Hair Care Help!

My grandma used to braid her hair at night because it was long and it kept the tangles out. Or go the other way and have it cut really short all over. Lot's of women of all ages have really short hair and it's very stylish these days.
D.

The kind of conditioner makes a big difference. My hair tangled easily as a child and Pantene worked wonders for me. I would also add a detangler spray.

I had an extremely sensitive head as a child, and my 1 1/2 year old seems to be turning out the same way. I have to use conditioner daily to get my tangles out, and I condition the ends of my daughter's hair daily too. I first suggest just starting at the ends of her hair and working up (if she'll sit there long enought) because it won't pull her hair as much. Also, you can try to use a brush with wide teeth, or a pick-type comb. I hope this helps!

What great ideas! I also have curly hair. I am guessing some of this will be repeats, but here it goes. If her hair is long, one long loose braid will help with the tangles in the morning. Just pull it loose and use a pick on it to keep it wavy or spray it damp and comb it out.

All my boys have my curls, one keeps his hair very very short, military style, the other two keep it short enough they can comb it fairly easily. If time is a problem, and it may be when you have your newest family member, keeping it on the shorter side will save time. There are zillions of short styles you can do that will keep her looking like a girl.

Another thing you can do to help comb it in the morning is keep a spray bottle with water and 2 tablespoons of conditioner in it to wet her hair down in the mornings. Always use a wide tooth comb, not a brush and try not to comb it dry if you can. I also have brushes that are typically considered wig brushes that release the tangles when you use them rather than ripping them out.

Congrats on the new addition, it's quite wonderful.

There's a great kids spray out there I believe made by Loreal that gets tangles out.

My daughter (who is now 23) also has naturally curly hair and two things that helped us were using a leave in conditioner and using Johnsons No More Tangles spray. We also used a wide tooth comb and never used brushes...her hair is still very curly, but it hasn't been a pain (literally) since we started using those products:)

Carefree Curl is really good helps with nots. My daughter has extreamly curly hair. You can buy it at sallys for a little over $5.

My three year old also has curly hair and it has never been cut so it is halfway down her back.

Boy have we struggled with tangles! We have tried EVERYTHING. Then my friend lent me a book all about curly hair. Now we simply put some conditioner (whatever kind she uses in the tub) in a bottle, add a little lavander oil and fill with water. It works awesome! You also need the right brush. We got ours at Mark Pardo and it is for curly hair. We also keep a wide tooth comb on hand, very helpful. Don't get me wrong, there are still days she doesn't want to brush, so it goes up in hair tie. Curly hair is cute messy!!!

Hi B.,
I have super thick, super curly hair and a daughter with curly hair (though hers is less than mine). My suggestions are to have her wear her hair in a high ponytail at night, as this will help limit the amount of tangles. Condition her hair well, and use detanglers before combing or brushing. Never brush or comb her hair dry, only when its very, very wet. I wash and condition my daughter's hair at night, brush, then put her hair into a ponytail. In the morning, I then spray it until it's wet enough to comb or brush to style in the morning. As for my super curly hair, I wash in the morning and then deep condition and leave-in condition (with Mixed Chicks products) in the shower and brush it through in the shower. I only brush or comb in the shower! Right after my shower, I finger shape my curls and then leave them alone to dry.

Depending upon how curly her hair is, you may find it helpful to buy special products made for curly hair. My daughter's curls are loose enough that I can things from any store and they generally work fine. But, my curls are more demanding. I've had good success with Mixed Chicks products (www.mixedchicks.net) and Curl Keeper (www.frizzoff.com). Both websites also have good styling suggestions for curly hair (there are even some videos).

Thanks for being a mama that's trying to learn about and work with her girl's curls. My mom always just kept mine really, really short, which I hated!

Hi, I have naturally straight hair so these ideas may not be very useful but you could try giving her one little piece of candy if she lets you brush her hair and she does not cry and run away from you. then when she gets older it might build a habit and she will not cry or any thing.

C.

Hey B....I have the same problem with my 2 1/2 year old. Its a fight most days to brush her hair. She DOES let me brush it when i sit her in a chair in the bathroom so she can see what I'm doing AND when I use a detangling spray on it. We use the cheap Suave Kids Detangling Spray...it spells pretty good too.

Good luck I know how hard curly hair can be....I have it too!!!!!!!!!!

The best advise I can give is to comb it while the conditioner is still in her hair. This way you can get the tangles and everything out ahead of time. I have a 2 1/2 year old nice who has insanely curly hair and we battle her hair consistantly... My older niece who is 11 now has had the same problem since she was 3 and that's the easiest way for her to handle it too. When she gets out of the shower/bath we then either tie her hair back in a braid or pony tail or we put some styling product in it to make it stay pretty much "curled" but not tangly.
the other option we have is to straighten it right after she's out of the bath. to keep her hair from tangling.

B.,
I have a full head of natural curly hair and here are a few tricks I have learned over the years:

- I never use a hairbrush unless I am going to straighten it. Then I use a boar's hair brush since they help spread the scalps natural oils. Curly hair tends to be drier and more brittle than straight hair and frequent brushing tends to break the hair strands more.

- My normal daily routine is usually shampoo and condition, finger brush mousse or a leave-in conditioner through the hair, then either let it air dry or blow dry half way with a diffuser. Conditioner is very important and you can get a really good one from Pantene or Dove (this is usually really good for kids). Air drying or using a diffuser will keep from making the strands more brittle.

- A good hair stylist is very important and they should have experience cutting curly hair. I remember many bad haircuts as a kid because the stylist did not take into account how short my hair would become once dry and curly vs wet and combed down.

Hopes this helps.

Have you heard of the Curly Girl method? There is a book called "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey. Also you can find a lot about it on the internet just google Curly Girl. Basically you don't shampoo but use just the conditioner. I know it sounds weird, but my curly headed friends who have used it find it works.

Try Nioxin's "Bliss." You can buy it at most salons. I get it from the salon in my local Walmart.

Hi B.,
Have you tried a product by Johnson and Johnson I believe called no more tangles. You spray it on her hair and it detangles the hair so you can comb it much easier. My twin nieces had exremely curly hair and I recommended this to their Mom. She was so happy to be able to manage the tangles. I believe you can find it by the conditioners or possibly the baby shampoo section. It is a wonderful product. You only need to spray on a small amount and distribute it with your fingers. You may want to lift the back and spray a little underneath too. Another suggestion might be a large toothe comb. I believe it's called an afro comb. Good luck!
J.

Curly hair is very hard to take care of. It is extremely drier than normal hair. Lots of good suggestions out there, but my experience as a hairdresser is this:
* Start with a good quality product made for curly hair. This is important because some products can make the scalp too greasy. Then you have another problem on you hand.
Shampoo and conditoner (Curls Rock)
* Use a leave in conditioner and and comb out with a wide tooth comb.
* You will probably want to use some kind of serum in her hair to keep the curls bouncy and frizz free. Only apply to the hair, keep away from the scalp because this can cause the scalp to get greasy.
* Try to air dry the hair whenever possible. If you need to blow dry, use an attachment(diffuser).
*Keep the hair trim as much as possible .
In the morning, you might want to spritz the hair with shine and scrunch never brush. You can even rake the hair with your fingers and a little serum on your hands. This will keep it from frizzing.
I hope this helps!

I have naturally curly hair that gets really tangled too. I actually just found this wonderful product (I have tried them all and spent a fortune). It's called Creme De Coco Masque and it's made by Bumble & Bumble. It's about $25 for a tube but it will last a while because you only have to use it once a week and you only need a dab. I use it once a week and my hair is so much easier to take care of, brush, and my curls are a lot more defined.

You can find it in salons. I got mine for $25 from Salon Surreal on Glendale Ave & 16th St in Phoenix. Here's a link to where you can buy it online: http://www.mybumbleandbumble.com/creme-de-coco-masque-5.html

I also use expensive shampoo and conditioner. I've found that Matrix Biolage products work the best. You can get big bottles of it online or at the Beauty Brands store to save money. Curly hair is really expensive to take care of! Especially in the desert! Good luck!

My 5 yr old has a very sensitive head and my hair dresser (love her!) suggested using Infusium 23 leave in 50/50 in a spray bottle with water. It has a lot of great vitamins for hair and it lasts a long time which means much cheaper than the other sprays. It is also great in the summer if you swim a lot, and I have actually been using some as well! It gives my daughters a fresh look instead of bed head. Also, my friend who has a little girl with beautiful curls who hates to get her hair brushed said she found that frequent trims keeps the snags to a minimum. Good luck!

Try Redken All Soft conditioner. It's pricey and you can only get it at salons who carry Redken products or Ulta 3 (which is usually cheaper). One of my daughters has naturally curly hair, my other daughter has thick straight hair and it works like a dream for getting hair soft and tangle free. Plus it helps keeps those beautiful curly locks, curly:)

Good luck

Hi B.,

To solve this problem you could use a Baby Hair Detangler. It is a water based formula specially designed for toddler. It detangles and conditions wet or dry hair. The wheat protein leaves hair smooth, shiny and easy to comb. If you are interested I can help you to obtain it.

Happy Saturday!

G. A.
Surprise, AZ

HI B.!

Curly hair is challenging. I suggest buying a hiar detangler and a pick. Use the detangler everytime you are going to brush her hair. This will help with the matts. The pick is much easier on the hair then a regular brush, and it doesn't pull as much so it hurts less. Use short strokes when picking the hair. Good Luck!!

Mel

I am having a flash back. If only my mom had a clue about curly hair.

First off never ever brush it when it is dry!

Find a good shampoo and conditioner. Comb the conditioner through it. After towel drying have her shake her head and let it dry. If her curls need some help give her a little mousse.

In the morning when she wakes up if she has bed head give her some conditioning spray and have her shake her head or kind of swish it with your hands. Hope this helps. I have great command of my hair now but my school pictures make me want to cry!

My daughter has some natural curl in her hair but it is also really thick. She used to wake up in the morning with what looked like a bird nest on the back of her head. My grandmother shared a great trick with me and it works! Buy her a satin pillowcase. What causes the tangles is the fabric on her pillowcase. I swear it works, her hair looks the same as when she goes to bed. Good luck!

I've always been told NOT to brush curly hair, especially when wet, as it tends to stretch and break the hair. If you use a wide-toothed comb and start at the bottom and work up it makes combing much easier. Hope this helps.

B.,

I have straight hair. My five year old daughter has beautiful, natural long curly hair. The kind people PAY to have--I once had someone ask me when I got her a perm, believe it or not(LOL). The ringlets that hang nearly to her waist look like Shirley Temple (and hers were fake!).

The care of it is something I had to figure how. I've never, ever brushed it. We still use Johnson's Baby Shampoo for curly hair. I use a pick on her hair, occasionally, but only when it is wet. We do use a detangler spray when we do this. This all follows a bath.

When you pick it, don't use it like a comb. One pick at it, but not like using a comb. For the tangles, soak it in the detangler spray. It does help. But with hair like our daughters have, tangles may always be an issue.

My daughter's hair looks really good when it's all done.

~D.

Hi B.,
I like using Silk Therapy by Biosilk. We have it at our Salon-Divine Hair Design, Val Vista and Southern. ###-###-####. It is really light so it doesn't weigh the hair down and makes even combing a breeze. Hope that helps.
L. :o)

There is a great book called Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey with lots of tips for curly hair. I love it, and it has made my curly hair much more pleasant to have! I hope it might have some ideas for how to work with your curly girl. :)

My daughter hates getting her hair brushed too, she says it hurts even before you brush it. We use a leave in spray conditioner like No More Tangles, but it is by Loreal or Suave. I can't remember the name right now but it is in the hair care section of the store and it is made for kids. It comes in a green bottle and has an octopus on it and it says it is for kids. We use this every morning on my daughters hair after she has slept on it all night and it is a total mess. It works really well and smells good too! You can buy it at Walmart or any other store that carries hair care products.

I have very thick very curly hair. I found that best thing to do is, comb it out right after it is washed, then while it is still wet to put it in a french braid. I sleep with it in the braid. In the morning there are no knots and it is more wavy then curly.

Try braids, even if you just leave in for the night. My oldest was like this as well and braids worked well. Good Luck! Our 2nd daughter is adopted as well!

Get some spray in detangler. My mom lived by that when my sister and I were little and I use it on my daughter now. Curly hair runs in my family. I've had ok luck with the detangler they sell at Dollar Tree so you could try it and see how it works for you (without spending a lot) or I know they sell other brands at Target, Walgreens etc.

I feel your pain, my six year old has beautiful ringlet curls. I have found that using good shampoo makes a huge difference. We used to use Suave and the other cheaper stuff and it was half the problem. Now we use Noodle Head when she wants it curly and Bed Head Straightening shampoo if she doesn't want it too curly or wants me to straighten it. I also found some really good leave-in products for curly hair. Along with good quality shampoo/conditioner, you need a wide tooth comb and I also use a pick and a good Boars hair brush. I bought most of my stuff at Sally's Beauty Supply (they were very helpful). Our routine is this: we brush out her hair with the hairbrush before she gets in the shower, then we use the wide tooth comb or pick to comb out her hair while the conditioner is in. I am always careful not to tangle her hair with rough washing or towel drying. After we comb out her hair, I put in either a no frizz serum (Got 2 Be makes a good one) then either a product for curly hair (like Noodle Head makes or a straightening product (Tresemme makes a good one). I have found that putting a straightening get or lotion in the hair at the nap of her neck (the short stuff that always tangles) makes it easier to comb out. Putting her hair in a ponytail or pig tails at night will help keep it from tangling so much while she sleeps. A braid works too. Sometimes I didn't even comb out her hair the next day, just used my fingers to make it look better and put it in a ponytail. When you do need to comb out dry hair, use a brush instead. It is much easier on them then a comb. And lastly, make sure that the person who cuts her hair is trained and experienced in cutting curly hair. I used to go to a kids place, but they cut curly hair the same as straight. I got to a very nice lady at Fantastic Sam's near 75Th & T-Bird now. You just need to ask around and you will find someone. Curly hair is a lot more work, but it does get easier with good products and tools and also when they decide to do it them selves. I must confess that my girls only wash their hair once a week and it still looks great. I'm sorry to make this so long, but if I can be of any help let me know.

my son has half ethinc hair and half striaght hair. he is one of my adopted kids. what we found works best is Got To Be brand and he uses a tiny bit of dazzling shine sprya. it is like oil but if you put a couple of drops on your hand and rub it in the work theorugh the hair before combing. he uses a very wide toothed comb and by the way, he has beatuiful shoulder length hair.

HI B.,
I am M. I am A hair dress by trade and if your daughters hair is long enough as soon as you get it brushed try to put it in 2 brades as she sleeps. or use a cream leave in conditioner like NEXXUS Humecctress or there Headress you can get it a walmart it is a little pricy but a little can go along way. and when you comb out her hair try using a pick and start at the ends and work your way up in sections. hope it works for you.M.

You don't say how long her hair is, but I used to have a child living with me when he was about the same age, with very long, very curly hair. After bath time, I'd lay his head on my lap and use a spray in detangler and wide toothed comb, start at the bottom with small sections and work my way up. It was soothing to him and by the time all the tangles were out he'd usually be asleep. I'd braid one side, with a braid up high to catch the wispies and work it into the bigger braid and then turn him over and do the other. He'd go with his Mom for a few days and come back with it matted and tangled and we'd start over, but he seemed to enJoy it adn it was soothing and relaxing to me.

I would recommend any detangler spray or leave in conditioner. My daughter has naturally curly hair (not too much though) and we discovered that if we put in a detanger spray or a leave in conditioner, that it helped for brushing and containing "the beast", so to speak. She also hated having her hair brushed, but once we started with the sprays, she enjoyed it. She liked the way everybody said her hair smelled pretty from it. They sell them in the lower end to the higher end of prices. They also have them in kids flavors and fun bottles, and they all work. I recommend Suave brand which is very cheap. Go to the hair product ail near the hairsray and you'll find tons to choose from. Good luck! And have faith. My littled tangled hair monsterette is now 16 1/2 and her hair is beautiful! Hugs!

What I do with my curly hair is

*always use a conditioner when I wash (and being an adult with fairly oily hair, I wash/shower every morning)

*I only ever use a wide tooth comb when my hair is wet (I know the hair itself is more easily stretched & damaged when it is wet, but the trade off (no pouffy frizz!) is worth it to me)

*I basically set my hair how I want it to be before it is completely dry. Sometimes I may let it air dry then carefully separate and move some of the hair into a fastener or something, never using a brush unless I want FRIZZ.

*I love "Perfect Curls" spray by Frizzease and also their hair serum. They make my hair look great. (for shampoo/conditioner I use Aussie's 3 min miracle and/or Pantene. I've always gone back to these two whenever I am halfway through the bottle of any other type)

*A friend with curlier hair than mine swears by The Curly Girl(friend) book (or something similarly titled) Basically it advocates never using shampoo, but only using conditioner in place of shampooing your hair. I tried it for a few weeks, but went back to shampoo & conditioner, as that was quicker than using only the conditioner (weird huh) Her hair, and her daughter with very tight curly hair that is about waistlength both look great tho.

For your preschool daughter: do braids more often (especially for activities where hair gets messed up & tangled easily). And a bottle that mists/sprays fine water droplets. Mist the water onto her hair and then let the "frizz" dry into curls (one of the things I LOVE about curly hair!) then she has cute ringlets instead of frizz.

The first thing is to stop brushing wet hair. Use a heavier conditioner (away from the scalp), and after the bath, put on a leave in conditioner - I use one from Target that is only $1, and it works as well as Johnson's Buddies did at almost $4. I also use a spray on heat protector because I never let her go to bed with wet hair, which makes it tangle worse. After her bath, I apply those two things. I also put on the cream Johnson's No More Tangles when her hair is xtra tangled. (She is 3 with her hair down to her waist. It's straight until the bottom, where it goes into these adorable ringlets.) Then I comb her hair, section by section, with a wide-toothed comb, spraying conditioner on the comb, and more on the hair, if needed, as I work.
And keep the hair trimmed, as split ends cause more tangles. I then blow it damp-dry, then put the comb thru it once again. She refuses to put her hair up or back in any way.

In the morning, we brush her hair, and I take out any tangles from overnight. I do it gently and take my time, holding the lock above the comb so it doesn't pull it. Needless to say, DH, who never had long hair or a sensitive head, doesn't comb her hair. Oh, and we also use a conditioning shampoo. We call her our Breck girl. We use a soft-bristle boar's hair brush for daytime (and before the bath - it does help. You can also comb the conditioner thru her hair in the bath, if your body can stand it. We also use a vent brush at different times, when the soft brush doesn't tackle tangles.

Another trick in the morning for "bed head" is to spray on the spray-on conditioner and comb it again. You don't need to soak it. I'd brush it first dry, though, before combing, as the boar's head helps with the tangles.