As mother to two young girls, ages 3 and almost 5, I've dedicated myself to making sure that their hair is always styled to show off its true beauty. Hair washing and styling is a part of my family's Sunday afternoon routine. They have become accustomed to this and look forward to it with excitement. My girls love to look in the mirror after I'm done with their hair and ooh and ah over their neat tresses. They love it when their father compliments them on their hair. I taught them early on that their hair is gorgeous, and that their beautifully curly hair is something to be proud of.
In Hawaii there are many young girls of Asian, Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Samoan ethnicity's and most of those little girls have straight hair. I never wanted my girls to feel as though their natural coils were something that made them different. Instead I wanted them to see their hair as I see it, beautiful! I want them to embrace their culture and represent it in this place where they are very much the minority.This is why this story I read on Black Girl With Long Hair touched me so. Clifton Green is a professor at Emory University. He is Caucasian and his daughter, Miriam, is Ethiopian. In order to make sure that Miriam always feels her best in her appearance, Clifton took it upon himself to learn how to care for her "curly, coily, bouncy" hair. It is not very often that father's in general take the time to learn how to style and treat their daughter's hair, so that alone is a big plus for me. And his dedication to making sure that Miriam's hair is always at it's best is very heart warming. Read his interview here.
P.S. Just thinking about fathers doing their little girls' hair took me back to the times when my own father would attempt to do mine. Can you say ouch!?
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4 comments:
Your daughters are beautiful! I think it is awesome that they are growing up being taught to love their natural features. SO many other children their ages already have perms...can you say OUCH for real!?!?!?
I can't wait to have little heads to comb!
Peace
Thank you, Sunshine! I think it is important for us to teach our children, daughters especially, to be proud of their hair.
Whenever I come across a lady who tells me that they want to perm their child's hair but they are waiting until the child turns 5, I cringe! The child's hair is delicate no matter the age. I just try to encourage them to keep it natural.
I remember reading that story about the father and being really touched. Its great that you are encouraging your kids at an early age to accept that they are beautiful just the way they are. They are too cute! : )
Hi Ms. Mae. It's important that we encourage our kids to accept every part of themselves. Thanks for stopping by!
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