[jharmon99]

My daughter is bi-racial and doing her hair has been such a challenge to me. He hair is way different than mine. She is 17, but she has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. I do everything for her since she is not able to do anything for herself. Most of her young childhood I put her hair in a ponytail. Sometimes I would try to straighten it with heat or it would just be poofy. Overall, I was not at all satisfied with the way I did her hair. I just knew that I was doing it all wrong. As she got older the very back of her became a real problem. When she sits in her wheelchair her head is always leaned back against her headrest and as a result it breaks off. She has a lot of uncontrolled movement so it adds to the friction between the back of her head and the headrest. She also lays flat on her back at night when she sleeps so again there is friction between her head and the pillow. For awhile we kept this part of her head cut close to the scalp as it wasn't visible much anyway, but it takes a lot of frequent trims to do that.

In my frustration I sought out someone I thought could tell me what to do with her hair and they talked me into relaxer. I've never felt right about doing that to her hair and it is such a job to get it done. I have to remove the headrest from her chair and try to hold her head still while the stylist puts the relaxer on, then she is not able to tell us right away if it starts to burn. I then have to lift her out of her chair and into the chair by the sink and try to hold her there while the rinse it out and all that. We've been doing relaxers off and on for about 4 years, but haven't had one in several months.

I was so excited when I came across CURLS. I ordered a sample kit of the Curly Q stuff and when it was empty I ordered full sizes. I have home health aides that come 2 times a week to help me bath her so she is in the tub exactly 2 times a week...no more no less. I have had them use the cleansing cream and coconut sublime conditioner one day and on the other day I have them just put the conditioner in and rinse it. When her hair is wet these times I use the quenched curls and the milkshake. I have been just letting it air dry and leaving it down.

She has about 2-3 inches of new growth now. He hair is fine, but very curly, almost kinky curly. I just don't feel like I am doing it justice. She is a beautiful girl and despite her cerebral palsy is very social. I have tried to keep her appearance up for this reason. I am so frustrated that I am almost ready to give up and take her back for relaxer, but I DON'T want to. Maybe I need a different routine and need to try some of the other products. I am very open to any and all suggestions as I am sure you can tell I am desperate.