haircare Archives - Are Those Your Kids

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

As a mom of 3 biracial children, it has been a challenge to find the right products to help me care for their curls.

I have naturally curly hair myself, but it is a very different texture from my children. Finding the right products has been a costly, and at times, frustrating venture.

Understand that Biracial actually means Multiracial

Don’t make assumptions about the hair. Just because the child is mixed with two races, doesn’t mean that their hair isn’t infused with all the other genes in their bloodline.

Parents with thick wavy hair can produce an offspring with thick, kinky curls.

Detangle, Detangle, Detangle (while wet)

I cannot say this enough. Curly hair loves water. Never try to detangle curly hair while dry (ouch!!) Often naturals talk about finding a conditioner with good slip.

Slip means that the conditioner aids in detangling and glides through the hair.

Wide Tooth Combs are a Must

Wide tooth combs assist with detangling by gliding through the hair instead of pulling. The best way to detangle a head full of curly hair is to make sure the hair is damp or wet. Detangling curly hair dry is a big no no!

Your child will thank you!

Establish a Night-Time Routine for Healthy Hair Care

Curly hair tangles easily, so having a night time routine to reduce tangles is essential.

At night you have several options: braid or twist hair, put in a pineapple (basically a high pony), or sleep with a satin cap.

Find a Good Conditioner (Leave in and Wash out)

Curly hair naturals talk about co-washing all the time. This basically means washing hair with conditioner instead of shampoo.

Even though cowashing can add moisture back into dry hair, I still love the way shampoo cleanses and makes my daughters’ hair feel squeaky.

your child suffers from a dry, itchy scalp, then a conditioner with tea tree oil may do the trick.

Don’t Fight the Curl, Embrace the Curl

I have heard of many women who are at a loss with their biracial child’s curly hair.

Find products that make the curl come to life naturally instead of finding ways to straighten it. When you find a good conditioner, the curls will respond by spiraling.

Add Gel

Gel has been a game changer in my house. I was always afraid to use it because I didn’t want hard curls. I didn’t realize that there are so many on the market made with non-drying, natural ingredients.

So how do you know if a gel works for your child’s biracial curls? The right gel holds your curls in place gently without residue. Gel is a wonderful tool to add shine, hold & definition.

It’s also great for keeping the frizz away, and to give your style staying power.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

A good deep conditioner once a week is a must, especially when your child’s biracial curly hair seems to be lifeless and lack moisture.

Hot oil treatments are also a great way to bring moisture into dry hair. Simply heat the oil of your choice (I love jojoba, almond & coconut) in the microwave for a few seconds, pour over their head and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

Sitting under a hooded dryer will ensure the oils penetrate the hair and scalp. Then wash out.

Recently I’ve discovered a fabulous line of oils, Mammoth Oils. The wonderful thing about this brand is that it combines several natural (avocado jojoba, coconut, olive, castor, argon & almond) oils so you don’t have to!

The creator of the brand is multiracial and she couldn’t find what she needed in a product, so she created her own!

Want to try out this brand for yourself? Enter code CURLYKIDS for 15% off at check out.

Don’t be Afraid to Experiment!

What works for one biracial child’s curly hair, will not necessarily work for your child. I’ve been guilty of being a product junkie–buying different products because I’ve been scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos.

When you are watching YouTube videos, try to find someone who has a similar texture to your child’s texture.

Subscribe to Beauty/Hair boxes

There are several companies that make monthly subscription boxes full of products specifically for curly haired individuals.

The boxes are full of a variety of product brands in full and sample sizes. This allows you to try different products for $25-$30 a month without going broke and purchasing products that don’t work.

Are you a total loss when it comes to styling your biracial child’s curly hair? Purchase my e-book, The Frustration-Free Guide to Curly Hair to answer all your curly hair questions + get a guide to products by curl type!

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The number of mixed race families in this country is on the rise.

It’s refreshing for me to see other multiracial families at church, at my children’s school & in the community.

Even though diverse families are the new norm, sometimes people still act surprised when they see mixed race families together.

It’s always interesting to see the looks on people’s faces when they meet my husband or see my kids for the first time. They try to hide their surprise, but most don’t do it very well.

Don’t Assume That a Child Does Not Belong to the Parents Because their Skin Doesn’t Match

Gone are the days of everyone in a family looking the same.

While some parents have children naturally, others are building their families through fostering and adopting (domestically & internationally).

Furthermore, some parents adopt children from an ethnicity different from their own. It is hurtful when strangers question whether or not you are the parent.

Both of my parents are black. My brothers and I vary in shades. So skin color can vary in families with parents of the same race!

Asking if a child has been adopted or questioning the mother because her skin color does not match her child’s skin is not a good way to start a conversation with mixed race families, in fact, it’s a quick way to offend a possible new friend.

Don’t Ask Questions about a Child’s Ethnicity Unless You Have a Close Relationship with the Parent

If I had a penny for every time I’ve been asked about whether or not my children’s father was white, I could pay for all of their college educations.

Questions like that are intrusive, and simply not necessary. It often catches families like mine off guard. I’ve started rehearsing a few responses so that I don’t get offended and my children can learn how to respond, even from a young age.

Here are 4 responses that I keep on hand—->Responses

I’m not sure what that has to do with my groceries. Thankfully my children were young enough to not internalize that question.

I often wonder what the ramifications will be for my children when they are constantly confronted with questions about our skin color.

Don’t Ask a Child Why their Skin Color is Different From Their Sibling

Some of this may sound like common sense, but this exact scenario almost caused a fight at my school. No one chooses their physical features, so they should not be questioned about it.

Especially with an audience. This is embarrassing and causes the child to question themselves. Not a good idea.

Do Ask Hair Care Questions

It’s perfectly acceptable to ask what products someone uses to get such bouncy curls or to fight the frizz.

Honestly, it’s flattering when people stop me to ask what I use in my hair, or what products work best for biracial curls.

What do you think? Have you ever asked a well-meaning question, but ending up offending someone?