DD’s dry, wiry hair

[FluffyPinkSocks]

Any recommendations for a treatment for my dd’s dry, wiry hair?

She’s 9 and has had dry hair for as long as I can remember. There is a natural wave in it, quite a bit of volume in the length (think Farah Fawcett). Regardless of length, it continues to matt very easily, she hasn’t had it cut in ages because of the pandemic. We have daily screaming matches when I’m trying to detangle it 😬 I’ve tried various supermarket treatments, none really make a difference. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

I don’t know if this will help but I’ve just discovered conditioner for coloured hair. It makes a big difference. You must get the tangles out before you wash her hair though. It’s easy to cut a few ends off without needing a hairdresser but ensure you can brush through her hair, wash it with decent shampoo (I like the Aussie brand) and then liberally condition. Another idea is spraying her hair with Nuxe oil. This would relive the dryness.

Moo goo has been a godsend for my DDs curly hair. Tangleteezer while wet.

Have you tried using a conditioner like Palmer's Olive Oil? Slather it on and detangle using a tangle teaser/wet brush before rinsing out. I also apply a leave in conditioner followed by a bit of coconut oil into my DCs curly hair once out of the bath (experiment with quantities, one of my DCs needs far more than the other). DD1's in particular is very prone to drying out. If it is looking dry between washes I damp it down with a water spray then use a spray on oil. I never brush or comb their hair dry as it damages it and makes it incredibly frizzy.
I also only ever use shampoo on their hair if it is visibly dirty as that is very drying, although I appreciate this seems a crazy thing to do if you have fine straight hair yourself (as I do). I was very sceptical about 'co washing'. It works though!

Thanks a million for your suggestions, I put a Hask coconut oil mask on her yesterday and her hair feels and looks a lot less dry. I’ll pick up some hair oil next time I’m out.

Never brush it while it’s dry. And I second the conditioner only washing.

My eldest has very curly hair that frizzes and dries out really easily. We only brush her hair in the bath/shower. We have a denham brush that we use to comb through when her conditioner is in. It gets rid of the knots and stops us making her hair worse and damaging it by brushing when it is dry.

My DD has naturally dry, curly hair. I ‘third‘ washing it with just conditioner. She only uses shampoo now and again. She only brushes it after a shower and sprays a leave in conditioner Into it which helps a lot. For some reason coconut oil made it more tangly (not sure why!)

Also, she always has her hair plaited for bed without fail, otherwise it is a complete mess in the morning.

Try products formulated for afro hair. Keracare hydrating detangling shampoo and the Humecto conditioner sound like just what you need.

Look into the curly girl method. So no shampoo and no silicones or other drying ingredients. No intense heat like straighteners.

Don’t brush her dry hair. It’ll damage it and ruin any curl pattern.

Conditioner-wise, as I say, silicone free but also beware using products that say “strengthening” as they are loaded with protein and it may hinder rather than help. Coconut can be a really decisive ingredient, some hair hates it, others love it.

Use more conditioner than you think is the right amount. I deep condition with 3 large palmfuls and then use more in the shower.