Summer has come and the children are finally out of school. The last three weeks have been, for most students, a waste of time, a struggle every morning to push the kids out the door fighting with clothes and hair. Final grades were calculated weeks ago for most teachers, and cumulative folders were moved to new schools.

With summer comes peace and tranquility, only until about 8AM instead of 6AM at many homes, no more shouting to get out of bed, no more fighting to finish up homework, and no more arguments about clothes choices, until about 8.

In a biracial household, the hair seems to cause the biggest, loudest arguments and screams in the mornings. With mixed race children, the hair is a mixture in itself, sometimes kinky, sometimes curly, sometimes dry, sometimes oily, sometimes bone straight, but always different, then comes puberty and an easy to manage head of hair changes to the head of medusa. It becomes a chore fighting the hair in the morning, although, once it is finally done and in place, biracial hair is beautiful. This is what is recommended.

After a shower or bath at night, try to moisturize the hair and then wrap it tight in a silk cloth. This will ease the pain in the early mornings as the nighttime tangles are combed out. In the morning use a wide toothed comb to detangle the hair. A few products are then applied to help manage and tame the hair. All of these products can be found at Sally's Beauty Supplies in Virginia Beach.

There is a three step process in our morning hair system.

1. Apply Soft and Beautiful Just for me detangler. This is combed through the hair.


2. Apply an Olive Oil Wrap/Set mousse.


3. For special occasions, a lye free protein styling gel is applied to hold it in place and to reduce the frizzing that occurs in biracial children.
   

Do not use a brush; it will tear the hair. Only use a wide tooth comb, God's gift to thick hair.

There are other products out on the market that also can help. Mixed Chicks products are very popular and can be found online. Also found at Sally's, a product called Smooth'n Shine styling mouse will hold down the frizzing. All of these products work well.

Just remember that the hair of a mixed child is mixed, a unique blend of cultures from all over the world, and that there will need to be a little more time set aside in the mornings. If you see a mixed child wearing a cap, dad tried to do their hair that morning and failed.

(Examiner)