Toddler’s knotty hair!

[Laura2211]

My nearly 3 year old’s hair is a state! Very knotty & messy but she just won’t let me anywhere near it. Everytime I try to brush it she screams & runs away. I use detangler shampoo & conditioner but it doesn’t make her hair any easier to get to…anyone got any tips as to what to do?

I brush my son's hair in the bath while he is busy playing/singing songs/making a huge watery mess!!!

Do you have a tangle teezer? It doesn't hurt when brushing so less objectionable. Call it a magic brush, maybe let her choose the colour.

At this age routine and consistency is key for tasks they don't like. Just start insisting on it being done once a day at a set time so she knows what to expect, it cuts down on the fighting and arguing. You could add an incentive like watching TV or a reward chart. At first just doing a couple of cursory brushes to get her used to it (even if she screams through it) and then later once she is used to the routine you can work on getting more of the hair actually brushed.

Tangle teezer when full of conditioner in the bath. My toddler has very curly hair and this is how we detangle it.

You could also consider having it cut shorter so that it doesn't get as tangled. And/or once she is used to having it brushed, tie it up at night, or plait it, which you can brush out and re-do about once every third day.

Wet brush.
That's what its called.
Absolutely life changing

Detangle in the bath with a tonne of conditioner.
Brush every morning and evening.

If she won't cooperate then get a shorter hair cut.

Try Hairy Fairy Godmother brush. My little one has complex sensory needs and this helps so much.
www.hairyfairygodmother.com

Wet Brush and Tangle Teezer spray

Coconut oil or Olive oil. See if you can liberally apply some to her hair/scalp, massage it in well.
Then leave it for a few hours. Should be easy to comb out once you've let it sit, then make sure you shampoo 2 or 3 times to get the oil out.

Brush it with a wide tooth comb in the bath with lots of conditioner on. Start at the ends and work upwards.
If it long enough, plait before bed every night.

Have you tried Tangle Tease spray conditioner. You can use this on dry hair. My husband uses this, his hair is white and dry and looks wild, but this makes it look lovely and smooth. ( He is very old!)

When you've managed to untangle it a silk pillow case really helps to stop it getting as knotty during the night

Doesn't have to be actual silk, we have a silky material one from eBay

I do my DD’s knotty ringlets in the bath while she’s playing. Put lots of conditioner on and comb it through. Start at the bottom and work your way up, and if you hold the hair above where you’re combing it doesn’t hurt. I tend to go in the bath with her if it’s bad so it doesn’t break my back bending over the side.

Original Sprout Children's Deep Conditioner has really sorted out DD's fine tangled hair. Brush through in the bath with a brush a bit like this:

https://denmanbrush.com/products/d6-blue-handy-detangler-brush?currency=GBP&utmmedium=cpc&utmmsource=google&utmcampaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyta3wcDB9gIVTuvtCh3ZTw9GEAQYFCABEgJBeeD_BwE

You might find that you don’t need to use shampoo at all. Dds hair is much more manageable since we started co washing. We have a strict brush and plait routine in the morning and before bedtime, it really helps.

If hair long enough, brush in the morning and style into a plait/bun/ponytail.

Brush before bed and put into plait for sleeping.

Brush consistently every day.

And obvious I know but start brushing from the ends in small sections and work your way up towards the root.

As she gets a bit older she'll become more accepting of it needing to be done. When they're still a bit young they'll fight you more but over time with consistency, the moaning should stop.

My dd hates those detangler brushes and much prefers the boar bristle one. I do too.

We had this. We cut 6 inches (probably an exaggeration but it felt like it) off, use leave in conditioner and now wash hair in the shower to stop the bath from causing more issues. Tangle brush too!

This stuff is fab.

https://groceries.asda.com/product/1000195752106?&cmpid=ppcghsgooglegle----dskwid-s927000695336165722dm&skwcid=AL!11432!3!459891151407!!!g!1234039613234!&dssrl=1254319&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4z6zMLB9gIVCYBQBh3gzQ1TEAQYASABEgJDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

My daughter’s hair at that age was as thick as an adult’s. I had the bottom layered, it made it easier to get snarls out.