What Parents Need to Know About Hair Care in Transracial Children

Being an adoptive parent of three transracial children, I had to learn all about the different types of hair care. My daughter--who has a mix of African, American and Latin blood--has very long and naturally curly hair, while my eldest son-who has a mix of African, American and Italian blood--has very curly hair in some areas and straight in some. My wife and I also have a younger son whose African-American blood has gifted him with curly hair.





Parents with transracial children should understand that all hair types are good. It is very imperative for them to know how to take care of each type of hair; different types of hair involve different types of hair care.





There are really four types of hair: (1) kinky, (2) wavy, (3) curly, (4) straight.





* Kinky hair





African-American women, more often than not, have this hair type. Their hair may be tightly coiled, with a visible pattern ranging from pencil-sized curls to s-shaped coils. Because the coils are so tight, this type of hair can shrink up to 80% of its actual length. This type of hair looks very strong and appears very thick, but it actually is quite delicate and highly susceptible to breakage, because it has the least amount of protection.





* Wavy hair





This hair type appears like a long S-shaped pattern. It falls between curly and straight hair. The hair stays well moisturized and lies close to the head. It usually appears glossier than kinky or curly hair.





* Curly hair





Curly hair comes in all sizes and shapes, from those bouncy curls to small ringlets. This hair does not have much shine, because the it's not smooth and does not reflect much light. One issue with this hair type is that it becomes very dry due to the fact that the natural oils from the scalp have a hard time traveling down the curled hair shaft; however, when the hairs are brushed, oil-producing glands in the scalp get stimulated. Curly hair is not prone to shrinking like kinky hair. It has lots of bounce and plenty of body which makes it great for different hair styles.





* Straight hair





Straight hair does not have any pattern to it. This type of hair tends to be oilier and must be washed more often to help prevent dirt and dullness. Straight hair is less prone to breakage, but it does not hold various styles well.





These are the four most prevalent types of hair. I just wanted to give a brief overview of the types of hair there are. If you are the parent of a transracial child, it is important that you learn which type of hair your child has, so that you can care for it the right way. Don't make the mistake of trying to use Caucasian hair care products on African-American hair. It will only dry out the hair and make it prone to breakage.





As an adoptive parent, it is up to me to find out all I can about my child's hair care. Do not let the fear of hair scare you. Learn all you can. It will help your child's self esteem and boost their confidence.