How to style curly hair?

[LillethTheCat]

DD1 has got naturally curly hair and I just dont know how to look after it. My hair has got a wave to it, but is predominately straight so Im at a loss.

She's only 4 and starts school full time on Tues so I would like it to be semi smart (if possible). My hairdresser recommended getting an afro comb, but searching the internet of how to use it, Im a little confused as to what to do.

So how do I tame the mess she has in the morning? If I brush it, her curls come out a bit and it just ends up messy by mid morning. Bearing in mind she is still young so I would like to avoid chemicals on her hair too.

So any tips please? Thanks

Thanks for the link Firsttimer Going to invest in it.

I want DD to love her hair as she grows up so it does make sense to work out now how to handle it so she will just know what to do. I didn't like my hair in my teens either, but that was because my mum wanted me to have blonde hair which it was till I was about 10 when it started to go darker so I was shoved off to the hairdresser to be highlighted when I was 12/13/14 and often had routes. I refused to have it blonde anymore and my mum refused to let me dye it brown (looking back I wish I had just gone and did it now) so had long dark routes. It was vair vari embarrassing.

Will look out for those products too and use more conditioner

You need the Mixed Chicks range for children. You can get it on Amazon.

Mixed Chicks

Designed by two mixed race girls with Afro hair but has tamed my Resolutely British Frizz nicely.

So I can use whatever products I like on her hair as long as none of the ingredients end in 'ONE' I was just a bit worried her hair would be damaged by chemicals, but are a lot safe then?

Thanks for the link Verity I have found some products on Amazon. A bit out of my price range unfortunately, but worth considering for future reference.

sorry, but that's not correct about only combing and brushing when hair is wet - hair is more likely to stretch and snap when wet. Use the tangle teaser before a bath to brush out knots - start at the ends, whilst holding the bulk of her hair in the other hand so it doesn't pull, and work up. Then you can comb it with conditioner when it's wet.

I would simply spray her hair with water in the morning to bring the curls back, if you're not tying it up. Don't start faffing about with products at this age, it's expensive and they will build up on her hair so you'll end up washing it more, and her hair will start to look dull.

The Curly Girl stuff is all not about using relaxing perma straightening etc chemicals. Silicones and Sulfates are in most hair products but leave build up in curly hair or dry it out. Silicones coat the hair and make it glossy (thats basically how Pantene work) but on curly hair its starts to go weird after a while. The Mixed Chicks stuff is lovely but pricey. I find I can achieve similar as long as I watch the ingredient list. Google no-cone and you will find curly girls endlessly trading tips on products without the wrong chemicals across the price range.

Or no-poo (no-shampoo) there are hilarious videos on youtube with curlies teating diff products and techniques, can be helpful in terms of seeing how to wash and dry hair without messing with it too much. God I have spent too long on this - but I love my hair now so its been time well spent

Or even 'testing' - leave you to it. I think it feels weird when you start - my mother would have worried our hair was messy or dirty if I had suggested the hair routine I have now. But I assure you my hair clean and fresh smelling. Give it 6-8 weeks to settle and the main thing is to stop combing it when its dry - that just makes it frizzy

I will have to disagree with sus - comb only when wet - and when I use a tangle tease I find it shreds my hair. I imagine it really depends on your curl type so have a look online or with the book. Comb staring from the tips working to the roots in sections and use a wide toothed comb or an afro comb. With the nits I would comb first with a wide tooth comb and conditioner to work out the knots. Once thats done try the finer nit comb - I am dreading the nits because combing my kind of hair that finely is a long task

Su, I would never brush my hair, even when wet, as this would snap the hair. Using a wide tooth comb when hair is wet will not snap the hair.

OK this is compulsive but I promise its my last post: I currently use tresemme conditioner under £6 for a giant bottle, olive oil from the chemist under £2 and curl creme and boots gel on me each under £2. Cheap as chips and much much better than all the expensive stuff I used to try..serums, frizz ease, mousses all kinds of brushes, or endless nasty relaxer that burned my scalp and made my hair stink when wet and cost a fortune every 6 weeks.

On her I just use conditioner and the occasional squirt of oil. When shes older I might use a styling product but at her age it doesnt feel quite appropriate.

I would consider changing hairdresser - Afro comb is a bad idea!

I use a regular wide tooth comb with conditioner to get knots out, or a Denman brush if I want to brush it (for plaiting).

Elastic Alice bands are good for wearing hair down but a little tamed. Never, ever cut her a fringe.

Short hair is also cute.

I think its great you are helping her like this. Its taken me til my late 30s to like and control my hair. Don't use silicon based product on her hair, tresemme naturals or silicon free shampoo and conditioner. The silicones coat the hair and ruin the condition. My hair dresser recommends the argan oil range at salon services. Get a curl creme ( I use noodle head) and mix some of it with some hair oil and work through her hair when wet. if the curls need resuscitating then slightly dampen curls and work tiny but oil or creme on them. Twisting the hair when wet helps curls stay put better. My girls hair is not as curly as mine and brushes straight. I use a tangle teezer and some light gel on the frizzies.

I agree with the no fringe advice, after the terrible teenage curly fringe disaster. I used to blow it straight every morning (but the rest of my hair was still curly!) and at the slightest droplet of moisture I would have a ringletty fringe! Not good. I love my hair now, but a good cut is paramount

Don't leave knots in as they will turn into dreadlocks (bitter experience). It might take a while, but lots of patience and conditioner will ease things.

Be careful with hair that is too short if it is very thick like mine though. A little length helps, but not too much, or it is unmanageable. When I had short hair it would grow outwards instead of down and I would wake up every morning with a lion head.

Agree with all others only comb when wet!

Another bit of random info i have learned curly haired people tend to loose more hair when they do brush/comb/wash their hair because they are not brushing regularly as straighties do. The pile I have in the plug catcher thing after one wash is quite disturbing!

Thanks everybody for some really good advice. I will try a few different conditioners to see what works well for her hair. Will give the Treseme one a go first I think.

She doesnt have a fringe anyway as she doesnt want one.