Is This Normal? - Darcie Johnston American Girl

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over.

      Trying

      I am trying to grow my hair long. My mom says it still

      needs to be trimmed, but I don’t want to lose a single

      inch. Why does it need to be trimmed?

      Wannabe Rapunzel

      Although it may not make sense, hair needs to be trimmed while

      you’re trying for those Rapunzel locks, because the ends of your hair

      naturally split and break off. Trimming removes these frizzy-looking

      ends and keeps hair healthy while it grows.

      You can reduce split ends by being kind to your hair. Don’t brush more

      than you need to. Use only a wide-tooth comb after shampooing

      because wet hair breaks more easily than dry hair, and comb gently.

      Use a conditioner or detangler to make combing easier, too. And last:

      Heat is hard on hair, so use a blow dryer on a low or cool setting and

      avoid curling or straightening irons.

      Hair grows about half an inch a month, so if you trim a quarter inch

      every couple of months, your hair growth will far outpace the

      amount you trim. With care and patience, your hair will be long

      —and beautifully healthy.

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      Dear American Girl,

      This summer AND the summer before, I got head lice.

      If I go through it one more time, I am going to go

      seriously crazy. This time my mom cut off my hair

      with scissors, and I cried and cried. How can I stop

      getting them??? It’s HORRIBLE!

      Sick of It

      It’s probably no surprise that

      head lice are very contagious!

      These tiny insects move fast,

      and they can live for a short

      time on a hat or hairbrush until

      they find a head of hair to call

      home. As a result, they can

      be spread when two heads

      touch, such as while playing

      or hugging, and when sharing

      things that touch hair. To lower

      your chance of catching lice

      again, never share hairbrushes,

      combs, hair ties, headbands, or

      any other accessory used in hair.

      Don’t share your own, and don’t

      borrow anyone else’s. Watch

      out with hats, headphones,

      and pillows, too. Having short

      hair or wearing your hair up

      does not protect you, so follow

      these rules no matter what your

      hairstyle is.

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      Dear American Girl,

      I am scared to wear shorts and skirts to school because I

      have such hairy legs. I am 11 years old. Is this the right age

      to start shaving, or should I wait a little longer?

      Ready to Shave

      Dark hairs on your legs are normal.

      Other girls your age are sprouting

      them, too, and some girls are

      starting to shave. If you feel

      ready to learn how to remove hair

      from your legs, let your parent

      know. Try saying, “I’ve been feeling

      really self-conscious about the hair

      on my legs and would like to know

      more about shaving.” If your mom

      or dad thinks you’re too young,

      don’t be discouraged. Ask if you can

      talk about it again in a few months

      or when the weather gets warmer

      and it’s time to break out the shorts.

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      Dear American Girl,

      What is the difference between all the ways

      you can remove hair from your legs? So far

      I’ve heard of tweezing, depilatory, waxing, and

      bleaching. Are these better than shaving? My

      mom says I can start shaving, but I would like

      to know what the options are.

      Full of Questions

      Shaving is the way most girls and women remove hair from legs. You

      need to learn to use a razor carefully, because it’s very sharp, but once

      you’re good at it, shaving is easier than any of these other methods.

      Tweezing (or plucking) is pulling hairs out with tweezers, one at a

      time. Although it’s a good way to remove a few hairs, trying this on your legs would take hours! It would also be painful.

      A depilatory is a chemical product that weakens hair. It’s applied to

      the skin, it sits for several minutes (longer than it takes to shave), and

      then it’s wiped off, taking the hair with it. This may sound simple, but

      it can irritate skin—and it’s messy and smelly!

      Waxing is usually done by a professional, who spreads wax on an area

      of skin, then quickly yanks it off like a bandage, pulling the hairs out

      by the follicle. Like tweezing, it can hurt, and it can irritate skin. This

      method is usually used with smaller areas, not whole legs.

      Bleaching hair lightens its color instead of removing it. It’s mainly used

      on fine hairs on the arms or face, not on legs. Like a depilatory, it can

      irritate skin, and if the hair or skin is naturally dark, bleaching may not

      accomplish the job.

       Don’t try any method on your own. Before you try one that interests you—including shaving—talk with your mom or dad.

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      Dear American Girl,

      I have tiny hairs on the top of my lip and it looks like

      I am growing a mustache. I was wondering if you had a

      solution to that.

      No Stash

      Visible hairs above the lip are not unusual once puberty has started,

      especially for girls with dark hair. The hairs are more noticeable to

      you than to anyone else, but if they really bother you, talk with your

      parent. Your mom can help you pluck the most visible

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