Hair hair hair!
Sep. 19th | Posted by Nicky
11 comments
I thought I would write about something lighter… A story that starts in Ethiopia and continues to this day 
When you are thinking of adopting transracially, girls’ hair can be intimidating. Try twins on for size! Anyway, I jumped in with two feet and am really enjoying doing the girls’ hair.
What works for us: The girls have a bath every second morning, and each time they get a big glob of Lush American Cream conditioner. Yes, I know, it’s expensive. But their hair is very tight and dry and it is fabulous stuff. Once a week, I also shampoo their hair, usually with baby shampoo, but lately, with anti-fungal shampoo. That’s right – we have the dreaded scalp fungus. Yipee! Ii sucks – the girls are good at taking their pills but even the oral anti-fungals don’t seem to be addressing it yet.
I also want to say that they MUST sleep in a sleep cap – not optional. Luckily, they took to it right away. Or else they would be megga frizzed out, all the time. And in the car for long rides too (and the airplane, for that matter.) And they aren’t allowed to wear their hoody on their head with braids, either. I know, I’m mean. Anyway, about the fun stuff. Sometimes they have free hair – the fro! but it actually takes quite a bit more work than braids. We pick it out before the bath, because I like the texture more after it’s been conditioned… it’s kinds cool and lumpy.
But we’ve tried lots of other hair styles,as you will see below. It don’t really like puffs too much, as you have to comb the hair so much to get it flat. The mohawk and two puffs are cute, though. The girls usually want something really similar, so I try to mix it up in suble ways – different beads, or a different pattern. That kind of stuff.
Our beads, snaps, the magical beading implement and sleep caps are from Sharuba (which means braids in Amharic.) Check it out!
So here you go – a hair journey… to be continued…
(click on a pic it you want to see it bigger, then click again to see the full-sized picture.)
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- My first attempt – thanks to Spice. Now I look back, it looks pretty lumpy. Didn’t comb the hair out enough.
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- My second attempt – Sugar… Again, not enought combing… but the snaps are cute.
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- And her sister, Spice. Notice different snaps. I use Sharuba’s beader to get the beads on, then finish with a snap.
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- I really like this – it’s Tigrayan style. Braids int he front, free hair in the back. This way they don’t lose a headband!
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- Styling the hair in the bush in Ethiopia. It used to take me 1 1/2 hour for a head… that’s a long time. Now only 1 hour, thank goodness. (No more crying.)
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- I do the braids always a little different. Spice had a diagonal part – Sugar straight down the side.
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- check out Sugar’s idea on the right… three beads dropping onto her forehead. Not my fav – but she loved it.
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- The puffs – notice the frizzies at the end of the day! Barrettes help, but not totally. (Not used here.)
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- Ok, so I LOVED the mohawks. Spice on the left was my favorite… And it lasted for a couple of days. Definitely do again!
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- Free ahir with a headband. So pretty! The headbands usually come off sometime mid-afternoon, though.
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- Braids with puffs – much better lasting power,and super cute.
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- See the lunpy texture? cool! And their hair isn’t black at all – it’s actually the same colour as my natural hair.. a dark brown.
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- I intended to do one puff at the back, but there wasn’t any hair left after the braids. so after 6 salons, we found this pony. Super cute! Sugar LOVES it and plays with it all day. It comes off at night.
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- Spice’s current – Tigrayan with beads at the top. The only prob with beads is that they don’t always match their clothes… but whatever!
Love it! You’re doing such a fantastic job, Nicky.
By the way – thanks for noting that the braided front and free back is Tigrayan. I had no idea. Hana is Tigrayan and I usually keep to this style. What a wonderful fluke.
I love the ‘do s they had when we were visiting, but I think my favourite is the braids with two puffs- adorable! I’ve been really impressed with how well you’ve been doing with their hair from day one. Keep up the creativity!
Wow, you are so creative with their styles. I love the fro-hawks!!! Post some more pics of that, as it was a bit dark in the pic. If/when our girl comes home, I’m going to have to come up to Kelowna for a hands on lesson!!!!
WOW I am so impressed. Amazing! It takes me hours and hours to do Makeda’s hair. I need some lessons. It is so great to see you all at home enjoying each other! Beautiful girls – I hope some day Makeda can play with them.
Claire – here’s another pic…
http://rowanfamilytree.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/dscn2843.jpg
Basically you just part their hair into vertical sections and pull it into small ponies/puffs. I found 6 looked better on their small heads than 4.. I would even do 8 next time, for a full hawk do.
Cheers
Nicky
We adopted from E as well. A little boy =-)
I found organic coconut oil to be a great help – I put it in smoothies & use it on his skin- coconut oil is a natural anti fungal , if you want to give it a try
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Beautiful job with their hair! We have twin girls from Ethiopia too.
I am a native of Ethiopia residing in the States. I happened to visit your site while reading a Scandalous story about Ms. Susan Hayhow.
In spite of the sad stories like it, it is comforting to know there are good and noble people like you who do good.
God bless!
Amare
Amare – I think it’s best that we focus on what is good in this world… it’s a rare thing that I post about Sue and her mess! I’m glad to meet you! Take care.
cute!!
What beautiful girls! What beautiful hair!
Thank you for the peek at your girls’ hairstyles… I have much to learn!