Curly hair DD - confused about brushing

[EarlyIntheMorning]

I took 6YO DD to have her second ever haircut last week. She had really long knotted matted curly hair but with no curls in due to the sheer weight on the hair. So just a big frizzy messy mass basically.

So anyway, it looks a million times better now that layers have been put in but hairdresser told me to NEVER brush her hair whilst dry. If I just leave her hair it gets knotty. I don't want to wash it everyday, simply don't have the time.

So what does one do?

[jennimoo]

I use a sorta bottle of water and conditioner to damp DDs curly mess each morning before brushing.

Have you read about the curly girl method? I don't think we're strict on which products but DDs curly mess is more like defined curls now and much less knotty.

And you aren't in Hampshire are you? I want that hairdresser! No one I've found understands curly hair!

[jennimoo]

Sorta = squirty

[EarlyIntheMorning]

Thank you for those recommendations jenni. I will try a mix of water and conditioner.

I did once half heatedly try the curly girl method on DD but her hair ended up looking darker and greasier. I just didn't have the patience in the end and washed it with shampoo.

I'm in SE London and took DD to Headmasters. I must admit they were fantastic and the hairdresser knew exactly what to do with DD's hair as soon as she saw her. I was also apprehensive as many hairdressers can't tackle curly hair but I figured they couldn't make it look any worse. I was pleasantly surprised in the end and only cost £10!!

[pinkmagic1]

Have you got a tangle teezer brush? These are excellent for keeping curly hair knot free. I always spray with a detangler and then brush with the tangle teezer.

[jennimoo]

You could try a low poo approach to curly girl? Choose a CG friendly shampoo and use some or all shampoos? I only wash DDs hair once a week, if she's been swimming I use shampoo, if not then conditioner only. She's only 2.10 though so hair is pretty short (thanks to terrible hairdresser...)

I'm expecting DC2 and glad he's a he: I can chop the curls off a bit ;)

[jennimoo]

We use tangle teezer too.

[Longtalljosie]

I have curly hair and use an Afro comb. I can also thoroughly recommend John Frieda Frizz Ease serum on wet hair - makes tangles vanish!

[Imusteatmoredoughnuts]

Tangle teaser brush or Afro comb and ONLY use when well conditioned and wet!! I have curly hair and it would be a frizzy mess if I did anything to it when dry (even if it was dampened at the same time)

[QueenCadbury]

I never brush dd hair but like jennimoo she is only 2 so it's not very long.

I wash it once a week with shampoo and then another 2-3 times a week with conditioner. I use a wide toothed comb to comb the conditioner through. Once I've rinsed it all out I put in a bit if conditioner to leave in. I use the naked stuff. Since I've been doing all this her hair has been much better and less matted and frizzy.

[OwlMother]

Your daughter is very lucky- I was about 21 before a hairdresser gave me that vital piece of information!! I have naturally curly hair- I wash with John Frieda curl shampoo and use the serum on it when very wet. I don't brush, even when wet as it makes the curls bizarrely wave like- bit like a 40s wave but bad! I have tried other shampoos but keep going back to this one. Conditioner of any type, even curly ones make my hair ludicrously frizzy. The only exception to this is a leave in one from Redkrn, curl refiner. This works almost as a styling product. Fantastic.

[OwlMother]

I should add- my hair works best at shoulder length. Any longer than this seems to mean I get knots at the nape of my neck.

[JimbosJetSet]

DD is 3 and her curly hair is still quite short. I tend to just run my fingers through her hair in the mornings (if I can catch her). If it looks particularly wild, I run a wet comb through her hair. It looks dreadful if I properly brush it!

[cece]

I have curly hair.

Never ever brush my hair whilst dry.
Use a wide toothed comb when wet.
Use a lot of conditioner when washing.
Gently tease through with fingers between washing.
I use salt spray to ease the frizz and define curls

[jennimoo]

If I miss a day brushing DD it's terribly matted. It's good reading everyone's tips as DDs curls are a generic throwback or something: none of us are curly...

[purplemurple1]

If the wet brushing every day is getting too much (time wise) platting it really keeps the knots at bay, I'm lazy and have long curly hair so I platt it after a shower and then it can be quickly wet brushed through up to 3 days later, as there are so few knots. If I miss a day, having left it down, its quicker to wash it than to try and wet brush it. (I use a normal brush as the afro combs tend to break and the tangle teaser doens't have long enough prongs for my hair.)

[EarlyIntheMorning]

cece, what salt spray do you use? Doesn't salt make hair dry?

[orangeandemons]

Tangle tamer is better than a tangle teaser. My dd has long matted knotty curls. A tangle tamer is the only thing that goes through.

[SavoyCabbage]

I've got two curly dds and although their hair looks the same, it isn't and I have to do different things with each.

One of them I don't brush when it's dry. It needs to be conditioned every few days.

The other dd has hair that gets matted. I put it in two plaits every night and she wears a satin sleeping hat (which has made a huge difference).

In the morning it needs to be sprayed with water and brushed through and Moroccan oil put on it.

Every weekend I douse it in coconut oil overnight.

[cece]

I used this one. I only use it once between washes otherwise yes it is drying. I tend to put it in as soon as I have washed it and towel dried. Then just leave to air dry. I also use loads of conditioner.

[trickydickie]

See my post from Friday about how to get a brush through my daughter's hair.

I have a tangle teaser but doesn't go through thick hair. We bought the tangle tamer on Friday goes through her hair no probs.

I just need to get my eldest daughter (11 going on 18) to embrace her curls. She brushes her hair to death now and leaves it looking like a complete frizz state. She has utter straight hair envy.

[edam]

I have thick, curly hair. I never brush it. Shampoo, wash out, conditioner, comb, wash out, towel dry, some form of serum or gloop - I keep trying different ones. Wash every two days - in between, I tease it with my fingers and a curly hair product - again, keep changing which one. Something will work for ages, then stop working. Paul Mitchell styling glaze used to be great, but doesn't do it for me any more.

I did use John Frieda stuff for a while, but couldn't stand having sopping wet hair.

Will try some of the suggestions here...

[valiumredhead]

Ds used to have really curly hair. When I used to wash out I never rinsed out the conditioner which helped loads. I also used a squirty water bottle in the mornings and scrunched with my hands.

[Hamwidgeandcheps]

I have a curly dd1. I use johnsons detangling spray liberally before I use a wide tooth comb. I never brush or even comb dry it feels like its breaking her hair. I only wash her hair after swimming or v heavy suncream days the less I wash it the better it is but I do just rinse it sometimes. I try not to let her have it loose too much - protects it a bit in bunches etc

[badguider]

never brush it dry.

if you don't want to wet it then just spray with leave-in conditioner and run your fingers through and leave to dry again.

if you follow this religiously and condition it well when you do wash it then it will become less knotty in a week or two.

[Notfootball]

Agree with all the above, conditioner with water to wet-brush it. I try protective styling on DD's curls (waist length when wet) but find it can be pretty dry by then end of the day. Is anyone using a non-silicone based product to stop theirs becoming dry?