A Simple guide to understanding how to care for a child's natural hair.
Caring for children's natural hair can be a delightful and rewarding experience. However, it also requires a unique set of knowledge and techniques to maintain healthy and beautiful locks. In this blog, we will explore essential tips and tricks to ensure optimal hair care for children with natural hair. Let's dive in!
Gentle Cleansing & Deep Conditioning
When it comes to washing natural hair, opt for sulfate-free shampoos or co-washing (using conditioner only). These methods help retain moisture and prevent dryness, which is common in natural hair. Remember, children's scalps are more sensitive, so avoid aggressive scrubbing and use lukewarm water.
Detangling with Care & Bedtime Routine
Detangling can be a challenging task, but it is crucial to minimize breakage and reduce the pain associated with knots. Start by applying a detangling spray or conditioner to damp hair. Then, use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently work through the hair, starting from the ends and working your way up. Patience is key! To prevent tangling and breakage, incorporate a bedtime routine that protects your child's hair while they sleep. Consider using a silk or satin pillowcase, as they reduce friction and help retain moisture. Alternatively, you can wrap the hair in a satin bonnet.
Protective Styling
Protective hairstyles are an excellent way to minimize manipulation and protect your child's hair from damage. Braids, twists, buns, and cornrows are popular options. Ensure that these styles are not too tight, as this can cause tension and breakage. Also, avoid using excessive heat or chemical treatments, as they can harm the hair's natural texture.
Imebet, CEO of Beth Defines Beauty, recommends easy natural styles for all hair textures, especially for young girls with fine hair or very soft textures. These styles require less manipulation, allowing the hair to thrive without ruining its integrity. Some of the styles she recommends are two-strand twists or cute cornrows in ponytails.
For busy moms, Imebet suggests protective styles such as cornrows or twists without extensions. These styles can last up to three weeks before visiting the salon again. Medium hair can also have accessories like beads or clips, but Imebet warns not to use beads on fine hair as the weight of the beads can pull on the hair and cause it to break.
Ribbons can be used instead to make a style look cute. For thick, coarse hair, Imebet recommends only adding extensions towards the end of the hair to prevent hair from being pulled out. She prefers using kinky texture hair extensions, which are extremely lightweight and blend well with natural hair.
Styling Tips and Tricks
To add length for little girls with shorter hair, Imebet recommends using kinky texture hair extensions. She advises adding cornrows towards the ends of the hair rather than the top. She also suggests using Knotless Box Braids, a weightless and painless braid extension style. Imebet’s product recommendations are kinky texture hair extensions and Ribbons for fine hair. She also recommends detangling sprays that are lightweight and moisturizing to support the hair and scalp during protective styles
Choosing Hairstyles Based on Face Shapes
Imebet advises that your child’s hairstylist or braider personalize a style that complements your daughter’s face shape. She tweaks styles to contour each of their face shapes. For a round or square face, she suggests cornrows ponytail and twists in the front sweeping towards the side of their faces, or a center part twists out style to hide the high jaw bones. For long faces, side parts give the illusion of a smaller face. For oval shapes, Imebet says any hairstyle will compliment them regardless.
Caring for children's natural hair requires patience, knowledge, and a gentle approach. By understanding their hair type, practicing proper cleansing and moisturizing techniques, and incorporating protective styles and routines, you can help your child achieve healthy and beautiful natural hair. Embrace the journey and enjoy the bonding experience of caring for your child's unique hair!
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