Is braiding harmful to a child's hair?

[DisneyLovingMama]

My daughter will be 5 when we go on our cruise. She has fine, thin hair. I know she'll want some braids in her hair. So, a few questions:

• Does it hurt to get them?
• Will the braids hurt or ruin her hair? She has to be a flower girl in my brother's wedding a few weeks after the cruise.
• We're going on a four day cruise with a trip to Disney/Universal before we sail. Where's the best place to get the braids?

Thanks!

Jennifer

 

[flexsmom]

My DD is 5 and just had her hair done on our recent cruise. She also has rather fine hair. I'll be honest - yes, it hurt her when the braids on the side of her head went in - you know the "little hairs" as my daughter calls them, right around your ears? That said, she had a few tears, but after the fact, she loved her braids and wants to do it again in two years. We only kept hers in for about 2 weeks and while it took a little bit of time to get them out, it didn't have any long-term impact on her hair that I could see. Can't help you on the third question - we had ours done at CC during the cruise.

 

[1stNoel]

There will be some breakage at the scalp. You probably know how easily your DD's hair snaps when stuck in a clip or band and can estimate from that.

I've been successful in talking my nieces, who also have fine and thin hair, into doing just the hair wraps. IMO, the braids are a style that very few can pull off.

 

[gene2geno]

Although I do not have any small children of my own I have seen the little ones crying while getting their hair braided. Also, please keep in mind that more of her scalp will be exposed to the sun and susceptible to sun burn. When my niece got her hair braided she left it in for close to a month. When she finally took it out she was surprised how much of her hair came out in her hands. It wasn't noticable looking at her, she was just surprised to see it in her hands.

 

[Hollua]

Although I do not have any small children of my own I have seen the little ones crying while getting their hair braided. Also, please keep in mind that more of her scalp will be exposed to the sun and susceptible to sun burn. When my niece got her hair braided she left it in for close to a month. When she finally took it out she was surprised how much of her hair came out in her hands. It wasn't noticable looking at her, she was just surprised to see it in her hands.

I've seen posts about people losing their hair before. This is absolutely normal. The longer the braids are left in the more hair loss will be noticable. The important thing is that there is NO MORE hair loss than if there were never any braids in the hair. Really. People lose hair everyday. It just isn't that noticable. When the hair is left in braids for several days or several weeks, you are seeing the normal accumulated hair loss. Basically your hair continues to fall out little by little but it is stuck in the braid. When the braids come out it seems like A TON of hair, because we never experience it all at once like that. If anything you are maybe experiencing less hair loss, since it isn't being brushed, combed, dried, or styled everyday.

But it does hurt.

 

[flexsmom]

There will be some breakage at the scalp. You probably know how easily your DD's hair snaps when stuck in a clip or band and can estimate from that.

I've been successful in talking my nieces, who also have fine and thin hair, into doing just the hair wraps. IMO, the braids are a style that very few can pull off.

On the last sentenct, I agree. Some people with them looked kind of silly - but hey, it's their vacation. We opted for a "hairband" style - DD had only about 1 1/2 inches per braid across the top of her head and it worked out great. Looked like a hairband with unbraided hair below. Do be sure to get some spray sunscreen, though!

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

I've been successful in talking my nieces, who also have fine and thin hair, into doing just the hair wraps.

What are hair wraps? That may be a good alternative.

 

[dizprincess27]

Something else to think about with hair wraps. My dd got one during our last visit at CSR. She got it in June and didn't take it out until August but the really bad thing was that we got the wrap placed on top of her hair in the side/front and it was done so tight that it had to be cut out instead of being unwrapped Needless to say a BIG chunk of her hair was cut to her head and looked horrible while it was gowing in. Next time we've decided that if we get a wrap we'll get it done underneath the hair this time

 

[1stNoel]

The wraps are colored threads they wind around some strands of hair (similar to the size of the braids). I haven't had trouble undoing them, but we always get them underneath. Wraps can also be done on clips, that you can take on and off. Here's a pic - wrap

 

[Enna]

I had just a few braids done twice...just 5 or so above one ear, so they could be pulled back into a ponytail or left down if I was pulling up the front of the hair. I only ever left them in for 5 days at the most, and I can tell you that there was broken hair...not just the stuff that would naturally fall out.

If you decide to go for the braids, think about your child's hair, and what style she'll be doing at the wedding. They could put a few braids or a wrap just behind her ear so they could be left out of a ponytail, or pulled up into the pony, but any damage would be covered by other hair in a more traditional style for the wedding.

GOOD LUCK with the trip AND the wedding!

 

[MickeyAnne]

In my experience, effects of the braiding depend on how tight they are pulled to begin with. If you request that the braider not pull too tight, there will be less breakage BUT they will not last as long and may not look as nice.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

In my opinion, the best place to get the braiding done is on the ship. You can bring your own comb, which is what we did, but if you don't, they have them sterilizing right there.

I will say that I noticed quite a few little girls with thin/fine hair with their hair braided and it looked like you could see their entire scalp and was not all that attractive.

We had my daughter's hair done in the half- head headband style and I really think that this is more attractive on little girls (and less expensive too.) She has really thick curly hair and the braids were actually a great way to keep it off of her face for all of the water activities. Again, just remember to bring the spray sunblock!

We have been planning to take them out this weekend (it will be three weeks they've been in tomorrow) but she refuses. Maybe one more week!

 

[DLANGE3386]

tried to do my twin 6yo daughters. they were both crying and shaking because it hurt. I had the ask the women twice to stop!

 

[Jaquie]

Hello, Never personally experienced hair braid, but as a hairdresser, I have taken the braids out. I think what everyone is considering breakage is just normal hair shedding. Everyone sheds some hair everyday, and it is removed by brushing it. If your hair is in braids for a few weeks it is still holding on to the shedded hair. Someone suggested sataurating the braids with conditioner before removing the braids, I think that's a great idea. We'll be cruising in April and my DD9 and DD11 are dying for the braids. They have been saving there money since June.

 

[Corryn]

Hey Jaquie, I knew you'd post on this one

 

[Love2Camp]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so be patient.

My DD had her hair done at Universal about 2 1/2 years ago. Her hair was absolutely fine when we took it out. She left it in for about 2-3 weeks.

 

[Stimpy]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so be patient.

My DD had her hair done at Universal about 2 1/2 years ago. Her hair was absolutely fine when we took it out. She left it in for about 2-3 weeks.

Welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[jel0511]

In reality, I don't think it can damage the hair, but I really think it depends on the hair in question. My DD has never had braids, but has had the hairwrap. The hairwrap actually BROKE off leaving a stub of hair behind. We didn't take it out, and it broke off in about two weeks. Now, my DD had VERY fine and straight hair and it must not have the strength to support the weight. I'd never get the braids, because I'd be afraid of further damage. Also, DD met a kid in the clubs who told her it hurt A LOT and she wouldn't do it again. That has DD scared!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

A word of advice - if you get the wrap, DO NOT cut it out at the top!! My daughter wanted to "keep" the wrap so I made the mistake of cutting it at the top, close to her head. We lived with "The Sprig" for six months, until it grew enough to lie down by herself. Believe me, no amount of joy at a pretty hairdo will outdo the anguish of having to deal with a sprig of hair sticking out of the top of your head for six months!!!

 

[jel0511]

A word of advice - if you get the wrap, DO NOT cut it out at the top!! My daughter wanted to "keep" the wrap so I made the mistake of cutting it at the top, close to her head. We lived with "The Sprig" for six months, until it grew enough to lie down by herself. Believe me, no amount of joy at a pretty hairdo will outdo the anguish of having to deal with a sprig of hair sticking out of the top of your head for six months!!!

I can TOTALLY relate! As I said in my previous post, DD's FELL OUT on it's own, it just broke off, we didn't even cut it out! One day, it was just lying on the floor!!! DD had her wrap in July 2004, and sometimes even now, we're still dealing with "Spiky". If she's had a crazy night sleeping, sometimes it will be sticking up when she comes downstairs, so a little bedhead spray and it's back down again. Luckily, my second child is a boy, so I won't have to deal with this again!!!!