My 6-year-old has beautifully thick, long African American hair. It is a combination of wavy and very curly hair, but is dry. I need something that will add moisture to her hair and will detangle it. Not just detangle, but make it feel like butter. She is what we called in the "olden" days extremely tender-headed. Read, SHE HATES getting her hair done. I used Suave on her hair last night, which was all that was left in the house (DH's favorite shampoo). But, my daughter's hair turned out dry, extremely difficult to style, and --let's just say it was an unpleasant ordeal for both of us. I can't remember what I used before! But, doesn't really matter--I wasn't that thrilled with the outcome then, though it was much better than what I got from Suave. I am looking for a safe, natural, chemical free shampoo and conditioner for children! Does such a product exist or am I dreaming? I do not want to put a relaxer in her hair. I am looking for something that can be purchased in a retail store, not online, and is easy to find in the Washington metropolitan area. Again, am I dreaming or should I just accept that we won't have the "mother-daughter" bonding experience through haircare? All responses welcome!
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I ended up buying Original Sprout from Monday's Child in Alexandria. I bought small/travel sizes to see how the product would work on my daughter's hair. Tried it this week, and we had SUCCESS! No crying (except for the actual water in her hair), and the comb sailed through her hair with the detangler. I'll try it again before I actually recommend it to anyone else, but so far so good. Thanks again. I might still try Carol's Daughter's Princess line, as a back up. I've tried that for myself and liked it.
You can try Carol's Daughter Princess line .It's very good I have two girls and they both have long and thick hair, you can go to her web site or get it from Macy's.
Carols Daughter is available in Sephora stores. They are natural products for AA hair. I personally use the hair milk and really like it, though it sounds like your daughter may need something a little heavier like the hair butter.
Good for you to try to find a better and safer alternative for your daughter. The shampoos that you are using may smell good but just don't cut it as far as being safe. Yes, there are many products that are great and you can check them out at www.cosmeticdatabase.com You can input the name of the product and can determine how safe it is. I use organic or botanically based products for skin, body and hair. Remember, whatever you put on your skin goes directly into your bloodstream within 20 seconds! The products that I buy are online and come with a money back guarantee. Don't know how many store brands do that! Contact me if you'd like more information. Here's to your family's health!
K.
Wellness Consultant
I am a licensed cosmotoligist and I don't use organic products but currently I have been using Redkin All Soft shampoo and conditioner. They work great for my whole family. (My children are mixed) But haircare doesn't start with shampoo, it starts with diet. Your hair is pretty much the last place to receive nutrients it needs from your body so if there isn't enough to go around the hair gets left out. Also medications or anything that goes into the body directly affects the health of the hair.
Get regular trims for her. If her hair is tangling a lot she probably is in need of a good trim. You should get her hair trim about every 3 months. You can definately go longer if her hair doesn't seem to need it (no split ends and tangle free). What you wash her hair with will also determine how tangle free it is as you already have found out. Stick to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. I have never found a grocery store product that has worked real well- I can't speak for eveyone though. I stick to professional products on my hair. I know they can be expensive but if you buy in larger sizes it is more cost effective. If you are using heat in her hair regularly then you will also need to use a deep conditioner often.Something that strengthens the hair. Typically you will still need to put a conditioner on after the treatment. Stay away for products that are for kids. These products are designed to not burn the eyes but frizzes the hair.
Also, when you find something you really like you will also need to get a clarifying shampoo. After a while the products tend to build up on our hair which makes them less effective so clarifying it will strip it all off. This doesn't need to be done often probably about once every 2-3 mths depending on how often you wash her hair. The day you do this yes she will have more tangles but will help in the long run.
And always remember to detangle from the ends up. This will help her and you. If you start at the scalp all your doing is compacting the tangles. Starting from the ends will allow you to untangle easily (well easier).
I am interested in trying organic products. My kids suffer from occasional eczema and so I am interested in finding them natural products that work. So I hope you find a product that works for you. It is possible for her to have beautifully soft hair, it just takes a lot of effort and some $$.
My hair is unruly curly and my son's is too. We both have blond frizz that is unmanagable and we go to a special place that specializes in only curly cuts. They turned us on to a couple of products:
1: Mixed Chicks -
http://www.mixedchicks.net/curlyhairproducts.html
I was hesitant about the name, as I am not biracial so I didn't know how it would affect my hair but BOY HOWDY it has been the best, most moisturizing product I have ever found! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! And at the salon they used to sell a kids version of it called "Fuzzy Duck". They stopped carrying it at my salon so I had to find something else when he was a baby and now I've switched to
2: Original Sprout
http://www.originalsprout.com/
It makes his hair SOOOOOO soft, but almost too soft. I like his hair to hold a little mohawk on top and this won't do that. But it makes lucious shiny curls. I find it at Ulta.
And the final piece of the pie is the type of cut that we get it's the Ouidad. I was a skeptic. I didn't even know what it was, only that they specialized in curly cuts. The first time they did my hair I could actually leave the salon & not have to put my hair in a pony tail & run home & re-do my hair. No frizz! They cut WITH my curls. Not against them.
http://www.ouidad.com/?sc=AFF_GAN
If there's a salon in your area it's definately worth a try. I don't use their products (they're a little too pricey for me), but the cut is totally worth it.
Good luck.
- C.
May I offer you this Long Hair Community site that has a ton of info on hair care and products for virtually any hair type. Granted, it's geared towards long hair, but I find it to be a great resource.
http://www.longhaircommunity.com/
Oh, for soft silkiness, I love cracking a couple of eggs into my hair.
Greetings!
I live in the Washington metropolitan area as well and have two girls who are just as natural as your daughter and would be more than happy to show you how to take care of her hair(what to purchase from the beauty supply and how to take care of it to obtain the softness you're looking for). My 14 yr old wears her hair in a loose natural and my 7 yrold has long locs. I wear my hair cut very close and natural. You are NOT dreaming, it is not only possible but is being done all over this world! To your daughters' great hair history and your wonderful mother-daughter bonding experience! The key is to not fight against our hair, but to work WITH it! Peace
I use natural organic hair and body products too. My hair is thin and board straight but after using these products I can tell you how soft my hair is now. And it is super concentrated so you only use a little. There are a variety of hair products this company produces but all are natural and great for the various hair. I have a friend who is a redhead with super curly hair and these products have really helped her control her hair. I'd love to intro you to these products. Thanks
She needs haircare products for her hairtype and suave is not one of them. Caucasions have a different type of body chemistry all together which allows them to wash their hair everyday and (for the most part) not dry it out. However, with negroes, they cannot wash their hair everyday without putting something else on it everyday (too much work), so once every week usually will work for their types. Try things like just for me products, mane and tail, pantene for women of color and even head and shoulders. Make sure you don't just wash it, but condition it as well. Just for me has detanglers. Motions has a leave in conditioner. Find the right fit for your daughter and what works best. Relaxing is not an option for a 6 year old...if anything, a flat iron (but I don't recommend the heat either).
I use Suave kids on mine. Suave has a natural line as well.
