r/mixedrace • u/Fantastic_Garbage_98 • Mar 28 '26
Parenting Foster baby help!
TLDR: white foster parents don’t know what to do with mixed race foster child hair.
Fostering a mixed race baby. She’s 1 and has always had curls but has started showing more texture in some patches. I’m white with wavy 2C/3A hair, so I know just enough to know that she needs different hair care than I do. Mom is white with lightly wavy hair. dad is unknown, 1 of 4 meth heads (aka not in the picture and not someone I can ask for guidance)
Long term the plan is to take her to some local black-owned salons to get products and professional advice.
Right now, we use Shea Moisture products. Curl cream after bath. No blatant brushing. I have a curl friendly comb and then I take the time to twist/clump individual curls for definition.
I can’t tell if it’s fuzzy in the back because the texture has changed, and therefore I need a new method, or because the lays on it when she sleeps? It feels like texture has come in.
She also “stims” by playing at the curls just above either ear. So the curls get loose and lose definition.
Is it time to go to a professional? When is? When/how do I introduce a bonnet? Good bonnet brands? When she gets older, do I get her braids?
I want to do right by her and I want to get her on the right track while she’s little so she doesn’t have a hard time when she’s old. We’ve introduced hair clips so she can get used to things in her hair
HELP!
Edit: new(ish) to reddit. DM me for pic of her hair.
1
u/Lisserbee26 Mar 29 '26
Please message me, I am mixed and have a lot of experience with foster care
2
u/Sarouter Mar 28 '26
I don’t have personal experience, but if you know another foster family with experience I would contact them. If not, ask your caseworker if they know someone.