4 year old girl’s hair - what are the secrets?

[Angstinmyspanx]

Hello

It has occurred to me that I should be thinking a bit more about looking after my daughter’s hair.

It is not challenging hair in any way …straight, non-tangly and she is very good about washing it, brushing and drying.

But there is probably something I don’t know about guiding her towards Princess Kate tresses as an adult.

How do people style it and when is the right time to let it grow long?

Basically, how do you end up with great hair if your starting point is at the age of 4?

‘Princess Kate tresses’ are the result of having a professional blow-dry every time she appears in public.
You don’t need to do anything special to your daughter’s hair.

She has lovely hair. I used to see her on the school run. It is worth aspiring to. But that’s not my main point.

How do you help keep your daughter’s hair in lovely condition and when do you let it grow long etc. that’s what I am on here for.

I let it get longer when she was starting school as easier to tie up. I don't particularly like long hair but it is in many ways more practical. She's agreed to go back to shoulder length soon which I am pleased about.

I don't do anything to concern either of us about its condition other than using a bit of conditioner to make it easy to brush through and washing it once a week after swimming.

No, Kate's hair is not "something to aspire to". It's just hair.

For a four-year-old with long enough hair, I'd plait it. That way, it's practical and tidy for school, and the children sitting behind them at carpet time can't play with it in the same way that they do ponytails or bunches (unless they take the bobble out, of course)!

Plaiting is supposed to be better for the hair as it is supposed to reduce hair breakage and locks in moisture.

My daughter has long, shiny, healthy hair and I think I definitely make sure it’s taken care of. Always in French plaits, brushing prior to shampooing/conditioning so I do not brush whilst her hair is wet. I also let her hair air dry so there’s no heat on her hair. She wears a swim cap when in the pool. I trim her hair once or twice a year x

My 4 year old has wavy hair almost down to her bum - she doesn't want it cut but she is a grub so it's a challenge to keep it looking nice. I wash it once a week and blow dry it using a heat defence spray and detangling conditioner. No products other than that but same as pp she wears a cap for her swimming lessons. Trying to get her into the habit of brushing it out properly before bed every night (she's got that fine blonde hair that just knots up so easily). That's it really.

What does she want? I have one DD who likes it longer so I plait or tie it back for school. The other likes it shorter and it has to be shorter than shoulder length to not tie it back for school so she has a bob

Basically, how do you end up with great hair if your starting point is at the age of 4?

Either genetics or money.

Great hair is a combination of genetics (dictates thickness, texture and length) diet (for shine and health) and care, which tends to be less is more, because everytime you wash, dry or style you're causing 'trauma'. Personally I don't think it matters whether you keep it short for a while or let it grow. As long as you mess with it as little as possible and use gentle products, the rest will be largely down to the genetic lottery.

'Princess Kate tresses' are achieved by having the genes that give you naturally fairly thick healthy hair plus extensions for additional volume, length and bounce and being worth millions with access to top hairdressers and products at all times.
Brushing or plaiting a 4 year olds hair more won't achieve any of that. Maybe let her hair just be hair and help her aspire to achieve so much more as an adult than just 'hair like a princess'.

I have great hair, not dissimilar to Kate’s (although obviously not professionally styled!).

It’s just genetics, but I’ve also never dyed it, which probably helps, and my mum always took me to a hairdresser rather than hack at it herself.