LEARNING AND LOVING HIS WOOLLY HAIR

Learning and Loving His Woolly Hair

Out of all my children- and I have six, one came into this world with what I called at the time the old man hair.  He had no hair at the top but had hair around his head like it had been rubbed off in the womb and went bald.  Then when it finally decided to grow in, it was so kinky like a dry woolly pad.  No matter what I put in it I could not keep it moist. Jonah is the only baby I know that got a hair cut at six months.  When he got older he told me he wanted hair like his older brother Brendin.  Brendin's hair is much different, when he was born his hair was so straight he looked like a little Indian.  Then of course it got curly and grew and grew.  Now it reaches his bottom. So I decided to give Jonah's hair shot at growing out. I didn't know how I was going to work with it.  I thought to my self should I lock it? should I braid it? I'm trying to think how I can describe his hair.... it's like his hair grows from a dry parched desert, his scalp seems like something is missing where he can not retain moisture on it and it can not nourish his hair from within.  I really need to look this up because it's not like he is dehydrated like he been working on the plantation in the sun all day.  I seriously think this is condition, no joke.  When I put oil or conditioner on it will either sit on top or less than thirty minutes later it is thirsty again. So I experimented with different products and styles.

Finally after some trail and error I found some styles and products that work.  One of our favorite styles that we like to do often is what he like to call  the "sonic hedgehog".  It looks like locs but it's not.  It's tightly twisted and sinced his hair is so tightly coiled it looks like locs but it will loc fast if I let it.  I have to comb it out once a week.  He is extremely tender headed so I don't comb it often.  It is a must that I comb it once a week or it will loc!  The products I use are a leave in conditioner, any will do, but what works for him is Biotera (from Ross) and I use avocado oil.  I like avocado oil A LOT, it is the only heavy oil that I have found that actually penetrates to nourish inside and protects outside and is very high in amino fatty acids which our hair loves.  Then I use the eco styler gel to lock in and hold the style.  It's pretty easy to do- no comb no fuss.  I have a video of the process I go through down below. I will repeat this process as neccessary during the week, if we have to go somewhere.  Usually I will just moisturize it and keep it moving,  but remember COMB IT OUT ONCE A WEEK!

 

Are African Head Wraps Sexy?

I know I've mentioned in a recent post about how transitioning hair styles are not appealing or attractive by far.  In case many of you don't know what transitioning hair styles are, the photos below is one of them.  Very common around here where I live.

I call these the bush bitch look.  Sorry that's mean, sorry I really am.

Here in America decades ago we invented straightening combs and relaxers.  So I feel offended by these unattractive slave hair style" singing negro spiritual "Waning in the Water" til your hair grows back. Taking us back 200 years.

 I was talking to this lady while our kids were in the gym. She is from West Africa. Senegal to be exact. It was funny cause down a few seats from me, there was a lady with this afro puff on top of her head.

Yes I had to snap a photo.

This lady from Senegal was explaining to me that women in Africa don't walk around like they do here in the states. They have a more elegant presentation in public. She said, "the ladies are lazy by the head here". I laughed because I could not agree more. We were talking about having pride and holding our heads up high in admiration. Not with a "I don't give a care" attitude, that many women display here. By showing respect for yourself and your appearance, lets others see that and respect us as well.  That also goes far beyond appearance, our attitudes too. And we wonder why other races don't mess with us hardly. Sometimes it has nothing to do with them being prejudice, but a lot about the way they see us conduct ourselves. What we need to also realize, is that little stupid things like this affect us as a whole  and it's sad cause we can't even stick together. That's a whole other topic. So for now in this post I need to stick with hair. The women with these head wraps in these photos, to me represent a queen and someone that demands respect from anyone she encounters. So it's not a question of being sexy, it's a matter of showing integrity and dignity for oneself enough to care about what others thinks.  The styles in the pictures below is a beautiful way to transition and you don't have a stress about your hair because you don't have to worry about anyone seeing what's underneath.  That's a secret between you and God.