Mom painstakingly curls her hair so daughter doesn't feel alone in family full of straight-haired people

Children may feel out of place if they look even slightly different from their family members. It’s up to parents to help them feel comfortable in their skin and build their confidence. Michelle Nhu, a mom of three who goes by @nhutella_ on Instagram, is setting an inspiring example for fellow moms on how to make children feel they belong, even if they don’t resemble the rest of the family. Nhu, originally from Vietnam, has three young daughters who look up to her. However, her eldest daughter is the only one in the family with curly hair, while her younger daughters have straight hair like their parents, Michelle and her husband, Jon.

In a video that has garnered over eight million views, Nhu is seen on a mission to make her eldest daughter feel less alone. She decided to use a curling tong to give herself a head full of tight curls, just like her daughter’s. The time-consuming process of wrapping thin strands of hair around the tong to make it resemble her daughter's curls was sped up in the video. Once finished, Nhu surprised her daughter with her new look and captured the moment. She had her daughter sit with her hands over her eyes, and when she opened them, Nhu was rocking curls just like hers.

"Mommy!" her daughter exclaimed, leaping into her arms for a warm hug. "Remember the times you said you felt alone?" Nhu asked, turning to the camera. "Now look, we’re twins." Her daughter became emotional, shedding tears of joy as Nhu embraced her again. "I love you," she said. "Everyone says we look the same, except for our hair. Now we look like twins." Nhu then shared a few pictures of her daughter growing up with her beautiful curls. The video’s comment section flooded with praise for her daughter’s gorgeous hair, reminding her that she didn’t need to change a thing about herself.

@realmalanicash advised, "Tell her that girls are paying for her hair." @todorovaraya20 wondered, "No hate, but I really love that and you're both really beautiful, but why does she have curly hair and everyone else has straight hair?" Several others responded, explaining that her eldest daughter is of mixed race, being both Black and Asian, which is why she has curly hair. @breshepard08 commented, "Obsessed with her curls! As a straight-haired girl, I have always wanted what she has! Tell her she is absolutely perfect the way she is! You are such a great mom." @ironmom40 added, "Oh my gosh, this made me cry. As a mom of two biracial daughters who have curly hair, this really struck a cord. They always want to have straight hair and I love their curls so much."

You can follow Michelle Nhu (@nhutella_) on Instagram for more videos on parenting and lifestyle.