i want to do some learning, book reading and preparing now while we wait for our classes in the fall. and one thing that has been recomended is to learn to care for aa hair incase we should recieve a child with this heritage. i have always been very good with hair in general, but don't know the first thing about aa hair other than it needs alot of special care sometimes (depending on the type). i know how to braid and twist. i plan on getting one of those little braiding machines they sell in walmart. they look like they might be a time saver and they are only $15. but i would like to know how they do all those little sections so neat a precise!? lots to learn!
Hi,
As you can see in my sig I am AA. This is a good book.
Kids Talk Hair: An Instruction book for grown ups and Kids by Pamela Farrell
My tips would be to wash it once a week with Cream of Nature shampoo, apply a lite oil to the scalp and brush with a natural boar bristle.
Good Luck, if you have any questions feel free to pm me.
__________________ Exodus 23:25 You shall serve the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 None shall miscarry her young or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days.
thank youso much. i did find that book on amazon.com last night when i was doing a search. it sounded pretty good. now that i hear a real person recomend it i will be ordering it when i get my next paycheck. i also went to the website (dms you might want ot check it out! ) cornrowsansco.com and i found alot of interesting info. so i do think that this book will be very helpful. watch, now we won't end up getting an aa child and i'll have no need for all that new knowledge!
please don't use a hair braiding machine on your child's hair. i'm sure that product wasn't tested or designed to be used on aa hair. i think the main thing would be to use the right products for your childs hair type and keep it oiled and moisturized as our hair can break off easily if it's dry and brittle. if you braid or let someone else braid the hair just make sure that it's not done too tight 'cuz this can cause damage to the follicles. boys are easy-a close hair cut and it's done! let me know if you have any more questions.
thank you so much! i have so much to learn. i appreciate the info. if allowed (sometimes the birthparents are allowed to decide on haircuts) i will keep the boys hair trimmed close. and i diceded to start practicing braids on my neice. she is hispanic, so i know her hair is different, but it's long and i can at least practice different things on her hair. that way i won't need to buy a braiding machine. i will definitely keep you in mind if i have questions!
I'm Half Black Half Korean, so I have very interesting hair (wavy and extremely textured).
I grew up briefly with a caucasian stepmother who understandably didn't know the slightest thing about my hair which made the situation a nightmare! If you adopt an aa boy, you need to take him to an AA barber no exceptions, ask for advice from the barber also. If you have an AA girl, I would STRONGLY suggest you take her to a AA hair salon for a consultation or call and ask for advice depending on her age.
I can tell you upfront you will need different products and combs for AA hair especially detangling products. Or an easier alternative would be to take her to an AA braider to get her hair braided in cute little girl styles every other month or so. I know it sounds intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it, it's really not so bad.
GOOD LUCK!!
Since I am caucasian, my experiences are limited to my AA son's hair abd two biracial foster daughters I kept for 14 months.
Here's what I have learned. . . .(anyone who is AA, please correct me if I'm doing something wrong!!)
Isaiah (6)- His hair is getting thicker and curlier every day! I take him to a beautician (I'm not sure her nationality) who is married to an AA man and has biracial children. She cuts his hair really close. I use Motions shampoo, and oil hair conditioner. I used to use Luster's Pink Oil and Motions hair conditioner, but recently switched to something called MOM or something like that. It is an AA company and that conditioner smells wonderful!!!!! I don't care for the smell of the first two. So far, it seems to me that the Pink Oil conditions the best. Not sure what I will end up buying next time. . . As his hair changes, I find the need to try different products.
The foster daughters that I had hair different from Isaiah, and different from one another.
The 16 year old had very course, thick hair. She used a lot of grease and pink oil. She also got her hair straightened. If it was in the "growing out" stage, she used (a very expensive) ceramic hair iron that our beautician recommmended. It was very pretty when she finished with it, but it took her a long time.
The 15 year old had thick hair, but it was not coarse. It was long and curly. She was able to do a lot of different stuff with it. It was a lot easier for her to style. She used more pink oil and less grease.
Another thing for you to keep in mind is skin care. The girls' used a rich lotion (like Bath and Body Works) on their skin. Isaiah's skin is drier and he uses baby oil gel. No other lotion will do the trick. If you do not take care of their skin properly, it will become white and flaky (known as ashy).
I would also recommend a AA pediatrician if you can find one. There are none in our town but there have been several times when it would have helped a lot.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you would like more information based on my experiences these past three years.
Dawn
__________________ DH (32)
Me (29)
Son (7)- Adopted on 02/05/03!
"Part-time" Foster Parent
Would love to talk with other transracial families!
can anyone recomend a book on AA hair care? 
) cornrowsansco.com and i found alot of interesting info. so i do think that this book will be very helpful. watch, now we won't end up getting an aa child and i'll have no need for all that new knowledge! 
