Doing Hair

 

 

To say the least, Tiana has opened up a whole new world to us.

This is the world of Black hair care.

We have become acquainted with procedures, products, and politics

that we had no idea even existed.

 

The way you care for your African American child's hair is a direct

reflection of your ability to mother a child.

If the hair is messy, dry, or having issues

then it says that the child is not being taken care of properly.

 

Extensions have been our sanity saver.

Although they are expensive, they have saved us many hours

of straightening and arranging that end up occupying our

whole Saturday night.

 

We had extensions put in before our summer road trip

and when those came out we had another set put in within a few weeks.

Extensions are synthetic hair that is braided in with the natural hair.

Often, the weight of the extensions helps the natural hair to grow

stronger and longer.

 

This is how we curl the ends of the synthetic hair to

avoid straggly ends and to give it bounce.

First, we take a few braids and roll them tightly in foam rollers.

We repeat this all around her head using both small and medium rollers.

Then we boil water in the tea kettle.

When that is ready, we wrap Tiana in a thick towel, and get another towel ready.

 

 

We pour the hot water in a mug and dip the curlers in the mug,

holding it there for a minute or so.

 

Then that section is taken out and squeezed as dry as possible.

It can be a rather steamy job, hence the need for all the towels.

It would be distressing to get burned while getting you hair done.

 

Voila!

The hair has been taken out of the curlers and arranged as desired.

 

These should last for a month or so before daily wear

and washings take their toll.

 

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"No matter who you are, you are called to push back the darkness."  Jason Grey