Braiding Hair For Camp

[Anonymous]

I would just make it easy and do 2 dorothy/wizard of oz style braids (as pieces may be less likely to come out than lots of smaller french braids) and have her wash her hair every 4-5 days and ask that a counselor help her comb out the hair and re-braid it. I think having a counselor devote 15-20 minutes two times over a 10 day camp isn't asking that much.

[Anonymous]

10 days of overnight camp for a 7 yo ? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with the camp counselors. Whatever she can't complete by herself, she can get some assistance.

The main thing is that you are not stuck on keeping the length and are willing to urge her to get it cut if it becomes necessary.

[Anonymous]

My white daughter has 3B hair. She definitely cannot manage it herself.

You don't have to cut it, no matter how matted it gets. DD's hair has gotten out of control matter before. I mean, it's become one painful, tumor-like mass (long story why...)

Bottom line is, you can always comb it through. There is no point when you truly have to cut it off.

Just put your child in front of the tv, preferably a movie she's never seen, so she's happy to sit still. Use a good hair oil, and a bit of water to frequently lube the hair. Start each bit at the bottom, and slowly comb from a higher spot to work all the tangles out. Use a fine tooth comb. You may have a bit of breakage, but you should be able to do the whole thing in about 2 hours.

Make sure you don't criticize or shame her while you comb (personally, I get frustrated with my older one who has 2C hair and gets oppositional about hair care...).

Let her have fun at camp, and just deal with it when she returns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I nuts?

My 7 year old is going to 10 day overnight camp for the first time this summer. She is so excited, and ready, and, in fact, my only practical concern is her hair.
She has moderately curly (3A/Keri Russell) hair. Her hair is in fair shape, not great, and I've suggested several times that she get a short bob, but both she and her father are adamantly opposed. She tries hard, but she is no where near self sufficient with brushing. I know its not for lack of effort, as she can now shampoo and condition independently, and will spend 15 - 20 minutes with the detangling brush. However, she gets may 1/4 of the job done, and I have to do the rest. She is also able to do her own pony tail, but even I have trouble with her hair if I can't braid it up at night, and she's no where close to being able to braid.

So, I was thinking of getting her hair done in small, cornrow like, braids for the 10 days of camp. Has anyone done this? Will they style stay in relatively thin hair that's on the looser side of the curly spectrum? Will she look ridiculous? I honestly believe if she goes to camp with her current hair skills, she will come back with such a tangled mess that we will be forced into a very short style. And, since its not for lack of trying, it's not like thats a helpful incentive. That's not the end of the world, but if this is a reasonable fix ,I want to try it.

You seem articulate in curl terminology, so why are you still set on brushing her hair? Please teach her the proper way to care for her curls, and a short bob isn't it, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I nuts?

My 7 year old is going to 10 day overnight camp for the first time this summer. She is so excited, and ready, and, in fact, my only practical concern is her hair.
She has moderately curly (3A/Keri Russell) hair. Her hair is in fair shape, not great, and I've suggested several times that she get a short bob, but both she and her father are adamantly opposed. She tries hard, but she is no where near self sufficient with brushing. I know its not for lack of effort, as she can now shampoo and condition independently, and will spend 15 - 20 minutes with the detangling brush. However, she gets may 1/4 of the job done, and I have to do the rest. She is also able to do her own pony tail, but even I have trouble with her hair if I can't braid it up at night, and she's no where close to being able to braid.

So, I was thinking of getting her hair done in small, cornrow like, braids for the 10 days of camp. Has anyone done this? Will they style stay in relatively thin hair that's on the looser side of the curly spectrum? Will she look ridiculous? I honestly believe if she goes to camp with her current hair skills, she will come back with such a tangled mess that we will be forced into a very short style. And, since its not for lack of trying, it's not like thats a helpful incentive. That's not the end of the world, but if this is a reasonable fix ,I want to try it.

I didn't read the rest but yes, sending a 1st grader off for a 10 day camp is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Just send her with conditioning or detangling spray. She will be fine. Tell her to condition daily but not shampoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I nuts?

My 7 year old is going to 10 day overnight camp for the first time this summer. She is so excited, and ready, and, in fact, my only practical concern is her hair.
She has moderately curly (3A/Keri Russell) hair. Her hair is in fair shape, not great, and I've suggested several times that she get a short bob, but both she and her father are adamantly opposed. She tries hard, but she is no where near self sufficient with brushing. I know its not for lack of effort, as she can now shampoo and condition independently, and will spend 15 - 20 minutes with the detangling brush. However, she gets may 1/4 of the job done, and I have to do the rest. She is also able to do her own pony tail, but even I have trouble with her hair if I can't braid it up at night, and she's no where close to being able to braid.

So, I was thinking of getting her hair done in small, cornrow like, braids for the 10 days of camp. Has anyone done this? Will they style stay in relatively thin hair that's on the looser side of the curly spectrum? Will she look ridiculous? I honestly believe if she goes to camp with her current hair skills, she will come back with such a tangled mess that we will be forced into a very short style. And, since its not for lack of trying, it's not like thats a helpful incentive. That's not the end of the world, but if this is a reasonable fix ,I want to try it.

I didn't read the rest but yes, sending a 1st grader off for a 10 day camp is nuts.

Agree especially one who can't manage her own hair and still occasionally wets the bed. But what's done is done.

[Anonymous]

I think braids would be fine - I am white & have curly hair and had small braids before and they stayed looking good for 7 days.

I used to put my hair in numerous chunky braids at times too (camping, beach), but they didn't last long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I nuts?

My 7 year old is going to 10 day overnight camp for the first time this summer. She is so excited, and ready, and, in fact, my only practical concern is her hair.
She has moderately curly (3A/Keri Russell) hair. Her hair is in fair shape, not great, and I've suggested several times that she get a short bob, but both she and her father are adamantly opposed. She tries hard, but she is no where near self sufficient with brushing. I know its not for lack of effort, as she can now shampoo and condition independently, and will spend 15 - 20 minutes with the detangling brush. However, she gets may 1/4 of the job done, and I have to do the rest. She is also able to do her own pony tail, but even I have trouble with her hair if I can't braid it up at night, and she's no where close to being able to braid.

So, I was thinking of getting her hair done in small, cornrow like, braids for the 10 days of camp. Has anyone done this? Will they style stay in relatively thin hair that's on the looser side of the curly spectrum? Will she look ridiculous? I honestly believe if she goes to camp with her current hair skills, she will come back with such a tangled mess that we will be forced into a very short style. And, since its not for lack of trying, it's not like thats a helpful incentive. That's not the end of the world, but if this is a reasonable fix ,I want to try it.

I didn't read the rest but yes, sending a 1st grader off for a 10 day camp is nuts.

Agree especially one who can't manage her own hair and still occasionally wets the bed. But what's done is done.

Where does it say she still wets the bed?

[Anonymous]

She said it in a reply.

Anonymous wrote:OP with one other thing! I did put it on camp's radar, btw. They have /extensive/ precamp forms and they ask specifically about self care and other concerns. I didn't even get into bedwetting here (1-2 X/month) , as she has a plan for that and I know the councilors will be experienced with how to handle.

[Anonymous]

Do you have curly hair? A bob would probably be a crazy looking fro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She said it in a reply.

Anonymous wrote:OP with one other thing! I did put it on camp's radar, btw. They have /extensive/ precamp forms and they ask specifically about self care and other concerns. I didn't even get into bedwetting here (1-2 X/month) , as she has a plan for that and I know the councilors will be experienced with how to handle.

This has got to be a troll.

Who sends their 7yr old away to camp? Especially one who bed wets and can't take care of her hair. This has got to be a joke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for other suggestions! I could honestly care less how it looks. My concern is purely that it will be so tangled we will have to cut it. If that's what happens, it happens, but I'd like to avoid it.

Her hair care takes me 15-20 minutes daily (on top of her work). Any less than that and it's more work the next day. It's not a reasonable request for a counselor.

What do you mean when you say she spends 15 minutes brushing it? I hope you've figured out that hair that type could not be brushed when dry. She should be brushing it in the shower when it is wet, after she has put in the conditioner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My white daughter has 3B hair. She definitely cannot manage it herself.

You don't have to cut it, no matter how matted it gets. DD's hair has gotten out of control matter before. I mean, it's become one painful, tumor-like mass (long story why...)

Bottom line is, you can always comb it through. There is no point when you truly have to cut it off.

Just put your child in front of the tv, preferably a movie she's never seen, so she's happy to sit still. Use a good hair oil, and a bit of water to frequently lube the hair. Start each bit at the bottom, and slowly comb from a higher spot to work all the tangles out. Use a fine tooth comb. You may have a bit of breakage, but you should be able to do the whole thing in about 2 hours.

Make sure you don't criticize or shame her while you comb (personally, I get frustrated with my older one who has 2C hair and gets oppositional about hair care...).

Let her have fun at camp, and just deal with it when she returns.

People!! Do not brush curly hair when it is dry! Only when it is wet. Jesus.