Unruly. “A mind of its own.” Frizzy. Tangled. These are all words used to describe many children’s hair and parents can find themselves frustrated trying to keep their kids’ hair tangle-free and somewhat-neat looking, while battling the tears and frustration that their kids feel when the brush comes out.
More likely than not, what some parents identify as problem hair in their toddler or big kid may actually be curly hair! Many people start off their life with curls–part of this is just the nature of baby hair, which eventually grows out and is trimmed off the rest of the thicker, more straight “big kid” hair. But, some kids maintain their curls and waves all throughout their childhood, and many parents are ill-equipped to deal with the techniques needed for curly hair.
Thanks to a broader awareness and education on curly hair, many straight-haired parents are finding tips to best care for their kids’ hair–and many adults who have spent hours with straight irons and frizz treatments are discovering that their hair is made to curl!
If you identify as a parent of a curly-haired kid, these next few tips may help you get started in caring for curls with Storage Units Rock Springs WY Prices!
Forget everything you know about “normal” hair
The first step is the realize that many of the things you may currently be doing with your kid’s hair are opposite of what their hair needs if it’s curly or wavy. These differences will be addressed in the next few tips, but go ahead and clear your mind and prepare for a new education on hair care!
It’s all about conditioner now
Typically, people have associated shampoo with the clean suds that lead to a sparkling scalp, and been light on the conditioner to avoid oiliness. However, curly hair needs moisture, so you’ll need to flip that mindset around for curls.
If you’re really serious about embracing your kid’s curls, do some research on products that are free from sulfates and silicones. These are products that are used to reduce frizz and tame hair in those wanting straight, sleek looks, but they will keep your kid’s hair from it’s full curly potential.
Even if you’re not ready to switch products, try using just a little shampoo to massage the scalp and clean the cuticles of the hair–as you rinse it out, the suds will help clean the rest of the hair.
Then, apply a generous amount of conditioner–and follow the next step!
Put the brush down
One of the most common ways to ruin curly or wavy hair is to try and brush it too much. This will result in frizz, no curl definition, hair breakage, and probably a lot of pain for your kid.
There is only one time the brush should be used, and that is after conditioning, before rinsing out the conditioner. After applying conditioner, give the hair a good brushing, which will help evenly apply the conditioner and get rid of any tangles. After brushing (some prefer to finger brush, but others may need the help of an actual brush–check out the Wet Brush!), give the hair a light rinse–and then leave it alone! No more brushing. The water rinsing the conditioner is going to help form those beautiful ringlet curls, and any more brushing will disrupt them.
No more towel-drying
The next step is to abandon the traditional way of drying their hair. Your bath towels will cause frizz to form on the hairs, so no more touching their head with a typical towel. A cotton t-shirt can be used to wrap up wet hair and take some of the moisture out. Microfiber towels and wraps are also a great way to absorb a lot of water without causing damage to the hair.
Try to wash less
As mentioned above, curly hair needs moisture, so try to make it as long as possible between your kid’s hair washes. Sometimes, the tangles become unbearable, and a good washing and brushing may be needed.
There are other ways to avoid tangles, especially in those with long curls, like sleeping in braids, using a silk pillowcase, or wrapping the head and hair when sleeping.
If all of this sounds like a foreign language to you–that’s completely ok! Curly hair is a bit of a world in itself, but if your kid is a curly-kid, they will thank you for learning how to care for the hair that they were born with!
For more information about curly hair, check out the original curly master, Lorraine Massey, and her book Curly Girl: The Handbook.
At Self Assured Storage, we are here to support your family–hair and all. We understand that sometimes in the busyness of family life, work, and home, you need a second hand (and space) for your family’s belongings. Give us a call today to find out how we can get some of that extra stuff out of your hair–curly or straight–and into one of our secure storage facilities!
