When I first started my single parenting journey, people—particularly older women—used to marvel at my ability to tie a ponytail. My daughter, around age four, had long hair that constantly unraveled. And being the diligent-ish parent I am, I would swoop in with a hairband and tie a “messy” ponytail. All it took was one grandmother walking by with a “Look at you go” or “Good for you,” and I thought I had it mastered. I even kept spare hair ties attached to my watch (yes, I was very proud of myself).
🚿 The Tangled Hair Era
Fast forward two years, and kids grow up. My daughter’s hair had become a tangled mess. Bath time turned into an ordeal for both of us. After her shower, I’d diligently dry her hair with a small hair dryer (recommended for young girls’ hair), then grab a wet comb and start brushing. Every stroke was painful. Almost always, she ended up in tears—and honestly, so did I inside.
I assumed this was just the way it was. A sort of growing pain everyone with long hair had to endure.
💡 The Conditioner Revelation
One day at work, I mentioned how awful bath time had become. Luckily, my coworkers were moms to daughters around the same age. The conversation went something like this:
“Don’t you use conditioner?” “No. Just kids’ shampoo. I’ve never really understood what conditioner was for anyway.”
Cue the moment of disbelief. Maybe even a shrug of resignation at someone clearly learning the basics way too late in life.
“You should use conditioner. It’ll make a difference.”
That night, I picked up a bottle of conditioner they recommended. And it was life-changing. For the first time, I combed my daughter’s hair after bath time and she didn’t end up in tears. It was a big deal—for both of us.
🧠 Parenting Lesson Hidden in Hair Care
This might sound like a silly story about a single dad learning the hard way about proper hair care. But the biggest lesson I’ve learned in parenthood is this: it pays to keep an open mind and keep learning. Even the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
And on a side note—my French braids are getting better. As my daughter says, “It’s a work in progress.”