Very thick wavy hair 😍

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Hi, my daughter is 9 and has very thick hair like myslef. Over the last 12 months her hair has started to get a very noticeable wave to it. I have no experience with wavy/curly hair at all I'm worried that I'm not using the correct products etc in her hair and could be damaging it so I'm after friendly advive. I'm finding it very fluffy/wild at times. Her hair is that thick I do dry it (twice a week) on a low setting, then for school she insists on a pony tail which I use a brush to create this. She is also hair sore and it can get very knotty in the day. I have washed, conditioned, lightly towel dry then added auzzie curl cream and scrunched several times but we both agree it goes whispy still and feels crunchy even though only used a little of the product and there is no way it will stay looking smooth and wavy once she goes to bed she wakes up with crazy hair haha also the day after it's all knotty and I obviously can't put a comb or brush through it so we find we need to re wash. Wearing her hair down for school isn't a option either. Any advice welcome please. ❤️ added some photos. One photo (looks wet) is when I just left to air dry with auzzie curl but felt cruncy.

I'd only wash it once a week, comb while wet and then avoid brushing or combing in between as it will cause breakage and frizz.

If you do need to comb it between washes, use a spray bottle to dampen it.

Get a leave in conditioner for wavy hair.

Perhaps no brushing - use a wide comb. Brushing = frizz.
Use a leave-in conditioning spray when it's damp. Section the hair horizontally so you get the lower layers too. Use the same spray sparingly on dry hair when you need to detangle.

Get a silk pillowcase for her, it will stop the haystack hair on a morning. If she'll tolerate it put her hair in a topknot for bed as well.

When you wash her hair, don't bother with curl cream just put a blob of conditioner through her soaking wet hair and scrunch. Wrap her hair in a towel to dry and don't let a hairdryer or a brush anywhere near it!

Honestly you'll save her a lifetime of hair hell!

Don't use a hairdryer on it. It will dry it out and create more frizz. Allow it to dry naturally you could rise a little serum to tame it

agree, no brushing.
I'm currently likingthis

Plating it at night may help

I also use A comb with 3 rows of teeth for use on wet hair. comb from bottom end of hair and work up towards scalp.
Like this

no brushing, no heat if you can help it and no serum or alcohol products as drying. Google Curly Girl Method.

You definitely need a large plastic wide tooth comb for brushing when wet. I would also suggest a spray-in detangler for wet hair. The Aussie one is pretty good and you can spray liberally without weighing hair down: https://www.boots.com/aussie-hair-insurance-leave-in-hair-conditioner-spray-250ml-10252752?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Beauty&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajWXkiCsuxQuot6XswOu53Nm7&gclid=CjwKCAjwodC2BhAHEiwAE67hJC2eYWxWCmp01KoMkm4IvBSGpO42lF3fftC0J1yIOh9Ohtq2Jw_k_BoCy_AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I would avoid over washing and leave to air dry as much as possible, otherwise blow dry following the Aussie spray.

Have you tried a serum for styling?

Wow thank you for all you advice! I've just purchased a silk pillow case. I do try to avoid the hairdryer sometimes it's hard though (swimming 7 till 8pm hair wash, snack and time for her bed) I don't like putting her to bed with wet hair and it takes hours to dry naturally as it's so thick. Could anybody give me some ideas on lightweight non greasy looking leave in conditioners that they have used or using? Thank you 😊

I used the Aussie spray but didn't make much difference on her hair.

What is wrong with going to bed with wet hair? I don't think it matters particularly? Might be worth seeing if it helps? Might not be viable if it's super cold mid winter or something as might be uncomfortable but otherwise may be okay?

I think a diffuser can help as well but I have very fine wavy hair so basically just avoid drying it pretty much ever.

I use a coconut oil spray both when combing through and on dry hair.
You probably need to protect the hair in the swimming pool. I think a hefty application of creamy conditioner before entering the water,
This is the comb I mentioned earlier. Also one of these
Don't try and go through the whole thickness in one go. As said above, you need to section horizontally , do the top layer and then the undercoat.

My daughter (11) has exactly this type of hair and after years of tangles, fluff and her most hated 'poufy' hair we've got it somewhat under control. I learnt a lot on this FB site https://www.facebook.com/groups/496891315031159/. Your DD has wavy, not curly, hair, so the 'curly girl method' won't be suitable, although elements of it will be.

The following has helped/ works for us:

• only brush hair when wet (DD does this in the shower using a lot of conditioner)
• Wash as little as possible (DD washes hers about once a week, more if she's swum)
• After she washes it, just wrap it in a turban-style towel (ideally microfibre or t-shirt material). Do not rough dry it/ rub it. When the towel has absorbed the most of the water, we usually brush it through again. Ideally you wouldn't do this though
• If you want to put a product in it and want something that isn't going to go 'crunchy' when dry, try either Boots Curl Creme or the Noughty Wave Hello cream (both silicone free). I've also seen Flora and Curl foam recommended. Put this on the hair when it's still wet - smooth it over (ideally head upside down) then 'scrunch' the hair with your hands to bring out the waves. Leave to air dry or, if necessary, you can diffuse dry on a cool setting.
• If you use a product that makes it crunchy (or creates a 'cast' as it's called), just 'scrunch out the crunch (SOTC)' when it's dry
• No products with silicone or drying alcohols. Check out the FB page for advice on which products work.
• Getting some layers cut in and cutting off the damaged ends. We've just done this and the transformation to her hair is amazing - it's really brought out her waves.

If you need to brush in between washes (tangles) then spray the hair either with just water, or you can add a small amount of your regular conditioner to the spray bottle. We've found 'de-tangling sprays' just build up in her hair and make the tangles worse in the long run.

Things I know would also help but DD doesn't want to do (I'm working on pursuading her)

• silk pillowcase
• tying hair up in a 'pineapple' on top of head at bedtime (use a silk scrunchie)
• sleeping in a silk bonnet

Thank you so much. Many different ways here. I'll trial them to see which suits her.