First Braids

When Small Sun was a baby his hair was really soft and his curls were big. Like many families, we waited to cut his hair until after his first birthday. For the last year or two we've kept his hair long enough to show off his curls, but short enough to be really easy to keep groomed and styled.

The Captain has really wanted to let Small Sun's hair grow. He loves his curls! Of course I love his curls too, but I'm the one who does his hair so longer hair means more time! So now that I am over the (very) new baby stage, and Small Sun's hair is about three inches long, I'm trying to learn how to braid. I tried to do cornrows last week and had to give up on it. For one thing, I don't know how to french braid to begin with, and the curls around Small Sun's crown are really tight, so I just didn't manage to get the braids started.

Today I tried something I knew I could execute. I think these are called box braids? It took an hour and a half and my bands kept breaking. Cheap. Anyway, we'll see how it is looking tomorrow. Small Sun's hair is a lot more coarse than it was when he was a baby, but it's not really kinky enough to hold things like twists. We'll see how we go.

 

What I don't know, is if this style is appropriate on boys. You don't see many (okay, I haven't seen ANY) boys with braids here. Back in Nashville you saw all kinds of long styles on boys but here it seems to be short or loc'd styles. So internets, give me some feedback. Is this style a) boy appropriate, b) current or outdated, and c) decently executed for a first try? 

He is so rough and tumble and we're coming into the season of really windy (dry wind) weather so I'm trying to work extra hard to make sure his hair doesn't get damaged by the elements. I've got some new product (mixed chicks) coming from the States so I hope it is a good match for us! 

Comments

[Thorn]

He looks cute! I don't think it looks too feminine, although around here it would be more common for a boy his age to have cornrows of some sort than box braids. You did a great job making such neat parts and the styling looks good to me!

[Kelly]

I think he looks adorable! I am always interested in trying new products on Mea's hair. So far my favorite is Carol's Daughter, but I just ordered a sample pack from Mixed Chicks, so we'll see how well I like that one. I have attempted to cornrow Mea's hair before, and because I am so slow and she is a fidgety 3 year old, I can never get it to work out. If I decide to try the cornrows again, I'll probably take her to a salon to have them done. For now, she's happy with ponytails, and so am I so it works. I love little boys with cute long hair. Small Son looks very handsome.

[Mayhem]

Wow, he's so super adorable no matter how you do his hair... Looks like good braids and parts! He generally looks like a masculine kid to me and I don't think the braids make him look "girly" or anything. The style itself I think is somewhat more feminine than cornrows. Does he like it? If he likes it and it lasts well, then I'd call it a success!

[Amie R.]

Okay, so I am going to be Debbie Downer here. I am not a fan of big box braids for boys. I think it is more of a girls style and or a baby with patchy hair that you can't do anything else with it. My suggestion is to keep working on the cornrowing, and in the meantime make smaller box braids and tie them back to each other to look like cornrows. So, finish the braid at his face and use the rubber band to tie it together with the box behind it. It will give the appearance of a cornrow style. I also think that if you did smaller box braids a little more randomly, or in triangle shapes instead of true boxes, it could look more masculine. That being said, I think this hairstyle looks very nice for a first time and actually looks much better than any first time hair styles I have tried with my boys. I started off really big too and found more success as I tried smaller braids and twists.

[Andromeda Jazmon]

I think you did a great job! I see young men with this kind of hairstyle around here and I think it looks good. Small Son is so handsome!

[Keturah]

Hi, I'm K and I'm a black American mom married to a white Southern man with a mixed baby girl about to be expats in S. Korea.

Small Sun's hair looks fabulous. =)

I love your blog. I hope to keep reading...especially as my husband and I begin to consider interracial/intercultural adoption ourselves. I'm happy to find a pioneer in you.

Thanks for writing.

[portal flash game]

Hi, Im K and Im a black American mom married to a white Southern man with a mixed baby girl about to be expats in S. Korea.

Small Suns hair looks fabulous. =)

I love your blog. I hope to keep reading...especially as my husband and I begin to consider interracial/intercultural adoption ourselves. Im happy to find a pioneer in you.

Thanks for writing.
+1

[Kohana]

Hi K, thanks for leaving a comment. I would love to hear more about your life and your experience moving abroad. Let me know if you blog anywhere!