I decided that today was my day to get out of the house with all the kids. Now three is not that many, but it is one more than I'm used to, so right now it's a challenge. I was prepared for the challenge at hand. I had a bag for Fedna. Pillow for her back in the shopping cart. Talked to the boys and threatened to make them stay in bed all day if they gave me grief in the store. We were set!
We went to Target and I was in search of product for Fedna's hair. I have no experience with black hair. Although Deacon's hair is different and we do special stuff to it, a girl is completely different, and black hair is completely different from biracial hair. So, last week I emailed all my girlfriends with black daughters and got the low down as to what I needed. They were all fabulous and hooked me up with great advice.
At Target I was able to get all her hair stuff which included: Pink Moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, leave in conditioner, olive oil sheen spray and a comb. I also got a HUGE thing of Eucerin cream for her dry skin, some toothpaste for her, a loofah and some vitamins for her since she's not digging the boys JUICE PLUS vitamins. All that for $41.55 – you know what the cool thing about that is …. yesterday in the mail someone sent us a $40 gift card to Target for her. Yippee!! Thanks Niki!
While in Target I was ready for the stares. White mom with one white kid, one light brown kid and one dark brown kid with really bad hair. I just knew I was going to turn heads. This transracial thing is not new to us. We been a transracial family for 3 years now. BUT Deacon and Fedna are completely different. Deacon's skin is not much darker than mine. Fedna's is very much darker than mine. I was convinced everyone would stare. NOT ONE PERSON DID. I was so happy and realized that I can't assume that everyone will think we're weird with our mixed race family. I know we'll run against those few that are mean, but for the most part people are accepting and loving and don't care what color everyone in your family is.
Now I did stay clear of any black family on any aisles. My reasoning …. Fedna's hair is a mess! I mean a mess!!! Ha!! I wanted to wear a sign that said this …. “I know her hair looks bad. I just took the braids out yesterday. I'm just buying hair stuff for the first time. Give me a break! It will be better by 5PM today!!!” I'm new at this!!!! Ha!
So, today is hair day. We'll learn as we go, right! If it all turns out well I'll post pictures!!!
Before:
And how cute is this picture!
Precious! Good luck with the hair. You are awesome! I’ve been thinking about you and praying for Fedna and you as well! Love you.
We are adopting 3 boys from Haiti and are having trouble getting our psych eval done, wondered if you have any tips. I have and will be praying for you as well as for Fedna! Of course I also pray daily for all of us waiting for our children to come home!! God Bless.
OH Jamie… I feel your stress!!! The hair is the biggest stresser. If all else fails, you can just put into little ponytails in and fluff them up. I believe someone in one of the stores I took Wislaine to called them afro-balls. I have only really had one person say anything about her hair and it was REALLY bad that day. Right before hair day. She even offered to take me to the store and show me what to buy!!! How embarassing. It takes time and patience but by the time Story gets here, you will be an expert!!! Good luck tomorrow
That is cool picture of them together 🙂
Good luck with her hair, i hope is not toooo hard to do. I never done black hair before i would love to learn someday.
Those pictures are so sweet!
that picture of deacon & fedna just melted my heart!! i love that about kids–that they can make friends so fast. i’m so glad that you’re going to be a pro with black girl hair before Jane comes home 🙂 you can be my hair mentor!! love you & praying for you lots!
It’s all about the Pink stuff!! What’s your game plan? Will you try to use the grid of the old braids or start over? It’s a learning curve, that’s for sure. I am laughing at the visual of you avoiding AA families. We had a few days like that when Jafta’s hair was long. 🙂
Honestly, in all the pic’s you have posted of Fedna, I never even really noticed her hair….it was her smile that sure caught this Mama’s heart….she has such a beautiful smile that it just makes the rest of her cute self all that much cuter!!!!
here are a couple of pointers..for starters try not to use rubber elastics, they are really hard on hair. Get the small fabric covered ones. little poofs are the way to go for short hair. then if you get ambitious try braiding/twisting the little puffs. to make straight parts, use a firm comb with a pointy end..It’s kind of like drawing lines..then go back with a fine tooth comb and clean up and straighten the parts.one thing in my opinion…pink lotion is not great. it’s basically mineral oil and doesn’t moisturize..it just clogs pours. I use straight coconut oil in my lil sis’ hair (she’s from Haiti) and it (her hair) loves it. or you can use evoo.
she’s adorable! praying surgery goes perfectly.
I totally hear you on the thinking people are looking weird at you. I get credit for none of my kids anyway, but then adding Mo into the mix…wow.
I haven’t tried the hair stuff you recommended yet, but I definately need to get some serious skin cream for that boy!
she is adorable…
that photo of her and deacon is so sweet. super.
Hi again…I was thinking about you and Fedna’s hair when I remembered the “recipe” a friend of mine gave me. She has 4 little girls from Haiti so she knows hair!! She uses this and sprays in on 1xday in the morning and blots dry with a cloth diaper. Hope it helps
7oz water
2 T conditioner
1 T olive oil
several drops of essential oil ( for scent)
shake together in spritz bottle and spray as often as you like. She says it helped her girls’ hair.
I absolutely love the photo of Deacon and Fedna. That is something to treasure!