advice please - help me get DDs hair to stop being kingdom of the super-knots

[womma]

DD is 2 and has lovely, fine, curly hair, which she won't let me brush and she's getting one big 90's crusty style dread at the back.

I've bought a tangle teezer brush, which she runs from. When she endures a hair washing I only use conditioner....I've tried enticing her with clips, pretty hair bobbles etc but she won't let me near her hair to even try to get some of the knot out. When I can, I rub some conditioner in to her dry hair as well to try to remedy it. Am i going to have to dart her like in those wildlife programmes?! Or do I just give in and let her start a Hayzi Fantayzee tribute act?

Anyone had the same problems been able to sort it out without resorting to scissors? Any help much appreciated

that detangling spray stuff? too short to plait I suppose.

Its time for a big hair cut tbh - until she will let you comb it regularly she is going to have to have a short bob. You aren't going to shift the mat with anything but scissors I'm afraid

I used to sit with the little girl I looked after (same problem) and do it slowly while she watched a DVD, as the hair got longer I would plait it before bed to stop it getting knotty overnight, it's tricky - good luck!

Plus, have you tried combing it while she's in the bath and has conditioner in her hair? Its a lot more slippery and easier to untangle...

My dd had hair like that and I did eventually get it cut into a bob and now she's older it's not so fine and it's straighter. But for a long time she wore 2 pigtails/plaits overnight to stop it tangling where she slept on it. Apart from that, don't wash too often, loads of conditioner, serum/leave-in conditioner afterwards

I found a large paddle brush the best and quickest for getting through her hair but she prefers the tangle teezer. It wouldn't work when it was as matted as your dd's is just now though.

I'm afraid I did just have to do it once when it got really bad - she'd been ill and lying on it a lot, it was after that we started the plaits. DH held her, gently but firmly, and I brushed. Much bribery was involved too as I recall (of the chocolate sort).

I'm loathe to cut it right now, and will persevere. I think that chocolate is a good idea, and knowing her will work...

Gaby, I'll try combing it in the bath, brilliant idea, and I'll try leave-in condtioner too BadP.

Thanks for this

For the conditioner - I use my Aussie miracle insurance spray on DDs towel dried hair. I don't use the tangle teaser et al anymore, just stick with the denman brush my hairdresser recommended and it really is the best for gentle yet effective detangling!

I spent considerable time researching this last year when my DD1 was 2 (and now DD2 has the same problem). I found that detangling sprays and oils and conditioners only worked for a few hours - after each nap and night's sleep the dreads were back. Worse each time. (And some of the oiliest oils gave them jheri curls ) The only thing that worked was a layered bob.

But if anyone has found a miracle solution, I'm still interested.

This is brilliant...use it for my 4yr old fine, but matted/dreaded hair, its not greasy and no nasties...

www.victoriahealth.com/product/Hairwonder-Hair-Repair-Cream/8669/64/

Same problem here with DD. I have spent ages and ages researching and trying lots of different products. By far the absolute best I have ever tried is Original Sprout Miracle Detangler. Worth every penny.
www.lookfantastic.com/hair/original-sprout/original-sprout-conditioner/original-sprout-miracle-detangler-118ml.html

the only thing that works for my dd 4 is my dressmaking scissors when she's asleep :)
Once the matted stuff is out, I do 20 brushes each morning (to the accompanying wails and sobs), counting down with each syllable with a softish paddle brush. But I never wash apart from in bubble bath.

She hates the tangle teaser with a vengence.

my dd2 has the same hair type, I gave up combing it months ago, now I just squeeze a few drops of argan oil on my hands and comb with fingers. It helps with hair dryness too :)

Ds is the same. We do "tickle spray" in the bath which is tangle spray from anywhere. I then comb it. It's MUCH easier to comb out tangles if you start near the ends of the hair rather than near the scalp. That way you ease out tangles rather than creating a bottle neck IYSWIM. Ds likes the tickle spray and often reminds me to do it! :)

What soppy says : start from the bottom of the hair and work up in inch or so sized sections (even if those bits don't look too tangled!) - otherwise all that happens is the knot gets pushed further and tighter together and makes it more painful!

If you can get a brush through any of it, it will make combing it out easier (I think it loosens the hair or something) but otherwise a really wide tooth comb in the bath (lots of conditioner, start at the bottom again).

My friend has really dry curly hair and she was told by her hairdresser not to use shampoo and only use conditioner.

My mum used to plait my hair every night for about ten years to save fights in the morning - if it needed doing she'd do it whilst I had breakfast and was distracted.

Would she brush your hair ? You could take it in turns to be hairdressers...? Or maybe get her one of those make up doll heads (like a giant barbie head) and let her do the hair on that whilst you do hers?

Thanks everyone, I've got some new strategies to try now, and I think a trip to Boots is in order, and some of that sprout spray!

Funny thing is, tonight her uncle came to visit and she marched up to him with her hairbrush and asked him to get the knots out of her hair!! Flamin' kids