Daughter Twirling Hair

My guess is that it is a "coping mechanism" to whatever is going on at that moment or in general. It can be a reaction to excitement or nervous energy. Yes, it is important to protect her hair but be careful about taking the activity away from her all together. If you do, she will find another way to cope and it may be worse than what she is doing now. My son chews on occasion and it is frustrating but that is how he copes and children need to cope.

Pull her hair up away from her face. She may continue but it will be harder for her and will draw her attention to the fact that she's doing it. I'm a nail biter always have been. It's a way worse habbit, but my parents couldn't take my fingers away. My oldest daughter who's 8, rubs her ears. We all have a habit of some sort, some are just more annoying and nasty than others. Bad habits are hard to break, and you have to be gentle with it, but be persistent and you'll see results.

Hi, M.,

Yes, she does have a habit - but this is NOT one that needs to be broken!! She's not harming anything (other than her own hair) or anyone. She apparently feels the need to do it, let her do it. Rather than try to remove the hair by pulling it all back, pinning it, etc., perhaps you could try two braids (Laura Ingalls style). Hopefully it will suit her face (shape) and then she can still get comfort by twirling the braids, BUT the braids will not tangle, as they will be too thick.

Good luck! J.

I thought I would answer this one too. My wild child just turned 12. It is probably a habit she may not even realize she is doing. It could be due to new stressers (such as new sibling) or just part of her personality. Mine child is ADHD and always an active child. Solutions: 1) Tie all of her hair back, so she only twirls the shortest and least amount; 2)pin back the front on each side with barrettes (no hair to twirl); 3: J&J No More Tangles spray and shampoo [may or may not get knots out easier]; 4)Redkin Extreme Anti-snap spray. This gets out tangles and leaves hair conditioned, so hair stays stronger and some of natural hair breakage is controlled; and/or 5) Give her a "bob" haircut, so there is not hair to twirl, if she will look ok in it. Her Aunt gave her the Redkin product and it has worked wonders to not fight about her tangled hair!!

Twirling is usually a comforting mechanism or a a stress reliever. What has changed in the past month or so? Have any new stresses come into the house with you or your husband, something from work perhaps? I think if you can find out what's triggering the twirling and do something about that then it should stop or at least become less frequent.

Just something to think about. Good luck.

Well, M., I can tell you that I have been twirling my hair since a child--and now I'm almost 40!! In fact, I was just twirling my hair as I read your post. And I sometimes still get my hair tangled. I try to be conscious of that while at work, as I think it looks unprofessional, but sometimes, if I'm deep in thought, I don't even realize I'm doing it. My father has been after me for years to stop. I do my best to stop when I'm around him as I know it bothers him.

Most of the time, I'm not aware I'm doing it. By your post, it sounds like your daughter isn't aware either. It's a habbit that can be annoying at times. Maybe if one of my children starts doing it, I'll see how I don't like it and actually stop myself!

Even if her hair was cut short, I do not believe that will alleviate her twirling her hair. The only way is if her hair was shorter than what she could twirl.

I am eager to view others responses.
I wish you the best!
Happy anniversary!
Looks like we are very similar in anniversary and age - my husband and I have been married for eight years and I'll soon be 38!
Take care!
K.

This is a habit and she has to break it. I would go ahead with the haircut. I'm sure she will look cute in short hair too, and hopefully, that will help relieve her of this habit. Maybe she could substitute a doll with long hair to twirl.
Many kids rub the edge of their blankets, rub their earlobes, suck their fingers or thumbs; it relaxes them. This is the same thing.

I did the same thing. I also pulled my hair when it was cut short. I pulled it so I still have bald spots which never regrowed. It's a nerve issue.

I was, and still am, a hair twirler. Most times I don't even realize I'm doing it. It's probably just a habit that she has developed. When I was young I always had short hair because I was constantly twirling, twirling, twirling! I cant' say that it made much of a difference, because I still did it! I'm really no help, I guess! Sorry! :D

My daughter does that when she is tired. Is Avery getting enough sleep? It's something that usually gets my little one more relaxed and ready for a nap or bedtime. I usually try to get her to go to bed a little earlier and that solves it for the next day.

My daughter has twirled her hair since she found out she had hair. It was a blessing since it was an indicator for when she was tired. It seemed to be a habit for comfort. She never wanted a bottle, pacifier, or blanket for bed, just twirled her peach fuzz on her head. I would put her to bed when she started and she would nap each time. Now she's 12 and she still does it when she is bored. If I can keep both hands of hers busy then she doesn't do it. Sometimes, if I can challenge her mind sshe won't do it, she's too busy concentrating on the complex problem. She is in the gifted program at school and in all the advanced achievement classes. It's always been a wonder as to how she doesn't get it all knotted up. Good luck.

This sounds so simple, but couldn't you just pull her hair into a french braid or something everyday until she gets used to not having it down to twirl? If it's too short, well, there should be other styles you could do to have her hair totally pulled back.

I still at 20 still twril my hair, when I was little I would do it when I was bored a lot. My brother also did the same.

Put it into a pony tail until she stops. It's a nervous habit. I know someone who pulled her hair out. You may have to cut her hair temporarily to get her out of the habit. Hair does grow back. Isn't it worth it to get her to stop it?

How about learning to french braid? Looks cute, takes some time, but cant twirl it if it's braided. REGARDLESS...if you have to cut it.....cut it. STICK TO WHAT YOU SAY!! If she doesn't stop, CUT IT! IT WILL GROW BACK! Your word HAS to be credible!

My sister was always a hair twirler(still is as an adult) and now my niece is also a hair twirler! My sister always says she is getting her payback for putting our M. through the fun of knots. When my sister was young she always had really short hair and my sister also keeps my neice's hair about chin length and stacked up in the back. It is really cute and it keeps the knots out a little bit. This is the only thing I know to do? Take care!

My oldest sucked his thumb everywhere we went. We needed him to stop b/c it was ruining his teeth, so at first we said he could only do it in the house. Then after about 2 weeks we said he could only do it in his room. It took reminding at times, but he does pretty good now. We still let him suck his thumb in his room if he wants. Maybe you could try something like that to at least limit how often she does it.

I have 7 children and 3 of them are hair twillers. They are all grown and have families of their own. They twilled their childrens hair when comforting them, and now they do it too. My niece is a RN and she twills. I agree, it doesnt hurt any one, is a quiet habit and comforting to them. I shake my foot, when in thought, we all have habits, let her be and she will be happier too.