I have frequently received questions regarding the hair care regimen I use for my daughter’s hair. I shall disclose that I am so far from being any type of expert when it comes to doing hair of any type but what I do know is life will force us to become some what efficient in the things that must be done….won’t it?
It has definitely taken me some time to perfect a regimen that works and minimizes meltdowns of epic proportions on wash day. If one thing I say in this post can help you from curling up in the fetal position at the thought of washing your child’s hair, my monthly hosting fee to Go Daddy has not gone in vain….
My daughter has extremely dry and tangled hair and she is fearful of water falling in her eyes so I find it easier to lay her on the counter and wash her hair in the kitchen sink rather than in the tub.
I wash her hair in sections and gently finger detangle each section as I work the shampoo and conditioner through it. Key word…GENTLY. When I have completed one section I twist it and move on to the next, keeping it detangled while working on the others.
I am currently washing and conditioning her hair with Curls Unleashed. I was only washing her hair with conditioner ie. co-washing it until I found this shampoo. It doesn’t dry her hair as much as other shampoos. I still only use it once a month to get the build up off. The other times I just use the conditioner and a bit of coconut oil.
After (sometimes) shampooing and conditioning her hair, I gently comb through random sections with a wide toothed comb detangling from the ends and moving up. Again, when I’m done I twist the sections to keep them detangled until I am ready to style.
See this face. At one point it would be riddled with tears at the end of the process but I have found the key to a successful wash day is to detangle the entire time, not just waiting until the end. Believe it or not through each step the detangling is still needed, which is why I find it extremley important to minimize damage and maximize sanity by doing it as you go along.
Do you have any additional tips to add? Does the thought of washing your child’s hair make you want to cry? How often do you wash your child’s hair? What products are you using?
20 Comments
Kita
February 19, 2014 at 7:17 amI wash her hair every two weeks. She use to be afraid of the water but I promise her candy after she is done and that helps. I just wash with whatever shampoo I have (normally cream of nature) condition her hair for about an hour which softens it up. I rinse then spray some detangler on it that I got from Sally’s that works miracles on her hair blow dry it out and flat iron it. The whole process….3 hours *sigh*
Baby Shopaholic
February 19, 2014 at 9:05 amAddison has the thickest hair! I wash P’s hair every other week. She does pretty good with washes in the shower or bath.
Tori | Glasses and Glitter
February 19, 2014 at 10:33 amAddy’s hair is so thick. I’d die. My mother had to deal with that with 3 girls. Le sigh for her and you! LOL I’m just gone give my baby a short hair cut like they momma! lmbo
Antonette
February 19, 2014 at 10:33 amI try to shampoo Kay’s hair once a week. I use whatever shampoo & conditioner that I’m using. I usually do it while she’s in the shower. Once I’m done I comb through some of Miss Jessie’s Baby Butter Crème and part into four and plat & let it dry overnight.
Aracely @ Mama Fashion Files
February 19, 2014 at 10:41 amI’m always looking for new products for Madison’s hair. I wash her hair every week and now twice a week since she has swimming during the week. Madi hates getting her hair washed, combed, brushed you name it. I have to be very gentle when detangling which I do after she gets out of the tub (mistake #1). I use shampoo, conditioner and moisturizing cream by Beautiful Textures which I think works ok. I use coconut oil occasionally. I add moisturizing cream every morning when I do her hair for school (she comes home looking like she let all her friends play in it) and I try to brush it before bed but that rarely happens. We need to get her hair trimmed her ends are horrible. I also have noticed that mid-week she says her hair is itchy, ugh!
Tia
February 19, 2014 at 10:45 amI wash my daughter’s hair every week. Right now I’m using this argan oil shampoo and conditioner that I found at Sally’s. I absolutely dread wash day. My flat twist are starting to look better but I really need to learn to braid. I think I’m going to try doing the mini twists this weekend.
Krissy
February 19, 2014 at 11:43 amThat’s pretty much our process too. We get it done in the kitchen sink because my girls FLIPS OUT if the water falls in her face. I detangle with my hands and finger comb in the conditioner. I use suave kids shampoo. The 2-1 kind with the conditioner. It seems great and it doesn’t dry out her hair at all.
Rachel
February 19, 2014 at 12:07 pmI love the pictures. She’s beautiful. I’m going to pass this onto a friend.
Mimi
February 24, 2014 at 11:34 amThanks Rachel!!
Amber
February 19, 2014 at 12:16 pmShe is killing me with her hand over her eyes! LOL
I tried the sink for the first time two weeks ago and I’m still on the fence about it! We do wash day in the bath tub and it goes pretty well.
Prototype Mama
February 19, 2014 at 12:51 pmI wash little M’s hair every two weeks and I have to say,I dread it every single time! She has a head full of super curly hair that she hates for anyone to touch. Our wash days are on Sunday and I’m usually done washing, conditioning, detangling and moisturizing 4 hours later after all the meltdowns and 10 minute stops to eat snacks are over
Jehancancook
February 19, 2014 at 2:18 pmWhen my son had hair, I washed it every other day. I would spray it with water to make it damp, then finger dentangled using coconut oil. I would then add Shescentit Avocado conditioner and toss him in the bath and comb it through. Then I would Rinse out the conditioner, then add Shescentit creamy leave-in conditioner and it airdry. He had no issues with me combing his hair but I would only comb it on wash day and wet.
Michellette Mimi Green
February 19, 2014 at 3:28 pmFunny you posted this, I was thinking of posting something about toddler hair issues. I don’t have a set washing schedule with my 2 year old. Her hair has grown a lot but nothing like your daughters yet.I have at least quit the daily tub washing but I’m thinking of a twice a week washing for now. I braid it up for a few days then take it out.
As she gets older and her hair grows more I will reduce the washing frequency.
Jessica
February 19, 2014 at 3:38 pmOh, I needed to read this post! As you know I have three girls, so, yeah, hair and doing hair is something that has become a big part of my life as a mom. My youngest is still too young for me to do anything/have to do anything to her hair. But my two oldest? Well, yeah. I think what helps me is to keep their hair in protective styles and to make sure that I’m gentle and don’t rush.
Quiana
February 19, 2014 at 4:17 pmShe is too too cute! I think I saw an IG or blog post pic of yours previously with your daughter on the counter, and I started doing the same. It lessened the tears but didn’t eliminate them but I’ll take it for now! I have to move extremely quickly washing my 3 1/2 year old’s hair. I’d LOVE to detangle along the way, but she’s extremely impatient with anything hair related especially feeling vulnerable on her back. Ughhh! I’m just so thankful the next one a boy cause I don’t think I could go through this again.
Baby Teems
February 19, 2014 at 10:13 pmI would have never thought to have my child lay on the counter. That’s exactly what I am going to do if I have a daughter. Using leave ins as a co wash works wonders for Noah’s hair though…Did it one day by accident and never looked back lol
Carissa
February 21, 2014 at 7:52 amI will say there is light at the end of the tunnel….my niece used to be like that but she grew out of it. My sister would always say she saturated her hair in conditioner then detangled it.
Chasing Joy
February 21, 2014 at 9:35 pmI do not do my own hair. It scares me to think about what the salon bills will be whenever I have a daughter. I just pinned this post for future, sanity and money saving tips.
KalleyC
February 21, 2014 at 11:30 pmAddy’s hair is so thick and beautiful! I wash my dailughter’s hair once a week, but I’m seriously thinking about doing a no poo for her. We wash in the shower find that causes extra time in the shower but I cannot get her hair washed any over way. Zee doesn’t like getting water in her eyes either, come to think of it, neither do I. I know where she gets it from 🙂
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June 10, 2014 at 2:14 pmGreat аrticle. I am dealing with many of these issues as well..