Children's hair, just like their skin, requires special treatment. We must therefore take care of it to avoid damaging it. Discover some tips and answers for taking care of children's hair.
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Children's hair needs attention. Although seemingly simple to care for, it's easy to make mistakes. When it comes to your child's hygiene, nothing should be taken for granted.
The thickness, density, and structure of hair depend heavily on genetics. When they are so young, their mane has not yet been damaged by external elements. We inherit not only the appearance of the hair but also all the small peculiarities that can affect the condition of the hair or scalp.
Furthermore, young children's hair is very delicate, so we cannot treat it like an adult's. The ideal is to preserve its natural beauty as much as possible. Here are some tips!
When to wash children's hair?
The frequency with which we should wash our children's hair depends on their age and hair type. It is important to keep in mind that it is never good to wash it every day. Remember that sebum is primarily there to nourish the hair.
To keep our little ones' hair soft and silky, we recommend the following:
- Infants sweat a lot. However, daily washing risks irritating your baby's scalp and weakening their fine hair. We advise washing it every 2 to 3 days with appropriate products.
- Toddlers, weekly washing is sufficient for fine hair. If your child's hair tends to get greasy quickly and is thick, you can wash it twice as often.
- Children, hair care generally follows the same frequency, i.e., 1 to 2 times a week.
- From pre-adolescence (generally starting around 10 years old), hair tends to get greasy more easily, particularly due to changes in your child's hormones. You can then advise them to wash their hair 3 times a week if needed.
Sports Specificity
Engaging in sports affects your child's hair condition. A sports session, significant effort, or regular swimming is enough to make their hair greasy. Regular wearing of a cap can also have the same effect by stimulating sebum production. Whatever happens, you should leave at least one day between washes, so that the sebum has time to nourish the roots and scalp.
What products to use for children's hair?
To take care of children's hair, it is important to use suitable products. And because it is not always easy to choose the right product, we suggest you follow our advice.
Shampoos
From birth to 24 months, we recommend a shampoo with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
Why use a neutral pH shampoo for an infant?
Babies have a neutral skin pH at birth, which gradually becomes acidic after 4 months. The shampoo should then be a baby shampoo with a low level of acidity. This way, you do not damage the hair or scalp and do not disturb its balance.
Neutral pH baby shampoos clean effectively without drying or leaving residue on the child's scalp. Generally, this type of shampoo contains neither soap nor alcohol, making it a safe option for your child.
Advantages of neutral pH shampoos:
- They clean gently, effectively, and safely.
- They are hypoallergenic, which helps protect your baby's scalp and skin.
- The hair is soft and smells good.
Infant products can be purchased in pharmacies or sometimes in supermarkets. Their differences from adult cosmetics are huge – just think of a child's burning, red eyes when shampoo foam accidentally gets on their face.
Good tips for choosing an infant shampoo:
- Do not choose a product with a strong, pronounced scent, such as strawberry or vanilla, as this can cause allergies or headaches.
- 2-in-1 shampoos are also sometimes a good solution for cleaning the body and hair with a single product.
- Opt for a "tear-free" shampoo, preferably in a beautiful bottle, similar to a toy to keep them occupied, but with a tightly closed lid!
When the child is over 3 years old, we advise you to get a shampoo more suited to their age. Indeed, from 3 years old, children start to have oilier skin that requires different maintenance. A more acidic pH product will allow you to get rid of excess sebum and sweat.
Anti-lice products
For an anti-lice treatment, we advise you to get a local anti-lice treatment at the pharmacy to get rid of these critters! If in doubt, you can consult your doctor.
You can also use an additional product to prevent the appearance of these parasites, which sometimes arrive when children return to school.
The Mulato vegan anti-lice repellent spray will be an excellent product for prevention rather than cure!
Its spray formula prevents hair from becoming greasy while allowing daily use.
If you have found lice in your child's hair, we recommend applying a detangling conditioner and then cleaning everything with an anti-lice shampoo.
Detanglers
Are you trying to detangle your little girl's or little boy's hair, but it turns into torture? If you're not using a good detangler, that might be the problem. To prevent the sight of a comb from being an unpleasant event for your child, you should invest in a quality product for peaceful detangling !
Whether it's a leave-in or rinse-out detangler, the product should be applied to all lengths and ends of the hair. After that, when the hair is damp, you can comb or brush it.
For a princess's or prince's long hair, detangling should be done conscientiously every day, at least once in the morning, and it's even better if you do it a second time in the evening (without necessarily using product, simply with a brush or comb).
Little tip: detangle when the child is in the bath to save time and keep them less focused.
Hairstyling
For these little ones with shorter hair, there's a choice between paste, gel, hairspray, or wax! In any case, it depends on the style.
If you're looking for a result that lasts all day for short hair, while getting a natural look, you might want to try wax or paste.
If your child has slightly longer hair and wants a styled look, you should opt for gel.
Finally, if it's about lightly holding medium-length, or even long hair, or simply reinforcing the hold of a hairstyle after using another product, why not try hairspray!
What equipment to choose for children's hair?
Taking care of children's hair also means having the right equipment. Because good equipment can sometimes be decisive in avoiding tears or simply saving time.
Accessories
If you're looking for small accessories to decorate your little girl's hairstyle, or simply to tie up her hair, you've come to the right place! Are you looking for small elastic bands that don't damage hair and don't absorb sweat? Discover spring hair ties.
Do you have an eye for detail or simply want to add some color to your princess's hairstyle? You'll find hair clips right here.
A discreet and timeless accessory that children often love, the headband will enhance your child's mane.
Brushes
Brushing is far from mandatory every day before your child turns 1 year old, but it is still an important step! For your baby's well-being, we strongly advise you to get a brush specifically designed for infants. They are made of soft bristles.
Why is my baby losing hair?
Hair loss occurs during the first few months of their life (usually the first 6 months). This is perfectly normal and there is no reason to worry. In fact, it is called telogen effluvium. It's a matter of post-birth hormones. Don't worry, it will grow back thicker and more abundant.
From 3 years old, we advise you to switch from an infant brush to a more suitable brush. The Dessata brushes are a good idea as they can be easily transported. Without brushing, in addition to eventually looking like Mowgli (even if we love Mowgli anyway), your child will have knots in their hair.
After 4 years old, you can stick with a Dessata brush or use a more classic brush, with boar bristles or plastic pins. Or simply switch to a comb, even if it is much less comfortable!
Combs
The comb will be much more useful for making partings or, more generally, for styling your little one's hair.
In addition, to apply anti-lice treatment along the entire length of the hair, we advise you to use this tool, which will be much more advantageous than a brush. The comb will also be very good for detangling... but less comfortable than a brush.
For a child, we advise you to purchase a detangling comb with a handle from the brand Shop Hair
If your child is old enough to style their own hair, the eco-friendly detangling comb with handle from Beautélive will be perfect!
Hair dryer
The hairdryer is very useful for saving time; it must be said that it is also quite pleasant to receive warm air while taking care of oneself. But what about children?
Why is a hair dryer not a good idea for children?
A hair dryer is indeed a consistent time-saver in the morning when you're late taking your child to daycare or school. However, this device is not a good idea for our little ones' hair for two reasons:
- The hair dryer can dry out the hair fiber: in the long run, the hair will become much drier and more brittle due to the heat it is exposed to.
- The hair dryer causes static electricity in the hair.
How to dry a child's hair?
To dry a child's hair properly without using a hairdryer, simply wring out the hair with a simple terry towel, then let it air dry.
To conclude
We hope these tips for taking care of your children's hair will help you learn more. Feel free to share your feedback and questions in the comment section.
