taking every advice offered, and not letting younger children style their own hair. The book encourages parents to practice and learn from their experiences to ensure their children’s hair is well-cared for and healthy.
How to care for black African hair?
Black hair care tips include washing once a week or every other week, using conditioner, using hot oil treatments twice a month, using heat-protecting products before styling, using relaxers cautiously, using ceramic combs or irons to press hair, and ensuring braids, cornrows, or weaves are not too tight. Acne, eczema, hair loss, psoriasis, Rosacea, and skin cancer can be treated DIY, and there are various types and treatments for acne-prone skin. It’s important to follow insider secrets for maintaining healthy hair.
How do I take care of my black child’s hair?
To prevent itchiness in Afro hair, wash hair every 7 to 10 days and avoid buildup of products. Avoid tight hairstyles and keep the scalp moisturised with a specialist oil like Soothe. This will help keep the scalp happy and healthy. For more information on Afro hair care, visit the blog or email the author. To avoid common Afro hair issues, build a routine and address any remaining hair problems.
How long does texturized hair last?
A texturizer for natural hair typically lasts from eight to 10 weeks, with the hair reverting to its natural state after that time. Some people prefer to wait even longer than two months for a touch-up, but this should be discussed with a stylist to maintain the hair’s shape.
However, texturizers can cause damage to the hair, as chemicals can alter the structure of the hair. It is best to leave this treatment to a professional stylist, who has the necessary skills and knowledge to use the best texturizer for natural hair without causing damage.
A texturizer is a mild form of a hair relaxer, only applied for a few minutes to loosen curl texture. This means that you don’t have to worry about losing your natural texture during the treatment, as texturizers are not left on your hair as long as hair relaxers.
In conclusion, texturizers are a popular choice for natural hair treatment, but they can also cause damage to the hair. It is essential to consult a professional stylist for the best results and to avoid using these treatments on your hair.
How often should you wash a black child’s hair?
It is recommended that shampooing of the child’s hair be performed no more than twice per month, or at the most, every seven days. Frequent shampooing has been observed to have a drying effect on the hair and scalp, potentially leading to a deficiency in oil and sebum distribution in black hair.
How often should I oil my black baby’s hair?
To maintain a baby’s hair, wash it once a week and towel dry. If the hair is oily, wash it twice a week. Apply castor or coconut oil to damp hair, and use a small amount of oil or cream moisturizer to detangle it. Comb out tangles carefully with a wide-tooth comb or soft-bristle brush. Apply castor or coconut oil throughout the week to moisturize wet or dry hair if it appears dry. Avoid using rubber bands or stretchy cloth bands, and avoid wearing barrettes or pony tail holders to bed. Baby castor oil or coconut oil and baby lotion can be used for styling.
Should you moisturize black hair daily?
Natural hair, particularly curly hair, requires daily moisture to maintain its bouncy, smooth, and defined texture. It’s crucial to note that scalp health is essential for hair’s overall health and moisture level. The scalp, like any other part of the body, needs moisture, and hair that grows from a well-balanced scalp will also be properly nourished. However, maintaining a proper moisture balance in natural hair can be challenging due to factors such as curl pattern, porosity, damage from chemical treatments, styling habits, and environmental factors.
How to care for texturized hair?
Hair care is crucial for textured hair, as it serves as a visual marker of personal identity and self-expression. It is essential to avoid over-shampooing and keep hair moisturized to avoid damage. Hair is influenced by individual hair characteristics and cultural trends, and it connects us to our heritage and pride in many cultures. Caregivers should celebrate their cultural identities by providing comfortable and confident care for their children.
Proper hair care can help their self-esteem thrive. The importance of caring for textured hair extends beyond the hair itself, as it is more than just an aesthetic feature of how we present ourselves in the world. Celebrating cultural identity is essential for a healthy and confident hair environment.
How to keep biracial hair moisturized?
Hydration is crucial for healthy hair and skin, both inside and out. Drinking 8 glasses of water daily is recommended, especially for mixed race hair. Moisturize the hair twice a week with a leave-in conditioner like Nylah’s Naturals, and deep condition it at least once a month. A hot oil treatment like Nylah’s super botanical conditioner or super seed oil can also be beneficial for curly hair. Cover the hair with a plastic cap or heat cap to maximize conditioning properties.
Styling the hair is essential, but avoid using chemical relaxers on natural hair. Comb the hair from the ends to the roots, using a wide tooth comb. Switching up hairstyles is an expression of personality and prevents follicle damage from wearing one style all the time. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase or with a satin sleep cap can reduce friction and keep the hair moisturised. If you have any further queries, feel free to contact us via email.
How to care for African baby hair?
Black babies’ hair, which can be coarse, thick, curly, or wavy, requires special care. It should be washed once a week, moisturized well, and combged carefully to avoid tangles. Skin conditions like cradle cap and eczema can be treated with sensitive soaps and shampoos. The texture and consistency of hair at birth can vary, from thick curls to loose waves or nearly straight strands. Tighter curls and waves are more likely to break with tension, so it’s essential to treat them gently. To keep your baby’s hair clean, moisturized, and tangle-free, follow these guidelines.
How often should you wash a biracial child’s hair?
Biracial wavy, curly, or kinky hair should be shampooed only every 7 to 10 days, with wavy hair no more than 2 times per week. However, there are exceptions, such as shampooing when hair is dirty, scalp is oily, or after swimming. Co-washing is a gentle cleansing method using conditioner instead of shampoo. Wet hair before swimming and apply a thin layer of coconut or jojoba oil to minimize chlorine or saltwater absorption. Consult a stylist for specific frequency.
📹 Teaching Adoptive Parents to Care for Natural Hair
Every child deserves to be properly groomed and to feel confident in their sense of self and in their cultural identity. But for many …
1:43 “I have learnt It is their crown. It is their identity. It is what they look in the mirror every single day and then they see and they are proud of. It is part of who they are and for that reason, it was so incredibly important for me to learn how to care for their hair properly. Every single coil, every single strand of their hair needs to be gently cared for appropriately to what their hair specifically needs.” 😍😍😍😍😍💜💜💜👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
I love the fact that you have educated yourself on how to maintain your daughters hair. Small tip for her 4c type of hair water is her hairs best friend it allows you to use less product . Less is more ! Oils are also her hairs best friend. Ayurveda herbs and chebe, clay masks may be something you want to look into as well. These will help make it easier to maintain length, strength, and manageability. These are herbs that will be essential for her hair because they date back to her ancestors and history as a whole.Enjoy this journey and stay blessed.
This woman went out of way to make sure she properly care for her daughter’s hair. She is most definitely right. Our hair is a crown and many parents just want to put relaxer or straighten it because it seems like a burden. We love our crowns and we need to show them to the world more!!! Thank you so much! This honestly makes me cry tears of happiness 😭❤️❤️❤️ Ma’am I applaud and respect you greatly!!!!
As a Black women, she’s more informed and knows more than a lot of African American mothers out there Edit: Why do people have to twist and turn the comment I made above? Speaking as a black women, I have encountered damage to my hair because of perms, and “just not knowing”. Born in the 80’s so many women close to my age can relate to not having YouTube to teach us or internet for that matter. Greasing the scalp with petrolatum or mineral oil, perms, improperly straightening hair etc.. Yes, there have been huge improvements and healthy “hair consciousness” and movements in our African American community but there are still some women/girls still not informed and I am shocked that women are still perming their young girls hair due to the amount of info out there. But, please people for once quit trying to twist a comment into a million different directions. As for the women in the article, thanks for sharing this to mothers out there that need to know. That is how most of us here learned by sharing and perusal YouTube articles.
This is DEDICATION 101! Thank you for educating yourself so that you can best take care of your children. I am a black woman and I am SO lazy….I’m not even gonna lie😆 I just keep my hair cut really short because I HATE doing my natural hair. But, you are awesome and everything you are saying is so very true. With our various hair types, you do have to be mindful of the products used because what works for one may not work for the other. But, great job, Mom!!!👍
What a pretty lil girl she’s lucky to have an adoptive parent who actually willing to learn about her hair and how to upkeep it. Even white moms who’s biological kids are mixed lots of the time can end up neglecting the fact their hair is different and I see it allot, not every time but allot so this is beautiful! You’re awesome and I have respect for ur willingness and open mindedness.
I’m a white chick, and I saw this on my local news just now. I had a few friends who struggled with their hair. And just knowing how much goes into African American hair plus the unfortunately negativity :(, this literally brought a couple tears to my eyes! Thank you for being the difference! They have gorgeous hair, and so many beautiful styles. Please, embrace your hair, ladies !!! ❤️
I care for patients at a hospital, and I often wash and style my ladies’ hair when they are too weak to do it on their own. All of the hygiene products provided at the hospital are designed for caucasian hair which is sooooo frustrating. I learned to take care of my curls from my lovely black neighbor, and I now use products designed for “ethnic” hair. I’ve decided to buy an extra bottle of my favorite root rinse and keep it in my locker for my patients with braids, weaves, and natural kinks and curls:) It’s so important to be inclusive–even when it comes to hair care!
This article and what you’re saying literally is making me tear up. I’m not African American, but I am a Latina with very curly hair and only 3 years ago I started learning how to take care of my hair… I’m in my mid 30’s…. can you imagine that. Wish my mother had taken some time and Educated herself on hair. Instead what was said about my hair is that it was horrible. You’re an inspiration.
I know everyone is really in love with this woman and how she does her child’s hair but can we also take a second to acknowledge how beautiful and loving her family is in the background?? Specifically 11:32 when her kids are all cuddled up on the couch! It’s sooooo adorable and I can just tell they’re such a loving family 💛
” Every single coil every single strain of their hair needs to be gently cared for appropriately to what their hair specifically needs” This is so true and I can tell by the passion in your voice how much you love and care for your daughters hair! Thank you thank you for this article !! I seriously love this !
As a black woman, this is heart warming!! I’ve seen many in your position not invest in learning about black hair and not do anything to their children’s hair. You have not only educated yourself but you are killing it SiS!! I’m so proud of you and when your daughters get older they will be so proud that you their mother!! New subbi
This reminds me of my own childhood. My mother has traditionally straight, Hispanic hair and when I was younger she would study the hair patterns of lil black girls on the bus and try to do it with me at home. Your baby will thank you when she’s older for being able to give her this kind of love and understanding the importance of our hair.
This mama has done her research so incredibly well. Her girl’s hair is so healthy and beautiful. Can definitely tell it has been very well taken care of. As a black woman (not African American) I just want to say kudos! We have a saying here that says “how do you notice if a little black or mixed girl has a white mother? Answer: Their hair is a mess!” After this article, this saying is no longer accurate lol
It doesn’t sound super overwhelming…it sounds like love. Black children need a special kind of love to to have their hair cared for. Every Mother of a black child has access to God’s Grace to get that special love and you clearly have it. You wanna come over and do my baby’s hair?😒 Pray for me y’all 🤦🏾♀️
I’m adopted into a white family and there just weren’t resources like this when I was a kid. Thankfully my parents got help and didn’t get my hair chemically straightened with a relaxer. But I didn’t wear my hair curly till highschool and only got my hair washed when I was going to the salon to get it straightened. This is so important, I didn’t think I was capable of wearing my hair curly and taking care of it because no one was there to teach me and I thought if my parents couldn’t do it then how could I? The effort you’ve put into this will pay off even more in middle school and highschool when she’s not afraid of her own hair because her mother wasn’t afraid of her hair.
This just made me shed a tear. I’m a hairdresser and I’ve had many parents that bring their adopted kids in because they just don’t want to deal with their hair types. It warms my heart to see someone take pride in their child’s culture and learning how to take care of their hair. You are amazing 🙌🏾
I am a white grandmother of two beautiful mixed boys. My daughter is getting overwhelmed with the boys’ natural hair so I’ve offered to help out. I’ve watched many articles on caring for African Canadian hair and this one is really helpful. P.s. I mentioned to my grandsons that I will be helping with their hair care and they were so pleased I almost cried. It’s so important to honour their culture in as many ways as we can.
My mom is also white and I’m soooo grateful to her. She was a hairstylist, but was never trained to deal with African hair or even Asian hair but she took the time to learn. She always cared for curls and I LOVEEE having my mom do my hair. She taught herself and did an amazing job. I love going to her house so she can do my hair lol
I don’t expect other races to know how to style Black hair, (now that more Black women are going natural, we have to relearn our hair as well), but I do wish they were more educated about it because they always assume African American hair is dirty. Thank you for educating yourself and your audience. Your daughter is very lovely and her hair style looks adorable! You are a wonderful mom!
Thank you for this! I was raised by a white woman who didnt take the time to learn about my needs as a Black child and it left me with a lot of trauma around things like my hair. Its absolutely heartwarming to see how much you care for her and for other little girls who might otherwise experience what I did. Thank you!
Christy, as an African-American woman I can say that to this day my natural hair is one of my biggest insecurities. Luckily, I grew up with a loving mother who fixed my hair in ponytails & braids until I was old enough to do my own hair. Going out of your way to learn how to do your child’s hair AND use the property products to promote growth, nourishment and strength is so vital to not only your child’s hair but more importantly their confidence! I LOVE seeing this! Please keep it up 🤗💆🏽♀️
So as a black girl. I can say that the fact that this mom is taking the time and dedication to learn about her daughter’s black hair is great. And I particularly love the fact that she has that little girl’s hair extremely moisturized. I feel like most black girls don’t even know that. black girls hair needs to be moisturized at all times. we can’t have dry hair, if we have dry hair it breaks off. Moisturize at all times. Great article mama
My good God..This woman is an absolute Angel! I got so emotional perusal this article as a black woman. You have the same heart my father has (my father is white). Thank you for caring so much, and thank you for really loving us and learning all you can to accept us was we are. My father did the same thing. I’m the luckiest girl in the world. Your bond with your daughter is so beautiful to watch. GOD BLESS YOU 🙏 😘❤
As a Black woman, I am so happy to see this because I am so tired of seeing Black adopted kids with white parents and the child’s hair either looks matted together or EXTREMELY DISASTROUS. And then they have the nerve to decline FREE HELP. Too many times I find they want the Black kid, but not the Black community. I appreciate this woman, because she’s doing what she’s suppose to!!!!✌🏽
This is dope! She really knows how to take care of and do her black child’s hair. Even how she handles her hair you can tell she really took the time to learn.. no shade but a lot of white woman look funny even touching black hair. So this is beautiful. Because our hair is very important and once you get the hang of it, it’s not as hard as some will think☺️☺️🙂
Wow just 🤩 cannot believe I just learn more about my hair from someone outside my race.. your such an amazing mom. It shows how much you truly love your kids by taking the time to educate yourself & value & understanding the physical & emotional process of caring for our crown 👑 with love, patience, tenderness ❤️ this by far the dopest family YouTube I’ve seen. Growing up my Caucasian grandmother was always at war with my hair it was so painful. She tried using all the products to detangle my hair & the outcome was never pretty lol… as I got older I had to forgive her for what she didn’t know. And I had to learn to love & appreciate my natural hair & understand it’s not a burden it just requires a different type of love, patience & tenderness. I’ve been natural for 5yrs now the best decision & journey of my life. It’s truly a new day
…..OMG… my mouth is OPEN!! I’m tearing up I am SO proud to have seen this. Like you didn’t just educate yourself you ED👏🏽U👏🏽CATED yourself! I’m black and you told me more things about our hair then my black mom did lol. Your daughter is So beautiful and blessed to have such an invested and loving mom. Cherry on top for the silk scarf. Ok I’m gonna go wipe my eyes now 😍😍
I love how much respect you have for our hair. Most women who have black children and aren’t black themselves either leave their child’s hair a mess or push the task on a black woman. The fact that you took the time to learn techniques speaks volumes. Loved this article. I do want to offer a little advice.. if you dampen the hair just a tad and add a little drop of oil you can save on the amount of product you use. 💕
I am perusal you and had flashbacks on my childhood. My momma didn’t know how to do my hair and yes it affected my self esteem. I got tease and many time mistaken for a boy. I am 58 years old and I am still learning how to maintain my hair. I am happy to say that I love ❤️ my hair and I love me. It’s been a my pleasure to watch this article and see how much you have committed to care for your daughters hair! Blessings to you and you are an amazing momma !
Omg as a white woman with half black kids I always felt like I needed a lil help maintaining there hair properly but I asked my mother in law for help and did my research. I’m so happy to see other mother’s helping out the one’s that dont have that mother in law that I was blessed with so I just wat to thank u for educating this to others.. PS: Dads learn this too
Girl, I’ve watched several of your articles, and I’m always impressed with your level of straight KNOWLEDGE about caring for African American hair! Your love and PASSION is contagious!! SO loving, caring, giving and compassionate. I love your spirit! Keep doing what you’re doing; your children will one day rise up and call you blessed!❤️
This hurts to watch because my mother gave up on my hair when I was around 9. It was long and thick that went down to my back. She permed it until it broke off all the way to my shoulders. I’m around 3 1/2 years natural from transitioning and honestly wish I had a mother like this to remind me that my hair is a beautiful physical trait of mine and that it shouldn’t be rushed. Thank you for taking the time to put so much effort in your daughter’s hair. It looks so healthy!!!
I’m a professional Stylist in Detroit, and I specialize in natural hair. I have a lot of young African American clients, and I must say even their African American moms have such a hard time doing their children’s hair. They don’t even try, they give up, which keeps me in business but, I really want to teach parents how to care for their children’s hair. Thank you for this!
She seriously loves children she adopted three. She’s amazing mothers of multiple children are superheroes actually superwomen to me. All moms. I’m grateful for mine and my dad. I have an amazing dad. When my parents got divorced my dad got custody of me and my sister. And he’s the best dad ever. Parents that show love like this mom are extraordinary. I’ve been perusal some really horrible articles on YouTube of child abuse lately. There was a time when I couldn’t but there’s this guy on YouTube with the title “Evil Intentions”. He’s so compassionate when he tells the stories that it makes it bearable to listen. Anyway I digress. Mrs. Gior is phenomenal. I love this woman.
You’ve learned more about black hair care from raising your own children than some of us learn in our ENTIRE lives. The tight braids, ponytails, and constant styling is the main reason a lot of black women struggle with retaining long hair now. You made me wanna go moisturize my own dry scalp lol. A great tip to avoid straightening the hair as they get older and want to show off some of their length, is to do an ultraaaaaaaaaaa low, gentle blow dry. It looks really fab and fluffy for things like picture day and special occasions without exposing them to damaging levels heat. I started doing that recently to save money, and it really turns heads. Keep showing your girls how much you love them. They are so blessed to have you 🙂
This put tears in my eyes. I was one of those unlucky girls who was raised without knowledge of their hair. I was in two different homes and neither household knew what to do. I wore ponytails all the time and as a result I have balding on my edges. She is so blessed to have you as her mom! keep shining. she’s beautiful <3
As a black women this reminds me of when my own mother would do my hair and I just want you to know that this article brought me tears at how caring and loving you are for your daughter exactly how she is and you are doing an amazing job. Her hair looks amazing, moisturized, and it’s really cute for a little girl and I just love this article so much.
i’m literally crying, not even being dramatic. i am genuinely crying, it warms my heart to know there is still non people of color out there who care so much to research and put dedication into caring for the black children’s hair. you’re doing amazing and i an greatful she had someone like you to take care of her in many ways her birth mother couldn’t
Hi my name is Trinity and I’m 14. When I get older I want to be a foster parent and later adopt. I’m adopted myself, I’m mixed and my parents are white, my mom is like you with my hair. She has informed me on how to take care of it since I was little and my hair is really healthy because of it. When I get older I would like to become a dermatologist and have a big house for my big family. I really envy you with what you do and the messages to send through your content! Thank you ❤️🥰
BEAUTIFUL MOM AND BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE &LOVE AND SOMEONE WELL INVESTED IN THE HEALTH AND OF HER DAUGHTER’S HAIR WHICH HELPS HER SELF ESTEEM TO ALLOW HER TO FEEL AS BEAUTIFUL AS SHE IS!!! I’M A HAIRDRESSER TODAY BECAUSE MY MOM’S TREATMENT OF MY HAIR WAS SO ROUGH AND AWFUL I HAD BALD SPOTS IN MY HAIR, SO I STARTED DOING MY HAIR FROM THE AGE OF 7 AND DIDN’T DO MUCH BETTER IN TAKING CARE OF MY HAIR PROPERLY EITHER AND ENDING UP PUTTING A RELAXER AND DESTROYING MY THIN ALREADY POORLY MANAGED HAIR…. THIS article JUST TOUCHED MY HEART ❤ THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL 😍 FAMILY
I come from mixed race parents. My mum took the time to understand my hair, would plaît or twist it. And would take me to the Afro Hair Show in London. I think I took it for granted, but looking back on it now, she did so without tutorials. She spoke to relatives of my dad, and hair dressers, and friends, and cared for me in such an important way. You’re doing so much for your daughter’s self worth and confidence.
I don’t know why this made me cry. This was such a relaxing article, and such a nice mental and emotional vacation from the news currently. You give her so much attention and care and tenderness and consideration, and you talk about her hair with with so much respect. You have clearly done so much research to be the best mama you can be. I love it! (And your baby girl is just gorgeous!)
I have to be honest and say that although I watch youtube articles sometimes, I’ve never subscribedto any. I am in tears as I type this, after hearing how much love you put into your baby girl’s hair! I am a white mama who just adopted the most amazing African American baby who is 3 months old, now. Her hair texture is just now coming is, as it’s just been baby hair until now. I know i need to learn how to take care of her hair as well as I can. Thank you more than you know for your articles! I pray that I can take care of my baby girl’s hair like you do! You are an inspiration!
As a girl who grew up with a mom of different race, this is so moving to me. My Mexican mom did my hair all the time. From braids to ponytails to buns. She had no experience working with African hair before let alone 4c hair. It wasn’t always fun and games. She did get frustrated a few times but at the end of the day we both took pride in each hairstyle. It is truly amazing to see such wholehearted person like you who knows what is takes to raise a child and instill confidence in them. I have no doubt your two beautiful girls will grow up loving and praising their natural hair because of your actions. Thank you!
I’m screaming!! I love this article. I’m mixed, so I grew up with an Asian mom. Hair is soooo so so important! My mom never did my hair, I was ASHAMED of my curly hair. If you don’t help show your daughters the beauty in being black and having curly hair, even if you’re not black yourself it will be so hard for them to understand. I appreciate you taking the time to really learn how to do their hair🖤 keep going mama! You’re doing amazing
i cannot explain to you how you just made my day. i am a mixed 13 year old girl. ive grown up around so many people who didn’t care about me or looked at me badly because i was mixed. especially how my hair is. it’s amazing that there are amazing people like you in the world out here taking the time and learning how to help your daughter. this article touched my heart. you’re changing the world by this. i applaud you ma’am you are amazing. thank you for this. keep doing you please because people like you are the ones who change the world🥺🥺.
im white, with a white partner, planning on havin biological children, but im still just sitting here amazed at the process of caring for her hair. Especially as someone who literally never styles my hair and chopped it off at one point for less tangles. Props to everyone who takes the time to care for their or others hair.
Guys Christy is everything. Am literally learning from this article how to take care of my African hair n am a grown woman. You are a very responsible mother in all aspect, other people would send them to a salon, but u know exactly how to bond with your children n cherishing every moment. Can’t wait to grow with your family and see how big the children become. All the way from Namibia Xoxoxo
You should have said “washed their hair once a week” a little louder for the folks who think us black people are “disgusting” for not washing our hair everyday 😒 I love that you are giving knowledge as well as caring for your daughter’s hair. Its a long journey to understand our natural hair and I’m so glad you are willing to go the distance. Your girls will love you forever for you doing this. Thank you for sharing and actually caring enough to want to inform other moms about proper care for our coils! ❤🤗
A spray bottle to wet the hair can help with detangling. Especially when you don’t want to wash their hair and just want to switch the styles up. It takes away from using to much product and to much pulling when parting. Great job on her hair.. it is a science but you got it down now. Her hair is so beautiful and healthy 🤗
I took like 35 screen shots with captions on for the first 4 minutes of this article…. I’m crying. You cover so much! The care, the importance, sleep care, pillow cases! My goddess momma you rock my world. I’m biracial, my dad was black, my mother white. My dad was killed by a drunk driver when I was 5 weeks old and my mother was so depressed by that loss that care for my hair wasn’t even a blip on her radar until I was almost 10 years old. She had to make a POC co-worker friend to get advice. This was the late 80’s early 90’s. There was no Pinterest, YouTube, or any openly accessible training for my mom. Not black shaming a girl for her hair is so important! I begged for relaxers, did so much damage trying to achieve that white girl beauty. I think that’s why I’m crying so hard and why I feel it’s so important to share this article. May you be viral and prosper!
Don’t forget about us step mamas! 😘 I have 4 beautiful children (bio and strep blended) and 3 are African American/Puerto rican. I only have one girl but have been practicing and learning many protective hairstyles! Just recently started learning how to add braiding hair (she is 10). SUCH a bonding experience. She also has severe nut allergies so we have to be extra careful what products we use (no coconut, macadamia, almond etc) thanks for your article!!
I really wish my niece’s mom was like this. Whenever she’s with us her hair gets so long and thick then a week with her mom and it just breaks and gets dry, brittle, short cause she refuses to treat her hair like it’s black. She uses white products and routine when my niece has a full fro and black hair. Just makes me so mad
I came across this article while looking for tips for my daughter’s best friend. Her father is a single working dad, and she has asked me to learn to do her hair a few times. My daughters both have very thin, straight hair, so I was a little apprehensive that I might not be able to handle it. But this article is has been so informative… thank you so much for sharing.
Wow, African American hair mesmerizes me. It’s so beautiful, and can do anything. So lovely. From perusal your articles and others, I now understand why it’s considered a crown. Such love, care, and time is put into it. Your daughters are such gorgeous girls. They are all so lucky to have such a caring mama ❤️
Well done, Momma! Thank you for sharing and respecting baby girl’s crown. I’ve shared this with my dear friends who are fostering an African American boy. He is the cutest thing. It’s important for foster parents to know it’s ok to not know. Asking for help is the greatest thing you can do for your children. Once again, well done.
I‘ve struggled so much with transitioning my hair and coming to accept it and people like you are the ones that give me hope. You’re a small reminder that my hair is maintainable, beautiful, and acceptable. I was crying tears of joy 3 minutes in. Thank you so much for giving not only your daughters confidence and healthy hair, but your other children familiarity, respect, and grace to treat other people with this much care. ❤️
YouTube led me to this article. And honestly, I was nervous (being African American myself). I love how much you have been willing to learn for African hair.. keep doing your best, keep your mind open, our hair is ever changing, and thank you for celebrating their hair. 😭💕 Your babies may not know this now but they will forever look back on this with happiness.
Hey Mama, you are doing a great job on your daughter’s hair and I applaud you for taking the time to find out what they need to maintain their hair health. I totally get that your daughters have different hair types. I have three sisters and we all have different hair types and colors and we all had to take the time to find out what our hair needs to stay healthy. Good for you for putting in the work to research their needs and providing it. And thank you so much for making it clear that you are proud of your kids’ hair and you aren’t trying to change it. That is awesome. Thanks for sharing this article.
As an adoptee, this makes me so emotional. You’ve taken the time to learn about their hair which isn’t common among white adoptive mothers. I’m learning my hair and I wish my mom knew how to take care of my hair. I’m I’m learning to take care of my hair with protective styles. So major props…tip keracare is amazing…get it at Sally’s or jcpenney…not amazon. The detangling shampoo is amazing.
This made me so emotionally happy. I’m a white girl trying to have babies. Not looking like I’m going to genetically be able to have my own. So adopting would be a way or embryo adoption. Either way .. this was the best thing I’ve ever watched .. and now it makes me want to learn how to do a little African American girl or boys hair. Omgoodness 😍 …. this was honestly so inspirational and I’m so glad this article was recommended to me. I’m hitting that subscribe button now .. and to all the African American females and Males in the comments section below … I respect your Hair Craft .. and I would love to learn 😘
You’ve taken so much care to learn about your daughters hair, its beautiful. Not only that, you’ve identified how your other daughters hair needs a different routine based on the different texture. You understand how tension damages their hair, the balance between retaining moisture using leave in conditioner, yet not over washing their hair to retain their natural oils. But most importantly, I can tell by how you talk about your daughter and her hair that you genuinely enjoy learning and genuinely consider your daughter and her hair BEAUTIFUL, and THIS alone, is absolutely amazing to see. I appreciate you, and hope you’ve helped other non-African american parents of AA children to understand, love and nurture their children’s hair. Well done, and keep being the caring and loving human being and parent you are 😉
My best friend growing up was mixed, and her mom died when we were very young. Her white dad of course didn’t know how to do her hair. I didn’t realize that she was insecure about it until we were 11 and a woman from church offered to do her hair. I had never seen my friend glow so much or say she felt pretty. That’s when I realized how important hair care can be, and I’m glad we live in a world where we can help one another. It’s a goal of mine to be a foster mom when I am financially stable enough to start a family. As someone with extremely low maintenance white hair, I appreciate that there are resources like these articles because I would be at a loss even styling hair more similar to mine. Thank you for sharing.
I love the fact that when she talking about Her daughter’s she makes it clear these are my kids..because even though u didnt give birth once u adopt a kid or kids there your legally your ..I also can tell she really love these kids as if she had them herself .. You have my RESPECT.. God bless you and your family
I can’t be mad at this at all! There are many people who adopt children outside of their own race or even have mixed children and don’t have a clue how to take care of their hair. They don’t even try to figure it out. Was perusal 90 day fiancé quarantine and Molly’s daughter is clearly half black and she decided to cut all her hair off because of quarantine she can’t take her to the hair shop. I was annoyed af.
at around 8:13 when you started talking about the relaxers that brought up so many memories. my mom is hispanic and my dad is black and neither of them knew how to do my hair so they constantly used relaxers in my hair and as a result it broke off almost all my hair, went from waist length hair to shoulder length because of the breakage and for yeaaars afterwards i could not grow my hair past my collarbones so now as an 18 year old i decided to just completely shave my head to start over… all that to say PLEASE do not relax your childs hair
Wow!! You’re an amazing mother. I wish others, especially those that create biracial children also take the time to learn and embrace their childrens hair. It really is their confidence, and crown. My niece who is biracial her mom has destroyed her hair by not taking the time to research or take any advice. She puts products that are created for her hair in my nieces hair. 🙄 It’s sad to see her hair because I know what it could be. I also know as my niece gets older she will not like her hair. I’m already seeing it. She wants straight, long hair like Elsa. ( she says it all the time) Or long hair like her cousin. ( my other niece that’s biracial and has long curly hair). She always tells me she wishes I could do her hair everyday instead of her mom. Anyways great article I hope you inspire others to invest in their kids hair.
I’m mixed, and my (white) mother just cut off my hair because she didn’t know how to deal with it. Eventually, we did get what we needed, and she would take us to afro shops to get our hair done. But I still don’t really know how to take care of my own hair, because I was never taught how to do it properly (I’m gonna learn, though; especially in case my future kids get the same texture). I’ve had dreads for over a decade now, so it’s not a problem. That said, people with mixed or adopted kids need to be mindful of this.
A looooot of triggered racists in this comment section over the white family who had 6 adopted kids who were only of a darker complexion I doubt they are refusing to adopt kids based on race, we see that the mother loves her children greatly When you adopt a kid a good parent picks the personality and the kids situation over anything else Over the age Over the appearance Over everything And I can say, that is a good parent
I live in the Chicago area, I’m afro latina, and have no clue how to do my natural hair. My mom has been relaxing her own hair for forever, and had relaxed my hair for the past 12 years of my life. I’m now 19, and in college and I’ve just past the one year mark of no relaxers. I’m scared to big chop but I’m excited to embrace my natural hair. If these moms can learn, so can I!
As a gay man, I always knew that adoption would likely be a part of my future. As I’ve gotten older, now 22, I’ve realized that I personally would not ever consider bringing another child into this world when there are SO many beautiful children already born who need loving homes. I just did a bit of looking into data on adoption in the US, and as I expected, Black children are the least likely to be adopted 💔💔 I also learned that it costs significantly less to adopt a Black child than a child of a different racial identity, especially White kids. Kids have price tags being put on them based on their racial category before they are even born 😢 Apparently the majority of adoptive parents are still White, well educated, and relatively affluent. I am White, soon to be a first-generation college graduate, and may be headed for a decently-paid future (although I come from a working class, rural family). I only mention these parts of who I am because I recognize and worry about the realities a future adoptive child of color would face in our world. One news article that came up shared the story of a transracial family from my current city, Minneapolis, who has experienced people in public making comments / asking questions about their children being a different race. And I also worry that my child might experience a lot of identity and emotional distress if they are growing up in a home where their parents don’t look like them. But all I could do is my best to love them, listen to them, and seek advice from members of the Black community about what would be best for my kids.
I’m white, & I’m married somebody white, so I don’t really have a dog in this fight, but I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. I’ll never forget a group of black girls were talking in gym class about interracial dating. Very loud, for everyone to hear… one girl said, “If your gonna have our children, then you need to learn how to do their hair.” I don’t know why that stuck with me, but it did. Years later I moved next door to a biracial family. The mom was white, the dad was black, & she never did her kids hair. Every time I saw those kids I would always think about what that girl said in the 7th grade… but I never had the heart to repeat it to their mom. Cowardice I know. 😬
My sister was adopted and is light skinned my mom being white and only ever dealt with white hair always struggled with my sisters hair witch in turn made my sister very self conscious about her hair . so it’s really not just about hair being treated properly it’s also about the kid that is wearing that hair and how much confidence they can get from felling “pretty”
I’m Hispanic and my husband is White…. I have major infertility problems, both my husband and my mother were in foster care at some point in their childhood. I can’t wait to adopt a sweet child or teenager that needs a loving home. Thank you and God bless for giving us a resource to care for our future. 💕
This is so wholesome. I’m mixed, half Korean & my mom’s hair texture is the complete opposite of mine, so it was 50/50 hit & miss when it came to her styling my hair. I used to get my hair straightened a lot, but now I’m totally natural. It’s actually still a huge challenge for my own self on how to style my OWN hair. These kiddos & their parents are super cute & I wish them all the best!
My parents had no idea how to deal with my curls and I hated my hair for all of my childhood. It affected my self esteem so much. This is so important that parents are learning these skills to help their kids feel confident in their own skin (and hair). Cheering these parents on! As an adult I have learned how to take care of my hair and it had made a world of difference!
imagining arguing in the comments that white people cant adopt black children because the white parents might not know a lot about the black community. that’s the whole point! getting involved in the hair, making sure your child loves who they are and not stripping them away from their culture. any parent with a child know its learning along the way. you’re not going to know every single thing about black culture. hell, I’m black and my mom doesnt know how to do jack squat with my natural hair because shes been perming and straightening it her for a long ass time so when I started to become natural, I had to learn the shit on my own. white parent who adopt black kids, all I’m saying is that you try. try to do their hair, try to reach out and find help, understand that your child is going to feel out of place at times but it’s your job as a parent, white, black anything to make sure your child feels love. in transracial adoption, learning about the difference is important but everything you need to learn should come from wanting to be a loving parent. not because you absolutely have to just because your child is black. learn to take care of your child because they are your child, not just because they’re black. there shouldn’t be one or the other.
I’m 100% white as hell. That being said, my mother had stick straight hair and I had curly/wavy hair. I was told to take care of it like she took care of hers. We would get in fights where she would insist I didn’t brush my hair when I had JUST brushed it and if course it now looked a frizzy mess. I don’t have any pictures of my hair looking even slightly decent until I was much older. I know this is much different, but I feel for these kids and I’m glad their parents are taking the time to learn how to care for their children’s hair. My husband has stick straight hair but so far both of my kids have my hair texture and I’m ensuring it’s taken care of, properly. ❤️
I worked at a summer camp every summer and there was this one little girl who wasn’t in my class but was across the hall from my mine so I always saw her and we had activities together because the groups were similar ages. I will never forgot how messy and tangled her hair was and how she knew it was. I just felt so bad because her mom put her hair in 4 puff balls everyday and her hair was breaking off and dry! She would also itch it in pain sometimes. I loved that little girl so much and wanted to help the mom but the mom was extremely intimidated that I was black. It effects their self image so much because the days that her hair was redone and brushed her personality was different and more joyful. So please please please. If you plan on adopting yay!! Thank you but you are hurting the child if you ignore their hair and culture.
The problem is too many white people try to live in the “we don’t see color” world. That just doesn’t exist. Your black child’s hair is not the same as yours or your white children. You may not see them or treat them differently but they’re still black and as their parent it’s your job to embrace that and learn what you need to in order to raise a healthy black child. I’m so proud of these parents who seek out help and I’m so glad there are people who are willing to help without judgement.
i remember when i was about 6-10 years old i was best friends with these kids from church and they were mixed. their mother was white but she did everything she could to take care of their hair and make it look as good as possible. she used to teach me how to do their hair too because i’m not black and i don’t have their hair type. this family really inspired me and made me realize how amazing black hair culture is and the history behind it.
This made me cry! These children are so beautiful and I appreciate their adoptive parents for actually learning how to maintain their hair, so the better children are prepared to manage their hair later on in life. So many adopted black children never learn how to manage their hair if they aren’t taught early on, so this is absolutely amazing. 🥺❤
I’m so shook with the amount of care natural hair needs…. I mean I always knew it was hard but recently I have gotten to know it’s a whole process that takes like a lot of time…. I used to think it was just like okay you need to put in some conditioner the chill for a bit tgen straighten it then chill for a bit but it is like a 6 hour upper body workout and so demanding… I will never be able to do it and I stan black women for being able to take care of their hair so well, it’s a whole prescience. My own hair is the most easiest kind yo work with, its wavy straight, and I wash it once a week and still feel like I wanna cut it all off but damn now I’m just like counting my blessings and just educating myself on the various types of hair and care and stuff..
I wish this was around for my family when I was adopted. I was taken in at birth and every man women and child no matter the race was against the fact that a white family took me in. My dad was in fights with people in our country and even to today at 23 years of age people assume negatives about my family because of the colour of their skin. What astounds me even today is the biggest outcry comes from the black African community in my country( I’m in South Africa so to us no matter your race you are considered African if you are born on this land). At age 18 I had a fellow students mother (black woman) physically try to force me in her car yo take me to the police because in her eyes I’ve been brainwashed and kidnapped. But, thank the good Lord, people are becoming more lenient to the newer generation of adoptive families. Seeing this warms my heart and I hope it continues to become something to celebrate instead of shun and shame
Thank you. I loved this story and the amazing work you are doing. Reminds me of a time when I was a volunteer reader in a public school 1st grade class. After I was finished with the book a little white girl, whose eyes had intently been on me the whole time, leaned towards me with a question on her face. Her eyes travelled down the length of my locks. She wanted to feel them. I said, “Sure, honey, you can touch them.. You go right ahead.” Her face was aglow as she smiled and ran her hands down a few of my locks’ ends. Then, she let out a big, “Wow!” She appeared joyously satisfied, as if she’d been sitting there during my entire reading, just hoping for that moment. I appreciated the little girl’s healthy curiosity. Because she was asking, seeking to learn, about a part of my culture. I was happy to oblige her young and open mind.
I am crying. Missing my childhood bf…. she was mixed and oooooooh boy I was taught at an early age that you do NOT touch all those amazing barrettes and baubles. Missing the little girls in my old neighborhood who cornered me one day and worked a magic starbust of cornrows into my fine blond hair. Tamika, you must be the most patient person on the planet to deal with white ladies all day, for these little girls to get their pride in order.
This was really wonderful to see! Tamika saw a need and helped. She is a superwoman 💙. Our hair can be difficult to work with sometimes and other races don’t know a lot about our hair; history, culture, texture, maintenance. Shoot I’m still learning! And some races are really honesty wanting to learn with prejudice or wanting to appropriate but appreciate. Blessing to those families that adopted/foster kids in need because there are so many that need loving homes 💕
I’m really happy these women not even the biological parents were willing to put the effort in to learn. I have a biological white mom but still my hair wasnt cared for properly. My mother never really made an attempt and just decided to flat iron, relax and cut my hair because it was easier for her to manage. I’m 20 now and i love my hair currently, I do wish my hair was they way it was before the damage but growing up I hated my natural hair, it was so frustrating that my mom didnt know how to do it and neither did I since no one taught me and she eventually stopped doing the relaxers and straightening at home and would take me to a white hairdresser. By the time I got to middle school and wanted my coil curls back they were damaged and so was my sense of identity as a black women. It took years of youtube black hair treatments, oils and research to learn about my own hair and what I needed to do to it. My hair has grown and become healthier over the last few years and it is curlier, closer to what I had before the damage but I think my hair Is permanently changed. While my mother just sees it as a lack of knowledge and effort and no big deal, for me it shaped how I viewed myself growing up. She and lots other white people like her dont understand the importance of hair to black people. im going to be spending the next few years healing from childhood experiences, finding my indentiy, finding love for my self and my hair. Please if you thinking about adopting a child who is of a different race or your the white parent in a interracial relationship you need to be willing to invest the time and educate yourself so that you can be there for your kids and can still connect with and comfort them even though y’all are diffrent.
im an asian adoptee, but this is a really amazing thing that adoptive parents actually want to be culturally and racially aware! growing up, my white mom would just chop off my hair to shoulder length because its very coarse, thick, and grew 10 inches every 6 months and she didnt know how to style it since its so stubbornly straight. her hair in comparison is the thin, wispy blonde that never grew past her shoulders. she was actually pretty abusive about cutting my hair and keeping it short. i never felt like i had control over my own hair and as a result, i hardly took care of it and let it get tangled into visible knots. to this day i still struggle to care for it, although perusal tutorials online has helped me a lot. i know its a very different experience compared to black adoptees though. im just glad that there actually white parents out there that care.
I love this! You need to open up partner places doing this in other towns and states. Honestly I’d love to be part of it, I was the only white girl in my cosmetology school that could braid so I feel I’ve got a good start, plus my hair is naturally 3B curls so I’ve dealt with some texture my entire life, and have styled friends who had 4C hair. I think first of all that ALL cosmetology schools should also HAVE to teach how to style all types of hair especially all types of curls. It’s a shame how little of it is taught, which feels sadly like more racism in this country. So I absolutely adore this idea and hope to see it around the country more! You women are amazing, especially Tamekia! <3