Hair Care Initiatives for Black Children and Young People in Care
Established through The Transformed You, The Black Care Experience was set up in 2020 to be an active voice for Black Children and Young People in Care.
Why us?
Because we are Black and Care Experienced
Because through our lived experience and engagement with the Children Social Care Sector, we see and understand the challenges faced by our Black Children and Young People who are placed in the Care System
Because in the 1980’s The Black and In Care Group (a powerful group of black children and young people in Care), used their lived experience and voice to influence the creation of the Children Act 1989 and the related Guidance, to include and place a legal duty on Local Authorities in relation to how Black Children should be cared for in the Care System.
Now whilst The Black Care Experience and The Black and In Care Group are 40 years apart, our Research, Reports and Lived Experiences in the Care System are not dissimilar.
Our Reports & Research
The Black Care Experience Research and Report
Research states, all Children and Young People who enter the Care System must overcome challenges in order to achieve their potential.
However, research also states that Black Children and Young People who enter the Care System, experience another layer of challenges that see them disconnected from their Culture, Identity and Heritage, which results in them not having a positive sense of who they are; they are not prepared for the wider world of Racism and Discrimination and experience this in the Care System; and their Aspirations are not affirmed and championed.
If these challenges are not overcome, our Black Children and Young People in Care will go on to have the poorest outcomes and life chances in comparison to any other ethnic group within Children’s Social Care.
Armed with this information, The Black Care Experience are actively and steadily influencing change through Central and Local Government and through the Children’s Social Care Sector, to improve the care, outcomes and life chances of our Black Children and Young People.
Black we define as a Child and Young Person whose Ethnic Origin is either African, Caribbean including Mixed Race with African or Caribbean Heritage.
The Care Experience we define as being in Foster Care or in a Residential Children's Home.
Now with an understanding that there are many factors at play in the Black Care Experience Journey, one we’d aspect we’d like to focus on is Hair Care. However, please note that as we share insight in this area, in the words of India Irie (We) I am NOT my (our) Hair.
Being placed in Care, understand that there are issues concerning our Hair Care.
In the 1985 Black and In Care Report it states
“We had heard a lot of young black people in care complaining that they were not getting the right type of skin and hair creams (if any) whilst in care. Other people complained that our hair was often cut very short as soon as they got into care because the white workers did not know how to handle it….they are thought of as abnormal if they ask for hair oil etc because white children don’t have the same type of hair as the majority of black people”
“The staff should be educated in how to look after hair and skin of children from different cultures to ensure that the correct hair and skin creams are given”.
In the 2021 Black Care Experience Report it states
“My white foster carer cut off my hair as she wasn’t sure as to how to maintain it and that really left me distraught to some extent. I would always wear a hat and hated having to go into primary with my head shaved”.
“The social worker of me and my siblings were frequently, changing and were often of a different culture and did not understand when I was explaining my needs were not being met”.
“My Foster Carer was Black, same culture but still did not quite know what to do with my hair. In fact Lool it all broke off On special occasions she would take me to the Black hairdressers which was nice, but usually Lool my hair was eat out- a whole mess. So perhaps Afro-Caribbean Hair should be a course taught to all Foster carers regardless of race…”.
Whilst these are some of the accounts from the 1985 and 2021 Reports, to this day at The Black Care Experience we still hear and see these issues in real time.
So what is the answer to these issues, how can we help to improve the Hair Care Experience of our Black Children and Young People in Care?
Free of Charge Hair Care Days?
For us this is a short-term solution to a long-term issue.
Consider this, once our hair is done, when will it be done again and will this also be free of charge? Does this then mean that our hair will be done free of charge for the duration of our time in the Care System? (We are in Care up until the age of 18 and are considered to be Care Leavers at age 25).
Consider this, will our hair be done with our own hair or with extensions? If with extensions, can we come back to the Hair Stylist or Braider to take them out and will this be free of charge?
A Box of Free Hair Care Products?
As a Community, we all have different natural curly, kinky, wavy, textured wavy hair that require hair products to match and suit the condition, health and style of our hair.
As a Community, gone are the days where the majority believe and rely on a hair typing system to tell us what products we need.
We’re taking the time to educate ourselves by presenting our crowns to qualified hair stylists and trichologists who impart their knowledge, wisdom and experience on how we should care for our scalp and our hair, that see us leave their chairs armed with a hair care plan and products, tailored to meet the specific needs of our hair and scalp.
As a Community, if we see the need to do this for us, consider how much more is this needed for our Black Children and Young People in Care? In the Care System we can’t imagine that every white child will be given a bottle of Head and Shoulders Shampoo, Conditioner and the like, so why think that every black child in care uses the same hair care product (or skin care product)?
What to Do, Where to Go, Who to Trust, What to Believe
Too many times we’re hearing accounts of how braids with extensions have been installed tightly with the braider letting the Carer and the Black Child or Young Person know that they have to be installed this way to last longer, and that it’s ok for these braids to be kept in for up to 3 months.
We’re hearing accounts of how our Care Experienced Black Boys are having hair cuts that reposition their hairline and accounts of how our Care Experienced Black Girls have bald patches on their scalp and hair breakage that they hide under a hand me down wig, scarf or bonnet.
We’re hearing accounts of how Foster Carers are being told that the Child’s or Young Person’s hair will need to be thinned out in order for the hair to be managed and maintained, along with us hearing accounts of Foster Carers sensing that they’ve been over priced when they hear the cost of the Hairstyle plus the price of the list of products, they’re led to believe they need to purchase.
Now whilst there have been some accounts of good hair care experiences, the above leave willing Foster Carers unsure of what to do, where to go, who to trust and what to believe, as they search for help to create good hair care experiences for the Black Children and Young People in their Care.
Our Hair Care Initiative in place from 2021 and ongoing
To be the change we want to see, we’re advocating for the costs of hair care (and skin care) to be taken into consideration and included in the Care Plan when a Black Child or Young Person is placed in Care.
There are Foster Carers and Residential Children’s Homes who understand and have adopted this way forward, but we still have a way to go.
Via Our Directory, we’re signposting Local Authorities to Hair Care Specialists who are able to deliver training to Foster Carers and Residential Home Staff on how to Care for the Black Childs’ and Young Persons’ Hair. They are also able to teach the Black Child and Young Person how to care for and love their hair.
Now we often hear Foster Carers and Social Workers say that taking a black child or young person to have their hair done is expensive, and so to combat this mantra, there are hair stylists who are able to offer the first appointment free of charge and then charge 50% of the full price for future appointments. Some hairstylists have a price list for children up to a certain age and some hairstylists will consider a budget to work with to make sure the child or young person’s hair is done and kept in a healthy state. This we consider to be long term solutions to a long term issue.
The Children’s Social Care Sector have access to Our Directory, where we’ve listed Hair Stylists, Braiders and Barbers who are not only experienced in styling natural curly, kinky, wavy, textured, wavy hair, but they’re also able to detect and treat any issues with our hair and scalp, and provide guidance on the right products tailored to meet the needs and condition of our hair and scalp.
Listed on Our Directory
As part of our Hair Care Initiative we’re always on the lookout for Hair Stylists, Braiders and Barbers who are able to provide a service where the black child or young person can feel safe, affirmed and inspired by the conversations they may hear as they sit in your chair. We want our black and in care children and young people to not feel triggered at the thought of going to a Hair Salon or a Barbershop because of a traumatic hair care experience.
We want those caring for our black children and young people in Care not to feel judged when they walk into your Salon or Barbershop with a child or young person that doesn’t look like them and not to feel judged because they don’t know what to do with the child or young person’s hair that maybe matted, damaged or breaking.
We’re on the lookout for Hair Stylists, Braiders and Barbers who are able to make their Care Experienced clients and Carers feel welcomed, seen heard and valued, because any negative experiences will have an impact on how the black child or young person’s hair will be or won’t be cared for going forward.
As part of our Hair Care Initiative, we’re also on the lookout for Hair Care Specialists who are able to skillfully and sensitively hold space to impart the truth and knowledge about why our hair care is important, and then teach Foster Carers and Residential Children’s Home Staff how, In a way that empowers them to Care after they leave your classroom.
We’re on the lookout for Hair Care Specialists who are able to impart their wisdom and guidance into our black children and young people in Care and teach them how to care for their hair in a way that gives them a sense of pride.
If you’re in support of our cause and you believe YOU are what we’re looking for, send us your details via the ‘List Me Please!’ button below. Once received and reviewed and we’ll look to get you listed on Our Directory, to be part of the change we need to see for our Black Children and Young People in the Care System.
But Don’t Stop There!?
Across the UK there is a shortage of Foster Carers and there aren’t enough Black Foster Carers to care for our Black Children and Young People, who are over represented in the Care System.
With that in mind, why not consider becoming a Foster Carer or Adopting? Or caring for a family member who you know is in Care System, by becoming a Kinship Carer?
As a reminder when Black Children and Young People are placed in the Care System, if we’re not culturally matched we can experience a disconnect from our Culture, Identity and Heritage, which results in us not having a positive sense of who we are and where we come from; and if we’re placed in cross cultural, biracial or transracial foster homes, there’s the need for us to have strong links to our community in order to somehow keep us connected.
And so, if our cause is tugging at YOUR heartstrings, speak to people who are Fostering, Adopting or Kinship caring and then reach out to your Local Authority and get the ball rolling, because we NEED YOU!!
All I Need written and performed by Ric Flo featuring Judith AM Denton at The Black Care Experience Conference 2024.