Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hair

If you know me personally, or if you've followed my blog for a while now, you'll know about me that I am really, really terrible with anything hair-related.  I can do nothing with my own hair, can barely put a braid together in my niece's hair (and when I have, it's not something that she could wear out of the house), and I used to fear receiving a referral of two girls because it would mean so much time spent on learning and 'doing' hair.  Most people with fine, straight hair like me have absolutely no idea what it takes to nurture and maintain the beautiful, curly hair such that my children have.  Matthew's hair needs combing about once a week...and that's it.   In contrast, with the younger kids, I work on their hair every single day (at least once): wet it; rub conditioner into their scalp and hair; gloss it up with coconut oil; refrain from washing it more than every 7-12 days; apply more conditioner or lotion later in the day when their hair appears to be sucking it up in a needy rather way.  A good friend has been ever-so-helpful in helping me set up a hair routine to help bring their hair into health and define their curls.  It's working...but it takes discipline and consistency to do it.  And this routine has nothing to do with adding any style to the kids' hair.

So it was rather a relief to me when the kids' infectious disease doctor told me shortly after we brought the kids home that I should not attempt to style the kids' hair (or even cut it) until after we'd rid them of their head fungus issues (to protect the hair from breakage, etc).  You can imagine how silly I felt when, upon hearing the news two weeks ago that they were fungus free, my first reaction was something less than joyful.  My instantaneous reaction was "shoot, no, now I have to figure out what to do with Lizzie's hair."  I'm a horrid mother, I know...believe me, I've raked myself over the coals for that reaction.  Any 'normal' mother would have rejoiced at the news that the head fungus was gone...but oh no, not this one...I'm a little demented.

But onwards and upwards right?  And I'm never one to shrink back from a fear or a challenge...at least, not for long.  The day after getting the 'all clear,' I phoned the hair stylist that I wanted to cut my younger kids' hair, and she booked us in for last Friday.

I was wondering how the first Canadian haircuts would go for the kids, given their past experiences of having their heads shaved, in the orphanage and in our agency's transition house.  Indeed, when I told the kids what we would be doing that day, Seth immediately said "no bzzzzz" while running an imaginary razor over the top of his head.  I assured him right away that he was not going to have his head shaved, and told him that the stylist would take only a little bit off of the top of his head, to clear away the frizzy, dead ends of his hair.  After that he was ok...and with his being ok, Lizzie was ok, too.

It turns out that I needn't have worried.  The woman who cut their hair was fantastic with them: she sat down and talked to them for a few minutes first; learned their names and used them; and told them exactly what she would do to their hair.  By the time she led them to the sink to wash their hair, they were practically eating out of her hand.

(below)
Seth (left) and then Lizzie, getting their hair washed.  I'm not sure if you tell by Lizzie's face how thrilled she was to be having her hair washed, but she totally was.  That girl loves anything to do with having attention paid to her, whether it be cuddling, having her body rubbed with lotion, or having her hair washed/combed.
(above)
The stylist even put some "simple" (to anyone but me, perhaps) comb twists in Lizzie's hair...largely, she said, to show me a bit about how to handle her hair.  Though the twists were very loose and didn't last until the next morning, she was so cute while she had them in!

Yesterday, all of the sudden, while I was reading to the kids in our little library, I had this crazy thought that I wanted to try something with Lizzie's hair....just try.  I don't know what possessed me, and I knew I'd be dismal at it, but before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed her, ran upstairs with my giggling little munchkin, plunked her onto the bathroom counter, and started wetting her hair (which I'd heard was a prerequisite for any style).  It took me 35 minute, darn it, but I put 28 little pony tails into Lizzie's hair.  Both boys watched every move I made, and Matthew kept telling me that I looked hilarious because my face made all sorts of contortions as I fiddled with the comb and those tiny black elastic bands that are no larger than the size of my pinkie fingernail.  Every moment, every movement, felt awkward and embarrassing (because I want to do Lizzie justice) and uncomfortable.  But I finished her whole head of hair, and decided that I would simply be proud of my first ever attempt to 'do' my daughter's hair.  Here she is in all of my amateurish glory - despite my clumsiness, isn't she adorable anyway??!!


21 comments:

  1. Lizzie's hair looks great! And she looks thrilled about it, too.

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  2. As sweet as apple pie! She looks so proud! Carolyn

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  3. Hi Ruth! Great pics and nice job with the hair! I had to laugh when I saw this post - I am just about to do my own hair post when I get a few minutes!
    Take care,
    Anita

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  4. Awe so adorable. You did a great job!!

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  5. She looks adorable - you did a great job! And it sounds like you found a great hairdresser too!

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  6. Beautiful! You did Good Momma!
    So proud of you!
    Kelly

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  7. Way to go Ruth. You did a fantastic job. I too have been afraid at the thought of doing anything with my daughters' hair.

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  8. Good work! Her hair looks adorable!

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  9. Adorable! Personally I find the parting to be the hardest job with how tight meski's hair is and your parts look great. I wish we lived closer so I could help you- I love going hair styles and (dare I admit this$ I actually take the twists or cornrows out while they still look good to TTY something new.... If you ever want to go for a drive, cone down and I'll help you!

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  10. Her hair looks cute. Good job, Mama!

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  11. Oh-she looks adorable! You did a great job :)

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  12. Yeah Ruth! That looks so adorable! I had the same urge yesterday to do Rebka`s hair. I just wanted to put puffs along the front in a headband style and leave the rest of her fro free, but she insisted that I do her whole head. I can barely do pony tails on my other daughter`s straight hair, but after an hour and 40 little puffs, she looked just as happy as Lizzie! Can`t wait to see your second style attempt!
    Tracey

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  13. hey! you did great! you know, doing hair has actually become one of my favourite things - such a nice (extended) one on one time with my daughters. i think as you gain confidence and experience, you'll begin to like it too :)

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  14. Super cute, Ruth! I was so scared and timid to do E's hair at first, but now I LOVE it and sometimes even take the styles out before they need to come out. I find that the styling time is a fun time to connect and be close-and she loves picking out the styles!

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  15. You did sooooo good Ruth! Lizzie looks very pretty, and so very happy and proud that her Momma did her hair very nice!!!

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  16. Aw! Look how cute she is! I mean, she is cute with or without the 'do, but it is well done!!! Someone needs to teach me!

    Claire

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  17. i just re-read my comment to you and yikes! If you need a translation let me know- I don't think I can comment when I'm half asleep and using my ipod with it's spell help anymore!

    A quick translation: She is beautiful and you did a great job! And, feel free to come over for a hair day and I'll gladly help you if you ever want- I love braiding and twisting etc.

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  18. You did great! That last photo of her shows how obviously thrilled she is with it, and I must say that I am totally impressed with your parting skills! It's been 2 years for me trying to do Sedaya's hair and the parts never look that good!

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