Please can anyone help me look after DD's fine hair?

[SylvanianCaracal]

I've always had shortish hair, and DD has been happy to have a short bob, but she's now 5 and a bit more peer-influenced she wants it long.

One of the reasons I have it short is that I have very fine hair that tangles easily – and so does she. Now hers has reached almost shoulder-length, the tangles are a nightmare :( DD is not one to suffer in silence so we are now having a lot of fraught detangling sessions. I try really hard to be careful, hold the hair above the tangle and not pull, but it does happen occasionally. Also, the tangles are so bad I'm sometimes worried I'm actually breaking the hairs and she'll end up with thin hair. I have zero experience with long hair and haven't a clue.

We have a tangle tamer brush and use the Johnson's conditioner spray stuff which helps, but it's just going to get worse as it gets longer.

So any tips please... like is there a way of tying it up or plaiting it (once it's long enough) to avoid tangling, or any wonder products? How do you avoid it tangling at night?

It doesn't help that DD is a sensory fusspot sensitive person who gets upset about anything that feels "weird" or even slightly uncomfortable. Help!

(And don't get me started on the peer pressure I wish girls weren't under so much pressure to look homogenous. Sigh.)

[SylvanianCaracal]

Oops forgot to say I have to go out, but will come back later. TIA for any advice!

[Aixoise]

My DD (6) has hair down to her waist and it is fine and tangly, and she is also a fusspot!
Before she goes to bed, I spray her hair with this
www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Kids-Sweet-Pear-Tangle-Tamer-150ml_6385/
and brush it with the tangle tamer brush. Then I do either one or two plaits as tightly as I can (which she loves as it makes her hair wavy), so in the morning she wakes up with no tangles. She always has it tied back for school but likes to have it loose when she is off so my advice would be detangle at bedtime, and then plait. If she sleeps with loose hair that has not been detangled by the morning it is a nightmare! Have tried to persuade her to have it cut shoulder length but she is not having it - like yours, peer pressure.

[SylvanianCaracal]

That's brilliant aixoise, thanks v much. Will get that stuff on my upcoming trip to boots!

If the plaits are tight, does that mean they are OK to lie on in bed? Where do they "start" from on the head IYSWIM – near the neck or higher up? (See i'm really clueless - sorry)

[ygritte]

We do a loose plait starting at neck level which comes from the back and over one shoulder at night or brushing before bed.She dribbles alot at night, which really doesn't help as it then dries and knots up.

[SylvanianCaracal]

Thanks ygritte, I think loose will work better for DD because I can just imagine her now complaining that it's too tight and hurts.

[XiCi]

Yes same here. Detangling spray and plait at night has helped enormously.

[glorious]

Agree with the others (though I don't use spray, just because my DD is only 2.5 and we get on ok without ). I'd also suggest running your fingers through it before combing to get the worst bits out, and wet combing with conditioner.

[SylvanianCaracal]

Fab thanks everyone

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

My DD is 6 and has fine hair but lots of it, ifyswim. My tips are:

Brush when dry before you wash it, using the green Johnsons spray to help detangle

Use conditioner after washing, comb through with fingers while its on (I just use whatever conditioner I'm using myself at the time, I find kids ones not very effective)

Use detangling spray again after you've rinsed the conditioner off

A plait does help prevent some tangles

We get much less tangles when her hair is trimmed regularly, no less than 8 weeks or so

Do you find it all tangles in one place, or all over? For us its the back/top of head, nape of the neck (suncream causes that) and bits at the front where she's got food in it. We've just done 3 nights camping and I spent an hour on the final night detangling my DD, and half an hour on the last morning detangling her sister!

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

And yes my DD has some sensory issues as well, quite often doesn't like the plait. her hair is chest length but dead straight - if we had any waves or curls.to deal with too I think I wouldn't let it get linger than shoulder length.

[averythinline]

I would get it trimmed regularly - even if just a couple of cm and let her see it is still long, that way you maybe over time be able to trim a bit more and also mine used to get more knotty at the ends .. then layers may help...

[Aixoise]

Yes to trimming regularly! And plaits start at neck level, can't do the Elsa style fishtail plait at all - just try and do them tightly as her hair is like mine - very slippy and flyaway so loose plaits come out when she's asleep - however not so tight they're uncomfortable. I am totally rubbish at doing hair, plaits are my absolute limit! And yes to wet combing with conditioner as well.