Hair Care
Hair Care for Kids: Brushing, Tangles & Washing
Does your child put up a fuss when it’s time to brush his or her hair? Does detangling induce tears? Caring your child’s hair shouldn’t be stressful, so that’s why we’re sharing a few of our best hair care tips to make your child’s hair care routine much smoother. Plus, this will help your child learn how to take care of his or her own hair and start establishing good habits early on.
Brushing Your Child’s Hair
If you don’t follow the proper techniques for brushing your child’s (or your own) hair, you could cause more harm than good for both hair and the child. Always start toward the bottom, a few inches away from the ends, in sections. Move up an inch or two at a time from where you started and continue brushing downward until you get to the scalp. Once there, brush through the entire length of the hair a couple of times. Avoid being rough and brushing too fast, as this can increase the likelihood of damaging your child’s hair, leading to breakage and split ends.
Taming the Tangles
Speaking of tangles, before you learn how to get rid of them it might help to know what causes those pesky knots. Product buildup, brushing too often or improperly, trying to remove tangles too quickly, and using heat on the hair without any protection can contribute to tangles. Tangles can also be caused when your child’s head rests against their car seat, and when hair gets caught on the fabric of his or her pillow case while they sleep.
To work through the tangles, give yourself plenty of time so you don’t feel rushed (this might be a good time to allow your child to watch a movie or have them practice reading, their multiplication tables, or review spelling words to give them a good distraction from a sometimes uncomfortable process). As with brushing, start at the ends and work your way up using a wide-tooth comb. If needed, use a kid-friendly detangler on damp hair to help smooth the tangles out. Just be sure to use a clarifier if you’re going to use a detangler. Clarifying products, such as purifying shampoos, help remove product build-up, minerals from hard water, and chlorine.
Washing: How Often is Too Often
How often you need to wash your child’s hair will depend on factors such as their hair type (fine or thick, curly or straight, oily or dry, etc.) and his or her daily activities. For example, if your child’s hair tends to get oily or they play sports, their hair may need to be washed daily or every other day. On the other hand, children with hair that is dry or curly may only need to wash their hair a couple of times a week.
Keep a close watch on your child’s hair and scalp and adjust the frequency at which you wash their hair if you notice their hair or scalp is becoming oilier, or if their hair begins to feel dry or starts shedding. The AAD advises adding in one more shampoo per week until your child’s hair is no longer oily, and to remove one shampoo per week until signs of dryness and shedding subside.
Our Stylists are Here to Help!
If you have questions about caring for your child’s hair between haircuts, ask your Pigtails & Crewcuts stylist the next time you visit your local salon. We’re here to help you keep your child’s hair looking great all year long!
