An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

2011/03/02

[Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

Hello, ignoble.experiment@arconati.us, and thank you for subscribing to Parent Hacks. Got a hack you'd like to share? Send it to hacks@parenthacks.com, along with your name and Web address (if you'd like us to link to you).

Contain hair styling supplies in a tackle box

In the comments of a hack showing hair accessories stored in a plastic cleaning tote, Mia shared her method, which may work even better for some:

We've started using a tackle box to store my daughter's hair accessories. The bottom is big enough for brushes, detangler, etc.

It can be closed to prevent the baby from tasting the barrettes, and when it turns over the mess stays inside. And sorting the accessories into the different trays seems to keep my daughter distracted while I detangle.

I found a cute pink and purple tackle box on Amazon, but you can also find tackle boxes in sporting goods stores and craft stores.

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Stop fighting long hair battles with your kids: cut it

Several folks have responded to my queries about kids' hair management with a simple just cut it. Ponytails are cute and all, but many folks would never go back after experiencing the freedom, peace and time gained by a simple chin-length bob.

From Sarah:

I love long hair and wish that my daughter did too. After fighting with her (literally fighting) for 7 years I finally decided that we would stop the sadness and cut it. As long as it's above her shoulders it doesn't get too tangled she can take care of it on her own. She is now almost 9 and can wash it and brush on her own. I usually part it after she's brushed it, and if it's been a while I wash it for her or comb it occasionally but we are such a happy team now that the fight is no more. I hope that someday she can have long hair but it can't be now or I will go crazy.

From Beth:

For girls, the chin-length bob offers easy care and a girly look - long enough to put barettes and hairbands in, short enough not to tangle. Have the stylist cut the back higher than the sides for a nice swing.

On Twitter, Jim (@morlockhq) concurs:

Our daughter has a modified page boy cut with a soft blended, instead of blunt, bangs. No muss, no fuss and it looks great.

Lisa tells her story in a comment on the Facebook page:

When the long hair styles got to be too much for us (and the second baby came) we chopped my 2 yr old's hair into an adorable chin length stacked bob. Our war with tangles ended, and she looked adorable.

Of course, a year later she wanted Rapunzel hair and we started to grow it back out, but now that she's a little older she will sit still for brushing and braiding (and some mornings she even does it herself).

Also on Facebook, Margaret suggests going even shorter:

after struggles and all the exhaustion of keeping up with the long hair, the best solution - for the hair, the child and the parent - is buzzer#7. not too short, not too long and a breeze to care for. i will consider a proposition of longer hair when it is given to me by a teen who is capable of washing/ detangling/ drying/ styling her own hair. :)

Home haircuts are fine, but for the initial chop, Jona recommends a kid-friendly salon:

For full haircuts, though, it's been worth it to us to take our kids to a kid-focused hair salon with fun chairs (favorites are the motorcycle and a jeep) and movies playing. In addition to the ambiance, the stylists are accustomed to working on squirmy, fussy kids, which helps a lot.

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions for cute, easy-hair hairstyles for kids? Is the bob the only way to go? What about short styles for kids with curly hair?

Related: 'Amelie'-style bangs