Skip to main content

How to Choose Age-Appropriate Styles for Your Little Naturals


1BlessedNatural: How to Choose Age-Appropriate for Your Little Naturals
 (Photo credit: Libertinus via VisualHunt / CC BY-SA )
Wig, weaves, and sewn-ins... I've seen all of these styles on children, and it shows times have certainly changed since I was a kid. Last year, actress and singer Christina Milian defended her choice on social media of letting her 5-year old daughter wear long crochet braids. Some people liked the style, while others said it was not age-appropriate and looked heavy. Here were 2 main rules for choosing hairstyles when I was a kid:
  • No Hair swinging in the front of your face! In other words, I was to have any style that made me act like I could pop my neck like I was all of that and a bag of chips. Having all or some of my hair out was a one-time luxury that was mainly reserved for holidays and/or school pictures. When I did get to wear my hair out, I didn't know what to do!
  • No color! I see kids with all different types of colors in their hair at early ages. My grandmother preferred that I didn't color my hair, and I didn't dare disagree with her. 

Little girl with twists and barrettes (Photo credit: stevendepolo via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

The information above was just for jokes and reminiscing, but if you are wondering if you should choose a certain style for your little one, here are some things you should consider:

1. Will the style put stress on the hairline, neck, or other parts of the scalp?  This goes for tight or heavy braids whether they be extensions, cornrows, or sew-ins. Remember that you're child's scalp is still growing and can be very sensitive. The choices you make now can permanently damage their hair.  

2. Will the style be a distraction? This goes back to the rule above about no hair swinging in the face. It also applies to hair accessories, like beads. If you don't think your child will be able to concentrate in school because they'll be worried about their hair, then you may want to chose another style. If you want to do beads, maybe do them in the summer when they are off from school.

3. Is the style age-appropriate? This one is always a touchy subject, because it's all about parents'  choices of what they deem to be appropriate. God willing, your child will be able to wear adult styles when they get to be an adult. So, what's the rush? If you are looking for kid styles for girls ages 4-11, check out the 1BN Kids section.

Are you having trouble choosing age-appropriate styles for your little naturals?

Related Articles: 5 Ways to Teach Your Daughter to Lover Her Natural Hair
                            Father Doing Daughter's Hair Exclusive
                            Stylist Refuses to Relax Little Girl's Hair...

Popular posts from this blog

Aborigines and Melanesians: Naturally Blonde Hair and Dark Skin

Melanesia: Solomon Island girls (photo courtesy of the -cropped-Flickr- Australian Civil-Military Centre http://www.acmc.gov.au/ ) Naturally blonde hair is often associated with white or Caucasian people. However, there are groups of dark skin people who have naturally blonde hair also. Some of these groups include the Aboriginal Australians (Aborigines) and the Melanesians. I love this fact because it goes against the idea that one group or culture must look a certain way or stay in a certain category.  The Aborigines have dark skin. Some of them also have blonde hair which tends to be straight, but can be curly. Scientists first believed they were descendants of Eurasians. In 2011, scientists found evidence against the theory from a sample of natural hair. The sample of hair, which was said to be more than 100 years old, helped scientists determine that Aborigines were descendants of Africans. The New York Times confirmed this finding: "The Abo...

Asian Hair Trend: Afro Perms

Asian afro perm (photo courtesy of www.afrohair.net) When we talk about the topic of natural hair, we often talk about African-Americans or Black people perming their hair to look more like Caucasian or straight hair. But, what about people of other races attempting to make their hair kinky or textured like that of African-Americans? Afro perms, along with other Black hairstyles have been a long time trend in Asia. Because Asian hair grows naturally straight, the afro perm gives the hair a textured look. The afro perm is not an actual relaxer or perm kit, it's the use of perm rods to make the hair curly. The beautypot.com says, " An afro perm is made by not straightening the hair. It is made by creating hair bonds that make the hair curl. The hair stylist makes the hair into a new shape, using perming rods or rollers, and allows the new shape to develop ." Preparation for afo: perm rods in Asian hair (photo courtesy of http://www.redefini...

Priscilla Shirer Shares Her Natural Hair Story and Tips on IG Live!

Actress and minister of Going Beyond Ministries Priscilla Shirer shared her natural hair story and secrets on IG Live today. After receiving numerous questions about her long thick natural hair, she decided it was time to do a video. Shirer said, "I've decided that sometimes, to a woman, hair = ministry." Shirer started getting a perm at about 13 years old. During previous years, her mother would use the hot comb to straighten her hair. When Shirer was 24 years old, she noticed a circular patch of hair that had broken off on the side of her head. After she visited a doctor and they plucked a few strands from different parts of her hair, the doctor concluded that Shirer's hair was growing in healthy. However, it was something that she was doing to her hair that was making it break off. As a result, her doctor told her to stop relaxing her hair for 6 months. While driving home, Shirer had a breakthrough. She originally had no intention of following the doctor...