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How do you feel about heat being used on children and why? This includes flat ironing, pressing combs, blow drying, curling irons, etc.
Do you think it should never be used? Only a couple of times a year? Every week? etc.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Q.O.T.W: How do you feel about heat being used on children?
How do you feel about heat being used on children and why? This includes flat ironing, pressing combs, blow drying, curling irons, etc.
Do you think it should never be used? Only a couple of times a year? Every week? etc.
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i think its ok... once in a while.. not everyday.. as far as flat iron or a blow dry... maybe like once every six months.. little girls love there hair straight and flowing.. i know i did...
ReplyDeleteI would have to say only a couple times of year in my opinion. I use heat on my daughters hair maybe 2-3 times a year. I say to each their own honestly. I dont think it should be used every week at most once a month.
ReplyDeleteI grew up using a curling iron (and having one used on me) for bangs everyday - and to make ringlets occasionally. (but foam rollers more often, so no heat)
ReplyDeleteSo my initial reaction would be that occasional use would be fine. Just not too often - like maybe a handful of times a year.
That said - I have straight hair! I have no idea of the extent of damage that heat can do to curly hair, so before I EVER let DD use anything with heat, I will be doing lots of research first!
I think the key is moderation, though.
I don't see a problem with it as long as proper precautions are being taken before the heat is applied (using heat protectant, proper conditioning, etc). My mother used a hot comb on my hair often when I was younger, but before she did, she always loaded my hair up with bergamot. I never lost my texture and my hair retained it's length.
ReplyDeleteI haven't decided yet. I thought one day it would be okay to press like for a weddig she will be in but mybe it sends the message straigh hair is nicer on the other hands it is just another option for her hair. I want to know what you think my daughter has mostly 4a hair with some spots of 3c like the very frnt and her recital is coming up. I was considering getting shirley temples only because I haven't been successful in getting the natural methods to work.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is good as a routine to use heat in kids hair. I was one of those little girls who sat in the kitchen on Saturday nights, getting a hard press with a heavy straightening comb, and I hated it. Not only that, but the bi-weekly hot combing buned my skin and hair more than once.
ReplyDeleteAs far as blow drying, flat ironing, and etc, they can be just as damaging if used too much or if not used correctly (keeping the heat in one spot for too long, not protecting it with the right product, etc).
I've said that after my daughter fully knows and understands the beauty of her natural hair and is also over the age of 12, then she may be allowed get her hair blow dried and lightly flat ironed 1-2 times yearly, like maybe birthdays and Easter. I want her to love her hair and not become so accustomed to having it ritually straighened and "tamed" into straightness that she feels like it is the only normal way to deal with her hair.
I do not agree with heat on small children I think it will be o.k when they get a little older as long as it is not used all the time like maybe a couple of times a year...:-)
ReplyDeleteThe only heat I would considered ever using on my girls hair would be to sit under a dryer and that would only be maybe 2 or 3 times a year or on an occassion where I need their hair styled and then dry quick. Other than that I prefer not to put any heat especially blow drying if I want my girls hair to stretch the banded method would be the best method I use. Heat can cause extreme damage and I want to keep their hair as healthy as possible.
ReplyDeleteI will never use heat on my daughters' hair, outside of regular old sunshine. I am deathly afraid of heat damage and hair loss, and even have them wear heats in the summer or use a lot of leave-in conditioner during the summer to offset the sunrays. Family memebers have been asking for years if I would get my daughters blow-outs ala Kimora Lee did her eldest daughter, and I just say a quick and stern "no."
ReplyDeleteI will not give my opinion about someone else's child and using heat on her hair, unless that child is a close relative, because that is a decision left to the parent. For relatives, I just offer up what I do to achieve the str8 look, basically banding, and give them that alternative. So, I'm against using heat on children's hair.
I am so glad you posed this question. I am really interested in see how people feel about this. I have two daughters (Tatum 4 and Terin almost 2) and I have flat ironed my eldest hair twice in her life. Each time I was SOOO scared to do it but ended up doing it anyway with a million pounds of heat protectant! I think I would do it a max of twice a year if she wanted. She defiantly prefers her "curly wurly" hair (as she would put it lol). Overall I think it would probably be ok to do every now an then without causing damage.
ReplyDeleteI think using a hairdryer on a cool setting to dry the hair when pressed for time is ok.. not great but ok.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that flat irons or pressing combs should be used on kids hair routinely (just as I would not recommend them for adults either on a routine basis).
I think that straightening hair should be held off for as long as possible.
I do not have any kids but if I did, I would probably wait until around 10-12 when my daughter might be conciously curious to see her hair straight.
I will also not "let" her straighten it just for special occasions - that could send the message that her curly hair isn't as "nice" or "fancy" as straight. Having straight hair, pretty much the only time my mom curled mine (and we did it almost every time) was for pictures and special occasions!! so I had straight hair - but in most pictures of me, it's curly.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I've always adored curly hair! I would have given anything to have curly hair as a kid. I even asked for perms. (which I was never given, and now I'm so glad!)
say no to heat. except for an occasional hair set, it's not needed.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally blow dry my daughters hair. Hers is very tightly curled and it makes it easier to braid. I would say about every 6-8 weeks. What kind of heat protectant should I be using?
ReplyDeleteMy opinion would be no heat on children but I feel I can say that because I have four boys with hair. If I had a daughter I would say the same but may also feel tempted to use heat. I hate to see little boys whose hair has been blowdried or straightened...I mean good grief , they are boys.
ReplyDeleteI'm just afraid of using any form of heat because I have no knowledge of how to take care of hair that has been blowdried or straightened. All I know is all natural.
I am ok with using occasional heat blow dryer/flat iron a handful of times a year. As far as being afraid of the message I would send about straightening for special occasions...I think it is fun to change it up and wear it differently as with many with straight hair curl their hair for special occasions...
ReplyDeleteWe don't use heat at all, for anyone in our household. We have an old, cheap hair drier we use for art and household projects, but we don't own anything for hair that has to be plugged in. I guess that makes it a pretty simple decision for us.
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest I used heat the other day. The whole time I was thinking man this is a mistake. I don't think I will be doing it to often.
ReplyDeleteI personally think it's okay occasionally. We definitely don't use heat every day or even once a week, but maybe twice a month or so. I make sure to use heat protect and set the tool on the lowest heat setting. My daughter's hair seems to be pretty undamaged so far.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the age, i would not use heat for my one year old , but when she gets older I may use it sparingly. I also do not think having the hair straightened for special occasions will teach them that it is "better". I used a curling iron almost everyday in high school (before I knew better), but I never had any breakage or heat damage.
ReplyDeleteFor my daughter, I won't because I do believe it has a number of adverse effects (heat damage, wrong/negative messages, etc.). And this is just me, but I don't even like the way little naturally-curly girls look with straight hair... it just looks forced and unnatural. But if one of my friends came to me and said she only does it sparingly, it'd be a little harder for me to argue because I think all moms will do what they want to do in the end. I kind of shrug it off as okay, if that works for you.
ReplyDeleteI use heat maybe 3 times a year no more...i agree about not doing for "special occasions"that can send a negative message that her hair is not beautilful enough for special occasions
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, my mom didn't let me wear my hair straight until I was at least 14, then I started to get it flat ironed bone straight every other week because I liked it. I didn't have the knowledge that I do now about heat damage, but I will definitely limit my daughter's heat usage to a few times a year when she gets older. She's almost 3, and I have never used heat on her or been tempted to. Plus, I love her curls and straight hair (to me) now, is just so blah :)
ReplyDeleteI have a son and used to blowdry his hair and havent within the last 2 years & have noticed the vast improvement. It seemed to dry his hair out no matter how much protector I used. There was also a difference in colour. Air Dry all the way!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see the point in doing that with a small child. When they are older and request it, then on rare occasions that would be okay. But honestly since I never straighten my daughter's hair - until she is much older and more aware - it would not occur to her to do anything else but wear it curly. She loves her curls.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I used a blow dryer on Alaina was when she was 5 for her dance recital. Since then I have blown her hair dry 2-4 times. I've only straightened her hair twice in her 8 years of life. I think it's fine in moderation. Alaina would rather wear her natural curls or have me roll her hair.
ReplyDeleteI think its ok every once in a while. My hair was pressed as a child for special occasions, and blow dried straight other days. As I got a little older I would wear braids in the summer, press and curl in the winter. This was all the way to age 17, when I finally got a relaxer before college. My hair was long, thick, and healthy. I think if used in moderation and taken care of properly, it is just fine.
ReplyDeleteI think all little girls, curly, straight, blond, brown,black or red, want to change it up at some time or another.
ReplyDeleteOur only issue would be if our daughters wanted to do it because they felt a need to fit into some sort of stereotype of beauty.
If their hair is healthy and well cared for though, heat shouldn't be damaging once in a while.
Ok,
ReplyDeleteIf we lived in a society where all hair was treated and considered equal from the very straight to the very kinky and straight hair really was just 'an option' (as many people who wear their tresses straight 90-100% of the time like to say, despite not possessing naturally straight hair) then I would say on a healthy head of a 10 year old pluses hair very rarely, it would be ok. However all things are not equal and kinky hair is still viewed as less than while straight hair is held up as the paragon of feminine beauty.
When you straighten a child's kinky/naturally curly hair, you will see the general public, friends and relatives transfer that societal view that straight is better and prettier through their oohs and aahs over this straightened look. A child is a child, she wants to look pretty and have people tell her she is beautiful and ok. Those oohs and ahhs become addictive to a child and if everyone around her is over praising her with straight hair then she will begin to crave straight hair to get that praise.
Mothers need to give lots of praise and love to their children's natural hair and if they straighten, to not make a big deal of it or give the impression that this temporary change is somehow more beautiful or becoming than what they had before. That includes telling friends and relatives who do over praise the child's straight hair, that her hair was even more beautiful before.
We cannot pretend that straight hair is just a fun style for a naturally curly/kinky haired child's head. It has connotations and implications.
Actually to the person who said all little girls want to have straight flowing hair, many little girls just want to look like mommy and be pretty. If mommy is natural and proud of her hair, she will want to be the same. If straight hair is mommy's thing, she will want that too. Sometime straightening is ok for the mother with the right mindset about the child's natural hair. If a mother has any negative feelings toward curly/kinky hair and projects that straight hair is better in any way, the child will grow (like many black women) to feel that straight=pretty and better.
Shirley Q
I have been tempted..really tempted to use heat on my daughters hair mostly to check length. However, I love their curls so much that I'm scared that if I use heat that I might alter their curl pattern & it won't revert back!
ReplyDeleteAlso, they're just 2 & even if I was going to use heat on their hair, they're scared of the blow dryer lol! I'll wait..when they're older, I might use roller-sets occasionally to straighten their hair, but I doubt I will use direct heat on their hair much...I love those curls too much!
I tried the blow dryer the 1st time (on low heat, held about 3 feet from her head lol!). I wanted to see if it would help me braid it better since it's really fine and curly. I didn't like the resulting dryness and will never use it again.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a great idea, why teach children to rely on heat?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI do it on her hair about once/twice a year. she picks a day and we flat iron it. But I make sure that I use a heat protector. (question: Nikki what type do you use?)
ReplyDeleteIMO nah not really I mean its a personal preference for me. I can always use bows to dress her hair up for special occasions. I don't see straight hair as something that strikes me as special occasion type of style, I mean that's just me. When she is old enough and wants to then sure but til then it would be a decision I did because I wanted to she's not saying otherwise and I have no actual desire to.
ReplyDeleteOn that note I don't issues with other people that do it to their kids or selves. :-)
I'd say that once in a while is ok, but not everyday, because of the heat damage. also, i think that when you DO use heat you should make sure you take certain precautions like making sure the hair is moisturized and has heat protectants in it etc.
ReplyDeleteNot all the time. I use it on my hair more often than I should. I try not to use it on my daughter's hair at all. I have been transitioning my daughters hair for almost a year now and so I really want to make sure that I don't damage it. I am having to re-learn how to take care of my daughters "new" hair. I love this site and all the ideas! Thanks Nikki
ReplyDeleteShirley Q kind of took the words out of my mouth.
ReplyDeleteI am not completely against heat. However, I do not think it should be used on a child more than 1-2 times per year.
Also, as Shirley stated, when a child (or anyone for that matter) straightens their naturally curly hair, they get a TON of compliments! Children are children, of course they love all the nice comments and see the extra attention they are getting because their hair is straight. So I definitely don't think it should be done often.
Also, if you do not follow the proper precautions your child can be left with some serious heat damage. Heat damage is not pretty.
I would type more on this but I'll save it for another post. Basically, as long as you follow the proper precautions no more than once or (maybe) twice a year should be fine. Be mindful of what people say (including yourself) to your child when their hair is straight.
As far as blow drying, personally I find it completely useless. You can get very similar, if not the same results from banding the hair- which requires no heat at all.
i have never straightened my daughters hair and the hairdryer is only very occassionally used. Normally i only ever towel dry or air dry her hair.
ReplyDeleteI have used a straightener on my daughter's hair. I am now deciding not to do this again. I am following your blog and have visited tightlycurly.
ReplyDeleteHer hair looked like it had been fried and I hope that I can get it back to a healthy condition, which it never has been, since I never knew how to take care of her hair.
If you would like me to show pictures that you can post on your blog to show what happens when you use a straightener, let me know