Reply to Braiding Hair For Camp

Forum Index » Elementary School-Aged Kids

Reply to "Braiding Hair For Camp"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote]

Black people do this ALL of the time.  I would definitely get her some type of hat to protect the scalp in between the braids.  You will need to tell her that she CANNOT take the braids out under any circumstances.  My cousin ended up with a short fro after going to camp (at 9, I think) after letting some of the kids at camp take her braids out.  She came back and it was matted to her head and there was no way they could comb it out at that point.

I doubt the counselors are going to want to take 15-20 minutes every day to do her hair (but you already know that).

Telling a 7 year old that she has to be completely responsible for her hair or it will get cut is kind of mean.  As a 3A/3B hair person myself, I think the PPs are doing you a disservice by telling you she needs to be able to do her own super curly hair at 7.  You are clearly in the process of teaching her to handle it - it will take her longer than a child with pin straight or even wavy hair.].

I will tell you that she could probably get away with wearing it in a ponytail for those 10 days, IF you are willing to do the detangling work when she gets back.  Even with swimming, playing, etc - tell her to wash it ONLY after she goes swimming.  I like the PPs idea of sending her with conditioner only - have her cowash and detangle as best she can after swimming and put it up in a ponytail.  If she can do that, there will be some tangling/knotting when she gets back, but with an hour or so of you de-tanging and getting out knots, her hair will be as good as new.  You could also send a satin pillowcase with her to sleep on.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics