As told by Ashlei

What’s your child’s name and age? Tell us a little about her.
My daughter’s name is Kinsley and she is 3. She’s funny, very smart and has the most outgoing, carefree personality.

How do you care for her hair? What products do you use, how often do you wash/condition, what techniques do you use (i.e., how do you detangle), etc.?
I usually try to keep her hair in protective styles, braids or twists. We use Bee Mine products for styling (Deja’s Hair Milk and Luscious Cream Balanced Moisturizer). We use HE HH for cowashing and Fairy Tales Super Charge Detangling Shampoo for a good wash. I will usually leave some HE HH in her hair or use Giovanni Direct Leave-in. We seal with coconut oil. I wash or co-wash her hair once a week, usually on Fridays. Every other week, she gets a deep condition with Aubrey White Camellia Conditioner. I finger detangle while full of conditioner, rinse and apply her creams in sections and then smooth with our Denman brush.

Do the same products that work for you work for your child’s hair?
I am currently 8 moths into transitioning. We share the Aubreys, Giovanni, coconut oil and HE HH.

What is a typical style? Do you employ protective styles? If so, how often?
Typical style would be braids or pony tails. I love her hair out but not often. I braid her hair on  Sundays and usually that lasts until we wash on friday nights to start the routine over again.

What challenges do you face with your child’s hair?
In the beginning, I struggled to learn her hair. It was always too dry or too frizzy. I had no clue how to care for unrelaxed hair. I was using the same products that my mom used on me when i was younger, i.e, pink lotion *lol*, which just didn’t work. So, out of desperation, I took to the web. That’s where I found CurlyNikki and then, from there, Beads, Braids and Beyond and a host of other sites that have helped me along the way.

Have you ever relaxed/texlaxed your daughter’s hair? Why or why not and, if you relaxed her hair, what prompted the decision to return to natural?
I have never relaxed Kinsley’s hair and I do not plan to. I’ll let her make that decision when she’s older and pray that she will embrace what God blessed her with and stay natural!

How does your child feel about her/his natural hair?
She loves her hair and loves to wear it big!

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
I’d just like to add appreciation for your encouraging blog/persona and your overall fierceness! Also congratulations on the engagement!