Is it okay to relax or staighten a 3 year old's hair with chemicals?

Question

My brother is the father of a biracial girl. She has very unruly curly hair that he and her mother have no idea how to deal with it. (I told them to keep it in french braids, but they don't know how). He's at wit's end and wants to straighten her hair thinking it will be manageable. I don't think salons will straighten a 3year old's hair... Do you think so?

I myself have natural hair. I am a black woman. I have already given suggestions to them on the care of curly hair. I love myself completely and she will too. This is not an issue of self hate. It is an issue of manageablility. I understand why some women have no patience in dealing with their own hair and turn to chemicals. He just asked me a question. I don't think chemicals are right either but she is not my child. There is a difference between giving an opinion and judging how someone will feel about themselves for the rest of their lives! I had a relaxer at one point and was still very happy and content with myself. My neice will be the same way. My brother is not a stylist and the mom has very stick straight fine caucasion hair. Dealing with her unruly mass of curls is a different experience for the both of them. I appreciate most of your answers...

Also, the mom is just lazy and doesn't want to comb her hair because it is alot of curly hair.... this is what my brother's just said to me. She doesnt comb it she just plops it into a ponytail. He's sick of seeing her hair like that....

I don't live near them, I am in Westside Chicago and they live in Highland Park. When I do see my niece I give her french braids because I know they will last a long time.

Answer 1

I think it would be very difficult to do this in the first place, the 3 year old will not be able to sit still for long enough to do the processing! There are harsh chemicals that will also be harmful to her scalp, skin and eyes.... you could ask a salon owner what their policy on that is, but I wouldn't recommend it!
I did a perm once on a daughter of mine when she was 3, but I had no choice at the time, she had totally cut off her hair in the back, and it was awful when it grew back in.... so I gave her a perm to give it some body until it got longer... I would never do that again until the child was older! Get some professional advice on what to do for your beautiful neices hair... and maybe have someone teach them how to braid it! Good luck! If they do decide to straighten it, just be careful!

Answer 2

You'd have to call a salon and ask... if all else fails, try a salon that specializes in African hair styling/braiding.. they might be able to do something or braid it for her. What does your niece's mother do with her hair?

My niece is biracial, but she's very lucky that her hair has the best of both races. It's curly, soft, grows really long, doesn't break... my sister still keeps it braided all the time and it lasts a good 3 or 4 days at a time.

Answer 3

No a salon should not relax her hair. Relaxing hair deals with a very serious chemical. That if applied wrong can burn the scalp, or if left on to long will cause major breakage. She's three so she will not sit very long and she can very well put her hands in her hair. My advice would be to use a flat iron to straighten her hair. Hair does not need to be washed everyday, so you can flat iron her hair and leave it like that for a few days. Flat ironing can take awhile, so let someone else do the work. take her to a beauty school, they will be cheap and you wont have to stress about doing it yourself.

Answer 4

I'm not a professional stylist myself, but most salons that I know will not do a relaxer on a child that young. The salon I go to will take kids as young as 6 with a mild relaxer or a kiddie perm. I would take her to a stylist and ask them what they recommend. They might be able to show you some styles that will make her hair easier to manage. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Personally, I think 3 is way too young--her scalp is bound to be too sensitive at that age for strong chemicals. My step-daughters have a bi-racial sister, age 5, that has that hair, and they just let it go wild. It's cute on her, but she's a cute child. Could dad, or another concerned relative, take her to a salon that has experience with that type of hair for other styling options? Must be something else they can do for her.

Answer 6

three is much too younger for something everlasting or semi everlasting, the one factor that are meant to be performed to a three yr historic's hair colour is the spray in wash out Halloween colour. You particularly will have to now not even use a curling iron on their hair till they're historic enought to make use of themselves. You aren't over-reacting! I might maintain a watch on her whether it is permanement considering that being so younger she can have an allergic reation, it may well burn the scalp so one can definately harm her hair regardless however self expression at her age will have to be whatever like utilizing crayons at the wall, hair demise for self expression is typically reserved for rebelious and immature teenagers. The mom will have to now not have allowed this or encouraged it. At probably the most-she might have best died a small section of hair nearly the ends-clear of scalp.

Answer 7

NO, they shouldn't perm that baby's hair. If they do they might mess up how it's suppose to be when she gets older. She might not even have any. Take her to a salon. They should be able to do something to her hair and give tips on how to take care of it and make it easier to style without any chemcials. The salon should also be able to help come up with some cute do-it-at-home hairstyles for her, as well.

Answer 8

Probably not. Buy him the book "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey that will teach him how to deal with curly hair, how to care for it, style it etc. A child is probably too young for chemicals and you can accidentally injure her with the stuff. Plus curly hair is beautiful, you just have to know how to take care of it and it's much different from straight hair.

Answer 9

Even if a salon would do that, I would not straighten a three year olds hair! Goodness! Maybe they should go to a beauty supply store and ask the clerk to recommend something. There has got to be a better solution!

Answer 10

Brad Pitt says to try CAROL'S DAUGHTER, a Black hair care product.

Honestly, I say NO to chemically processing a 3-year old's hair. Try blow drying using a straightening lotion. Conditioning and moisturizing her hair after shampooing will help also. Using a detangler of course.