Every parent wants their child to have healthy, shiny hair.
But keeping their locks in good condition can be tricky because kids have very sensitive scalps, and their hair is still developing.
The upside is that you can do their hair at home, but only if you understand the products out there and how much of them to use. Here’s what you need to know, mom!
1. What's my type?
Before you decide how to style and which products to use on your child’s hair, it’s important to know what their hair type is. Some kids have soft, natural hair, and others have coiled hair. Visit your salon and ask your stylist for their opinion on which products to use and the right amounts. Using different products on your child each time can be tricky, because if anything goes wrong, you’ll never know what caused the problem.
Editor’s tip: Brush and massage the hair to stimulate blood flow. Base their scalp at least once a week.
2. Use products specially formulated for kids
It may be tempting to buy any product you come across, but it’s important to stick to those that are formulated for kids. Be on the lookout, as products meant for kids have natural ingredients such as aloe vera, which is gentler and makes hair healthy and shiny. Hanson Ndabeni from L’Oréal says, “Most products that are formulated for adults have chemicals in them that are way too harsh for kids’ hair. Using products made for adults, even mild ones, on your child’s hair can cause the scalp to become irritated and could even cause rashes and excessive dryness.”
Expert’s tip: Don’t relax your child’s hair if they are younger than 10 as their scalp is still soft and developing.
3. Make it soft, mommy
A leave-in conditioner is your best bet to keep hair soft and tangle-free. It will reduce flyaways and keep curls smooth and shiny. A deep conditioner restores hair’s lost moisture, so use it after a clarifying wash. Be careful of using too much conditioner as it can leave your child’s hair feeling greasy and heavy and can make it difficult to style.
Editor’s tip: Use a leave-in conditioner every two weeks or when treating your child’s hair.
READ MORE | 10 facts about how children's hair differs from adult hair – ‘Children's scalps are very sensitive’
4. Relax, take it easy
There’s a common notion that if you leave the relaxer on for longer, it makes the hair picture perfect. But doing this will only damage your child’s scalp. Here are the steps to safely relax your child's hair at home:
Step1: Apply
First, smooth petroleum jelly on the skin around the child’s hairline. Use a clock or timer to make sure you don’t leave the relaxer on for too long. The application time must be included in total processor time. Wearing gloves, divide your child’s hair into narrow 1 cm sections. It needs to be dry. Apply the relaxer mixture generously, going from the two crown sections to the two hairline sections. Apply around the hairline at the end. Start at the roots and work the mixture to the tips. Make sure it doesn’t touch the scalp. If the hair has been relaxed before, apply only to the new growth.
Step2: Smooth
Use the back of a wide-toothed comb to smooth and spread the mixture through the hair, avoiding previously relaxed hair. Do this until it’s time to remove the relaxer. Don’t exceed the maximum recommended processing time.
Step3: Rinse and shampoo
With gloves on, rinse the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water until the relaxer mixture has been removed. The rinsing water must not come into contact with the eyes. If it does, rinse them immediately. Keep your gloves on, shampoo the hair and rinse thoroughly. Do this at least twice to eliminate all traces of relaxer. Make sure there is no cream left on the scalp, hairline or hair. Pink lather indicates there is still relaxer residue in the hair, which may result in damage if not removed. Rinse until the lather is white, which indicates that all the relaxer has been washed out.
Step4: Condition
Massage conditioner into the hair, starting at the roots and working to the ends. Make sure hair is well covered. Leave for three to five minutes and then rinse well.
Editor’s tip: Avoid applying chemicals to previously relaxed hair as it can damage it.
5. Blow-dry safely
A dryer is the fastest way to dry hair, but if you dry it for too long, it breaks or becomes brittle, which causes it to thin or fallout. With kids, it’s best to allow hair to sun-or air-dry. After washing and conditioning, comb hair with a wide toothed comb while still wet to detangle it, and then let your child play outside. Hair will dry naturally and be exposed to growth stimulating vitamin D.
Editor’s tip: Minimise the use of heat and hot tools when dealing with your child's delicate mane.
6. Let it grow
Remember that braids and tying a ponytail too tightly can break hair. This is even more likely for your child as they still have baby hairs, and their hairline is fragile. When braiding hair, make sure it’s not done too tightly as this can be the beginning of mechanical alopecia (a hair loss condition). “To encourage hair to grow, ask your stylist to trim the ends every six to eight weeks to minimise split ends,” says Reginald Mitchell from ORS.
Expert’s tip: Wearing the same style for too long can damage hair, so change your child’s hairstyle regularly.
7. Wash thoroughly
Keeping your child’s hair clean promotes good hygiene and health. Plus, it gives the scalp and hair breathing space. Use shampoo sparingly, lather it in gently, and rinse with lukewarm water. If your child’s hair is long enough to need detangling, use a wide-toothed comb and comb gently, starting from the ends and going to the tips.
Expert’s tip: “Use a mild sulfate shampoo keep your child’s hair and scalp clean. Wash it once a week. Over washing can cause dryness, which isn’t good for hair growth,” says Mitchell.
8. Add moisture
Moisturising your child’s hair will make it strong to avoid breakage and hair loss. It will also maintain the hair’s radiance and health. Remember that newborns and infants have sensitive skin and hair, so you’ll probably only need to wash it once a week. As a child grows, their hair may become drier and lack moisture. This is when you’ll need to consider adding a moisturiser to their hair care routine. The best way to do this is with a nourishing conditioner and natural oils, such as coconut and olive oil.
Editor’s tip: For a moisture boost, base your child’s scalp whenever you wash it if the hair is natural, and every week if it’s plaited.
9. Stay healthy
A properly balanced diet has plenty of health benefits for your child’s hair. Vitamin A is important for the production of scalp oils, which act as the body’s own conditioner – a lack of vitamin A can cause dry scalp and dandruff. Vitamin C is essential for blood circulation to the scalp, allowing the tiny blood vessels there to feed the follicles and stimulate growth. Too little vitamin C in the diet can cause breakage. Hair is made almost entirely of protein, so that’s what your body needs to grow strong, healthy locks.
Editor’s tip: Follow a balanced eating plan at home and pack your child healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and nuts for lunch.
10. Comb gently
“Combing or brushing your kid’s hair can be a teary experience. To avoid the pain, be gentle. If your child's hair is long enough to need detangling, use a wide-toothed comb and gently work from the ends to the roots,” advises Hanson.
Editor’s tip: Pull knots apart with your fingers. Do the hair at the nape of your child’s neck first, as it gets most tangled.
