If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me that question in reference to Julia's curls I'd be a very rich MamaBear! We discovered her very first curls when she was a wee babe and they only get better with time...NO we don't do anything to them. In fact we don't even wash them with shampoo anymore. I read a book called Curly Girl back in May and it was filled with the answers to my questions about how to care for Julia's unique head of hair. There are different instructions for different types of curls so if you have curly hair pick up a copy for yourself - I got mine used online pretty cheap. It's great to be able to refer to it when I have a question. For Julia, this is what works.
Every couple of days we:
1) wet hair under faucet and apply 3T of conditioner
2) work through hair for 1 min with fingers
3) using a wide tooth comb, starting at the bottom comb out the tangles 0ne by one. This part can take up to 10-15 minutes depending on how long it's been since I last combed through it.
4. Rinse half of the conditioner out but leave the rest in to moisturize her hair.
5. scrunch with fingers and let air dry.
That's it! She has the softest curls and surprisingly enough they look their very best after she's gone swimming and the curls have had a chance to put themselves back in order so to speak. Curly Girl talks about putting your head under the water and letting the curls do their thing. It's quite remarkable how they have a mind of their own.If we hadn't discovered the Curly Girl method I don't know that we would have been able to let Julia's hair grow. She's patient in the tub while I work out the tangles with gobs of conditioner but if the curls became brittle and broken we'd probably have to cut it much shorter.
I
nstead they are growing more beautiful every day. They are past her shoulders now and are tipped with the lightest of blonde highlights from being in the sun. She's yet to have a haircut because curly hair needs to be cut by someone trained in curly hair. That's an expensive hair cut and one we will consider down the road if her hair starts to break on the ends.The other comment people make is "She's going to hate it when she's grows up!" Really? I have a hard time agreeing with that statement. Other than those 10-15 minutes in the tub they are amazingly easy to throw up in a clip or leave down.
What's not to love about this sweet, funny, affectionate, smart, creative, fun loving, little girl who happens to be blessed with curly hair?
her hair is quite gorgeous. just saw the picture that you took of her on the horse at nuggey's birthday party. adorable. great pictures! :) hope things are going well.
ReplyDeleteShe has some gorgeous curls! I have curly hair and never knew what to do with it growing up. I can't wait to see what my baby girl's hair will look like!
ReplyDeleteI am beyond excited to check out this book - thank you so much for sharing! My daughter's curls aren't as thick and corkscrewy as your daughters, but we still struggle with how to do it.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!
I'm jealous of her beautiful hair. I have poker straight hair, and I always got perms to get my hair to look like that. It never worked. :(
ReplyDeleteI have curly hair too, and while it's important to use conditioner, it's also important the curls be kept clean. Use shampoo!
ReplyDeleteI love her hair!!!! Erika's hair isn't quite as curly, but we get asked ALL the time how often we perm it or if I use a curling iron!!! Really? On a four year old? I think not!!!
ReplyDeleteKeeping her hair clean is important to us too. We choose to do that with water and let the natural oils that are stripped through shampoo use do what they were designed to do. Curly Girl has a recipe for a lavender spray that has antibacterial properties that are helpful in keeping curly hair at its best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful girl with beautiful curls!!
ReplyDeleteI love those pictures - they totally accentuate her beautiful curls! Can you imagine how much you'd have to spend to have un-"natural" curls like Julia's?! I don't know if money could even buy that!
ReplyDeleteI love love her hair. My daughter has fruzzy hair and now that she is a tenn she hates it and wants straight hair. WHY do all teen want to look alike with straaight hair? I am going to look for that book.
ReplyDeleteShe honestly has the most gorgeous curly hair that I have ever seen! I had curly hair growing up and when I became a teenager I was constantly fighting to get it stick straight (and still do). I think what others may have meant is that you always want what you don't have. You've helped her to embrace her curls and I think she'll continue to grow up loving them - they are her trademark!
ReplyDeleteShe's a gorgeous girl with gorgeous curls!
ReplyDeleteI have curly hair like hers (my sister too!) and I HATED it when I was younger but like it now. When I was younger I wanted the straight, shiny hair with big bangs like my friends had. Ok I had hte big bangs (it was the early 90's after all!) but I could never get that straight shiny hair. But now I love it. Its me, and yes, if I had a quarter for every time I heard 'is that all real?' I'd be rich.
I've always wanted a curly girl, but I got two curly boys instead! Our girl is still in Ukraine, with a buzz cut mind you, and I do secretly hope she sprouts a head of curls when we get her home and let her hair grow! :)
I LOVE her hair! My daughter has curls much like hers but at not quite 3 years old, her hair is still very short (it's also very fine so not a lot of weight). I can't wait to see how it will look once it starts to gain some weight to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I will be picking up the book very soon! My hair is straight so I don't know what to do with it. Thanks!!
I too have thick curly hair and it is very hard to find someone who knows how to cut it right. I have just found someone and I am 32. I hope she does love it when she gets older. I have just started to like my hair but I do not do alot with it because of it being so time consuming.
ReplyDeleteOh my word. Her hair is GORGEOUS!!!! She is blessed!
ReplyDeletekids sweat too and need their scalp cleansed properly. Just rinsing her hair with water does not clean her scalp! You can still use conditioner and keep the curls moisturized but you really need to wash that poor child's head! That's kinda gross!
ReplyDeleteShe is such a cutie. The next time you come up by me, let me know, I can hook you up with my hair dresser (she knows curls) and she is WAY not expensive. : )
ReplyDeleteCan I eat her up? Adorable!!!
ReplyDelete