Calling all moms of color!

[crystele]

Wow, Melody, did you even read the start of the thread? This isn't a "people of color unite" thing, it is what hair & skin tips would you like to see (meaning that aren't being covered by the magazine currently). Yes we're all equal but there are biological differences betwen the races in things like skin pigmentation, hair textures that make a difference in products.
And yes, I'd love to see Asian women weigh in, Hispanic women weigh in if there are differences they see and things they don't see being covered and commend the magazine for reaching out, even if they get slammed by the curmudgeons for daring to mention the r word.

[rh2rich]

Hi Ladies,

I emailed this to the team but thought it would be a good idea to just post my response here:

Hair: I use a combination of olive oil and pure vitamin E oil. Sometimes I mix both in my normal hair conditioner and sometimes I use them alone.

Skin: I put the same mixture in my daily lotion.

For hair, my daughter went bald in the middle of her head due to problems she has that docs can't seem to really diagnose, eczema, alloprecia, whatever, anyway, she started using the hair stuff in June 2009 for a palm-sized bald spot and her hair is at her shoulders now.

But our hair, when we are diligent, is soft and and nice. She does not use perms, and I am moving away from them and there is little to NO breakage.

One note on skin - I have dry palms and souls - and I get embarrassed by the cracking I used to have - this has improved that situation to my satisfaction. My hands stay drier because I am always washing them, but my feet - I am proud of.

The good thing is that it has cost me less then my normal regimen because it lasts so much longer. Vitamin E oil is expensive but when it is thick - it goes a long way.

Hope this helps!!!

[sarajeanie06]

I am a white woman but I wanted to take the opportunity to commend you ladies on the time and effort you have to put into your hair and skin... I have worked as a camp counselor, nursing assistant, teacher's aid and babysitter and every now and then I have needed to fix hair for girls of color. What an ordeal! I have enough trouble with my own hair but that was a whole new world! My girlfriend (mixed) has me relax her hair for her every so often. I can't imagine having to do that to myself, let alone to my children. I commend you ladies for the effort you put into looking beautiful! (I hope I did not offend anyone with this post)

[vashti610]

Thank you for realizing as women of color and moms of color we will have different needs and issues.

I am a work at home mom who never seems to make time for myself. My hair is shoulder length and I need another fast way to wear it than in a ponytail.

[PamelaK]

first of all I want to thank Parenting magazine for doing this for finally being one of the first parenting magazines to recognize moms of color and that our concerns can vary from your other readers...hopefully others will follow in your footsteps...

My question is I need to know how to find a good foundation to fit me when I live in an area that dont offer the special foundations for women of color like iman or queen latifah's line etc they only have the "basic" kind. what would be a good blend for me?

Hi there - have you tried the bareminerals line? You can pick it up at sephora; I found it at a small beauty/hair store in the mall. You can also order it online from their website. Since each color foundation is pretty flexible with respect to skin colors it works with, it should be an easy product to buy online.

I think it accommodates lots of different skin tones. I'm Indian; I've been using it for years. It was recommended to me by a black friend and I know that plenty of white people use it with success. The makeup seems expensive, but the powders last a very long time. It's also great for oily skin; it absorbs oil and I actually break out less when I wear it. It's also hypoallergenic - other foundations always gave me a rash.

Hope this helps!

[lyndaklahr]

I dont look at peoples color only the content of there character I have worked as a baby nurses (http://www.caringbabynurses.com), nursing assistant, teacher's aid and babysitter and dont think color has qualified me more then anyone else.

[AmberTriplett]

I don't know if this is only for adults, but I have a mixed (black and white) son whose hair is kind of inbetween as far as texture. I would like to know about good products to use in it and how to take care of it now that he's decided he wants to grow it out into an afro.

[LydRen606]

I see where shea butter is supposed to be good for stretch marks. I was wondering if anyone has ever used it on their prego bellies and does it work?

[prettyBamboo]

Due Date 4/29/10
Almost there....
I think this is a unique post because I do think that women of color have different skin and hair issues....

I personally have been experiencing dry hair and of course the dry itchy skin. For my skin I have been using a mixture of pure organic shea butter (the unrefined stuff) which you can purchase online, olive oil (which really hydrates and keeps your skin really moist and some pregnancy cream by curel. I love the combos of products that I have been using for my skin...it has been working wonders!

in regards to the hair, I have been "natural" (no relaxers) for the past 3.5 years. My hair has been hit the hardest and was completely dry at the beginning of my pregnancy. I had the worst dandruff and dry itchy scalp. Everything has changed for me since I started using "Carol's Daughters" products! I absolutely swear by her hair products and it does wonders.

I hope this has helped anyone who might be looking for some new products or thinking about switching up what they use!

=)

[LydRen606]

pretty bamboo- I stared using Carol's Daughter and I don't see much difference in my hair other than the shedding has greatly decreased. I use the Best Tressed series... which do you use? Do you find the C's Daughter products made your hair softer or any other changes? I have kinky curly thick hair and my roots feel like they are from Africa sometimes. I put extra virgin coconut oil in my shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, tea tree oil mixture I have concocted (from a video on You Tube) and I no longer have DANDRUFF but I have to reapply it every other day; it's not greasy though so that's great. It doesn't smell the best but my Carol's Daughter leave-in-conditioner takes care of that. I also put my shea butter mixture on my lips (as they stay chapped despite chapstick or lipgloss) and on my belly... I hear shea butter's great for stretch marks.