Hair Care for Biracial Children with White Texture but Black Curls

you have to get the book "the curly girl handbook" it has a section about kids and the products are available at several salons in chicago and Highland Park. the book really teaches you the basics of curly hair and how to care for it. it has a kids section as well!!!

it has saved my hair!

A.

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i agree with some of the others, miss jessies baby buttercream, and or carol's daughter products. Also, maybe try washing the hair no more than once a week to keep the hair moisturized. Washing to often strips the hair of it's natural oils, resulting with dry tangling hair.

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I am Caucasian with very curly hair. I can and have worn it in an afro, though I now enjoy a more loose curl style. Unlike the others who have posted, I need to wash my hair on a daily basis to have control over the curls. (One my hair flattens, like when I sleep, it doesn't bounce back well.) I use good quality conditioners, or my hair and scalp gets very dry, but I have VERY dry skin in general.

It isn't the amount of washing that was a problem for me, but using the wrong kinds of products. I like the Redken products for curly hair, especially the conditioner. (I LOVE Kerastase conditioning masque, but it's extremely expensive. Redken for curly hair is a much more affordable alternative, with excellent results.) Let the conditioner soak in for a few minutes before rinsing it out - give it a chance to work. Some shampoos and conditioners leave a coating on my hair, and it builds up over time, leaving my hair dull and lifeless, and harder to work with. I prefer shampoos that rinse cleanly, no buildup. Redken works well with my hair, without weighing it down with oils or coating it with dullness. I've also had very good luck with Pantene Ice Shine shampoo, and the price of that is also reasonable.

Bed Head works great for giving some control to the frizz. I put it on my hair wet, comb it through, and dry with a diffuser. I got softer, less fuzzy curls. I've also found good luck with Rusk Jele Gloss, used the same way. It's a little pricier, but a little nicer. The Bed Head is very good though. With either product, a little dab goes a long way.

I've found soft water is much better for my hair and scalp too. I won't live without a water softener now. It significantly reduces the dry scalp and hair, and the frizz. I could give up all the hair care products, combs and such, as long as I have soft water. It's THAT helpful. (But I realize it might not be a viable option for you.)

But one thing I highly recommend: Get rid of the brushes. Use very wide tooth combs or picks. And NEVER brush wet hair. That causes breakage and damage. If you use heat on the hair (hair dryer, curling iron), don't do it unless you've used conditioner - that protects the hair. When she gets older, curling irons used with a good mousse are good for helping to control some of that curl and frizz since it can soften curls and help give them more uniformity, instead of wild tangly fuzz.

Blow dryers can add to the fuzz and tangles if not used properly. The less the hair is "blasted" while drying, the more control you will have. My hair responds much better when I use a diffuser. I also like to let it air dry, but my hair is shorter now and that's more practical for short hair than for long hair.

My hairdryer allows setting the blast level (low-medium-high) and the heat level (cool-warm-hot). With the diffuser, I use it on a low (not a high blast) setting, with a medium to high heat setting. The diffuser is just an attachment that pops onto the end of the hairdryer. Don't move the diffuser around too much while using it. Just pile the hair into it, and hold it in place against the scalp as it dries. The less you move the diffuser against the hair, the better. Think *gentle.

Talk to a salon, particularly a hairstylist that specializes in curly hair. They probably can give you some better advice and direction since they can see the texture and amount of curl, the level of dryness, and can recommend products and techniques that can give success. I have found better luck with hairstylists that actually HAVE naturally curly hair (and don't straighten it out), or stylists with a lot of experience with curls.

Good luck!

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I am Biracial and have three girls with a lot of different types of hair. My mother never really found anything when I was a kid but for my children I search online for advice and found sites like Blended Beauty and Mixed Chicks. I use and now swaer by Bleaded Beauty because your type of hair decides what products you should buy. I am sure there are more out there so do a search for Biracial hair and you will find all kinds of things and adive. Hope this helps.

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My daughter has the same hair type. Right now I use Pantene 2-in-1. Her hair ends up beautiful every time! She showers every-other-night right now, and that's how often I wash it. I've also used the Suave detangler without any issues. Then, since her dad and step-mom do things that will ruin her hair, I started mixing Infusium leave-in conditioner with the Suave (50-50 mix). Now, because of lack of funds and because I still have a bunch of Infusium, I use the Infusium mixed with water (again, 50-50), and I still don't have problems. Her hair stays soft, and her curls are usually pretty nice.

Curly hair, regardless of race, tangles easily. When my daughter goes to bed at night, I put a single braid in her hair to help control the amount of tangles in the morning. She usually wears her hair up because it tangles less. When you comb it, use a wide-tooth comb, and make sure her hair is properly dampened. The curls just frizz if you try to comb through when they're pretty dry. Never use a brush on wet hair, straight or curly. The wide-tooth comb helps to gently untangle hair, but it always helps if you start from the bottom and work your way up, and combing in sections sometimes helps. There's also a way you can twist a section of curls to make them behave for most, if not all, of the day. It's time consuming, but you take each section of curl (the natural section), and twist it tight (like women do when we're bored, just twist around the finger over and over for a while), then give it a little shake from the bottom. My sister gave me some Curl Karma and something else that comes with her hair products. That also helps to keep the curls in place and looking nice. That's all I can think of for now. I hope it helps! If you have any questions, let me know! I usually have a lot of tricks up my sleeve!

M.
www.spiceglamup.com

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Hi D.,
I have a girlfriend that has a biracial daughter and she has expressed to me how it can be so difficult to find product and "style" her hair without being in braids all the time. I introduced her to a couple brand new products. In September 2008 Votre Vu launched in the United States from Paris. They have a whole line of spa quality products, but have an AMAZING line for hair. I included two links, the first one is a product that many of my friends are also using. It is perfect for naturally curly hair and difficult to manage hair. My one friend said she went from putting 4 products in her hair to just this one. People continue to write in about the amazing results this product has given them.
Here is that link:
https://tools.votrevu.com/productcatalog?page=productdeta...

The second link I sent is also a product that is wonderful for your hair. It is not in Votre Vu's "hair line", but they do market it for the hair. I personally have used this on myself and my daughters hair and LOVE the results of this product as well. It is a vitamin enriched spray that will bring out the natural vitamins in their hair as well as give great results as far as the tangles. There are two ways that I found this product can be used. We spray it in our hair in the evening and leave it on all night (there is nothing on your pillowcase) and then we wash out in the morning. OR, I spray it in my hair about an hour before I am going to shower and then shampoo, etc. I have fine caucasian hair so I cannot spray it on and then style....it is too "greasy" for my hair. The product does go on with a "greasy" look (sort of-not greasy greasy), but with your children having a mixture of hair types they may be able to spray in and leave on. I don't know a ton about biracial hair so I don't know if you shampoo everyday, but these products COULD be used everyday or 2-3 times a week. You could just see what works for them. :)
Here is that link:
https://tools.votrevu.com/productcatalog?page=productdeta...

Here is the best part about this product, there is a 100% money back guarantee for 45 days!! You can't get that with over-the-counter trial and errors. The company stands behind all of their products. Please feel free to check out my website: www.votrevu.com/kristier and browse the website and watch the video's. If you have any questions you can contact me through my website or mamasource. I do have samples of the Amore D'Ore (the second link) and would be happy to send you some to see what you think. I don't have samples of the first one, but as I said it does have a money back guarantee.

Either way I wish you luck in your search!! Happy first part of 2009!!
:) K.

I have fine hair and my hair tangles into a nightmare at my collar if I'm wearing a turtleneck. It would tangle into a mess when I was a child if the wind blew. Being fine my hair just tangles. My oldest has the same problem. Her hair is down to her bottom and though it isn't as fine as mine, it is stringy and it tangles something aweful.

I condition it...I use detanglers...I use defrizzers...I use glossers...

Those are all great for combing through it when it is tangled, but it won't prevent the tangles.

I either have to remind her to brush her hair on a regular basis throughout the day or braid it to keep it from tangling.

My younger daughter has very course, kinky hair and though it doesn't tangle because it is course, it is so unruly I have to put it up in pig-tails or braids for her to look nice. If I leave her hair down it stands up on her head. It isn't really curly, but it isn't straight. I put coconut oil in it. I've used activator gel. Those just make it straight, but haven't really softened it up any.

So probably the best bet would be to use a glosser with a headband or put it in braids. Otherwise you will have to comb it regularly throughout the day.

I use Soft & Precious on my daughter's hair. They have a cream and a detangling spray. She has the white texture with lots of curls as well, and I think it works great. You can get it at any Wal-mart over by the shampoo and everything in the baby needs aisle.

She's young. Have her hair cut shorter so it's more manageable without the messy child tangles until she's old enough to do her own hair. Don't forget that it's painful for her when you have to untangle.

This is so simple I don't know why I didn't think of it years before, but when my kids were little and had really tangly hair, I finally figured out to comb through their hair with the cream rinse ON- and then to rinse it out. Go ahead and wash their hair with all the snarls in, rinse it, then work a good rinse or conditioner into the snarls. With a wide toothed comb, you'll be through them all in less than 5 minutes. Then you can rinse it clean. My youngest used to have beautiful waist length hair, and before I figured this out, it easily took me an hour to de-tangle. Blessings- N.

Can I trade my straight as a board, won't hold a curl hair for one of your daughter's??? Please!!!!!!

Sorry D. if this is repeated, I hit a button on the computer! I have two children with very curly hair. My daughter (17) has kinkier hair that tends to frizz like me. My son (12)has smoother curls. Both of them have trouble with knots. When they were younger, they used to get terrible rat's nests on the back of their heads from sleeping that would get so bad I would have to cut them out. Now we have learned to not use regular brushes and combs and we use wide tooth combs and picks. My daughter uses an anti-frizz product with her moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. My son doesn't like to do anything to his hair, but has compromised because he likes his hair longer to using an anti-tangle spray in the morning. We have switched brands from time to time. I like Bed Head, but Johnson & Johnson has a product for younger children. I think that the most important thing to remember is to use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and to not wash their hair everyday. Curly hair tends to be much dryer than straight hair. When I used to wash my daughter's hair everyday, it broke all the time. I hope this helps!! Good Luck! R.

As a hairstylist, one of the best products I have come across for any kinds of tangles is Infusium, the leave-in spray is the best used on damp hair,you can find it at most stores(walgreens,walmart). The more texture the hair has the moisture it needs. You could also try loosly briading her hair to sleep for control, it worked for my daughter(has naturally curly,long hair) as a child.As with most anti-friz products I recommened use in moderation and away from the scalp, it is the ends that need control. A.

I too would suggest cutting your older daughters hair. Nothing drastic, you can still keep the length, but maybe cut it at her shoulders. The most important thing that you need to do with biracial hair is keep it moisturized. Also, I am not sure if you wash their hair every day or every time they have a bath, but the more often you wash it, the more difficult it will be to manage. (I didn't learn this until I was grown!) I am biracial and so is my daughter and I wash our hair once a week. I would suggest a good shampoo and conditioner that both contain detangler. We use dark and lovely. Also, we recently came across a wonderful product from Miss Jessies called baby buttercream. It is wonderful! It detangles, moisturizes and keeps the curl! Braids would also be beneficial. My daughters hair stays in braids. After you wash their hair get all the tangles out and put into at least four braids to dry. If you use the miss jessies when the hair is wet you will see dramatic results after the hair has dried. I wish you luck and hope this helps.

I specifically work with children's hair (braiding) so if you ever need someone to braid your daughters hair send me a message!

Please don't fall into the "cut it" trap. If she doesn't want short hair it is unfair to simply cut it because it's easier on you. I have seen several children who have short boy cuts because the parents don't want to deal with it. That's unfair to the child.

There are a few products that are mentioned already and some that are not that are good.
Miss Jessies Curly Buttercreme (on the expensive side)
Kinky Curly leave in conditioner and curling custard (all natural ingredients and less expensive than Miss Jessies)
Devacurl
Mixed Chicks

Those are pretty good. I currently use Kinky Curly products b/c they are all natural. I have curly in between hair.

The key to styling curly hair is to keep it well moisturized and comb it less, meaning only comb it out when wet, apply your product and let it dry. Running a comb through dry curly hair breaks the hair.

I also have a biracial child, although his hair is straight as a bone!
Again, if you need a person to braid for you (which is the easiest way to manage hair and, when done correctly, actually helps hair grow) then let me know.

D.

Hi D.. I have struggled too. I have 5 biracial children and it seems each one has their unique hair blend. What has worked best for us though is leaving conditioner in (even if it is not leave in conditioner) and using a wave cap or some kind of scarf at night. The conditioner can build up. I use a lot, but you may want to tone it down since fine hair does not absorb the conditioner as well. We also use detangler on days we don't wash. We can really only wash hair a couple times a week at most. The washing just strips all of the moisture that the curls need. Currently we are using Tresemme shampoo and conditioner for curls. I am inclined towards a natural approach, but have tried it all--oils, cremes, jam, hair lotions and it really depends what you are trying to with the hair style.

Good luck

First, use a good shampoo with moisturizers. The cheap stuff doesn't help. We use a generic version of Nexxus Therapee, Dove works well too. For conditioner we use Silk Elements Mega Silk Moisturising treatment. Leave a little in when you rinse it out. Finally, we mix in a spray bottle, generic Infusium 23 (leave-in conditioner) with half water and add some of the Silk Elements to the spray bottle. Shake well and use this when combing through their hair. Use less water if really needed, but I try to make it last longer by adding more water. I also use a detangling comb. I purchase everything at Sally Beauty Supply.

Good luck, M.

I'm the white mom of an adopted black daughter. There's a yahoo group that has helped me immensely; it caters exclusively to African-American hair and skin care for parents of black and biracial kiddos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoptionhair_skincare/

I have three bi-racial children. With white texture but curly. Two have bigger curls and one has a tighter curl. I have never cared for the black hair products as they make your hair greesy. I use alot of Pantene Hair products and they work for us. If I wash and condition their hair its easy to comb. So I condition there hair pretty much every/every other day. I also use Pantene spray conditioner/detangler and curl products by pantene. Curl gel and there is a curl cream in a pump. As you may know do not cut there hair as the curls bounce way up and the weight of longer hair helps to keep it down.
Hope this helps!

Well I am black and right now I am growing out my relaxer so my hair is curly and tangled too!! I got Sauve detangler for kids (it's green bottle). I put in my hair while it is wet and wait about 5 minutes or so and then put my hair in 3 parts and comb them. I start with a comb with big teeth, then move to a metal brush. Since is she 5 I would put her hair in braids. I know she wants it be down like her friends but it will be healther. My son I let him keep his curls but his hair is maybe an inch an half my aunt said to put V05 in it to keep it curly and not dry. With it that short he still has the curls but we don't have to fight to comb his hair. Hope it helps.
M.

"Circle of Friends' has wonderful hair care products. Besides the shampoo & conditioner, I love the leave-in conditioner.

Not sure what you mean by "white hair"/"black hair" but as an interacial woman and hairstylist if you're having problems with tangling due to curliness the only permanent solution would be to get their hair straightened which I wouldnt suggest. Just for Me and Mizani for kids both have excellent product lines for detangling and moisturizing that you may wanna check out.

carolsdaughter.com has wonderful products for the exact thing you need!