Tangles, shampoo in the eyes, nits… sometimes hair care can be a real battle. Here are some dos and don’ts to help keep your child’s hair healthy and stress-free.
Hair Washing Tips
Do: Use a mild shampoo on your child’s hair. Adult shampoos are too harsh and can irritate your child’s skin or dry out their scalp.
Don’t: Overwash your child’s hair. Washing too frequently strips the scalp of natural oils, leading to dryness and itchiness. This can cause the scalp to overproduce oils, making hair greasy.
Do: Use a detangler to gently remove tangles. Start from the ends and work toward the roots with a comb.
Don’t: Apply conditioner to the scalp—focus on the ends to avoid greasiness.
Do: Make bath time fun by adding bubbles, crayons, books, or toys. Turning the experience into a bonding moment with your child can ease their reluctance. Need ideas? Check out these bubble bath activities for inspiration.
Don’t: Wash hair at the beginning of bath time. Sitting in soapy water for too long can irritate skin, especially for little girls.
Do: Invest in a ‘water brim’ to keep water from running into your child’s face during rinsing.
Don’t: Leave children unattended in the bath, even for a moment—drowning is silent.
Do: If your child has long hair or dislikes baths, try using the shower for rinsing. Showers are particularly effective for getting all the suds out of longer hair.
Hair Styling Tips
Do: Alternate hairstyles, such as ponytails, plaits, or bunches, to prevent hair damage from continuous pulling. Keep ponytails loose to avoid stress on the scalp.
Don’t: Use rubber bands, as they can break hair and are difficult to remove.
Do: Use oil and a fine-tooth comb to remove chewing gum from hair—avoid cutting or pulling.
Handling Nits and Lice
Do: Check your child’s hair regularly for nits.
Don’t: Wait until your child has nits—keep treatment products on hand for quick action.
Do: Treat infestations immediately and follow up with a second application a week later to catch newly hatched eggs.
Don’t: Forget to finish the treatment—many products require multiple applications for effectiveness.
Do: Use a nit-repellent spray or leave-in conditioner with tea-tree oil, a natural deterrent for lice.