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Parenting
Rose.9.6.03
member
Anyone perm or relax their young child's hair?
Rose.9.6.03
member
in Parenting
Due to a genetic condition, on of my DDs has half culry (tight, spiral curls) and half (stick) straight hair. It's very curly in the front and mostly straight on the sides and back - although it does have random patches of curls in the straight parts and a few random straight pieces in the curly parts.
Not the best pic, but it gives you the general idea.
We are still in the process of getting an official diagnosis of her syndrome (she has multiple skin issues), but whatever the diagnosis is, the geneticist has made clear that her hair will be permanently half curly, half straight - although the curls may relax a bit as she gets older. I haven't done anything to her hair, yet - as I was hoping that it would decide to go one way or the other.
Now I'm thinking about getting the straight parts permed or the curly parts relaxed. Recently, she's been getting a *ton* of comments from adults about her hair. We can't go out in public without somebody saying something. Most of the time people tell me that it's cute - people aren't mean about it. But it definitely makes her stand out. Occasionally, I get questions from people asking if she cut her own hair. I really don't care that much what other people think, but I do worry that she's going to be made fun of sooner or later by her peers. She starts a toddler preschool in August. I think that we won't have to worry too much about kids making fun of her there, but my guess is in the next year or so that might change - as kids get meaner and more verbal with age.
I'm leaning toward a perm because her curly hair is on the fragile side. Although, I won't do either until we clear things with her pediatric dermatologist and the geneticist. So any hair treatments probably wouldn't be done until after she turns 3 or so (she's 2.5 right now).
But I was wondering if anyone has permed or relaxed their child's hair. Do you know of any safer or healthier methods? I'm worried about using chemicals on such a small child. Is relaxing or perming healthier for the child and/or her hair? Just thought I'd get some info and ideas before talking to her doctors about it.
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Re: Anyone perm or relax their young child's hair?
I understand. She's such a cutie, but I guess kids just don't always see it that way, huh? I hope you figure something out!
I'm wondering if it's possible for her to grow out long? Or are the curls too fragile so they break off before it gets long?
If the curly part was long and one length, just to say her chin, or as long as the back of her hair is now - then it looks like the curls might just cover up the straight hair. You might not have to do anything to make her not stand out to other kids.
The curls aren't that fragile. The problem is that her hair seems to just get curlier and curlier and tighter and tighter as it grows out (my siggy pic is from last November when her hair was much shorter for comparision). If you pull the curly parts out straight - they are about twice as long as her straight parts. We keep cutting the straight parts because when they grow out, they look like a stringy mullet - not a good look.
Anyway, I'd love for the curls to cover the straight parts. It would be awhile before we do anything to her hair and it that time I will definitely give the curly part a chance to grow longer.
My mom had her hair relaxed for a while. She has very thick curly hair. She ended up stopping because she lost hair in clumps. I have an african-american friend who also lost hair in clumps. I wonder if it depends on the strength of the relaxer. I'd be afraid of using strong chemicals like that on a child's hair.
She really wanted to try thermal reconditioning (which I believe is less harsh) but she has psoriasis and her stylist wouldn't do it for that reason.
Is there a reason you can't just braid it or style it to hide the texture differences?
I think it'll work eventually. My hair ranges from wavy to curly on top, but is kinky curly underneath at my nape. That layer of hair is probably 3x longer than the hair above it. Even if it's fine hair, eventually the weight of the hair as it grows longer will help it stay down and cover the short hair.
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