fromClaire Tourey for Mailonline
Six-year-old Florence Patterson of Newcastle has had fluffy hair since she was a child due to uncombed hair syndrome.
Florence’s parents, Jill Paddy-Jones, 43, and Kyle Pateson, 49, say they have to face harsh comments from strangers who have been heard exclaiming “see this child’s condition” – without thinking it’s medical condition.
Some even try to grab and touch little Florence’s hair on their own, unwittingly – forcing her mother and father to urge her to “refuse”.
However, Jill and Kyle teach Florence to hug his fluffy mane and charming photos show that the young man proudly shows off his gorgeous locks in his uniform on his first day at school.
Six-year-old Florence Patterson from Newcastle has had her hair down since she was a child due to unshakable hair syndrome
Jill, who works as a consultant, said: “Florence is aware that everyone is staring at her.
“Strangers touch her or grab her by the hair, so we taught her to tell them and tell people they can’t touch her. It was pointed out that her hair was similar to Einstein’s.
“We get a lot of humiliating comments about how we should have brushed it off, or comments like ‘look at this child’s condition.’
“It really pisses you off, but you have to leave,” she said. “It was strange after the blockade, when we started going out again, because I had forgotten how much attention she received.
“Everywhere you look today, the tide of protectionist sentiment is flowing. We also get good comments, but most of the negative attention she receives is from adults, they are not as acceptable as children.
“Everyone in the area knows her as the baby with the hair.”
Florence’s mother Jill Patterson said she had to teach her daughter, pictured, to repel unwanted remarks and attention from strangers.
Jill reveals that curious people try to touch Florence’s hair without permission or comment on her appearance
Attorney Kyle added: “Florence is confident that’s how we raised her.
“It always attracts attention, whether it is desirable or undesirable, so you need to be prepared for it later in life.
“We don’t want that to define her, but we know that some people will define her by her hair, so she just has to hug him.
“It’s part of her personality. People accepted her at school and she has many friends because her personality shines.
In the year, one student has three sisters, Laura, 20, Amelia, 15, and Heidi, 12, none of whom have the syndrome.
Her father says trying to comb Florence’s hair is impossible, but the family has found their own way to handle it.
Kyle said:[Combing her hair] it is impossible to do.
“We found our own way to manage it, which is to wash it in the bathtub, not in the shower, because it does not absorb water and will stay dry to the bone, dry it with a towel, leave the balm inside, crunch and select all dreadlocks, which takes years, but the next day she will have the most fabulous, blond curls.
Styling Florence’s hair is a challenge for Jill, but she said her six-year-old is becoming more confident and proudly posing in her school uniform before the new deadline, right?
The six-year-old’s mane is fluffy and knotted, and despite Jill’s efforts, it has never been tamed.
Kyle said there’s no point in washing Florence’s hair in the shower because it doesn’t absorb water and stays dry.
Then the next day she is curly again. If you try to manage it in a way that would deal with normal hair, you are fighting a losing battle.
“We were also advised not to do this because her hair just comes out and is very uncomfortable for her,” he continued. “Her condition also makes her nails grow incredibly fast. We need to cut them once or twice a week.
Florence has had curly hair for a year, but was diagnosed when she was three years old after being spotted by a doctor who thought the cause could be more serious.
Jill said: “We noticed quite early that her hair was unusual, probably when she was about one, but we just thought it was funny.
“When she was about three, we were selling a table at Gumtree, and the man who came to pick it up was a general practitioner, and he offered to take her to a doctor for an examination.
Pictured left: Florence in her school uniform. Law; the six-year-old with temporary hair dye
Jill said she and her husband came to Florence to ignore people’s harsh comments and tell them not to touch her.
“He thought she had a different syndrome, so he thought it was important to check her heart and eyes, but she was diagnosed with Uncombed Hair Syndrome, which only affects her hair and nails.”
Kyle added: “Her hair doesn’t grow that fast, but it’s very thick, which makes her overheat.
“It wasn’t noticeable when he was born, but when he was about a year old, he started sticking out in different directions.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“Fortunately, Florence’s condition is not more serious, but if there are parents who think their child may have the disease, they should see a GP because it could be more serious.”