Toddler matted hair - help?

[ReginaPhalange89]

I have a 21 month old who has really thick hair . It's beautiful, at the front lovely and soft but at the back there are loads of sections of matted hair ! Like maybe 8 or 9 different little 'clumps'. I'm not really sure how to treat it. She has a bath most nights and her hair is washed. Ive tried using conditioner, I've also got a tangle teaser brush but it doesn't seem to do anything.

I'm worried if I leave it any longer I'm going to end up having to chop bits of her hair ! 🙈

@Kool4katz I know nothing about shampoo so didn't know there were certain things to look for ?! I don't use Johnson's anything though. I usually use a supermarket baby brand the one I have now is from ASDA I think!

Can anyone recommend a good one to use?

Get some green people or faith in nature stuff and a satin pillowcase.

Or go to superdrug and get their basic conditioner I think fruity one

Get a “wet brush” detangler. We used to battle with tangle teasers but only a wet brush sorted it. Can do on wet hair that has conditioner in, initially, to sort the matting. Also a detangler eg child’s farm will help. These days the toddler brushes her own hair every day or so with the wet brush and it sorts it completely.

We have a spray bottle ( one third conditioner two thirds water and shook hard), and a tangle teaser. Used every morning and night.

Supermarket brand shampoos are filled with cheaper detergent ingredients that are very drying. They’re marketed as ‘baby shampoo’ because their pH level is the same as tears (alkaline) so that’s why they don’t irritate the eyes so much as a normal shampoo. However, the pH of hair and skin is acidic so you’d be better off with something with a low level detergent.
Try something like Greenpeople Berry Smoothie shampoo for children. It’s quite expensive compared to supermarket brands but will last ages. You only need a tiny blob of shampoo in your palm, rub your hands together and then gentle massage onto wet hair. Rinse well and use a leave in spray conditioner afterwards. Wash no more than twice a week at most.

Thank you I'll check those out ! I'm going to go shopping tomorrow and get a decent detangler spray, shampoo and conditioner. And see if I can find a wet brush

Child's Farm detangling spray is great - I use it every morning on my curly haired daughter and it (just about) keeps it from getting to the matted stage!

I’ve seen the Wet Brush in larger Boots and also our local Tk maxx (and Amazon), if that helps.

I use palmers shampoo and conditioner for my dds hair it is very thick and dry and wavy. If she hates having it brushed it might be kinder to keep it short until she's old enough to cope with intense washing and brushing. My dd had a very short bob as a toddler it was basically short at the back and fell below her chin at the front. She asked to grow it out when she was 6/7 which we did but now she's 11 she has decided it's too such hassle so she has a pixie crop it's amazing!

Get a shampoo and conditioner for mixed race or afro hair. I habe very thick European hair as does my daughter and i use the Aunt Jackies range of products available online in many places or any afro hair and beauty shop. This is also a natural range free from harsh ingredients. I find regular kids shampoos very drying so use shampoos directed at thicker hair and i think you will find these products will do the trick. Afro hair is like European hair only curlier and thicker and it makes sense u use those products
Palmers hair products are as good as their cocoa butter ranges and they do detangling sprays too. As do the range by datk and lovely. Make sure none of the hair products you are using contain alcohol which is so drying
I also reccomend gliss hair repair liquid silk by schwarzkopf

Sorry dark and lovely not datk and lovely

I went through years of stress with dd's hair matting like that.
She has sensory problems which means she was hyper sensitive to having her hair brushed. She has quite dry hair.
I finally got it sorted with Extraordinary Oil shampoo and conditioner and a Tangle Tamer brush.
She is older now but if she's been ill and spent more time in bed it has a tendency to start to matt again.

Wet Brushes are far better than Tangle Teasers- the bristles are longer so they actually tackle bigger knots rather than “skip” over them like the short, more flexible teeth on a TT. Still painless though.

You can get them cheaper on Amazon than you’d pay in Boots as well.

Make sure you get the proper brush for use on dry hair though- I have the shower version as well and it’s just not as good.