Often times we worry on how to manage our children’s hair without pains. Well Goodnews, i am here to help. The below procedures will help a great deal.
PROCEDURE 1
Never co-wash or sham-wash the hair without first properly detangle the hair.
For detangling, you will be needing
•A wide tooth comb or a detangling comb
•Sulfate free conditioner (optional)
•Spritz (3parts of water +1 part of oil ) Or 1 cup of water + 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice + 2 tablespoons of glycerine
•Hair clips and your fingers.
DETANGLING
You will need to section the hair in 6-8 sections and begin to work on each section one after the other by spritzing the hair generously and then you apply a good amount of conditioner directly from hair to root
Use your finger to comb or detangle the hair, then use a wide tooth comb/detangling comb.
3.when you are done detangling, make a loose two strand twist or use a clip to hold the detangled hair and move to work on the next section until all the hair is properly detangled.
PROCEDURE 2
After you detangled the hair properly, then it is time for a wash. Bear in mind that It is important to note that co-wash is best preferred, Shampoo could be done once in 4 or 6 weeks.
Due to the fragile stage of children’s hair, an all time shampoo-wash is not advised as that strips out all the moisture that the hair desperately needs thereby causing the hair to have more knots for tangling and breakage.
Conditioner is designed to put moisture back into the hair making it soft and easier to comb. Just like you wash the hair with shampoo, wash it with conditioner and remember to comb the hair in the process (you can wash the hair without taking out the twist).
When the hair has been properly co-washed ensure you gently dry hair with a soft towel or clean T-shirt.
Never use an electric dryer or straightener on the hair, at a tender age, children’s hair cuticles/shaft are still fragile to go through such heat.
PROCEDURE 3
Please be mindful that this next stage is extremely important and must be worked with care and attention. Doing a protein deep conditioning, especially on a protein based co-wash product can cause serious hair issue and at this point its important to know when to strike a balance.
Many children’s hair process protein so well that they don’t need much of protein treatments and to this regards a moisturizing deep conditioning like avocado deep conditioning, banana deep conditioning, Aloe vera deep conditioning is advised weekly or once in two weeks.
Protein deep conditioning could be done at least once in 4-6 weeks or be certain that a protein deep conditioning is really needed before trying it out. Excess protein treatment would cause hair to be hard and breaks as well, so creating a balance is encouraged.
GENERAL RULES
After deep conditioning, ensure you properly moisturise on damp hair with either a water-based conditioner or an emollient conditioner. If you are using a water based conditioner, ensure the hair ends are properly sealed with either castor oil or any hair butter.
Ensure that the protective styles are not tight and avoid one that would stress the front hair. Best protective styles are cornrows (preferably), braids, threads and yarns. A constant braiding, cornrow, yarn, thread, is not advised, at least two weeks of wearing cornrowed hair/braids on, one week of styled hair with ribbons and hair accessories. (such swaps will be healthier for the hair)
While on protective styles, ensure the hair is constantly moisturized with spritz.
Ensure the hair is cleaned and well taken care of, take care of it with either a co-wash or just pouring water on the hair (maximum duration of protective style should be two weeks).
For styling, use a hair butter and don’t load the hair with so much hair products. Keep it simple!
Avoid chemical content of hair care products
Ensure you don’t follow a protein deep conditioning with a protein leave-in, a moisturizing leave-in is advised.
For the use of African Black Soap (known as dudu osun soap) on your kids hair, its best to use it in liquid form rather than using it in bar form. So you can make a liquid soap with the black soap.
Spritz the hair properly before taking off the protective style, this is to prevent breakage and pains.
Before going to bed, its is advised to mosturise the hair and use a satin bonnet or a silky scarf to cover the hair.
Note:
The above procedures are not advised for babies between the ages of 1 day old-10 months old.
