How to make DS's curly hair less scruffy (photo attached)

[SimplyNigella]

DS has lovely thick, curly hair. It doesn't fall neatly into ringlets and is prone to looking a bit wild, which was cute when he was small but now he's started school he suddenly looks like the scruffy one in his class.

I've had it cut above collar length and after reading a few threads on here have switched to co-washing with a silicone free shampoo which has made it less dry and frizzy.

Brushing it makes it into a frizzy mess so I just comb it gently with my fingers or use a Tangle Teezer if it ever gets knotty (which is rare).

Is there anything else I can try? Neither my husband nor I have curly hair so we're not sure what to do with it and I don't want to cut it shorter if possible.

If youre bothered about scruffiness then you need to cut it short. It probably doesnt look as scruffy as you think though

Oh that is gorgeous!

I honestly wouldn't worry about him looking "scruffy" - he's just started school, and by the end of the day they'll all look scruffy in some way!

His hair is obviously clean and really, the best you could do if you want him to go in looking neat-ish is try wetting a comb and doing it like that before he goes to school.

Honestly curly hair is often better a bit longer, because then it's got more room to fall naturally so perhaps let it grow a little bit?

It looks soft and shiny in the photo, not scruffy at all.

Maybe I'm being a bit unkind saying scruffy, it's how it looks from the front with it sticking out in all directions. Wet combing is a good idea as it might help the curls to form better rather than fly around like a mad professor.

I was really surprised that every other boy in his class has super short hair. It has to be above collar length, which his is just, so I can't let it grow much more.

It's gorgeous.

DS is a bit similar, it doesn't fall well, it just sticks out.

The problem is the length.

It needs to be either longer, so it's heavier and falls better, or shorter.

Wet combing and also Osmo curl liquid/lotion.

My DD has scruffy/curly/hair and the Osmo works wonders to control and define the curls so that they look like actual curls and not that she just hasn't brushed her hair properly. It's a professional only product (in theory) but can be bought from most hairdressing supply shops without hairdressers insurance or from Amazon.

Cut is important too. If the cut is too blunt the curls won't fall properly. Try and find a salon experienced in cutting curly hair.

If it doesn't bother him though, I'd just leave him be. DD has only just started to bother taming her curls and she is almost eleven. Until now she's resembled a lion most days. There are still quite a few lion days where she decides she'd rather be playing with lego than teasing her curls into an acceptable shape.

old what length do you have your DS's hair if you don't mind me asking?

I'm worried if it cut it shorter the curl will go altogether and I do love his hair, just want him to look slightly less like a modern Just William in his uniform.

My daughters hair looks similar to that, she's only 10months but has masses of hair.
I honestly think it looks beautiful op! And it's shiny and clean, I wouldn't worry I'd just leave it 😊

Frequency I love the lion description! DS isn't bothered at all and I realise I may be projecting general starting school anxieties onto his hair, but at his nursery most of the boys had longer hair and now he really stands out.

I will check out Osmo, thanks for the recommendation.

Thanks Never. How lovely for your daughter to have so many curls so young, DS was a little baldy and I love curls on babies.

It looks beautiful - I wouldn't worry at all.

I don't think looking smart matters really? Mine has longish hair too, not as thick as your son's, but it looks better than when shorter.

Thank you! This is what it looks like, bit of a rubbish picture sorry, forever afraid of being outed 😂

Gorgeous hair photos! I clearly need to stop obsessing over smartness, or lack of. His hair is always clean, his uniform and shoes start the day clean and he only occasionally has toothpaste on his face, so that shall have to be enough.