Cornrowing a Child’s Hair

Many African-American parents do not put chemicals in their young child’s hair. Many feel that a child is not able to handle a relaxer until the age of 12. That is because putting such harsh chemicals in the hair can cause 2nd degree burns on the scalp. Up until that time, most moms choose to cornrow the child’s natural hair. Cornrows are a low maintenance hairstyle that can be worn for a week or longer. However, the challenge is that this hairdo can be time consuming and the child needs to be still in order to achieve a satisfactory style. But there are techniques that a parent can use to make it easier when cornrowing a child’s hair.

First, choose a favorable time of the day to style your child’s hair. It is extremely difficult to cornrow hair on a tired or restless child. So make sure she’s had plenty of rest before you start. Also, it is not advisable to give your child sugar before doing her hair. This may cause her to become hyper and to have a harder time sitting still. And also be certain that you have more than enough time allotted for her hair. You are likely to have less patience if you are rushing to finish because of time constraints.

Then find something to occupy your child’s attention. Use distractions to cut down on the stress of trying to get your child to remain still. Toys are often quite effective at keeping your youngster occupied while you style her hair. You may want to have toys that can only be played with during hairstyling time. This way your child will not bore of the toy. And she may even look forward to getting to play with it again. Television may also work.

But it depends on the child. Often during styling you will need your child to turn to either side or to put her head all the way down. The TV is not an effective distraction if you have a child who is unwilling to take her eyes off of the screen when she needs to turn away it. Books can also work well. Books tend to work better than television because your child can move the book in the same direction that her head is facing. And you are much less likely to meet with resistance when you instruct her to move her head.

Also, it helps to be as understanding as possible when doing your child’s hair. You may remember how tough it was to get your hair cornrowed when you were small. Natural black hair tends to tangle easily. So comb it gently to avoid causing pain. And take care not to push on her head or yank her hair. Remain calm when she is squirming or moving her head around a lot. You may have to be flexible and move to accommodate the child, especially if she is quite young or isn’t used to getting her hair cornrowed. And when she is doing a good job of sitting still, make sure to thank her. This may motivate her to stay that way for awhile longer.

And have realistic expectations. It is unlikely that a small child can sit still and hold her head in one place for extended periods of time. That’s why it’s a good idea to hold off on time consuming, complicated hair designs until your child’s attention span increases. Until then, it’s best to stick to quick, simple hairstyles. Fewer cornrows are advisable in the beginning. And take a break if necessary. Also, it’s OK if the style isn’t perfect. As your child matures she will be able to sit for longer periods of time. This means that doing her hair will become even easier over time.