Mane Management

I had no idea that toddler hair would be so... challenging.

Don't get me wrong: I *LOVE* Nora's hair. For one, the curls are something I was never expecting in a child of mine (despite having curly hair genes, mine is stick-straight), so I am cherishing them while they're here, because who knows if they will last? I love how it is getting longer so I am more easily able to do the little "Pebbles" hair style on top of her head, and pigtails, if the mood strikes.

The problem lies in the direction in which her hair has naturally decided to grow. It grows from the crown of her head FORWARD, a.k.a. directly into her face. It's like... well, it's like Justin Bieber, before he cut it. My baby has Justin Bieber hair.

OK, not really. It's way cuter than Bieber. And it happens to look abso-freaking-lutely adorable in this pic. But it rarely falls this perfectly. In everyday life, if I don't put her hair in a ponytail or pigtails, her hair is in her eyes all.damn.day.

For a few months, we were able to get away with barrettes, which was a really cute way to keep her hair out of her face. I still use them occasionally, but they have become less convenient since she has decided she likes to pull them out any chance she gets. Once, she put the barrette in her mouth (while we were sitting there watching her), so yeah--no barrettes unsupervised, that's for sure. So, taking it out (her, or us) and putting it back in (us) seventy times a day is annoying.

And although the ponytail/pigtails method is still a good one, I don't like to pull her hair back every day, you know?

I was discussing this dilemma with our daycare provider today, and she said, "Well, you could cut it."

GAH. I know I could cut it. But I don't want to cut it.

Truthfully, if we were just talking bangs, I would probably trim them. But, like I said, this hair that's in her face originates at her crown, so cutting that seems like it would be... weird. Possibly even disastrous.

I've been trying to "train" her hair to grow to the sides by parting it, sweeping it to the side, etc. but nature always seems to take over, despite my best efforts.

If you have a little girl, how have you handled her hair? Do you stick out the "awkward" stage of growth and it eventually works itself out as it gets longer? Do you put it up every day? Do you *gasp* cut it? Any hair professionals out there with advice?

Again, LOVE her hair. I just don't love it in her eyes.

At least it's looking a bit better than it did back in the old days. :)