We all know hair is very important to the black woman!
We are taught from a young age that our hair is our glory. What about women born without hair due to conditions like alopecia? There are many forms of alopecia, but the most 7 common are the following: androgenic alopecia,alopecia areata,alopecia totalalis, alopecia universalis,alopcecia barbae, cicatricial alopecia, postpartum alopecia, and traction alopecia. I am not a dermatologist or beautician but here is an article that talk about the different forms of hair loss and treatment plan recommendations.
I remember growing up and always braiding hair in middle school, high school, and college. Hair braiding was my side hustle in school, so I became an entrepreneur at a very young age. My dream was to go to hair school and become a beautician. I remember the day I told my dad in high school I wanted to go to hair school, and he said you have so much in you what about math that you love. Then he said if you want to go to hair school, that is fine but make sure you own the multiple hair businesses. At that moment and time, I was torn between hair school or college. I decided to pursue college and major in accounting & finance. I don’t regret my decision of going to college because, I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl with lots of hair for me to do. Funny how things come full circle.
Growing up as a child I remember my mother taking me to get my hair done with my sister weekly or bi-weekly. Over time I use to think if I am going this much my hair should be extremely long, thicker, and healthy. My hair was very thick before ever going to a beauty shop, but overtime I noticed my hair breaking and thinning out after I got a sew in when I started going to the beauty shop regularly. Time went on and I decided to take matters in my own hands and stop going to the childhood beauty shop and see a dermatologist to figure out why my hair was breaking off. At that time the dermatologist did test and everything came back normal. The doctor did inform me that my hair was being pulled to tight with braids, chemicals, & sew ins. Therefore, the black dermatologist identified it as potential traction alopecia from someone putting chemicals and pulling my hair to tight (creating tension or traction) with hairstyles. Remind you this was years of damage that started during high school and me not knowing any better I trusted a beautician to take care of my hair. I thought because my mom got our hair done weekly at the beauty shop it would be long, thick, and healthy.
Once I learned more about healthy hair care on my own, I searched for a new beautician and salon that was focused on hair care and restoring my own hair. At the time my sister said why don’t you cut it all off and just start over. It’s not about length, but healthy hair. So, I did exactly that, I found a well know hairstylist that specialized in short cuts, got my hair cut, and started a new hair journey. Never in my life I would think the love of short hair would be my portion. I fell in love with my short cut. Most importantly I fell in love with the hair restoration journey and being comfortable to cut it all off and wear my own hair. I learned everything about maintaining healthy hair from my new beautician and she really changed my life. My confidence was boosted and I took what I learned and applied it to my beautiful baby girl hair from newborn stage. To this day I have always done my daughter hair and never put trust in a beautician to do what I could learn and do. My biggest fear was for my daughter to experience a painful hair journey and having to start all over to restore her own hair. It’s beauty in your ashes. No, I am not my hair, but I embraced a new healthy hair journey.
My daughter is 3 with a heathy grade of black 100% Afro hair. She loves her Afro, braids, twists, ponytails, and can even wear it straight. I love that at a young age she is learning how to be confident in her own skin color and grade of hair. While my hair may not endured the right hair journey in the past, thankfully it has been restored. Using the right products and less tension styles restored my hair. In addition, I implemented a hair regiment for my beautiful daughter and her hair is super healthy, thick, and long. Below I list some of the hair products and my reigment for my daughter hair. Hopefully this helps restore or grow your child hair. Less is better.
All braids and hairstyles done by Mommy!
Day 1 newborn: Princess born with a head full of hair
Toddler stage hair growth pic 1
Toddler stage hair growth pic 2
Toddler stage hair growth pic 3
Some of the healthy hair practices I implemented are the following:
2. Use my own created Aloe treatment
4. I use Cantu conditioning detangler in hair to soften and detangle before braiding
5. I make my own hair growth oil for my daughter hair
6. The best hair oil/moisturer lotion that really retains oil and moisture especially if your child hair gets dry is Olive Oil Hair Moisturizer
7. Now her hair is fully prepared for braiding. I will be loading videos on my Youtube channel The Career Mompreneur to teach you have to braid hair so be on the look out. I taught myself how to braid hair at the age of 6, and practice do make perfect. This is a skill I want all moms to know how to do, especially if you have little girls.
8. Depending on styles hair braiding toddler styles can last from 1-3 weeks. Defintey a huge time saver for moms with little ones, especially girls with a lot of hair. Hair braiding is great protective styles and helps with hair growth for our little ones. If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to The Career Mompreneur to get exclusive access to more content.
Additional tips for growing your child hair:
Tip#1: Always use satin EVERYTHING!
Tip#2: Purchase satin crib sheets and pillowcases (helps avoiding baby going bald on back of head)
Tip#3: If your child is older purchase satin sheets and pillowcase for toddler or kid size bed
Tip#4: Put on satin scarf or bonnet each night
These are tips I implemented in my daughter hair regimen from newborn stage, and she avoided all baldness.
I am not my hair, but I am confident in who I am rather I have long or short hair. Healthy habits create healthy hair results.
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