What sort of brush/comb to use on my 3 yr old curly hair?

[Eulalia]

Brushing my children's hair properly (or even at at all some days ) has been low on my list of priorities but am sick of dd looking like's she's been dragged through a hedge backwards. She's 3 and a half and has lovely blond curls but they tend to only look lovely when just washed and brushed through properly and allowed to dry naturally. It's soft curls rather than tight and as its getting longer its more wavy nearer hte roots going down to ringlets. However next day I have to brush it and she HATES having her hair brushed and often I just end up brushing the top layer which goes straight and frizzy looking.

I have been using my Denman good quality brush on her but I think the bristles are a bit too close together. On the basis of her hair description what type of brush is best or comb for that matter and bearing in mind I have to hold her down while I do it?

Don't want to resort to cutting her hair just yet. Thanks.

I would use a wide toothed comb on curls and maybe a detangling spray too.

dd used to have hair in complete ringlets (as she's got older, her hair has got heavier and it's now wavy rather than curly).

I only ever brushed her hair when it was wet. If I ever had to brush it when it was dry, I would spray it with loads of detangler but I tried to avoid doing that as even with detangler, it was incredibly difficult.

I had hair like this as a child, my mother used a soft bristle brush while it was wet, and then plaited it.

dd1 also has thick curly hair, goes matted if not well brushed.
The only hairbrush that works dry on it, is a Mason Pearson. (the biggest post divorce grievance that I have against dx is that he took one of my Mason Pearsons to his country AND LEFT IT THERE!)

DD has thick hair, so heavy that the curls are going now it is long. I use a Kent bristle brush in her hair.

I had to cut it the other day - she had found the scissors and lopped off a chunk 3 inches long from one side! She now hates me !

I do the same as foxinsocks. I have 2 dds (4and 5) dd1 have very long hair(past bum) in ringlets and dd2 past shoulders going the same way.I wqash 1/2 a week and only comb it then.Avon do good creme (curl enhancer or something similar) we use whenit wet.

Try hair serum before brushing - small amount in your hands and smooth through then a wide tooth comb rather than a brush to stop the frizz. Run your fingers through it before combing too to just loosen it up.

we use loada and loads of Jason seakelp conditioner, and never brush.
wash 2 times per weeks.
sometimes run a tiny bit of the conditioner through her hair in between washes.
never brush as it just goes fuzzy!

same for me as an adult too!

Is it long enough for pigtails/bunches? That would stop it running amok quite so much.

DD1 used to have her hair washed daily and it never needed brushing but she ended up with chronic cradle cap. I was going to suggest having it cropped but then saw you don't want to do that yet but it does need to be brushed, or else combed with conditioner when washing, to keep the scalp clear.

Hello Eulalia. I have very thick coarse wavy hair and my dh has fine soft curly hair and one of our children has the combination of the two. You must brush hair like this every morning and evry night! Regular washing too - once/twice a week at this age is plenty. ds had a professional cut at about 19 mnths - his soft floppy curls, easily dealt with a soft natural bristle brush, has turned into my hair. Coarse and thick and curly when wet.

To cut a long story short(scuse the pun - sort of), I use a wide toothed comb when his hair is wet or dry. never ever use a hairdyer.

I could go on for ages about how I deal with the different combinations of hair in our family

Avon curl defining creme (have just remebered the name!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have taken many notes and have a better idea of what to do.