African American Hair and BBB Question

[treymack]

We're going to Disney for the first time in May. I've already made my 3yr old DD reservations at the BBB but I'm starting to feel a little apprehensive about them. The only pictures I've seen of little girls who are not Black or who are Black with relaxed hair none of which my daughter is. As she is Black with natural, tightly curled hair. <P>When I made the reservation they told me make sure her hair was combed through and down prior to them beginning. This is possible of course but only when it is wet and only with a wide-tooth comb; otherwise it is too painful of a process to put my daughter through. So now I'm starting to second guess this. Anybody have any experience with the BBB and natural African American hair? Any pictures?

 

[Eljay]

...Anybody have any experience with the BBB and natural African American hair? Any pictures?

I don't have personal experience at BBB, but there are some videos on YouTube that might help. It looks like some work was done on this little princesses hair before her makeover. I'm thinking that you might have to shampoo, detangle and pull her hair up wet to give them someplace to start without them pulling too much on her hair.

Do these videos help?...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DobmOcepmHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gChLzz1yn4

 

[spacemountainmom]

You might want to look into taking your princess to the Barbershop instead. I have heard they will do stuff with glitter gel and other stuff that might be easier on her hair. It's not quite the same experience, but I would hate for her experience to be "bad" if it hurts her having her hair done.

Otherwise, maybe you could call them ahead of time and explain your situation and see what they say.

Hope it all works out great for your princess!

 

[LaurenT]

I would call ahead...I'm not sure what they do exactly when it comes to hair...they may have different styles in place instead of just the bun on the head that we see so much of. I had what is commonly referred to as an Izfro groing up...there's a population of jews that have hair that is the same basic consistency as african - just different colors (mine is red)...I actually used to be the only white girl in a place that specialized in relaxing black hair, lol.
I bet they've come across kinky hair before and can work with it....I'd hate for your dd to think she can't have what all the other little girls are getting...

 

[treymack]

Thanks you guys! We have an afternoon appointment so I guess I could pack a water bottle to wet her hair and a comb and do that right before??

 

[Raenstoirm]

I dont think it will be an issue. From the youtubes posted the little girl had a normal do going in and came out with an adorable makeover without an issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scrZout7EeI&feature=related
This video shows the actual process of the hair getting done.

I am sure Disney has trained the stylist to deal with natural hair, that being said, if your dd does have pain with her hair is done, you might want to at least put it in a high ponytail when it is wet and combed through and they can design it when dry.

 

[Eljay]

I can't help but get choked up watching these makeovers. They look so adorable.

BTW, to the DIS, Treymack!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think you should call ahead. I'm sure they've run into it before but they may give you a little more info. One location may be better than the other or maybe a particular fairy godmother in training may be better at working with your daughter's hair texture than another. They'll be able to give you the best answer.

 

[mrs705]

My daughters have tight curls so I decided to skip it all together. I purchased the outfits and jewelry and got them some pixi dust. I knew it would be painful for them and end in tears. The only way I can brush or style their hair is when it is wet and conditioned. Maybe you can try it but I would talk to the stylist ahead of time to let her know your concern.

 

[rxsuperwoman]

My daughter has natural african american hair, and I took her last year. Her hair is shoulder length and curly and it had gotten really tangled. My fairly god mother in training didn't detangle it , but she did a pretty awesome job. She was one of the faces of the day and got her makeover in the window.

 

[gwiz5kids]

Maybe you should braid her hair up for the trip. That way you won't have to worry about styling it in the morning, and BBB generally just puts it up in a bun anyway. Its all about the experience anyway.

 

[squirrel]

I would call ahead...I'm not sure what they do exactly when it comes to hair...they may have different styles in place instead of just the bun on the head that we see so much of. I had what is commonly referred to as an Izfro groing up...there's a population of jews that have hair that is the same basic consistency as african - just different colors (mine is red)...I actually used to be the only white girl in a place that specialized in relaxing black hair, lol.
I bet they've come across kinky hair before and can work with it....I'd hate for your dd to think she can't have what all the other little girls are getting...

Wow, I never knew about jews having hair similar to african. My niece has copper colored hair that is very tight like african hair.

I didn't book her a BBB appointment as I knew she would hate having her hair done. The only way to comb through it is in the bath with conditioner or spraying it down with a mixture of water and conditioner.

 

[Eljay]

Maybe you should braid her hair up for the trip. That way you won't have to worry about styling it in the morning, and BBB generally just puts it up in a bun anyway. Its all about the experience anyway.

Not a bad idea. On one of the videos, they add a pink extension to the top of the girls hair. They could do that if her hair is already braided. The makeup, nail polish, Princess outfit and pixie dust makes it the BBB experience.

 

[LaurenT]

Wow, I never knew about jews having hair similar to african. My niece has copper colored hair that is very tight like african hair.

I didn't book her a BBB appointment as I knew she would hate having her hair done. The only way to comb through it is in the bath with conditioner or spraying it down with a mixture of water and conditioner.

lol...yes - I'm 46 years old and this is still the only way I get a brush through my hair! I always shower in the morning - even during this brutal winter. I have to shampoo, then put in leave in conditioner and slowly work it through with a brush - then gel - then wrap a towel around it....then remove towel, put my fingers through it to get it to sit the way I want, then hairspray....
People compliment my hair a lot - but the grass is always greener!

 

[MyPeanut&Bug]

Thanks you guys! We have an afternoon appointment so I guess I could pack a water bottle to wet her hair and a comb and do that right before??

This is what I'm planning on doing. My daughter is Ethiopian with gorgeous natural curls as well. (although hers are a looser curl pattern, so detangling may be slightly easier for us) I really didn't want to do BBB for purely selfish reasons - I planned on putting braids in and leaving them all week. But BBB is ALL she talks about wanting to do ever since she saw it on the planning DVD.

What I finally decided to do was make her appt. for our last day in the parks - knowing her, she'll want to wear her 'do for as long as possible so I figure she could wear it home if she really wanted to and then we'll deal with taking it down at home.

She has a 9:50am appt so what I'm planning on doing is taking her braids down the night before, conditioning real well (and probably doing a leave in conditioner) and putting it in 2-3 big braids. She'll wear those big braids into the park that morning, I'll bring our water spray bottle and right before her appt. I'll take the braids out, spray her hair down and detangle. Hopefully that'll be ok, I figure if I wait until the last possible minutes before her appt, it would still be wet and detangled - it seemed to be the best plan I could come with!

I explained to her that they'd have to comb it through and it would be like when I detangle it and that it might pull and kept asking her if she was sure - she is. Ultimately I decided that who knows when our next trip after this one will be and who knows if she'll be so into princesses and all next trip, so I just couldn't say no to this one.

 

[SoScary'09]

I'm trying to think about what my Mom would have done in such a situation for us. I'm mixed, and of course my hair was left natural at that age, so I know exactly where you're coming from.

If it were me I'd just pack some cute headbands or ribbons, or something that could go in quick and easy. Maybe some higher end barettes than they're used to.

However, if it doesn't seem to be an issue (I didn't watch the video links but saw them posted) I say go for it. As long as you know they won't be uncomfortable.