Hair Twirling

Lori - posted on 11/13/2009

Thank you for all of the replies. In the past we have tried putting her hair up, but she just takes it out. We have also tried cutting her hair shorter, but if there is hair to play with she does. She is like Aliska's daughter and also sucks her thumb, a habit she is trying to break. (This fall she started pre-school and I think she doesn't want the other kids to know that she sucks her thumb. In her eyes it is more acceptable to play with her hair.) Like Connie said she is replacing one habit the thumb sucking with another the hair twirling. I think we will try the hair extensions and bracelet ideas. Thanks Again!

Justine Varrichio - posted on 11/11/2009

I just want to say that my almost 4 year old boy has just started with this habit. I find it vey cute because he has beautiful blond curly hair. For a boy, I have him wear it a bit on the long side... below the ears.... so I guess I am partially to blame! I just don't have the heart to cut his beautiful hair short!!! He has not done any damage so I am really not bothered by it. I think he will probably grow out of it.
Maybe when you daughter starts twirling, hand her something to distract her like a small book or snack that you can keep on you. I would not like the hair breakage either....

Aliska - posted on 11/11/2009

This is a comfort habit that she will grow out of. My youngest daughter (now 11) used to suck her thumb and twirl her hair on the top of her head with the other hand. She used to twirl so much that more than once we had to cut the hair away from her fingers as it was twisted so tight the circulation was cut and she was crying in pain. She grew out of the habit on her own around about the time she started school. We actively discouraged thumb sucking around this age and when she stopped doing that the twirling stopped too. Lots of people would come up to me in shops when she was doing it to reassure me that their child had the exact same habit and grew out of it in time so I think it is quite common. Good luck!

Crysi - posted on 11/11/2009

as a cosmetologist i just want you to know that a braid does not make your hair grown faster, in fact braids and pony tails will increase your chance of breakage. my daughter has hair down to her rear end so im not one to say cut it, but it might help, a new style or cute clips or headband. u could ask her why she does it, if its in her way or face that might help. if shes a daydreamer or gets bored (been there ;-)) a cute bracelet on her wrist that wont break she can play with instead could help ;-)

Brandi - posted on 11/11/2009

Have u tried keeping her hair in a pony tail, or braid it.. not really sure about this kind of thing but that is all i can come up with..

Jenny - posted on 11/11/2009

i twirl my hair but when i tie it up in a bun or french plait it i dont seem to try twirl it because its out of the way

Connie - posted on 11/11/2009

Just a comforting habit, like sucking her thumb. Not uncommon. Only way to break her of it is to take it away, either by cutting her hair too short for her to do it or pulling it back. You may give her a "fake" hair to play with, such as one of the hot pink clip-in extensions and tell her that if she feels like twirling her hair she can only it do with that hair. Making her more conscious of the habit will help her control it. It will take 30 days to break any habit, possibly more for a young child. If you could keep it short for a few months (after the holidays if you are wanting pictures with it longer), then it will just naturally go away. Beware that she will most likely replace it with some other habit, though. So be on the watch for what she is replacing it with.

Desiree - posted on 11/11/2009

keep it in a braid or a pony tail maybe that will stop her. an when you keep hair up in a braid it grows faster.