My daughter's fine hair is getting matted!

[KatyNana]

Hello, I need some advice with caring for my daughter's hair. She's just turned two.
It's blonde and really fine and right now kind of curly, but I think it will be straight in a year or so.
Mine is thick and curly and dark and totally different so I can't go by what works for me.
The back of her hair keeps going dull, rough/dry like fine straw or barbie hair, and bits are getting kind of matted where she's lying on it at night. Looks awful. The front is shiny and lovely!
I've just been using various shampoos and usually (not always) conditioner, mostly either ones for babies or mine which is either umberto giannini or shea moisture.
What can I do?

How long is it? Can you plait it at night at all?

Is it actually matted or does it just look all crinkly and matted where she’s been sleeping on it? If the latter, it’s normal and will improve as her hair thickens with age.

Too short to plait, can just about do a pineapple on the top of her head!
Yep, crinkly but actually getting matted too if I don't brush it lots. But good to know it may improve!

I was going to say plait it too! My daughter's hair is like this and we put it in a loose plait overnight. It really helps although you might have to wait until it's a bit longer.

My dd's is occasionally like this, used to be more so, she's there now. I just brushed it every morning and night. It would still be crinkly in the morning some times but it would only knot at night so once brushed was fine. I wouldn't be putting products on at this age, just a gentle baby shampoo.

I'd stop using shampoo and just use conditioner to wash her hair with, something light. Shampoo will be drying it out, which will make it prone to matting and getting knotty.

Satin pillow case works wonders. I got two off eBay for about £5

Hmm she seems to sleep on her soft toys as much as her pillow so not sure a satin pillowcase will do much.

Spray in conditioner. I have to chase DD around with it but it helps to keep her Worzel Gummidge head under control.

You can get a L’Oreal kids one or I got a Schwarzkopf one from Poundland.

Put a bit of oil in her hair before you wash it. Almond, coconut or even olive oil works ok.

My daughters hair was like this. When I washed her hair, I’d comb through some conditioner and leave it in for as long as the bath lasted before rinsing it out.

I use my usual conditioner on the back of DDs head only. I work it in with my fingers and tease out knots like that. I never brush it but occasionally comb very gently when wet once the little tangles are out. I find that the leave in conditioner is not nearly as good at detangling, though I do use that too.

Detangling spray and a Tangle Teaser brush, which doesn't hurt. Brush through every morning to prevent the tangles getting worse.

This stuff is great and a godsend for my daughters knotty birds nest

My daughter has exactly the same hair. It used to get so bad that it almost felted itself.

Might sound counter productive if you are wanting to be able to tie it up but a really good trim (and regular ones after that) and then twice a week combed whilst wet with conditioner in it with a fine comb or detangling brush in the bath.

In between proper conditions use a detangling/leave in conditioner spray and brush with a proper bristle hair brush. Tie in a pony tail as often as possible.

My dd's hair used to be like this. I stopped using shampoo altogether and only use conditioner. I use spray in conditioner every morning and comb not brush so it doesn't snap. She now has lovely long thick hair.

Agree to stop washing it. DS1's hair is like this and we only wash it once a week now or if it really needs it. It still gets knots so I use a dry oil spray before combing it.

We tried cutting it short but that seemed to make it worse as it grew out and the back fluffed up like a duck's bum so now we are growing it out into a proper 1980s bowl cut like the kids in Stranger Things.

The exact same thing happened to me when I got blonde highlights. As soon as I let the bleach grow out it went back to being lovely and silky and shiny. It's the bleach

Hahaha, I read she was blonde and presumed bleached! Then read she was 2 and thought maybe not! Sorry OP!

I agree with just trial and error with certain shampoos and conditioners and definitely a silk pillow if possible

Haha no it's all natural although maybe I should bleach mine to match and it might look more like we're related.

Thanks everyone, going to try conditioner only. I noticed her scalp looks dry too so it may be for the best all round.