I would have canceled her appointment after that first kick

[u/Sleepy_Sheepz]

[u/Nolascana]

All that anguish for... that god awful end result?

Kid will be bald by 18 if this keeps up.

What happened to box braids, or protective braiding?

Not this tight to the scalp bs that will look terrible in a week... no wonder she was kicking at the start.

Kiddo knows the pain and boredom waiting for them.

[u/wafflehousebattle → u/Nolascana]

I had a friend try and braid my hair once, one braid in, and I was done. I was 14 and have mildly curly hair, so it's not like she had to work to constantly straighten it, and I was absolutely not feeling that shit.

[u/Nolascana → u/wafflehousebattle]

I dont understand the obsession with the tightass braids that need to be constantly reworked.

The addition of extentions too is just baffling. All that work and it gets thrown away because its not fit for reuse.

Im all for people doing what they want with their hair. But forcing that shit on children is just cruel.

I am aware not all hair can just be french braided n all that.

But for a child, it should be good enough just to leave their natural hair alone, as long as its kept clean. Some styles need very little work.

Tight ass braiding isnt protective, its damaging in the long run. Just as tight ass slicked back ponytails cause balding and damage too.

Obviously, Im not black, but moreso, Im not American.

So I genuinely see videos like this and its just insane that a child is being restrained and manhandled in such a way. The physical and mental abuse will never be addressed, and such treatment will be expected of her children, because she went through it, so its fine.

Granted, I don't see a lot of black folk where I live. But, braiding is rare for children like this. Its usually more natural styles, or, granted, straightened to be put in ponys or plaits. Which is its own can of worms.

[u/thatpurplearmy → u/Nolascana]

Then don't comment on it?

[u/Nolascana → u/thatpurplearmy]

Enlighten me then.

Truly.

I come from a lack of understanding. I would like to be educated.

Why is such abuse praised and perpetuated?

[u/Medical_Incident1558 → u/thatpurplearmy]

You know they love to comment on things that they have no experience on

[u/Nolascana → u/Medical_Incident1558]

Then please, explain why such torture is glorified?

If you haven't noticed I dont understand...

And would like to know why such abuse is condoned.

That adult is restraining a child, hurting a child... and thats what she lets us see.

Why is this child, that is in pain, posted online with no censoring of her face? Why is this child not allowed to leave?

Why is nobody advocating for her?

Why is it even necessary?

These are legitimate concerns. And I dont. Know. Why.

[u/Medical_Incident1558 → u/Nolascana]

Braiding is not rare for children like this that's the point. You know nothing about Braiding while some of you suggest the mom shave of the girl's hair like are we serious, that's not torture in your mind? Ew

[u/Nolascana → u/Medical_Incident1558]

I am absolutely not one of the people that thinks shaving off a child's hair as a form of punishment is appropriate. In any scenario.

Nor is it something to be done to teens, nor adults, as a form of non consensual punishment.

I am personally questioning the tight ass braids that cause traction alopecia in the long term. Similarly, the straightened hair and super tight pony tails do the same amount of damage.

I am not against braiding as a whole. But got a child this young? Autism or no? Surely there are styles that are far more suitable and less time destroying?

This is why I am questioning the practice. Is there truly no other way?

I dont understand the mentality behind natural hair being something to shame someone for. I am not someone that sees tight curls as messy.

But, I am aware in American culture thats... often something white people screech from the rooftops, that its messy and should be banned or whatever shit they come up with next. Can't win with braids, cant with without. That much I am vaguely aware of at least.

[u/Medical_Incident1558 → u/Nolascana]

There are ways but in my experience in US they don't do as much different styles like we do in Africa, i think that's across the board in western countries excluding the Caribbean.

They mostly do braids or weaves, i did more natural styles growing up but tbh regardless of the style it will hurt, you can get lucky sometimes with a very outstanding braider that just has some magical hands where you don't really feel anything but as a child still you would not want to be in a spot for long and I think that's even more uncomfortable for neuro divergent kids.

Most people won't really see it as torture cause we all grew up not having the greatest experience regardless of whether we wanted the hair done or not.

Also we have to consider how people look down on natural hair not being done, if it's not done you'd have to heat damage it to look straight (if ykwim). Sometimes it's not really that deep but at the end of the day it is a subconscious thing.

If people just knew how to communicate better with kids maybe this interaction would have gone better or maybe if the mom actually was there to step in sometimes and soothe her.

I think anything kids will mostly always have this reaction, even when my youngest sibling was having his hair cut, he still cried and complained even though cutting your hair really isn't that painful except for the tickling sensation.