Whether your little one is 6 months, 6 years or sixteen years old, curly hair care is important from day one.   

Cleanse your baby’s hair and scalp with a mild sulfate-free shampoo or unscented soap.  This will ensure that your baby’s natural oils won’t be stripped from skin & hair.

As your little one grows older, teach them that their curly hair is not “uncool”, “bad hair” or “ugly”.  Having curly hair is what makes them unique and special.  Your little ones will look to you as their hair role model.  Once they see you treating your curls with love, they’ll want to do the same as you. Caring for your child’s hair needn’t be an unpleasant experience. Here are some tips to make hair care time a fun time:

Experiment with kid-friendly scented cleansers, conditioners & styling products.  When shopping for curly hair care products, involve your child in the process.Cleanse your child’s curly hair on an as-needed basis. Remember to always use sulfate-free shampoos and/or natural soaps.

Got a kid who’s a little soap-shy?  Give them a shampoo bar that can also be used to cleanse their hair & scalp.

Condition your child’s hair with the purest ingredients you can afford.  If you can’t eat it, don’t put it in your child’s hair.  Rinse out the conditioner or leave it in depending on your child’s curly hair texture.

Detangle your child’s hair with a wide-toothed comb or a Denman-style brush.
WARNING! Only use a Denman-style brush on freshly cleaned & conditioned hair.  DO NOT use a brush on dried curls!! This will result in hair breakage.  Use of a brush is solely to facilitate detangling.  If properly done, you will notice a difference in the health of your child’s curls.  When in doubt, use a wide-toothed comb.

Boys can opt to use a natural styling product to keep curls in place.  Girls can style with braids, pigtails or ringlets. 

Not sure on how to care for your child’s hair?  Submit your questions to Ask Althea today!