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Original poster

Curly Hair 5YO

33 replies

FatPatsCat · 17/12/2021 13:49

Hi all, hoping for some advice with my 5 year old DD's hair please. She has the most beautiful curls, but recently they've become really dry and not so curly!
I've attached a pic which is from Instagram but exactly the same as DD's.
I'm wondering if it might need a trim? It's never been cut before. I'm really anxious that her curls will be gone though- she loves them!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Curly Hair 5YO
OP posts:
ElleGettingBetter · 17/12/2021 13:55

Following because my daughter is exactly the same!

Original poster
FatPatsCat · 17/12/2021 14:05

@ElleGettingBetter

Following because my daughter is exactly the same!
🤞🏼
OP posts:
NMC2022 · 17/12/2021 14:06

What products are you using on it?

EurghCobwebs · 17/12/2021 14:32

I use Moroccan curl definer on my curly hair and it's amazing. After a shower I run it through my wet/damp hair and leave to dry naturally.

www.lookfantastic.com/moroccanoil-curl-defining-cream-250ml/10614284.html

I also limit my hair washing to once a week.

(Sorry if I am telling you stuff you already know!)

BlingLoving · 17/12/2021 14:40

It's very difficult to manage long curly hair at this age speaks from bitter experience.

A few things I have learnt include:

  1. don't wash it often. We wash DD's hair maximum once a week, sometimes less - very curly hair is very dry and does not need a lot of washing.
  1. Don't ever brush or comb it dry. We use a tangle teaser brush to get the knots out with conditioner when we wash it (if we don't wash it that week, we'll still wet and condition and comb it out). If you do want to comb it between washes to minimise knots, make sure the hair is wet and coated - there are some good spray on leave-on conditioners if you can get your child to stick around for them
  1. Don't bother with crappy children's hair products. We are currently using the Aussie range but have tried loads. Anything highly moisturising is good.
  1. Moroccon oil based products help with the curls. We have a lovely cream that does wonders for how the curls looks but it does tend to build up more than other products as it's quite heavy. Sometimes we just use serum then fluff up the curls.

We haven't totally nailed it. I think ideally the hair would be wet daily with leave on conditioner applied and then the curls can be managed without knots. But certainly, DD would never put up with that.

BlingLoving · 17/12/2021 14:41

That moroccan stuff @EurghCobwebs is the same brand we use although we have a slightly different one. It really is good for curl defining, I agree.

PumpkinCrumble · 17/12/2021 15:58

I’ve found my daughters character bedding, so cheap cotton/poly cotton is terrible for her hair. However she wouldn’t tolerate a hair wrap/scarf and I can’t plump for a silk pillowcase right now. I might try and find a satin one as a compromise.

NMC2022 · 17/12/2021 16:31

@PumpkinCrumble

I’ve found my daughters character bedding, so cheap cotton/poly cotton is terrible for her hair. However she wouldn’t tolerate a hair wrap/scarf and I can’t plump for a silk pillowcase right now. I might try and find a satin one as a compromise.
I got one from Amazon, it's not quite as smooth as silk but it washes well and helps Bedsure is the brand snd at £8 for 2....
Curly Hair 5YO
PumpkinCrumble · 17/12/2021 17:39

Oh that’s great NMC, thanks for the recommendation!

NMC2022 · 17/12/2021 18:04

@PumpkinCrumble no prob! I've had mine a year and no issues with snags/pulls/fading in the wash

HairdresserMum · 19/12/2021 01:06

I can’t comment properly without seeing her hair properly, but I would say book her an appointment at the hairdressers for a trim and ask for their advice. She may need a couple of inches chopping off if the ends are dry and damaged. Her curls should still be fine afterwards and the hairdresser should know how to cut curly hair properly.

FrenchFancie · 19/12/2021 06:09

My DD is 9 (so a bit older) but has similar hair. We wash twice a week as she gets sweaty and does a lot of sport. Use loads of conditioner- more than you think is reasonable! And don’t wash it all out afterwards. We style her hair wet using a small amount of curl defining cream and then at night I pineapple her hair on her head - that’s made the biggest difference! Ideally I’d like to wet and comb it through each day (or every other day) but no way would she stand for that. Dds hair is elbow length and I think it needs a trim but she’s not having it!! A job to work on for the holidays I feel (doesn’t help that our local hairdresser does not know what to do with curls and blow dries her hair straight when cutting it… sigh)

Enko · 19/12/2021 10:48

Try curly Ellie products and book a hairdresser with curly hair themselves. Dd1 had curly hair like that and it has taken us years to learn how to deal with it. Made worse by my having ultra straight hair Grin dd is a kickback we think

Original poster
FatPatsCat · 19/12/2021 11:00

@NMC2022

What products are you using on it?
I've tried different things but a lot never really agreed with her hair... banana, raspberry, coconut.

Brasil nut and almond oil seemed to work better.

We only wash once a week, only use a wide tooth comb after washing and never comb between washes.

Recently have tried Lee Stafford (?) shampoo for dry hair but if anything it's been worse after that.

OP posts:
Original poster
FatPatsCat · 19/12/2021 11:03

@PumpkinCrumble

I’ve found my daughters character bedding, so cheap cotton/poly cotton is terrible for her hair. However she wouldn’t tolerate a hair wrap/scarf and I can’t plump for a silk pillowcase right now. I might try and find a satin one as a compromise.
Yes, I agree the bedding doesn't help, I have bought the pillowcase and hair wrap but as you say, she won't have it - it's not as fun as paw patrol is it 😉

I did try the pillowcase myself but found it made me really sweat!

OP posts:
Original poster
FatPatsCat · 19/12/2021 11:04

[quote NMC2022]@PumpkinCrumble no prob! I've had mine a year and no issues with snags/pulls/fading in the wash [/quote]
I actually found ours in Primark!

OP posts:
Original poster
FatPatsCat · 19/12/2021 11:07

Thank you all for the suggestions, I'll be trying Moroccan oil next!

Will book in with the hairdresser and just really pray that the curls survive!

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 19/12/2021 11:09

I follow the curly girl routine with dd. She's 8 and have been doing it for about 5 years now. Wash only with silicone free conditioners, never shampoo and never brush. Each morning sorry with water run through some conditioner with fingers and good to go. It's so simple and lovely cork screw curls every time

Original poster
FatPatsCat · 19/12/2021 11:19

I vaguely followed curlygirl method for a while some time ago but got put of by some of the Facebook groups, it was like a really strict religious cult at times 😂 I'll attempt it again maybe....

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/12/2021 11:27

I have hair like this!! It’s survived 100s of cuts, puberty, pregnancy and is now in peri menopause, still as curly as ever.

@BlingLovinghsd given some excellent advice.

The structure of curly hair makes it very vulnerable to dryness and frizziness, which is reduced with a good cut. There is a balance between my hair being too long and dry/too short and poodle perm-y.

YY to only washing it occasionally, I do about 10-14 days between washes, but I appreciate that this isn’t always possible if you live in a city, swim a lot, have a tendency to get paint and jam in your hair etc… a bit of sweat and natural grease does absolute wonders for my curls. Mine was always short as a child - I think as the first girl after 2 boys, DM just cut everyone’s hair short! It is much more manageable shorter though. Younger DSis would agree.

Another thing is to find a decent hair dresser and keep going back as they will “learn” you DD’s hair. I know that there are specialist curly hair hairdressers, although I have never been to one. Toni and Guy and Vidal Sasoon both refused to cut my hair, I guess because it wouldn’t give their “look”. The best hairdresser I ever had had naturally curly hair herself. The worst haircuts I’ve ever had are from people who washed and combed it, then cut it as if it were straight. It’s not, and doesn’t behave as such once it’s dry!

liveforsummer · 19/12/2021 11:32

Yes it is quite cultish but actually very simple once you get past all that and I don't follow the groups anymore. All you need is a final wash with a silicone free shampoo that contains sulphates to strip residue that might make the hair greasy. I use the garnering hair food range but some of the garnier ultimate blends are safe too and very good so nothing expensive. I can 'wash' DD's hair daily or leave it a week and a half and it never looks greasy no matter how much conditioner I put in each morning. I usually put it up in a high pony or bun for school. It's in lovely condition and the curls often get tighter once the hair has adjusted to the routine. The curls run in the family a bit as 2 of my brothers dc have the same tight curls and they now use the same method and swear by it too

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/12/2021 11:33

Posted too soon-

Products - I mostly “Wash” with body shop banana hair mask, and occasionally “Gruum” Shea butter shampoo bar, then the BS hair mask as a conditioner. If in need styling product, I like the Cantu range.

My hair is currently in an layered Bob, half way between ear lobe and shoulder length, with a cropped undercut to take out some volume. It’s very 80s!, but it works for me.

liveforsummer · 19/12/2021 11:34

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads I've started trimming DD's hair myself as every single hairdresser nods at me when i explain the method I use and the type of cut it needs then proceeds to wet stretch cut it then sprays something full of silicone all over it after. I've given up now

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/12/2021 11:37

@liveforsummer, ltb hairdressers!
It took me about 25 years to find a good hairdressers! Just a curly haired lady in a little local salon on a side road in Sheffield. Good luck!

gunnersgold · 19/12/2021 11:38

You need a curl cream , add it to her hair when wet and scrunch.. diffuse to dry or leave it to dry ( mine takes weeks to dry though) .
You are getting frizz beg cause you need moisture from a product .
Don't be my mum and leave her with frizz or brush it when dry 🙈🙈🙈🤣