One of the First Things I Think About When

I run into other African Americans when I am out with K is....

What does her hair look like?

Hair is an important really important feature of African American beauty and one of the big frustrations (or so I have been told) is when white parents can't (or don't) do their children's hair.   

I have had people offer me advice (sometimes total strangers) and I have had people tell me her hair looks awesome.  

I remember once in the mall a woman with a head full of elaborate braids came up to me and started the conversation with "Is that your daughter"  When I nodded she said "what do you use on her hair?"

I cringed inside- at that moment K's hair was kind of a mess.  I had taken down a head full of genie locs and washed and conditioned her hair but I had to run to the mall before I had time to re-style it.  So I let her go natural- really really natural.  Cause the thing is right out of the tub, she has fabulous bouncy tight little perfect spiral curls.  Until they dry.  Once they are dry though, they shrink up until the curl is unrecognizable and they begin to tangle.  And if anything touches them (like a child's hand or the car seat or,  well anything) they flatten out and the cute curly style quickly becomes what some of my friends call "White Momma Hair"  But to my surprise the woman didn't want to criticize my hair care- only to find out what products I use.  

But truthfully- how her hair looks is often on my mind.  Because it is that important and I don't want to screw it up.  

 Kind of like this.....

It's funny cause it's true....