Thanks to all for your advice regarding wispy toddler hair and the stubborn toddler it belongs to. I thought I’d address all of the great tips people gave me:
- Working on the part
This is something I’ve been doing religiously at bathtime for a while. And I give M a hard time if he doesn’t do it right! After the bath, I towel-dry her hair, give it a few sprays of No More Tangles, and carefully comb it to the side, with her natural part. I’m not sure if it’s helping, but maybe it is and it could be even worse! - Distraction
Sadly, it doesn’t matter how involved she is in something else. If I start doing anything at all with her hair, she wiggs out. - Modeling
It seems everyone and everything in our world has had a barrette put in its hair, and has been dutifully oohed and aahed over. Rebecca remains unimpressed.
I’m telling you, she is one stubborn kid! I also tried three of the hairdo possibilities. And yes, I photographed my very unhappy kid for your (ok, and my) amusement.
Attempt #1 – the half-ponytail or “Pebbles” ‘do.
Result: Much screaming, and Daniel chasing her around, going “off! off! off!”
If I can get her to stop screaming, though, it would be pretty cute. Maybe I’ll try again later.
Attempt #2 – the barrette de-sensitization approach
Result: additional screaming, and ripping out the barrette.
Oh, the torment!
Attempt #3 – the bobby pin
Result: Not at all pleased when I put it in, but I managed to distract her and she seemed to actually forget about it! For like 45 minutes! We have a winner! Thanks, Carrie!
When she remembered it was there, she was still cranky and tried to get it out. Also, it was still rather slippery in her baby-fine hair. But it’s a good start, and I’ll be on the lookout for non-slip bobby pins. Maybe it’ll be her gateway drug into real barrettes…
Thanks, people! Glad to know I’m far from the only one who has struggled with little-girl hair, and you guys have lots of great tips. I will continue to fight the good fight and try to get her hair out of her eyes. Geez, I must really be someones mom, now, huh?
I read yesterday but didn’t comment because you said you didn’t want to cut bangs. My mom was a hairdresser and she would have told you that hair cuts will cause her hair to thicken up. Then you could let the bangs grow out. I feel so bad for that sad little face. You could just leave it be because she is so sweet that no one will notice. i have to agree that I hate rubber bands and barrettes in my hair too. I can pray and I am glad there were others out there to give good advice.
Smiles from :>) Roberta Anne
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Love the photos. After reading your post yesterday (and the comments) I told Husband we have to start parting Penny’s hair so it doesn’t all grow in her face. He prefers the Mohawk look.
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OH! I’m trying so hard not to laugh at those VERY unhappy Rebecca photos…she’s still cute.
Definitely keep trying with the half ponytail thing – eventually you’ll be able to pull it back more and it will have less of a Pebbles look and more of a cute little girl look – and she might actually like it!
I still have to gauge Maggie’s mood to see if she’ll tolerate a piggy tale or a head band or just wants to brush her hair away all day…
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That first picture is awesome! Esp with Daniel in the background – neither one of them seems to appreciate the Pebbles look though I think it’s totally cute!
Hahahaha. Too funny. Ok, I might be a mean person, but still…I can see her indignation. We did do one round of bangs trimming (and all around trimming) on Miss Abigail’s hair. I don’t love bangs, but it did help to even stuff out and make it grow in better.
Oh my God – too cute!!! I LOVE the pic with Daniel in the background ‘Out! Out!’. What a great big brother.
I know that I shouldn’t laugh, but I keep chuckling at the pictures. The supportive Daniel one is priceless!
Wow! She really is resistant. I think the bobby pins look cute…and if it works, go for it. She will probably get used to it, the more she has them in. The half-ponytail picture is priceless…not only is Rebecca upset by it, but Daniel is as well. I guess that one is definitely NOT a winner!
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I have to say, I agree with Roberta Anne. My youngest daughter won’t tolerate anything in her hair, so I’ve been giving her shaggy, fringey pixie cuts since she was about a year old. She gets SO many compliments on her hair cut. Yes, sometimes old men call her “he” or “him,” but for the most part everyone has always known she’s a girl. She’s going on 4 years old now and her hair is starting to grow out. She still won’t let me put anything in her hair, but the shaggy pixie is so adorable I don’t really need to mess with it. She gets it cut by a *real* hair stylist at Toni & Guy which is not cheap, but worth it because she works fast and makes my little gal look hip. And she does free touch ups between cuts, keeping the paid for cuts to a minimum.
With my older daughter’s hair (she had hair growing from the crown of her head forward too), we used the little tiny clam style clips. I found some super tight ones that worked in her fine hair. She never minded them, though.