Detangling long hair (six year old)

[Poteryamesta2015]

Hello,

My daughter's hair has become increasingly tangly and knotty after washing (since her sixth birthday). Her hair is mid way own her back, so longish. She eats well is active etc so I'm just looking for a product at this stage to spray on the ends of her hair after washing to untangle the knots.

Can anyonre recommend a product for children that is effective and that does not contain Bisphenol A and phtalates (and other nasty chemicals)?

Be grateful for any ideas.

Regards.

Sam

[NantucketNightbird]

I use the Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner on dd5 it really makes a difference. Her hair is very thick and to the back of her knees and she is very tall wears age 7-8 clothes. She gets called rapunzel. This photo shows her 2 years ago! It just doesn't stop growing.

[expatinscotland]

Her hair is stunning, Nantucket.

[Wolfiefan]

We have a tangle teaser which my DD didn't like. I got a proper brush made by tangle teaser. It's great.
Wash, condition, comb with wide toothed comb. Brush once dry.

[NantucketNightbird]

Thanks expat would love to say mine is the same but my hair has only grown an inch in a year and is 70% grey (I colour it). DH on the other hand has the thickest black hair and has it cut every week I'm very jealous.

[backinthebox]

I think your only option if you are not prepared to use conditioner is to cut it short. It really isn't very pleasant to have long hair brushed when it has no help. Brushing it without conditioning it will lead to split ends too, not a great look. I don't like unnecessary chemicals, but sometimes you just have to pick your battles. I'd rather avoid eating chemicals than putting them on the outside of me for a couple of minutes twice a week.

[LogicalThinking]

The Wet Hair Brush (Amazon sell it) is brilliant and so gentle to use

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I'll use a tangle teezer on my two but several times a week give it a going over with a denman brush as the tangle teezer doesn't get through all the hair, just the top layer.

I have thick, wavy, long hair myself and also use a denman brush. None of us use conditioner. I do avoid nasties in hair products due to allergies on myself, I use bodyshop rainforest shampoo.

[Ponymagic]

We find the Wet Brush (pp mentioned) much better than the Tangleteezer but even so am reading replies with interest as DDs get really knotted hair.

[Poteryamesta2015]

Thanks fourbumsonarugbypost - yes we brush/comb from the bottom up segment by segment and yes we hold it in a pony :-) too. But I appreciate your having taken the time to write this, thanks.

[CheersMedea]

Fool-proof detangling method

Short version: put conditioner on, lie back in bath, comb through while hair is floating in the water, the water and conditioner acts as lubricant.

Longer version:

You need to do this in a bath. It doesn't work in the shower as it is the floating in water that makes it work.

Lie the child back in the bath so their hair is fully in the water. You need to leave it to get it properly wet. Shampoo as normal and rinse.

Apply conditioner liberally all over the hair and comb it through as much as you can with a fine tooth comb while the child is sitting up. Generally you can normally comb from the hair line a short way down.

Now, get the child to lie back in the bath with the conditioner still on so her hair floats back from her head. Ideally you want the hair as straight out as possible so if it's super long, she'll need to scooch down a bit towards the plug end.

Now comb through the hair with a FINE TOOTH comb while it is floating in the water. Most of the tangles will come out naturally because the water and conditioner acts as a lubricant. Occasionally you will get stubborn small knots that you need to detangle by hand.

It is much easier to do this on yourself than to a child - so as soon as she is old/tall enough, give her the comb when she lies back in the bath to comb herself.

[redskirt3]

I use beard oil (a good quality one that was recommended on here over a year ago) on my DD's long tangly hair when needed -just on the ends - it detangles much better than our detangler spray!

[EarlyInTheMourning]

This product is fantastic, free of some of the worst nasties, expensive but it really works: www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Sprout-Miracle-Hair-Detangler/dp/B002B8BCA6/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1455630416&sr=8-15&keywords=detangler&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21