How Young is Too Young to Put Extensions in a Child’s Hair?

December 23rd, 2011 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

"Angelina Jolie and kids"

Thanks to faithful reader Tashia Jones (Hey, girl!), we were sent a story about all the fuss over Angelina Jolie putting extensions in the head of her daughter Zahara at just six years old. To be specific, she doesn’t have a long, flowing sew-in or something like that, but braids (the old-school Brandy kind). Radar Online talked to celebrity “groomer,” DaRico Jackson, who commented on the fact that the braids put in little Zahara’s hair were not only promoting her to second guess her own beauty, but they will damage her own hair in the future:

“If Angelina wants Zahara to be in touch with her roots and have her hair braided then she can do that with the child’s own hair and she doesn’t need to add extensions, Jackson stated. “She is far too young for that and Angelina is creating insecurity in the little girl that what she has is not good enough. Growing up with siblings who have long flowing hair, Zahara may grow to feel that her own natural hair is not pretty enough, and that without the fake hair she is not beautiful. She should be made to embrace who she is.”

Waltzing around with her mommy recently, little Zahara (from Ethiopia) held Angelina’s hand as she showed off her new braided extensions that reached down to the middle of her back in a ponytail. While many people (mainstream websites of course) thought the braided look was cute, many hair experts seemed to jump out the woodworks and blast Jolie for resorting to extensions for a young child.

"Zahara's usual hairstyle"

As much as we used to see Jolie parading Zahara around with uncombed hair that was probably tangled as all hell, I’m not really surprised that she would resort to throwing braided extensions in her hair. As many kids as she has in her pack, and running around starring in movies and directing joints, she might not have the time. Because of that, the one whose hair might need the most tender love and care just doesn’t seem to get it. I’m just wondering why they won’t hire someone to take this child to the salon every few weeks!? Seriously, some braids using her own hair wouldn’t have taken as much time as having someone put extensions in Zahara’s head, which I’m sure had that little girl tired and antsy (I know that’s how I end up feeling!). I don’t think I started wearing braided hairstyles with extensions until I was like 12, and even then, after one month they were driving me crazy. When I took them bad boys out they had already started tugging some of my hair out, especially around my edges, so I’m hoping she won’t lose much of her own hair when they finally un-braid those things.

I totally agree with Jackson that this look is not necessary at such an early stage in her life. When you’re young, that’s when parents should be working with your hair, and as unruly as we would see Zahara’s mane looking since she was a baby, it’s a shame to see she the few options she’s being offered. However, if we’re going to put Angelina on a skewer for resorting to braided extensions, we also have to put some criticism on ourselves for putting perms in our children’s hair at a similar age, if not younger. As my sister would say, you can take out braids, but you can’t take out a perm (Well, you can, but that might take even more work).

In the end, braids are all good, but why not try it out with her own hair first? Angie should use some of that baller money she has and invest in Zahara’s hair future by getting someone to actually offer it some real TLC. I’m not hating on Angie hard for this decision, because having a child of a different background then your own probably will cause you to have some missteps when it comes to dealing with hair, keeping them in touch with their own culture, and more. However, this look is just a little much at six. But what do you think?

*Feature photo courtesy of mybrownbaby.com

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  • kali

    Im a black female with what you would call good hair. As a child my grandmother had my hair done in braids extensions plats ect. I feel this has nothing to do with insecurity although the braids could have been much shorter i think it is cute especially since i kno Angie wouldnt know what to do with black hair anyway as long as her hair isnt done too tight to where its pulling at the scalp and if she do not keep them in long to where it tangles and dreads i think little Z will be just fine.. lay off with the hate its just hair.. it can always grow back!

  • crystal

    really wear braid in weave and wearing a full head of extensions are 2 different things.

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  • khadija

    Im Senegalese and when I was 6 I did have the occasional extension braids because I have several aunties that can braid hair … i had the plether from extension to natural and now im 20 with waist leangth locks i dont believe braids in any shape or form can really damage the self esteem of the baby and as much as we talk about it.. the child is 6 she probably doesnt even notice

  • FromUR2UB

    One thing I do agree with when whites raise black children, is that they should take girls to a salon that specializes in the care of natural black hair (if they live near one), or a boy to a barber who knows how to cut black hair.  They should also have someone teach them basic care of the child’s hair.  It’s just as important to nurture the child’s emotional development and self-esteem, as it is to clothe, feed and shelter her.  Self-esteem is influenced by personal appearance.  A black child who grows up in a white household is going to have some hangups about his/her hair anyway, because it requires more care than other kids in the household.  Their differences are magnified when the hair looks unkempt due to improper care, or they try to wear hairstyles that aren’t suited for the texture.  Contrary to belief – even among some black people – our natural hair is like a fine fabric; it requires gentle care.  You can’t rip through it when combing or treat it harshly in any way.  People who think of natural black hair as “bad” hair, will almost always overdo any treatment to the point of damage. 

  • FromUR2UB

    I’ve seen people put extensions on little girl’s hair as young as three…hanging down the back extensions.  I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, because a child’s hair tends to be fragile, and tons of heavy weave hanging off it can put stress on the roots.  Heavy weaves are hard on the hair of adult women who have fine, wispy hair.  That’s why alopecia has become so prevalent since the emergence of weaves.  I’d hate for a little girl to lose her natural hair so early in her life, because the loss is often permanent.

  • Jqueen60

    She is not the only person doing it. I have seen many mothers put extensions in their little girls hair and nothing came out of it. So ppl just need relax and calm down.

  • straightandnarrow04

    they need to stop trying to put Angelina on blast like that…this is a white woman who I’m sure has no idea of what to do with ethnic hair…that being said, I’m sure she was doing what she thought was best…she probably figured that all the other blacks wear their hair that way so it must be okay…she just needs to take a few lessons on how to style her hair in a way that befits young black girls…and yes, I do agree that most of our sisters could stand to take a few lessons on how to manage natural hair with their own daughters because some of the things I have seen women do to their girls hair as far as combing and styling, no wonder they have self esteem issues!!!

  • thedoggonetruth

    I’ve said this before, never in my life have I seen so many little girls with  hair extensions or weave in their hair or their natural hair is standing all over their head, uncombed, but their mother’s hair is done! I just don’t see the love and attention that I used to see with little girls and their hair.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3CGAKFTHFXT4QUK4RJ3RNNKGL4 Mjb

    I want to scream and yell at all those whining about this beautiful girl’s braids to shut the hell up. Where were you all when she was in an African orphanage? Has anyone of you contributed to her daily living? She’s getting love, attention, fed and provided for and all you can do is criticize her mother? There are many Blacks out there who are abusing their children right now and your focus is on a perfectly healthy and happy child’s braids? Get a freaking life and do something purposeful with your lives instead of this nonsense. Braids are not going to hurt a child this age. They’re probably soft braids or I’m sure she would have complained to her mother. 

  • Guest

    It’s no worse than relaxing or straightening it weekly. Actually if done correctly, it maybe better. I wish my mom had went that route vs straightening my hair weekly at that age. I still flinch when i think of a staightening comb. And to be honest, if I had a daughter I wouldn’t straighten her hair nor put extensions in it. She would probably be rocking a fro, some kind of knot/ twist outs or 1-2 pig tails.

  • January

    What are y’all talking about its NOT A SEW IN WEAVE ITS BRAIDS !!!! I had braids like that as a kid and my hair is perfectly fine if the person who did the braids know what they are doing then this childs hair will be okay if your edges are falling out from some braids then you need to not do them so tight and only use 1 pack of braiding hair yes one pack thats all you need I mean look at willow smiths hair y’all should be on will and jada head cause that mess on willows head aint cute not one bit leave angie alone let her raise HER KIDS in peace.

  • Fghjkl

    Waste of an article. Some people are always looking for something to complain about. Most black girls have braids from the moment their hair is long enough. GTFOH

  • ChocoChika

    Hmmm If y’all think Zahara is to young, you need go take a look in some African communities..Sometimes i see lil girls not older than 2yrs with braids and sometimes even weaves on their heads…SMH..I blame it on lazy-ness..Moms take note,its not a cute look at alllll

  • Trini’s Mom

    My daughter is 6 and I just put in her first set of “box braids” just like Zahara’s but my duaghters has 4 beads at the end of each braid. It looks super cute on both of them. Im not into putting full weaves in the kids’ hair. But small old school braids are fine for little black girls.

    • TRINI’S MOM

      Also, when your a busy mother the braids help sooooooo much with getting out of the house in the mornings. It allows me to have more time to cook a soild breakfast for my kids. Im just sayin…

  • http://twitter.com/kekesmith8 keke smith

    Compare this to the rachet mothers who put lace front wigs on their daughters this is tame. 

    • straightandnarrow04

      teeeheheehehehe!!!!….ratchet!

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