Dads, no need to fear! This short and simple hair guide is here!
Caring for curly hair can be simple and fun. All it takes is practice and patience. Here are must-know tips to help you care for your child’s hair faster and with less pain. Of course this information is not limited to fathers and daughters -mothers, sons, grandparents, and even your own hair can benefit from knowing these.
Before we get started, let’s go over a full list of the products and tools you will need.
Shopping list
- Detangler or leave-in conditioner
- Sectioning hair clips
- Spray bottle with water
- Wide tooth comb
- Sulfate-free shampoo
- Deep conditioner
- Body towel or Shampoomate
- Soft boar bristle brush
- No damage elastic hair ties
- Plastic cap or grocery bag
- Moisturizer
- Edge tamer
Read more: 10 Products Gentle Enough for Your Curly Kiddo
How to detangle
Before we start any washing or styling, let’s detangle. I know detangling sounds terrifying, but it is not. As long as you have the proper tools and know two simple rules, it will be a breeze. You can use a detangler (here are our favorites“> or leave-in conditioner if you are detangling for styling. These products can be used for daily styling and you do not have to rinse them out. Before you start combing the hair it is important to divide the hair into sections (rather than trying to detangle everything at once”>.
1. Section – Divide the hair in quadrants and secure with sectioning hair clips. You are less likely to feel overwhelmed when you detangle in smaller sections versus trying to comb all of the hair at once. If your child has denser hair, then create even smaller sections.
2. Dampen – Use the spray bottle to dampen the hair; this will make the hair more pliable, easier to comb, and less likely to break. Detangling on dry hair will cause breakage and potential tantrums and tears, as it can be painful. Apply a generous amount of your detangler or leave-in conditioner on the section.
3. Comb – Then, slowly and gently use a wide tooth comb to detangle starting from the ends of the hair and working up toward the roots near the scalp. Twist the section of hair that you have finished, secure it with a section clip, and move on to the next section. Watch how DiscoveringNatural detangles her daughter’s hair below.
Fun Tip: If your daughter is becoming antsy or experiencing discomfort from the combing, distracting her may help. If she has a favorite movie or a favorite book, use that so she can entertain herself.
How to shampoo & condition
After the hair has been detangled, release the sections and lean your daughter back over the sink with either the Shampoomate or a rolled body towel to support her neck.
1. Cleanse – Wet her hair with water, apply shampoo to your palms, apply it to her hair concentrating on her scalp, and scrub her scalp with the pads of your fingers. You want to stroke the hair downward and not upward, as this will create tangles. If her hair is not washed weekly then you may want to shampoo twice.
2. Rinse – To ensure that the shampoo is thoroughly rinsed out, make sure the water runs clear and squish the hair to check for suds.
3. Condition – Apply conditioner to your palms and smooth throughout her hair. Rather than focusing on the scalp, this time you will focus on the length of the hair and on the ends.
4. Rinse – Rinse the hair until the water runs clear. Also, make sure to put all of the shed hair in the trash so your sink does not get clogged.
How often should I shampoo?
Curly hair does not need to be shampooed and detangled every day, but it depends on how tight your daughter’s curls are. For wavy hair you can detangle and wash every few days, for curly hair (if the hair forms ringlets the size of a sharpie or sidewalk chalk”> detangle and wash weekly, and for tighter coils detangle and wash every other week.
How to deep condition
Deep conditioning the hair will prevent tangles and dryness, so doing this once a month will help make your job easier.
1. Deep condition – Apply generous amounts of deep conditioner on the hair and section it into quadrants.
2. Cover up – Cover her hair in a plastic cap and let the deep conditioner sit for 15 min. This is a great opportunity let her eat or stretch her legs.
3. Leave in, then rinse – After 15 minutes have passed, rinse the hair and apply a leave-in moisturizer. To reduce the amount of water dripping, cover her hair with a t-shirt for 10 min.
Fun Tip: Use this time to chat it up with your baby girl. Play games, talk about school, or even sing her favorite songs!
How to style
To keep things simple, let’s stick with a puff/ponytail. Apply leave-in conditioner with your fingers to give the hair moisture and sheen. For a polished look apply a little edge tamer along the entire hair line. Use a soft boar bristle brush to smooth the hair up into a ponytail and wrap the ponytail holder around the hair twice at the most. You do not want the ponytail to be too tight because it will cause breakage. Struggling to pull your daughter’s hair into ponytail? No big deal! Yoshidoll’s mom shows how she puts her daughter’s hair in two ponytails, and it looks like one.
Fun Tip: Is your daughter want to have her say? Let her choose a headband or hair clips to jazz the style up. She will love it!
