'It's an opportunity for bonding' – my quest to become a Black dad who can do his daughters' hair

Learning to Love and Care for Curly Hair: A Journey of Discovery

In the basement of Larry King's salon in Marylebone, London, stylist Jennie Roberts is teaching me the art of curly hair care. I'm eager to learn, but also intimidated by the prospect of mastering a skill that has been lost on my family for years.

"I don't have trauma in my life around my hair," says Roberts, who has styled everyone from Thandiwe Newton to Mel B and now offers courses for handling Black curls. "It's never occurred to me to straighten my hair, because I love it." Her words of reassurance are a welcome respite from the years of frustration and disappointment I've experienced trying to care for my daughters' curly locks.

My journey began with a crash course in curl care, courtesy of stylist Jennie Roberts. With the help of her guidance, I was able to identify fundamental mistakes in my hair game - using tight hair ties that cling to hair, brushing technique gone wrong, and heavy serums meant for tighter curls. The good news is that fixing these issues takes patience, technique, and a willingness to jettison old methods.

Roberts' approach is refreshingly straightforward. She recommends using a manta comb instead of a brush, which features longer teeth spaced out to gently unpick tangles. I also learned the importance of starting at the bottom of the hair, identifying knots, and then working my way up with slow, deliberate strokes.

One of the most significant breakthroughs was using a diffuser to enhance curls and reduce frizz. Roberts' massive diffuser - which doubles as a satellite dish - worked its magic in about 10 minutes, bringing out defined curls that had previously been lost on me.

The key takeaways from my crash course are patience, technique, and the willingness to adapt. With these principles in mind, I embarked on our first "salon night" with silk pillows to protect the girls' hair at bedtime. Combing took longer, but it was significantly less painful for everyone involved.

As I look back on this journey, I'm struck by the realization that hair care is not just about mastering a skill, but also about bonding and connection. Jennie Roberts' words of wisdom echo in my mind: "It's all about education and making everything simplified." By embracing the art of curly hair care, I've gained more than just a new skill - I've discovered a deeper understanding of myself and my family.

The power of learning to love and care for curly hair is undeniable. It's an opportunity for bonding, not just between parents and children, but also between generations. As I look forward to future "salon nights" with my daughters, I'm excited to continue this journey of discovery and growth, armed with the knowledge that patience, technique, and a willingness to adapt can make all the difference.
 
I'm still trying to get over the fact that people used to straighten their hair with heat or harsh chemicals... like, what was wrong with loving your natural texture 😂. I mean, have you seen those old school hair ads from the 90s? "Get sleek and sexy" with a can of hairspray and a flat iron... no thanks! 💁‍♀️ Now that we're all about embracing our curls and being gentle with our locks, it's amazing to see how far we've come. Jennie Roberts is a total rockstar for sharing her expertise and helping others find their own hair love journey 🌟
 
I feel so bad for people who are stuck in curly hair rut like me 🤷‍♀️. Jennie Roberts is literally a hero 💁‍♀️. I love how she breaks it down into simple steps and emphasizes patience - we don't have to be experts, just willing to learn and adapt 🤗. Using a diffuser was game-changer for me, and those silk pillows are genius for bedtime routine 🛋️. I'm so grateful for this crash course and can't wait to share my newfound skills with family 💕.
 
OMG u guys, i just read dis article about curly hair care n i'm like totally inspired 💇‍♀️💕! i mean, i've always struggled w/ my daughters' curls but now i feel more confident to try new things. Jennie Roberts sounds like a total genius 🤓 her tips on using a manta comb & diffuser are game changers! i never knew how much of a difference it could make 😍🌸. and yeah, bonding w/ my girls over hair care is def a thing now 💁‍♀️❤️.
 
I just read about Jennie Roberts' curly hair care classes and I gotta say, I never thought I'd be into using a manta comb instead of a brush lol 😂 it makes sense though, I mean who doesn't love a good detangling session? 💁‍♀️ I've always struggled with my hair too, but now that you mention it, I can see how using a diffuser would make such a big difference. My girls have super tight curls and it's like they're stuck in the ground all day 😩 defo gotta try this out! 💇‍♀️
 
I'm loving the curly hair care trend right now 🌸🧖‍♀️! It's so cool that stylist Jennie Roberts is teaching people how to love and care for their natural texture. I mean, who doesn't want to ditch the heat styling tools and just let their hair be itself? 💇‍♀️ The diffuser hack is also a game changer - my sister swears by it now too! 🤩 It's all about embracing your unique features and finding products that work for you, rather than trying to fight them. And can we talk about how much I love the idea of "salon nights" with your girls? It's such a great way to bond and have fun together while taking care of each other's hair 💖.
 
😊 just read about Jennie Roberts teaching curly hair care and i gotta say its so inspiring 💁‍♀️! no more frizz or bad hair days for this girl's family 🙌 she's got the skills and patience to make anyone rock their natural curls 👯‍♀️ love how she says its all about education and making it simplified 📚💡
 
I'm so over people thinking they know what's best for curly hair just because it doesn't work for them! 😂 Like Jennie Roberts said, it's all about education and making things simple. I've been there too, trying every product under the sun without a clue what we're doing. Now that I've learned the basics, our "salon nights" are actually super fun and bonding times with my daughters 💇‍♀️. Using a diffuser was a game-changer for me, it's amazing how much of a difference it makes. My girls' hair has never looked healthier or happier 🌱. I wish more parents would take the time to learn about their kids' curls, it can make all the difference in your relationship with them 💕.
 
🌸💇‍♀️ omg you're finally embracing your curls 💖 it takes so much courage to let go of the old ways and try something new 🙏 Jennie Roberts is like a curl angel ❤️ her approach makes total sense, using that manta comb and diffuser combo is genius 🤩 i'm so glad you found patience and technique helpful in mastering your hair game 💪 it's amazing how much of an impact it can have on our lives, isn't it? 👫 bonding over hair care is the best 😊
 
🤗 just read the most amazing article about Jennie Roberts teaching people how to love their curly hair 😍 it's so true that learning to care for our curls is not just about mastering a skill, but also about bonding with family members 🌟 I'm definitely going to try out her tips and tricks now! using a manta comb instead of a brush is genius 💁‍♀️ and diffusers are the answer to frizz prayers 😴 my only concern is that it might take some time for people to adjust to new habits, but with patience and practice, anyone can master curly hair care 💪
 
I think its pretty suspicious how they're pushing this whole curly hair thing now 🤔. First of all, what's with all these new products and tools that are supposed to 'care' for your curls? It sounds like just another way to sell us stuff 💸. And have you ever noticed how everyone who's got 'curly hair' is always on social media posting their gorgeous locks? Like, what's the deal with that? Are they getting paid off or something? 🤑

And let's not forget about the whole "hair care is bonding" thing 🤝. That just sounds like a way to control people's minds and get them to conform to a certain standard of beauty 💅. I mean, think about it - if you're only going to accept certain hairstyles or textures, that means you can't have any other options or opinions on hair anymore 🙅‍♀️.

I'm not saying curly hair isn't beautiful or anything, but let's not be so quick to jump on the bandwagon without doing some real digging 🔍. There's gotta be more to it than just making a quick buck 💸 or brainwashing us into thinking that's what's 'cool' right now 😒.
 
I gotta say, it's amazing how much of a difference learning to love and care for curly hair can do in building connections between parents and kids 🤝. As someone who's traveled to so many countries, I've seen how hair can be a huge part of cultural identity, but it's also just something we use to feel good about ourselves 💇‍♀️. Jennie Roberts' approach is super refreshing - who needs complicated techniques when you can just start with the basics and adapt? 😎 And I love how she emphasizes patience and bonding over mastering a specific skill 🕊️. It's like, our hair is just one part of what makes us who we are, but it's also an opportunity to connect with others and learn from them 💕.
 
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