B.M.
I have a little girl who will be 3 in December - she has the wildest curly hair! Of course, she doesn't tolerate a headband - the quickest & easiest hair tamer, but will sit through me french braiding pigtails! Can we say high maintenance in the making?! Ha!
Anyway - a big - HUGE - help is detangler...any of the Johnson & Johnsons works great. If her hair doesn't want to brush back, spray it down with detangler and then brush. Damp hair is much more compliant than dry hair.
Pig tails seems to go in easier than a single pony tail for me (go figure). First - turn on Noggin, give her a book or whatever that will keep her reasonably still & happy for 5 minutes. Damp her hair down with detangler and brush all the tangles out. Roughly divide her hair down the center (again, when the hair is damp with detangler - this is easy to do, not so much when it's dry). A comb works best for dividing the hair as it "draws" a tighter line. Brush each side up into a little pigtail and done!
Want her hair down? First, find her 5 minute distraction. Spray her head down with detangler, comb out all the tangles, if she doesn't have a natural part (where her hair lays down naturally to one side or the other) make a small part just above the eye (either eye). Take a barette a sweep up the "thicker" side of hair until it's snug, but not overloaded and clip. To get an idea of where the barette goes, lightly pinch her hair with you fingers, then place the barette just above where you've pinched. You can do the other side if you want - but it's optional. Done!
I'm in the Wylie area at times visiting my parents and would be happy to meet up somewhere for the girls to play and I can show you some tricks of the trade. I grew up in a houseful of girls...so, I've seen it all! :) Good luck!
