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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Black Children in Care: Health, Hair and Skin An invaluable resource for foster carers, adoptive parents, guardians and anyone caring for black and mixed heritage children. The guide provides practical and essential information about hair and skin care, health and nutrition so that parents and carers can help their children look good and feel good about themselves. In doing so, they will also form bonds with their children and help them to develop self-esteem and a positive sense of identity. “Hair is critical to a strong sense of racial identity for black children. Every child matters and to safeguard children, hair and skin care should be seen as an integral and important part of a child’s life”
The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act/2004 both highlights safeguarding and the welfare of children as paramount importance; health, hair and skin care, and self-esteem are no different in respect to this, and neglect of anyone of these can be regarded as a safeguarding issue. positiveimageproject
ISBN 978-0-9576471-0-7 £9.99
Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
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Black
Children in Care:
Health Hair & Skin Denise Lewis and Flora Awolaja
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Contents
FOREWORD Who is this guide for? Introduction HAIR CARE Facts about hair Washing the hair Combing the hair after washing Combing products Grooming products Plaiting the hair Hair textures and care tips African Caribbean hairstyles A history of cornrow hairstyles How to corn row: A step-by-step guide Enjoy. Enjoy. Lemn Sissay Caringhis foris.locs Care tips and your Afro
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
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Foreword It is estimated that there are over 60,000 children being looked after in the care system at any one time in the UK. In fact it is widely acknowledged that black children and children of mixed heritage constitute quite a high percentage of the total number of children in care. Why this is the case is not the subject of this book, but what is of interest is that children come into care for a variety of reasons, for example: wilful neglect, being beyond parental control, because of concerns about their welfare and/or lack of education,
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Who is this guide for?
This guide is aimed primarily at the parents, carers and legal guardians of black and mixed heritage children. Social workers, carers in residential settings and other people working with or bringing up black or mixed heritage children may also find the information useful. The guide will also be useful for anyone with an interest in with the health and well-being of black and mixed heritage children.
Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
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Facts about hair Hair is made up of 90% keratin, a tough protein that also makes up skin and nails. Hair consists of three main layers: Medulla: the centre of the hair shaft. Cortex: gives the hair strength. Cuticle: acts as a protective layer, covering the hair shaft.
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Combing the hair after washing Comb wet hair using a wide tooth comb with round-edged teeth. Comb hair gently, parting sections of the hair one at a time. Add hair moisturiser to the scalp, distributing it evenly through the hair. Moisturiser is essential after washing to maintain a healthy sheen, as well as locking in moisturising oils that will prevent the hair from drying and breaking. Comb the moisturiser through, finally plaiting the hair in a protective style [see Glossary].
Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
African Caribbean hairstyles
Cornrow and Afro style
Cornrow
Cornrow with beads
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
How to cornrow: A step-by-step guide
Part the hair for individual cornrow.
Detangle hair when working your way through sections.
Divide the hair section into 3 parts.
Begin to plait small section of hair at the hairline.
Individual cornrows begin Continue to plait hair, to take shape. Continue to adding more hair into repeat process all the way the cornrow. around until completion.
Continue to plait hair, adding hair from the section you are plaiting into the cornrow.
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Š Think Stock Photo Getty Images
Skin care Black and mixed heritage children must moisturise their skin daily to prevent their skin becoming dry. If this occurs, carers need to apply more moisturiser. Shea butter and cocoa butter are recommended. Eating a balanced diet and drinking water are also beneficial for healthy, glowing skin. Chlorine in public swimming pools is extremely damaging to both their skin and hair. Children of all ages should wear swimming caps in the water and shower immediately afterwards with soap to remove the chlorine. Moisturiser should be applied immediately after swimming. The perception that black children do not have to worry about skin cancer is false. Black and mixed heritage children can get skin cancer and should wear sunscreen and a hat when playing outside to prevent sunburn.
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Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Moisturising creams Carers should look for unscented and alcohol-free moisturisers that suit their child’s skin type in order to avoid irritation. Moisturising creams such as cocoa and shea butter are ideal. It is important to apply to the lips and face. Moisturisers that are appropriate for the body may not be suitable for the more delicate skin of the face.
Black and Mixed Heritage Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin Care
Sickle cell anaemia Sickle cell is an inherited red blood cell disorder. The most serious and common sickle cell disorder is sickle cell anaemia. Sickle cell trait is a milder form. Most people affected by sickle cell anaemia are either of African or Caribbean origin. Sickle cell affects the red blood cells, which become hard and sticky, and take on a sickle, or crescent, shape. When the sickle-shaped cells travel through small blood vessels, they clog the vessels and can block blood flow. In addition, the sickle cells die earlier than normal blood cells, leading to a constant shortage of red blood cells.
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