Curly hair

[mumroom6571]

Hi, my 4 year old has always had really curly hair. Over the past year I've really struggled to make it look nice. Brushing makes it look frizzy but if I don't brush it gets matted. I've tried curling creams (makes her hair greasy), curly shampoo and conditioner, washing every other day to washing once a week. She has 2 crowns at the back of her head and it always just looks messy.

Can anyone with curly haired children tell me how to manage it so it looks shiny and healthy please?

I've always straightened my hair so I know nothing about managing this. Thanks!

[Dontbugmemalone]

I have curly hair and have recently had a curly hair cut, completely different to the traditional method.

I use products from this website, who have products for children's hair as well:

https://onlycurls.com/pages/little-curls

They have lots of video tutorials which helps.
I would also recommend only brushing curly hair when it has been washing, with a Denman brush or similar. As you've noticed brushing it dry makes it frizzy.

[Dontbugmemalone]

Has been washed*

[GlitteryDirt]

Only brush when wet, use a water spray bottle if you really need to brush it in-between washes.
Ideally though you should only detangle when it's just been shampooed and conditioned and is sopping wet.

After conditioner you should use either a curl cream or a leave in conditioner.

[Kangarude]

I have curly hair. On a morning I wet it with a spray bottle and apply products by scrunching them in and lightly detangling it with my fingers. Never brush it but I use a wide toothed comb to condition it when washing.
Boots do a pink coloured curl cream which isn’t greasy. It dries a bit crunchy (called a cast), but you then crunch the curls to break the cast. I don’t use this cream as I need something heavier and more moisturise on my hair.
Look up the curly girl method - good luck

[mumroom6571]

Thank you all for the suggestions! She's a very active 4 year old and it gets knotted easy, would running my fingers through it to get the knots out be better?

[Rosinda]

Moisturising shampoo and conditioner. Brush conditioner with tangle teaser brush and rinse.

When hair is damp, put in leave in conditioner. If it's greasy, you need to try using less or change brands.

In between washes, spray with water and brush, apply more leave in conditioner of hair looks dry.

Do hairstyles like braids.

[thedementedelf]

@mumroom6571

Thank you all for the suggestions! She's a very active 4 year old and it gets knotted easy, would running my fingers through it to get the knots out be better?

My dd is the same age and also has very curly hair

Her hair is sprayed down every day with a water bottle mixed with conditioner. We then put mousse and some hair oil through and scrunch.

On wash days we use a curly shampoo and conditioner and brush. We double shampoo.

We braid her hair at night to stop it tangling in her sleep and she sleeps on a silk pillow case.

[mumroom6571]

Oh these tips are brilliant!

I can't do braids, I try to practice on her but she hates me touching her hair and doesn't have the patience 🤣 might look into a doll head.

Thank you I'll try the water with conditioner in it tomorrow 🥰

[GlitteryDirt]

A satin pillow case really helps reduce frizz over night

[bevelino]

OP, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials, braids are your friend.

[Tryingtokeepcalmandcarryon]

As said previously only comb at bathtime when very wet and prob needs to be covered in conditioner to comb. We towel dry after bath then it dries naturally. We use a cheap conditioner such as Alberto Balham pink / green one. We don’t brush it at all when dry and just leave the knots to be dealt with at bathtime. If you can plait then will stay knot free for longer but easier said than done :)

[Tryingtokeepcalmandcarryon]

We also use a couple of different combs, a straw one to get the first knots out as this is really gentle and doesn’t pull, followed by a child’s tangle teaser

[thedementedelf]

@mumroom6571 you don't need to do French or Dutch braids. Just a simple hair in a ponytail and braid the tail.

Silk pillowcases are on amazon and do make a difference.

Use a good conditioner. Asda do their own kids curly hair range that is ok but we use cantu conditioner with the Asda curly shampoo, the best hair mousse that isn't sticky or crunchy is VO5 curls and waves mousse (red bottle) and a wee bit of hair oil goes on before we mousse. We use argyn oil.

Have regular trims with the hairdresser to stop the tugs at the end of the hair.

[thedementedelf]

Only brush her hair when her hair is wet with conditioner or has been sprayed down with water+conditioner.