MY Hair Story

I am often asked if there is a single influencing factor regarding my interest in Blaire's haircare. I know, it is slightly unusual for a mother to be deeply interested in their 10 month old's hair and skin. I complain on a daily basis about the internet's lacking INFANT hair and skin blogs. The truth is, infant hair and skin often requires little to no attention. I guess that's a long-winded way to say that my childhood is my inspiration. I had a full head of THICK, tightly coiled curls. My stretch length was not to be reckoned with! (Keep in mind, we are talking about the early 90's) Yes, I'm talking pre-blogs! There was not much information out there pertaining to natural hair care for little brown girls. Frustrated and misinformed, my mom turned to the creamy-crack, as my family members would say, for support.

At about 9 years old, I had my first relaxer. I was so excited. I still remember JAMMING to the Just-For-Me tape that accompanied the actual kit. I remember swinging my hair like a BOSS. (Sorry Willow but you did not invent hair whipping!) I was in love with my straight long hair, down my back. I became queen of the playground; the girls loved to play in my hair and the boys loved to play WITH me.

Fast forward to no more than 4 years later, the middle school playground. There I stood, teased because my damaged, over-processed hair could barely fit into a ponytail. OH-NO what went wrong? My mother went from being an avid-hair doer to virtually ignoring my tresses. Prior to my relaxer, I had a new style everyday. I was once known for my cornrows and ponytails, accessorized with ponytail holders and etc... to match my outfits. The relaxer relaxed my mother TOO much. She became too comfortable with relaxer and my hair received less and less attention. I was doing my own hair on a daily basis. I went from clunking alcohol based gels and mousse into my hair and even going outside with it wet, without a sole moisturizer, to coloring and relaxing my OWN hair at 12-13 years old. At 13, I had already been Jet Black, Auburn and even Honey Blonde in some sections :-O

I know what you're thinking moms, because as a mom I think the same thing as I am typing out this story. How could she have allowed, well enabled, such madness? She was a single, working mom. I vowed to never let my child manage her own hair. (Prior to becoming pregnant, I knew I'd have a girl. There are boys born into my family!) I often accompanied my cousins to their hair appointments, wishing my mom cared enough to let a professional save my tresses. Saying she didn't care is a bit harsh, I guess the truth is that she couldn't afford it.

Fast-forward to the present. Here I am, in my twenties, transitioning, getting rid of the damage and raising a natural, curly tiny tot. The taunting continued through high school. My hair was still damaged. While away at college, I learned a lot about hair. I met young black women from varying hair journeys. I was able to grow my hair back. Still relaxed, I discovered weaves, hot oil treatments, deep conditioning, co-washing and a plethora of other things. I still am not content with my hair. As a result, I am going natural for the THIRD time. Blaire is MY inspiration. I cannot preach what I have not practiced right? Wish me luck

Baby Eczema

So Blaire's eczema has flared up again, practically overnight. We have not seen this eczema stuff since she was first born. The best thing you can do for any case of Eczema is to keep it moisturized. I used a combination of Vitamin E oil and Shea Moisture's Eczema Therapy (below respectively) to nip it in the bud immediately. Within one week's time, she was eczema free. I am speculating that the weather change, which caused Blaire to go from dresses and free legs, to jeans, spandex and tights (suffocating legs) brought the eczema back. I will post a follow up picture in a week. Wish us luck. :-)

Baby Fro!!!!

No products. All combed out.

Stretch it Out!

The back of her hair is pretty long. I wish it all was this long.

First Post

I decided to make my first post an introduction. My name is Gigi, and I have a daughter named Blaire. She is 8 months old with a head full of hair. I knew I wanted to keep her "natural" and allow her to make her own decisions as to whether or not she wants chemically processed hair, when she is an adult. She was born with a head full of curls that excited the doctors and nurses in the delivery room. I too was excited until its texture changed and I faced a 5 month old with THICK, DRY hair. I searched the internet, high and low, for help. I went from one mom blog to the next but I too often found biracial children, and mainly toddlers/preschoolers. Although I fell in love with many of the blogs I saw, and became an avid follower of them (hence their inspiring this blog) I realized I was on my own. I learned that though the doctor advised me to wash her hair every time she bathed, that was wayyy to frequent and perhaps that was drying out her hair. I also learned the importance of reading ingredients. From the time she was about a month old, up until she was 5 months, I solely used pure Olive Oil in her hair. At 5 months, this was no longer a sufficient moisturizer on its own. I then gave Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme a try. Indeed, MJBB was good, but not GREAT and I felt it should've been GREAT for the price. Alas, after searching Target, and reading mom testimonies on other blogs & forums, I discovered Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus products. She was already using Shea Moisture's Head to Toe Baby Wash and it did WONDERS for her eczema so I figured hey, why not give it a try. Let's just say that I am still using that today, nearly 4 months later. I have in fact found other products, and have even tried a few homemade mixtures but, I refuse to abandon Shea Moisture.

In this blog, I will feature Blaire's hair routines, hair styles, hair & skin care. I set out to be of some help to at least ONE mom out there struggling in search of advice and inspiration.