Seeking Advice on Hair Care for My Daughter

the hairdresser told me not to use a brush on my 5 year old, becasue she is young and her hair is still growing in and a brush will pull to much out and cause more damage. she said to use a comb instead. She also told me not to use a brush on myself when my hair is wet, because it will cause dmage.

Leave in conditioner is the key for curly hair since it tends to get very dry and frizzy. Biolage's Smoothing Shine Milk is the best. You can spray it on when her hair is wet to get out the tangles and you can spray it on her hair when it is dry to keep it soft and tame down the frizz. I am a hairdresser and I have recommended this product to all my friends with children who have unruly or curly hair and they love it. They also use it for themselves too. The good news is that you only have to use a little bit so it lasts a long time. You can find it in most salons, and drug stores and it costs about 12 dollars. Good luck!

Hi M., my daughter has a head full of spirals. I use suave professionals(orange bottle) it is for dry or friz hair. It is compared to matrix. Also in the am- I spray a mix of water and conditioner and comb.A wide tooth comb is better than a brush for curls. It doesnt separate them as much.
Take care,
K.

Hi M.,
I have this type of hair and there are several things I have learned over the years. The first is that curly hair is naturally drier than other hair so it shouldn't be washed every day. Also, just use your fingers to brush it. I use Pantene and it works well. I work the conditioner into my hair from bottom up (since the scalp is where it will be oilest) and I don't wash it all the way out. If you leave a bit of it in, the hair will stay more moisturized.
Good luck!
S.

have you tried a satin pillowcase? i had a dreadlock as a child, and my daughter has inherited it. my mom said that is the only thing that help with the tangles. good luck!

I have the absolute BEST hair product to suggest to you!!! It's only about 6 bucks at any pharmacy!! It's called Hot 6 oil, and it's a blend of many different oils. I have curly hair and have tried the most expensive products out there, only to continue to have the frizz! This I apply after i get out of the shower and it works like a dream!!

I had curly hair when I was young and my mom didn't know what to do with it so it was always frizzy.....so I think I learned a lot about curly hair because I always had to fix my own. Now, I have a 5 year old with the same type of hair so I know what to do =) I never brush her hair. I know it sounds weird, but when she gets a bath and washes her hair, I make sure it's close to bed time and she just sleeps on it. Believe it or not, her hair is curlier when I do that then if I were to brush it. I used to brush it after a bath, but it would pull the curls down. Now I just brush it once in a while and I don't have to put anything in her hair and it looks beautiful. Now with my hair, the best product I have found out there is Curls Rock by the Tigi line.....you can get it at salons only and the one in walmart has it. I put that on after a shower and then diffuse my hair with a dryer and it's wonderful - your hair doesn't feel sticky or weighed down. Now with her being 2 - I would say you are using the best thing for her. I used to use Infusium 23 when I was younger mainly because it conditioned and would keep the frizz down when it was dry. As for shampoos and conditioners, I have used them all. Ones I did like were the Tigi line of oatmeal shampoo and contioner - BUT they are about 13 dollars a piece and I would say that you are just fine using anything from the store. The only shampoo that I ever couldn't stand that made my hair feel yucky and even more tangled was Pantene.....otherwise I think you are okay. As for brushes, you can use anything, although when I brush my daughters hair, the best one is a big brush with the metal bristles. The plastic bristles just seem to hurt her for some reason - the more bristles it has the better. I hope this helps - it looks like I babbled.

A.

Shampoo won't weigh her hair down. If you want a lightweight conditioner use one labeled for fine textured hair, those are usually lightweight. I would also recommend a spray on leave in conditioner as well. And as far as a brush, never use one on her hair, it will make it frizzy and uncontrollable. Instead use a wide tooth comb ( even a pick type comb, just make sure the picks are good and spread out) Hope this helps.

hi M., i would use tresemme moisture conditioner... it works well for me becuz i myself have curly hair. plus u can use a wide tooth comb to brush her hair . or one of those brushes that doesnt tangle.

K.

First of all you don't wan't to much shampoo because it is not good for curly hair that tends to be dry already. I would suggest fining the book CURLY GIRL by Lorraine Massey at library or book store. It is great for learning how to deal with curly hair (speaking as someone who has very curly hair. Also check out the website naturallycurly.com, they have advice and products there as well. Good luck.

Hi!
I have naturally curly hair and it's been a lifetime learning process!:) I would start by checking out naturally curly.com (http://www.naturallycurly.com/phpBB). There is a forum for parents with curly kids that should be helpful.
My first suggestion would be not to brush her hair- ever. If you feel you must do it when it's soaking wet (as in while she's in the bath) with a wide toothed comb. But your fingers will work better. Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey is a great book too. HTH!

Michelle,
Try the baby shampoo from Arbonne, it work wonders & is all 100% natural! www.mylifemyarbonne.com

I realize this is a late response, but as a curly girl I had to weigh in. There is a whole group called Curly Girls that offers support, info, and whatnot on curly hair care... they even have online journals... it might be worth checking out. One of the things I learned with my hair was to not use shampoo. I might use it once a week. Conditioner cleans it and does not dry it out. I swear, and my hair is so much happier and much less "mangly." In addition, blow drying is bad, and even towel drying can be rough on it. I usually squeeze the excess water out and let it dry on its own. (obviously on very cold days I towel dry it anyway!) I do not know how thick your daughters hair is, and if you are still using a baby brush or not, but I know for me that I brush my hair while I am in the shower/bath. It makes life a lot easier, as when it dries it will get frizzy, plus the added moisture helps if I do develop any knots or tangles. (Which I got all the time until I switched off of shampoo) As a child my mom kept my hair super short because she did not know how to deal with the curls, and trying to brush my hair was this big ordeal... so doing it at bath time might help avoid that for you all. Good luck! I use a brush that has fairly spaced apart "teeth" like a centimeter or so away from each other, and made out of plastic.... combs are really only good for really bad tangles or tick inspection as far as I'm concerned! :)

I'm not really sure what hair care products are good for the wee little ones in regards to curly hair... my daughter is just beginning to get enough hair to notice some curls, so we aren't there yet.

I know this is late, but I just joined. I just wanted to tell you about the product that I discovered recently at a store called Five Below. It is called the Tangle Tamer. It is an electric large wide-tooth comb, with each tooth having little teeth. You turn it on and each individual tooth spins as it goes through your child's hair. It is a miracle worker when it comes to getting tangles out! My step-daughter used to dread having her hair combed in any way because she has a sensitive head and getting the tangles out hurt. But now, she doesn't really mind because this tool is so gentle with getting the tangles out. Hope this helps...

My mom didn't know how to deal with my curly hair and for so many years it was the one thing that I would change about myself...Glad that I couldn't do that because it's now one of my most distinctive features.
First of all, no brush. If she tends to get a little tangled, use a wide-tooth comb and comb it while the hair is still wet...be gentle so you don't break it and cause frizz.
Second, it depends on whether or not her hair is also thick or course. I'm assuming, not yet, but it could get that way. Curly hair needs product, but not a lot of styling...it really is wash and go. Some things that have worked for me over the years is hair serum (Frizz Ease), or curl creme (Pantene). My daughter also has curly hair, but it is more baby fine and so I just use Aussie's leave-in conditioner to detangle and even out the curl (I'll use it too and she thinks its so funny that we do our hair together).
Also, keep in mind that if her scalp isn't too oily she doesn't need her hair washed as often. I wash my hair maybe every three days because I'm pretty dry...actually who am I kidding, I wash my hair whenever I get the chance to actually take a long shower.
I've always found that air drying is more effective for keepin the individual curl than using a blowdryer. On really cold days, I wash my hair in the evening or on mornings that I know we are staying in.
Ok, this seems like a lot but it is just some ideas. The Queen of taking care of curly hair is Ouidad (who is a hair stylist in New york). She has a web site and I have used her products in the past and found them fabulous...but they can get pricey and I can never remember to reorder. But if you order her sample pack, I think she will send a book with more ideas for the different types of curly hair. It really helped me. Good luck one day she will love her curls.
M.

Hi, my daughter (as well as myself) has curly hair. I would suggest using a gentle shampoo. I've been using up my bottle of Abba Creme Moist on my daughter. I'll soon be on the hunt for a replacement myself! lol As long as you don't use a conditioner with hard to remove sillicones, which can build up, you could use a shampoo with no sulfates (SLS,ALS) or one that has a mild detergent such as cocamid. betaine. Sulfates can strip the hair and scalp of it's natural oils. For conditioner, I usually just use something cheap like Suave (Milk & Honey). Are you brushing her hair when there is conditioner in it or after it's dried? I use a regular plastic comb only to distribute the conditioner (and sometimes make a part). Combing her hair while it's dry can cause breakage so I wouldn't recommend that. I hope I haven't gone to technical for you...if you have any more questions, I'd be more than happy to help. There's also is a website that I know of that sells curly kids products if you'd be interested in that. Good luck, it sounds like your daughter has beautiful hair! :)

Hi Michelle,

My 2 year-old daughter has thick course curly hair that's a real challenge to comb. I found Johnson and Johnson’s Comb Buddies Conditioner to be really great. I comb it wet while the conditioner is still in, rinse and than pat dry with a towel.

Hope this helps,

M.

Michelle,
Since my first baby is coming in December, I am not an expert on children's shampoo/conditioner but since I have naturally curly hair I do know some things from years of crazy curls!! First, you do not want to wash her hair everyday. Its drys it out and makes it frizzy. You can wet it but only use shampoo/conditioner every 2-3 days. Next, do not brush it when it is dry, only wet because it can cause the ends to break off. Instead of a brush, buy a large tooth comb and comb it as soon as you are done washing it. Use your fingers to style it once it is dry. Hopefully this helps you out, D.

Hi M.

My nearly 3 year old has similar hair - ringlets all over. I haven't been too fussy about what product I use so much as trying to give her whole head a good rubbing and rinsing. I think the rinsing is really important - prevents the extra residue. Also, using a separate conditioner is helpful I think - it makes my daughter's hair much softer and helps to "bring out" the curls. I usually bathe my kids at night so in the am I just spritz her hair with either plain water or diluted infusium and it quickly gets it under control and the curls pop back to life. I always use a child's comb on my daughter's hair and try to only comb it when it's wet to keep the curls from being pulled loose and getting crazy. It's helpful to always comb it before bed so that it's not too tangled in the am. We haven't had too many problems with tangles and she gets tons of compliments on her ringlets.

H.

Hi M.:

I, too, have a little girl with the same type of hair. First of all you NEVR use a brush on curly hair. You need to use plastic wide-tooth combs only. I have tried several different type of condiotioners and shampoos and I have very happily settled with Kiehl's Leave-In Hair Conditioner (with Panthenol adn Coconut Oil). I used Herbal Essence Shampoo bu trecently changed to Kiehl's Chamomile because it gives her these great very very light sun kissed highlights. I was her haiir adn leave teh Chamomile shampoo in for a few minutes while I bathe her then I reinse her off. I don't towel dry her hair. I just simply put a generous amount of the Kiehl's leave in conditioner in and then gentle comb through her hair any knots. I fluff very lightly her curls with teh comb adn keave it. You can't fuss or touch curly hair too much as it is "setting" because that is what contributes to the frizziness. I have to tell you that it really works. Madi's hair is stunning adn people every where stop us on the street to comment on her curls. It is also important to trim about an inch from the end (that helps with the weighing down effect adn to get rid on any dry ends). There is an additional product that is also Kiehl's (don't remember the exact name) but it is a type of spary leave in conditioner which helps with the frizzes. I use it in the mornings because Madi's hair is very messy in the mornings since she bathes right before bed. The Kiehl's leave in conditionaer is about $27 and you cna find it on line or in some major departments stores or if you go into NYC (I do several tiems a week) they have 2 stores. The chamomile shampoo does cost about $28 but it is a huge bottle and a tiny amount goes a long way. It will last you for about nine months to a year depending on how often you wash her hair (we do it virtually every day). So when you figure that in it really isn't expensive. If not just use Herbal Essence by Clairol (you can get a gigantic bottle at BJ's or Costco for about $7 and that will truly last you forever. I used ours as a body gel fro me adn bubble bath fro Madi adn it lasted forever......). You will go through the conditioner much quicker but it so worth it. Remember no brushes ever. Some people will say to not wash every day. Ithink it depends on your habits adn what you feel comfortable with. I wash almost every day in teh summer adn when I don't wash I still wet it in teh bath adn then apply teh Kiehl's. I like Kiehl's products because they hav ebeen around since the 1850's and have a proven track record plus they use all natural ingredients. You can find much less expensive products but they are ALL chemicals so for me it is worth it to spend the extra $$.

Hope that helps. Sorry about the typos. I have to run and finish breakfast so I can't go back and read.

My daughter also has curly hair and it gets so matted in the back. I use Arbonne International baby line because it is all botanical based and they also have a spray on conditioner that helps with the snarls. Plus since they use pure and safe ingredients there is no build up on her hair and makes her hair so smooth.

You may want to consider using products for african american women. Of course not grease, but maybe some of their shampoos or conditioners. My friends that are black, slways say their hair is dyr adn brittle adn so they use produts to pur moisture back in. Your duaghter sounds like she may just need a little sculpting with a pic and spray in conditioner. Use Big tooth combs (or a pic) little tooth combs will separate the curls adn frizz it out, big tooth combs with tame it withoutdividing it too much. You can probably also use you hands once you get it soft enough for your fingers to go through.

Biolage Matrix is a very good hydrating shampoo and it smells wonderful. I hear that using real boars hair brushes works well but if the hair is really thick then you would probably want something that is going to penetrate better. If you are ever interested in straighting it or changing the type of curl I have found an awesome straightening iron made by a company out of the uk called corioliss which uses infared heat and doesn't damage hair. It leaves it very soft and shiny. There web address is http://www.corioliss.com/ if you are at all interested.

Your daughters curls sound so adorable! I work for Arbonne a botanically based skin and hair care company.

Our Shampoo and Conditioner is wonderful. My husband and son are both curly and the conditioner is so great(I know their hair is shorter).The shampoo is self adjusting and so is the conditioner...meaning it works for dry or oily hair.

Also we have a fabulous product called "To the Rescue, Hair Protectant" It is a conditioning spray that detangles and adds a natural healthy luster. It contains Arnica,Chamomile and rosemary.

I would be happy to send you samples if you would like to try!

Good luck and enjoy your adorable family! C. (Mom of 4 boys)

Hi! My name is B.. I have a five year old daughter who has very long, thick and curly hair. I know what your going through and have tried many products myself. What i now use and love it is Garnier sleek & shine anti-frizz serum, Garnier curl shaping gel and the garnier leave in conditioner. I wash her hair then put alittle leave-in conditioner, then i put some anti frizz serum and curl gel. I let her hair air dry. At night i put it in a pony tail. The next morning i spray her hair with a water bottle just alittle then repeat the frizz serum and curl gel and noone ever knows i didn't was her hair. I wash her hair every three days. Give it a try. I also only use a wide tooth comb. Let me know if you try this. Good Luck.
Bye,
B.

Hello Michelle,
I am a hairdresser currently working with with a dog groomer.( better hours and trying something new). I have found that Pantene does work but will eventually cause buildup on the hair. My personal favorite is Paul Mitchel detangling spray. I have used it alot on customers with curly tangled hair. I also recomend a WIDE tooth comb. I have one that looks like a giant pik in the shape of a comb. Try Sallys Beauty Supplies.
I hope this helps!
A.

My daughter has super curly hair and I alternate every other shampoo and conditioner between nuetrogena triple moisture and johnson's baby. I also use a wide tooth comb and a pick in her hair. I also use a product called "Pink". It is a hair oil/leave in conditioner that is normally used on African American hair, but a pea-sized amount rubbed on the ends works wonders. Good luck to you. I hope this helps.

Johnsons has newer "baby" shampoos out. One for detangling, and one for curly hair. You can find them in the same place as the baby stuff.

M.
Give the Sunsilk Products a try as well as the Aussie products. The Aussie shampoo (Moist) I have found works the best with my daughters hair. My daughter has spiral curls I've learned over the years that you must brush the hair or comb with a wide toothed comb and add product while the hair is wet and managable. Squeeze hair dry of any excess product with a towel never tossle. Here is our routine...While the hair is wet, add Sunsilk de Frizz (it comes in the green bottle)or Infusium and brush through thoroughly, squeeze any excess out with the towel and finger fluff the hair. It comes out gorgeous!!! There is also a book out if you'd like to go to that extreme.....Curly Girl, The Handbook by Lorraine Massey with Deborah Chiel.

The very best thing for curly hair is no shampoo at all. Just wash with condition. There is a book called Curly Girl if you need support on this. I have been following this for 4 years with my own curly hair and my daughters' and it makes a tremendous difference. Shampoo is very drying. Also, no brushing, comb is when it's wet and then leave it alone.

i too have a daughter with really curly hair and i struggle with it sometimes depending on the weather. however, i do use on a daily basis garnier fructis sleek and shine. it tends to help most of the time but not always like i said depending on the weather. also my friend who is a hairdresser has used on her curls rock. i only use that if we have a function to go to that she really should look neat for an extended amount of time. its almost like a palmade and u should work it through the curls and it really give them definition. so i hope this helps you out a bit and if you get any other good suggestions please let me know. thanks!, J.

Hi Michelle, I have an18 mth old bi-racial daughter who has similar hair. The texture is soft, not frizzy or kinky and ringlet curls. I really love the John Frieda Frizz Ease line of products. I use the shampoo, spray in conditioner, hair serum and curl definer spray. It seems like a lot for a toddler but her hair is beautiful and never tangled or knotted. We get a lot of compliments on her hair. I hope this helps you.

I have a 3 year old daughter and she is bi-racial - she has very soft fine hair but it's quite curly. I found a line of hair care products on-line called Carol's Daughter. Jada Pinkett Smith is one of their spokeswomen. They have some wonderful products - I really like the Rosemary shampoo and the Hair Milk. I've tried Infusium 23 products and they aren't moisturizng enough. Instead of using a brush, I prefer to comb through her curls with a wide-tooth comb.

My 4 your old has ringlets too, as did I most of my life. All the past advice seems right to me. We use a comb not a brush, condition everyday, wash every 2-3 days. Our bath time flips from eve to morn every so often. On the days we bathe at night, the next day her hair is a mess so I use the huggies clean team detangler and a spray bottle with water to wet down her hair, then comb it.

The shampoo and conditioner is a good one to use but only use a comb and not a brush on her hair when it is wet. My hair is naturally curly and I have tried everything to control frizz. Currently I am using the Fruitis line of products. I found that Pantene Pro-V is good also. I alternate between the two monthly. For me, it keeps the buildup from the conditioner away. I also use Herbal Essence spray gel to help define the curls a little better. If you try to comb or brush her hair when it is dry, it doesn't matter what brush you use, her curls will separate and her hair will frizz.

M.-
I posted a question similar to this one just a couple days ago- my 2 1/2 year old hates to have her beautiful hair brushed and put up and I got lots of great tips from lots of smart moms and grandmas! If you click on my name, you should get to all my advice. Just since I've posted, I've used some of the tips and the last 2 days have been much nicer here at our house. Good luck! C.

I myself have the same kind of hair, although my 8-mo-old daughter has straight hair like her daddy. I'm hoping it will curl as she gets older. I use Frizz Ease brand, they have both a variety that helps the hair curl and one that you can use if you want to straighten it. I don't use a brush, just a wide-toothed comb and never a blow dryer (unless absolutely necessary). I also use a little mousse or gel, but she may not be old enough for that. Hope this helps!

Hi M.,

my daughter also has curly hair. I started using the biolodge shampoo/detangler/conditioner. three separate things. It seems to be working. once she gets out of the tub...i just spray detangler in it and comb it and I use the light pink oil moisturizer. Oh yeah, and i use a large tooth comb...not a brush.

hope it helps.
Jen

Hi M.!

My daughter is almost 2 and has VERY curly hair but a little shorter then your daughters. I comb her hair in the tub at night after I put the shampoo (Playtex Baby Gentle Foaming Shampoo) in and in the morning or throughout the day I comb her hair after I spray Huggies detangler or Johnson's Kid No More Bedhead detangler. I find those to be the best products for my daughter (so far) to make the curls look so pretty and not weighted down.

Good luck!
S.

Hello! M.!
This is T. Speaking concerning your daughter hair.
I suggest you tried Carol Daughter hair dressing and other
supply for hair. Go on the Website For Carols Daughter.

Thank you

I have the same hair...my hair is baby fine and a little past my shoulders dry, mid back streched out. I have spent thousands of dollars over the years on salon products that never have truly worked as they claim...don't waste your money on them. Curly hair actually has a different structure to the strand than straight hair. When magnified it looks similair to a chistmas tree, because of these lifted layers curly hair drys out and breaks at the ends a lot easier.
1. Every six - eight weeks you should get you daughters hair trimmed this will help keep the ends from being frizzy an prevent breakage. I know you are thinking it seems to take forever for her hair to grow and you probably don't want to cut it but if you don't breakage happens and the ends become thin and frizzy and you have to get more cut off.
2. Never brush her hair it causes breakage. Comb her hair wet after she has had a bath. Do not comb or brush it dry.
3. Wash her hair every other day or if she can go three days without looking oily go every three. On the days you don't wash it, rinse it with just water. The best shampoo and conditioner I have found and I use it is Pantene Pro-V Restoratives "Frizz Control"
4. After I wash or rinse my hair I use 6 to 10 spays of Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Breakage Defense Anti-Quiebre Strenthening Spray. Since I have been using this spray my ends have not been breaking. I use this on my wet hair before I comb it every day.
5. I then use John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Corrective styling Mousse Curl Reviver. Fill the palm of your hand with mousse, comb it though her hair with your fingers and scrunch her damp hair.
6. Let her hair air dry. If you are in a rush you can partially dry her hair with a blow dryer on low with a diffuser on the end of the blow dryer and let the rest air dry.

Hope this helps.

W.