HELP! DD with out of control hair!

[twinnytwo]

DD 20 months has super tight corkscrew curls which are wonderful, but impossible to manage, especially the back of her hair which is a permanent bird's nest.
The only advice I have been given is to use a wide toothed comb and then spray water on it to 'tidy' it up. Using the comb is not pretty, as the back of her hair is such a tangle.
The only other thing that vaguely helps is combing conditioner through it after the once-a-week hairwash ordeal.
Is it ok to start using conditioner on a child with such 'young' hair?
I would be REALLY grateful if anyone have any other tips on how to manage it, or know of any products that might make it easier to comb/manage to make detangling less traumatic for her?

either use a plant sprayer with a mix of water and conditioner between washes and a spray in conditioner after hair washing

DS has fine, long hair so he needs conditioner

wide tooth comb is good too

i bet her hair is gorgeous!

you can get detangling sprays. I used to use one on a little girl I looked after who had very curly hair and it worked a treat.

thanks for the tips and amazingly quick response! when you say mixing water and conditioner, do you mean bog standard conditioner shaken together with water?

yes TIY!

any conditioner and water - give it a good shake

please DO use conditioner. i am curly and traumatised by my mum wanting to brush my hair, just use a spray on conditioner or detangling spray or make your own with conditioner and water mixed and either your fingers or a really wide toothed comb. don't worry about over conditioning as curly hair can take a lot of conditioner. and keep doing as you are with the washing only once a week as washing too much will make it worse.

if you get really stuck see this website: www.naturallycurly.com

TIY? sorry, am new to this...

i meant to say Twinnytwo but referred to this is yesterday (TIY) - i got confused

sorry, forgot to explain, on that website go to curltalk and there's a board for parents of curly kids

thanks fluffles, as a fellow curly, am I traumatising her by being drawn by some force to 'boing' her curls?! She hate it. Seriously, do you recommend any particular spray from natuarllycurly? There seem to be several...

OH god yes no brushing. Wet combing only. I wash dd2s twice a week but condition it daily. I have even been known to put frizz ease on it - it works btw, far less tuggy but not so curly.

Bit weird but silky pillowcase helps to prevent the backcombing effect during the night.

THANK YOU all for your tips, am off to curltalk - cannot believe I didn't consult the wise mums from mumsnet sooner!

For one so young i'd avoid anything with silicone in it like frizzease because although it works you then need quite a strong shampoo to get the silicone out again.

While she's young i'd stick to a leave in conditioner and gentle shampoo. I think johnson's baby might do a good leave in?

The products i use for me would not be suitable for a little one whose hair will be much finer...

hmmm - I know what you mean fluffles, but to get over the initial neglected heap it was fab!

I've got hair like this - now use Aussie 3 minute conditioner - very heavy - brilliant for me, but not sure about using on a child.

However, my mother got round the issue when I was a child by doing my hair in the morning with a brush and a pair of scissors - just cutting the birdsnests out - sounds drastic, but kinder than combing out. My hair was always short when I was little.

Yeh i apprecieate that CYJ - i guess i just ment i wouldn't use it on a regular basis.

IKWYM Fluffles it seriously dropped the curl out for a few days.
Way heavy for regular use but handy!