Now we're talking - a conversation about soccer hair. Alex Morgan's hair piece is soft, softer than hair and clothes. Hard beads should not be used by athletes because it causes too much friction when girls are moving around, causing breakage, especially in a contact sports like soccer. Maybe girls who don't move around much can use these beads for breakage prevention? But most athletes should not be using them to prevent breakage because the hard edges along with the movement of the athlete increase breakage.
Has anyone been hit by fast flying hair with attached beads to it? Yes - it hurts - a lot more than just regular hair flying around. There are beads that are lighter and hurt less, but they still hurt more than regular hair flying around.
Soft beads made out of silk or satin would actually do a better job than the beads people are trying to defend because they prevent more drying out than the current beads do. A silk or satin hair wrap would work better. More moisturizer applied before entering the sun and after exiting the sun would help too.
Refs should decide based on existing rules, not individual decision whether beads are dangerous compared to other jewelry. Until the ref association says otherwise, individual refs are just doing their jobs when they kindly ask girls to remove beads. We've had many girls get pulled off the fields due to jewelry or hair pieces (even small tiny ones) once the Ref notices it. In everyone's opinion, none of those jewelry seemed dangerous but Sometimes refs don't see it at the beginning of the game.
Those news stories posted by GRACE:
The mom wasn't mad because her child had to use over form of hairclips. The mom stated she had alternatives to use. The mom was mad because the ref didn't fully explain why her child had to remove the hard hair clips sticking out of her hair. Some refs can't explain but just know the rules.
The AYSO mom was not mad about the beads. The coach was a jerk and humiliated the kid throughout practice rather than just talk about it privately with mom and child.
These are communication issues, not racial or bead issues.
While some rules were created to form barriers of entry, these jewelry rules were not. The more energy and effort we use to fight these non issues , the less likely we will be able to make meaningful changes to reducing barriers for advancement and equality.
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Breakage Advice
the best way to avoid
breakage to ensure that the ends of your child’s hair adequately moisturised and regularly tucked away in protective or low manipulation styles. Afro hair is more vulnerable to breakage when it is damaged by rough handling, chemical use or heat styling. Therefore, the best way to avoid breakage is to treat your hair like silk and keep it from common problems. The key steps are:
- finger detangle or use a wide toothed comb
- avoid relaxers and bleached based hair dyes
- stay away from blow dryers and hair straighteners
It also helps to sleep in a
satin bonnet or to use silk pillowcases. Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase leads to breakage for two reasons. Firstly, the cotton will absorb moisture from your child’s hair (this is the same reason that socks are cotton) unfortunately leaving the hair dry and vulnerable to breakage. Secondly because cotton is a rough fabric as they move in their sleep friction is generated between their hair and the pillowcase and Afro hair easily snaps off when it’s not covered up.
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