Curly-haired DD: Am I the only one losing this battle???

[LostBunny2]

DD is 5 and has the most gorgeous curls, which I love, but I'm honestly at a loss with how to look after them. I've bought SO many products. They mostly smell cheap, do nothing, or, in some cases, leave her hair greasy and with a weird texture! The products I use on my hair, in contrast, do wonders for her hair too. But they cost more and I always feel worried the ingredients are not suitable for her. Is it just me? What do you do with your DC's curls, and did you ever find something that actually works? Or have you just given up and gone for a bun every day? 😂 Send help please!

Curly hair is even harder work short, at least the weight stops it springing up as much when it’s longer.

Well obviously you wash it and give it a comb through 🙄

Basic cleanliness and hygiene is hardy the same as using styling products. She’s a 5, not a teenager, does it really matter if her hair’s a bit wild? She’s not old enough to care about vanity yet. Just let her be a kid.

I don’t agree. I had curly hair as a kid and it was less likely to be knotty when short.

Well, it wasn’t obvious to me. As I said before, like many people with curly hair, my children’s hair isn’t washed or combed through. Curly hair isn’t the same as straight hair and what you are calling styling products are necessary for curly hair. Like washing and combing through is necessary for your child’s hair.

Why do you comb it? Why does it matter if it’s a bit wild?

Well curl pattern and thickness will obviously have an impact on what length is easiest too.

Do you have a kid with curly hair? It’s not like straight hair. We were away with a pool for 3 days and day 1 I threw her freshly washed and combed hair up in a bun. On day 3 I took it down and an area had become so matted because of the pool. it took hours to pick it out with a half bottle of conditioner in it.

You need to keep adding moisture to curly hair. Otherwise you end up with a frizzy, matted mess.

Love curly hair on anybody but especially children. Luck you.Loads of good posts here and advice on looking after it.

Take loads of photos of your boy. So you can look back in later
life and see how lovely his curly was.
😻👍

Some good tips here - don’t brush when dry, wash 1-2 times a week, silk bonnet or pillowcase.

Products will entirely depend on her curl type. For instance, one of my sons has big, thick curls, the other has tiny, fine curls. Mine is more the latter, with added frizz.

Products I like - Bumble & Bumble 3-in-1 conditioner, Only Curls range (also do a kids range), Kerastase curl cream. Also a clarifying shampoo every now and again to get rid of product build up. Conditioning masks also help maybe once a month. Microfibre hair towel/turban. Detangling brush (tangle teezer) - only once conditioner has had time to sink in in the shower.

A lot of it is just trial and error. Good luck!

Ds has very curly hair. He doesn't use shampoo, just conditioner, and doesn't brush his hair. He sometimes uses the hairdryer with a diffuser, but usually let's it air dry.

All the advice above seems to be for hair washing day. If you’re only washing once a week, what do you do on days 2-6 as hair looks increasingly ratty and tatty without brushing?

My hair looks fine without any refreshing for 3-4 days, so long as I style it carefully on wash day. For Day 5-6, I use Cantu Curl Reviving spray, emulsified in my hands with water, and kind of wipe and scrunch it over the ends and lengths of my hair. That brings back some definition. The water is really key because curly hair gets progressively more dry between washes and needs the hydration

Does it?

This isn’t my experience. What routine are you doing? My older dd plans her hair routine so that important events happen on day three or four because that’s when it’s looking it’s best.

It hasn’t ever looked ratty or tatty so it sounds like you aren’t doing what works best for the particular hair.

You can use a wide tooth comb that keeps the curls from becoming all frizzy. If the hair is kept tied up or plaited for school then it doesn't get tatty or matted.

Depends on the hair. I usually only get 3-4 days out of mine as it’s very fine and soft so the curl drops and it gets more puffy and frizzy
more coarse hair might be at its best after 4 days

My son is now 18 but it took me to him getting to 15 to find the right products and combo and the products was only because his hairdresser ( yes hairdresser but barber) used it and I saw how much better it made his hair look.

The product is only curls, ( he has the whole range ) it costs a fair bit but it’s literally the only thing that tames his frizz and makes his curls pop, he uses it with a tangle teaser to make his curls more defined, ever since we discovered this he hated dealing with his hair, now I can’t get him out the mirror 🙄🙄

I spray with water and add a Cantu cream. But usually with bonnet use it looks good until wash day: it depends what she has been doing.

Not sure about shampoo, but dil usesthis product on dgs gorgeous curls. We all know not to brush his hair when dry and when it is wet, we use one of those tangle teaser brushes. Also, find a hairdresser who knows how to cut children's curly hair properly.