Q: I have 2c/3a hair. My daughter is closer to a 2a/2b. I don’t know what products to use in her hair. I have tried some of mine, but they tend to weigh her hair down.

Cozy: You are smart to look for the proper products for your daughter. Children’s formulations tend to be gentler and address the different needs that children have. I assume you are looking for a product that will help enhance her natural curls and eliminate frizz- without weighing her hair down. Try “scrunching” in So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream after her bath. Before scrunching, wring out excess water and try to apply evenly. For touch ups, you can use this on dry hair too to help reactivate the curls.

Q: I am going crazy. I have a 4-year-old (girl”>, a 3-year-old girl and a little one that just turned a year in September (boy”>. I am black, with very dry thick hair, and my husband is white with thin, fine hair. My oldest daughter has very long curly, but mainly wavy, hair. It’s thin like her dads, but because there is so much of it, it looks really thick. Right now, she uses adult shampoo and conditioners and a kid detangler. I tried Pert Plus, but it didn’t do enough. She is so tender-headed. My youngest daughter has curly hair like Shirley Temple — long ring curls. It isn’t too bad, but I have to use a anti-frizz cream so her hair doesn’t look like a big fuzz ball. How often should I wash their hair? And what are some good product suggestions?

Cozy: Let’s separate your issues. 1. Product recommendations: You should definitely use children’s products for both your girls. They are gentler and have the vitamins and nutrients that growing children need. Check out the So Cozy products in CurlMart. You will have your choice of all kinds of great hair products for kids, that come in fruity fragrances that kids love. 2. For your daughter’s tangles, try So Cozy Lucky Lime Pre-Detangling Treatment in the tub. Apply a generous amount after shampooing, and then comb through with a wide-tooth comb. It’s very important that you take an inch section of hair, hold it with one hand and start combing from the bottom,, working your way up the hair. This prevents tugging on her scalp, which can be very painful. Work your way around her head. You can touch up with So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler when dealing with tangles on the go. 3. Frizz- After the bath, wring out excess water and “scrunch in” some Groovy Grape Styling Gel evenly around her hair. NEVER brush her hair. This will separate the curls, making it look frizzy. To reactivate curls during the day, spray in the So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler and scrunch! Since it is also a leave-in conditioner, it’s good for her hair too!

Q: My 2-year-old daughter has beautiful curls. They are not super tight ringlets — more of a loose curl. But they are definitely more curly than wavy, which is what my 8-year-old daughter has. I am having a hair problem with her! She absolutely hates it when I mess with her hair. I only shampoo about once or twice a month, and usually it’s just with conditioner. I only comb her hair when it’s wet with conditioner in the bath. The problem is that by the end of the day or the next day, her hair is frizzy and everywhere!

The more immediate problem is that her hair is always in her eyes, and it clearly bothers her. She won’t leave anything in her hair — clips, headbands, scrunchies, etc. It gets ripped out within minutes, and putting it in is a battle. She spends most of her playtime pushing her hair back out of her eyes. I don’t want to make fixing her hair a huge battle, and some have suggested that I cut her hair into a style that will not be in her eyes. The problem is that I love her crazy hair, and I don’t want to cut it! More important, I don’t know what styles would be cute and manageable for her. I am a straight-haired mama, so I have learned all I know about managing her hair — which isn’t much — from my curly friend.

Cozy: First of all, it is crucial that you get the right haircut her—one that you will love too! I remember how sad I was to cut my son’s long locks the first time. But I also remember how much more I loved his hair afterwards! It’s not uncommon to see parents cry during a first haircut, instead of the kids! Consult a good stylist who you can trust. Second, it is clear that you need a very simple routine for now. This phase will eventually pass. But in the meantime you don’t want to turn her off to proper grooming in the formative years. I would recommend So Cozy Tropical Fruit 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo, to combine two steps together. To handle the frizz, use So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler. It is a spray-in Conditioner and will help smooth hair and enhance her natural curl. Since it is a leave-in conditioner, it is great for her hair too!

Q: About two weeks ago, I took my daughter in to get her long curly hair cut. We ended up cutting it into a bob and donating her long curly locks to Locks of Love. Since then, I have been unable to get her hair to curl up. I have used her regular curl shampoo and let dry naturally, but nothing? Why did this happen and how do I fix it?

Cozy: It is quite possible that your daughter’s hair has been changing and you didn’t realize it because of the length of the curls. You may have noticed that the top of her hair was straighter than the bottom. It is quite common for children’s (as well as adults'”> hair texture to change throughout their lives. Perhaps you can bring out a natural wave/curl with a different cut, adding some long layers. In any case, it is important that you embrace her natural hair to encourage good self-esteem in your child, no matter what her texture is.

Q: I grew up hating my curls because no one was around to teach me that they were beautiful. Actually, I didn’t really know that I had curls until I was 15. All I knew was that I had hair that was frizzy and unmanageable. Plus, I kept hearing that my hair had to look “nice,” which meant smooth and perfect. I was also told natural curls looked like you’d stuck your finger in a light socket. I finally went curly at 16, and my hair finally looked good and got me compliments. Now, my 3 1/2 year old daughter has wavy hair, and I’m trying to take care of her curls and just let them go free. I don’t want her to hate her hair like I used to.

Cozy: Your daughter is lucky to have a mom who totally understands how difficult curly hair can be for a child (and an adult, too!”>. Nothing looks worse than straightened, frizzy curly hair! I grew up not understanding my hair, spending too many hours worrying about it. It sounds like you will help her embrace her natural curls, which is a gift! Keep up the good work!

For more information about buying So Cozy products, visit CurlMart.

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