Use gentle or kiddie products
Products made for kids usually have simpler formulas that don’t incorporate too many ingredients and chemicals. They’ll have a larger selection of choices if you’re looking for something that is unscented or hypoallergenic.
If you can’t find anything that fits your needs in the kid’s section, try looking for “gentle” formulas. Use these types of products until you can figure out what your child’s hair can and cannot take.
Section it off
Nobody should try to tackle curly hair all at once; Especially if it is long and/or thick! So what do you do? Section all of it off. Part the hair into two or four sections and work on one section at a time, twisting or tying the other ones up to keep hair out of the way.
This method works for pretty much everything; washing, detangling, and styling included. You can section off hair with your hands or with a comb. For neater parts and clearly defined sections, use a wide tooth comb*!
Do not skip hydrating and moisturizing…ever
Your child’s curl may be on the looser side, or possibly even straight. However, this does not mean you can style it without moisturizing! Any type of hair with some curls and kinks needs moisture, even if it’s only a little bit.
You don’t have to go through rigorous deep conditions and hot oil treatments everyday, but you should have an “everyday” product that you use for moisture. Leave in conditioner* mixed with water in spray bottle or light curl creams or a spritz will get the job done.
Always work from tip to root
Simply put, working from tip to root will prevent damaging your ends and make hair more manageable while detangling. This is where sections come into play; grab a section of hair and gently comb the hair starting at the ends and working your way up to the scalp.
This will also help when saturating the hair with a product before styling or working in shampoo before lathering up.
Stay away from rubber and tight elastic bands
Rubber bands and tight elastic hair ties* can cause breakage and thinning like nothing else. If you style your child’s hair too tight, it’ll not only damage their hair, but it’ll damage hair follicles and possible give them problems for years to come.
Use loose ties, plastic bobby pins*, fabric covered scrunchies and pony tail holders and thick headbands*. Not using rubber bands and tight hair ties* and accessories will also help if your child is tender headed.
Desirae Bevens says
Ha! Wish my mother had read this when I was a kid…
Riley Dawn says
Thank God for this..
Alease R Galloway says
Whether your child is mixed or not doesnt make a difference to Learning to style your child’s kinky & curly hair
Sarah Allen says
I’m mixed my hair is shit I was raised in a white household. I’ve recently started using Cantu products. Any advice would be great. Also I’m well old.
Alisha Juanette says
My nephew has curly hair and he isn’t mixed at all