This article was originally published on De Su Mama - Building a Multiracial Legacy.
Taking care of biracial hair during the cold, winter months is an important task. Though it looks strong, curly hair is most susceptible to breakage, which prevents growth and length. In the winter, you might be running a forced-air heater, which sucks up the moisture in the air, and/or regularly wearing scarves, big jackets and beanies/hats. Kids are playing indoors more, meaning lots of rolling around on the floor or rubbing their heads along couches and chairs.
All of these things can break your multiracial child’s mixed curly hair! Especially if the winter conditions have made their tresses even more dry than it usually is.
Here are 6 Winter Tips to keeping Curly Mixed Hair cared for and hydrated…
Taking Care of Biracial Hair: 6 Winter Tips
These winter tips are in addition to the regular biracial hair care routines I already implement. If dry hair is still a problem, I move onto these tips to keeping winter hair hydrated…
1. Use water to moisturize: If her hair is dry before her curly night routine, add a bit of water to the hair before tying it up. If it’s dry, do a simple bun instead of the banded ponytail. To style her dry hair, I use a water bottle to tame frizz, etc. Water provides moisture. It also activates the conditioners you left in her hair from the deep condition, etc. Water is cheap and accessible, too. But, when you use water to moisturize, be sure to also use….
2. Sealant! Sealants would be products that are applied to wet or damp hair and close the hair cuticle and moisturizing agents (like water). If you just left water on curly hair without a sealant, it quickly turns to frizz once dry. In old days, curly girls used lots of gel and mousse. Products are so much better nowadays. We still love Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, as it adds a bit of hold, but for the colder winter months, I’m LOVING Miss Jessie’s Condish. It’s thicker and more gel-like, but wow! It gives hold without being crunchy and truly coats the hair with a protecting sealer.
3. Don’t forget the ends: Not all hair is the same – including hair that’s on the same head or on the same strand! The hair closer to the scalp retains the most moisture. The ends become sad and dry if you don’t tend to them diligently. Make sure you’re pulling all products all the way down and working the ends. Same goes for areas of the head that are more textured or dry out quicker. Be mindful as you take care of your little ones hair during the winter months!
4. Protective styles and tools: To be safe, use protective styles at night. Tie the hair up and use satin head scarves and pillowcases. Use silicone hair ties, like the ones I shared on this mixed race hair post. Keep hair up and away from the constant rubbing on scarves, big jackets, beanies etc. Same goes for car seats, etc. When dry hair meets abrasive material, it will break. Breakage means split ends and shorter ringlets. Loose hair styles are beautiful, but during the winter months, you might want to reconsider.
5. Don’t rip hair: If and when you use a hair tie or bow that gets ratted in a ball of dry hair, DO NOT RIP IT OUT. Take some tie to untangle the hair and, once you can tell exactly where the knot is, use scissors to cut it out. It’s better to cut the hair versus rip it out. If breakage is going to happen, reduce the damage by using sharp scissors to remove the knot.
6. Hair is just hair: While you’re working on keeping that mixed race hair healthy, don’t forget to remind your little ones how beautiful their insides are. Curly hair identity is a big deal to multiracial children, but it shouldn’t be everything. After all, hair is just hair… an outward expression of who we are on the inside. When talking to your kids about hair this winter, use words like healthy and protecting. Stay away from words like wild, crazy, or otherwise negative inferences of how “hard” curly hair is.
Curly hair is some of the most fragile to care for, but also the most rewarding. Curly hair does things straight hair never can – and that’s what I want my kids to know most about caring for their ringlets! They’re unique, beautiful and on purpose.
What hair tips do you have this winter?
Check out more of our biracial curly hair posts here!
This article was originally published on De Su Mama - Building a Multiracial Legacy.