As kids transition from being babies to toddlers, they come with their fair share of the need for good hair care. Natural hair care for kids is paramount to ensure healthy and lustrous hair growth.
One important aspects for mums to have at the back of their minds is the characteristics of the kid’s hair at this age. With that in mind, we can have a working guide on how to take care of those beautiful manes.
Characteristics of kids hair 1-3 years
- At this time, the hair starts to be more coarse than the hair the kid was born with. Note that the hair has not yet gained its full texture at this age, and it’s still considered fine and delicate.
- The density is lower, and some kids still don’t have a thick head of hair. This happens because as the kid’s hair grows, it goes through waves of shedding known as telogen waves, where most of the hair on the scalp sheds to give way to new hair.
- Short anagen syndrome is also a common occurrence where some kids have short hair that seems not to grow in length. Most mums will be concerned about their kid’s hair taking forever to grow in length. The good news is that the kid slowly outgrows this syndrome and completely self-corrects by the time the kid gets to puberty.
- Patchy growth or areas with short hair on the scalp is also a common occurrence. It is brought about by the telogen waves that may occur on one part of the scalp and not the other, leaving an area with shorter or no hair growth for some time. The good news is that the hair will eventually grow.
Having looked at the common characteristics, let us embark on how we care for the kid’s hair.
Step 1: Detangling
- Ensure the hair is open with no knots or accessories on it.
- Part the hair into small sections and apply a mild, child-friendly leave-in conditioner.
- Using a wide-toothed comb, gently without applying tension or abruptly pull the comb through the partition one by one.
- Take your time to ensure the child feels no pulling, pain, or excessive manipulation.
- Detangle the hair every time before shampooing.
Step 2: Shampooing
- Once the hair is detangled, position the kid on a sink, on your lap, in the shower, or in any other place where the kid’s hair is falling backward. The hair naturally falls backward. We want to have the kid’s hair in the same direction to avoid more tangling.
- Wet the hair with warm water. Most kids do not enjoy overwhelming amounts of water on their faces, so be careful with the amount of water that runs down the toddler’s face, if any.
- Apply shampoo on the scalp.Slowly massage with the pads of your fingers and lift the hair with your fingers. Do not take the hair in circular motions, as this will detangle the hair. Avoid the shampoo from getting in the eyes as much as possible.
- Rinse off the shampoo thoroughly with warm water.
- Shampoo the hair at least once a week for curly-haired toddlers from 1 year.
A baby shampoo should be:
- Very mild with a mild scent
- Tear-free
- Mild ingredients that do not cause irritation
- Intense moisturizing.
Step 3: Conditioning
- After shampooing, blot off excess water from the hair.
- Apply a deep conditioner on the hair and ensure the hair strands are covered.
- Leave the conditioner on for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse off the conditioner with lukewarm water and try to avoid having the conditioner get into the baby’s eyes.
- A good baby conditioner should have the same characteristics as a shampoo.
Step 4: Moisturizing
- Dry the hair gently with a microfiber towel if you have just conditioned it.
- Using a water-based moisturizing product, nicely apply on the hair and scalp.
- Use lightweight products or oils such as:
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Jojoba oil
- Argan oil
These oils are light, and do not weigh down on the hair or cause excessive build-up.
- Apply a moisturizing product on the kid’s hair (as early as from 1 year) at least 2-3 times a week to ensure the hair stays hydrated.
Step 5: Protecting
Myriad of kids’ hair styles keep the hair looking great, and some also protect the hair from excessive drying and manipulation. Ensure that any hairstyle on the child is not intalled tightly, and avoid heavy and tight accessories.
Some common hair concerns with kids’ hair
- Tender headedness
Tender-headedness is having a sensitive scalp. It can be on one spot of the scalp or the entire scalp. Kids with tender heads feel pain and discomfort with a slight touch or manipulation. To take care of this, avoid tight hairstyles, excessive pulling, and manipulation. Be very gentle when handling the kid’s hair.
- Dry scalp
Curly hair tends to dry out more often. Ensure consistent hydration by using water-based moisturizing products and avoiding excessive use of baby hair extensions, which might cause hair dryness.
- Gum or glue on hair
Any mum with a toddler knows that having gum on her hair is unavoidable. But this does not mean you have to cut your kid’s hair to remove the gum or glue. There are several hacks to remove the gum safely, and save your kid’s hair.
- Use vegetable oil. Apply vegetable oil to the gum and leave it for a few minutes. Remove the gum gently
- Use peanut butter. Apply peanut butter to cover the gum and let it sit for a few minutes. Gently remove the gum.
To remove the glue:
- Wet the hair on the area with the glue and apply conditioner. Leave the conditioner for 20 minutes and then wash it off.
- You can also use baby oil and let it sit for 20 minutes before washing it off.
Children’s hair is soft-textured, and delicate. It requires tender care with little to no manipulation and use of mild products to take care of it. There are tens of good baby hair products to choose from. Coupled with this guide, you are all set for great hair days.