Dear Parents,
How do you care for your children's natural hair?
Many of our little ones’ have various hair textures and types so our routines differ, however we share one common objective we want what is best for them.
Hi Mummy and Daddy how do you take care of your young ones natural hair? Do you have a hair care routine that is ideal for their hair type? What products helps with de-tangling and moisturising their mane? Let’s talk about this and find answers that can benefit us all.
First up we need to let them know ALL hair is BEAUTIFUL no matter the type or texture! HAIR-Care and HAIR-Education is our responsibility as adults to impart to our young ones.
We here at Curls and Kinks Hair Studio have devised an at home simple cheat sheet for you to follow.
First we need to gather some basic Tools & Products for our D.I.Y experience
- A Large Wide tooth comb or Den-man type brush for combing through from ends to roots when the hair is wet.
- Few Butterfly clips or Crocodile clamps for sectioning hair.
- Choose a Hair brand designed specially for Natural/Mix Textured hair 3A-4C is ideal. (Ensure products are free from parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, phthalates, benzene etc).
- Find a Shampoo that cleanses, clarifies and moisturises natural hair.
- A Conditioner with good slip for when pre-pooing and de tangling hair.
- Leave-In Conditioner for sealing or closing the cuticle layer of the hair shaft leaving hair softer.
- Butter based Cream (For e.g. Shea Butter why not try Curls and Kinks Mango or Lemongrass Hair/Scalp Butter) for extra moisture when styling their hair.
- Hair Oils this helps to seal in moisture and can act as a barrier from chlorine damaging their hair. Swim Caps to protect their hair for the pool.
- A sturdy powerful Hair Dryer with an AFRO pick. A Satin lined hair bonnet or Satin scarf to protect their hair for bedtime.
- Water is an excellent natural moisturiser so you'll need a Spray Bottle for water.
So Parents hair care does not have to be a stressful or painful process. To our Mums and Dads of children with mix textured hair we understand it can be challenging, But we can all learn TOGETHER! When a child associates pain with every hair session be it at home or in a salon setting, life can become a nightmare.
Many of our kids play some type of sports or engage in various activities such as swimming which can have an impact on their hair. Let us find ways to encourage and inspire our children to be proud of their hair no matter the texture.
Now let’s begin our Simple D.I.Y Routine
- Pre-Shampoo here we use a generous amounts of conditioner to soften the hair. Use your water spray bottle for added moisture. Next using the clips or clamps section the hair into 8-10 mini sections. With the wide tooth comb start de-tangling each section of the hair from ends to root. This step is VITAL before shampooing the hair TRUST ME!
- Once hair has been pre-poo rinse with warm water then begin to shampoo. Gently massaging the scalp as most childrens are tender headed. Next we lightly wash the rest of the hair. Rinse and shampoo again for a thorough clean.
- Now we move on to conditioning the hair; be as generous as possible for extra slip. Comb the hair again from ends to root. Rinse with cool or tepid water to seal and close the cuticle layer.
- Towel Dry the hair as much as possible and begin sectioning into 8-10 clips. Now following the LOC or LCO method we add some leave-in conditioner to the hair , folllowed by your cream/butter along with a heat protectant before blow drying.
- Staring from to ends blow dry working slowly down to the root until each section drys completely. Please be very careful Parents.
- Now that their hair is clean and moisturised why not try protective or low manipulation styling (For e.g. two strand twists, plaits, braids, cornrows, bantu knots or ponytail bunches always keeping in mind less tension is best for their hair especially their delicate edges.
- Your child's hair regime can be customised to suite their particular needs. Moisturising daily or three times a week is ideal depending on how dry their hair is. Before bed time remember to protect hair using a satin bonnet or scarf to prevent breakage and lock in moisture.
From the very beginning it is vital to give your young ones a happy, healthy hair care experience. Parents follow these simple steps or book a HAIR-Education class for you and your child at our Curls and Kinks Hair Studio.
Here we offer one to one classes with our experienced HEAD STYLIST teaching you the fundamentals of caring for you childs' Natural Hair.
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PROTECTIVE STYLING – What am I really protecting my hair from, And what are some examples of these? CK – This method can be classified into two categories No Manipulated and Low Manipulated. No manipulated protective method is basically wearing your natural hair in styles that prevent manipulation, a classic example is a 2 strand twist which leads to the promotion of hair growth. Low manipulated styles not only are they protective but also put little tension on the hair follicle, such examples include Crochet braid style, light knot-less braid, passion twists, Senegalese twists. Long and heavy box braids or faux locs are beautiful natural looks, but such styles can put serious tension on the hair follicle if constantly manipulated and left in over long periods. I always advise my clients to chose the best extensions for their hair type, have regular hair treatments before and after they put in or take down their extensions. Allow their natural hair to breathe for a while after taking out your extensions (preferably two weeks or more before putting them in.) While your extensions are in cleanse/co-wash & moisturise your scalp using a dry shampoo/conditioner and natural oils. EXTENTIONS – Are braids or any extensions good for my natural hair i.e are they considered protective hair styles? CK – The answer to that is both YES and NO. What I have learned in 13 years as a natural hair stylist is choosing the right extensions for your hair type is key. I suggest doing LOW MANIPULATED extensions during certain times of the year or when on vacation. For e.g fall/winter is the best time to do protective styling. Protective extensions are effect during harsh weather conditions and chlorinated water.
ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) This ingredient is used as an anti – fungal/inflammatory treatment. An ACV detox rinse helps remove bacteria and excess product from the scalp and hair, leaving it shinier. Speak with your natural stylist about this treatment. AWS Andre Walker System. The renowned stylist to the stars Andre Walker classified hair textures into categories 1 – 4. Afro & Mixed textured hair start from 3A – 4C learning your hair type allows you to create an optimal hair care regimen specific to you. “Girl if you don’t know you betta ask somebody!” BC (Big Chop) This refers to completely cutting off chemically treated hair leaving behind only natural strands. Sometimes staring over seems daunting but that Transitioning journey is needed Sis. CO-WASH Here you cleanse the hair using conditioner rather than shampoo. DC (Deep Conditioning) To put it in simple terms DC helps put moisture back into the hair. This can be done by adding conditioner to the hair for an extended period of time also using some heat source to penetrate each hair strand. LOC or LCO With this Method we use three different products, Liquid - Oil - Conditioner or Liquid – Conditioner – Oil in that order. This method helps to seal in moisture into each hair strand. PRE-POO Basically conditioner is applied to the hair prior to cleansing with shampoo, all my NaturalistA’s know this step is vital in the de-tangling process. PROTECTIVE STYLING This method can be classified into two categories No Manipulated and Low Manipulated. No manipulated protective method is basically wearing your natural hair in styles that prevent manipulation, classic examples are 2 strand twist, comb twists and flat 2 strand twists these styles can lead to the promotion of hair growth. Low manipulated protective methods are styles that not only are protective but also put little tension on the hair follicle, such examples include basic cornrows with ones own natural hair or with extensions, crochet braid style, light knot-less braid, passion twists, Senegalese twists. Long and heavy box braids or faux locs are beautiful natural looks, but such styles can put serious tension on the hair follicle if constantly manipulated and left in over long periods of time, this can also lead to your hair locing. What I have learned in 13 years as a natural hair stylist is choosing the right extensions for your hair type is key. I suggest doing LOW MANIPULATED extensions during certain times of the year or when going on vacation. For e.g fall/winter is the best time to do protective styling. Protective extensions are beneficial during harsh weather conditions., also during the summer vacations while swimming in chlorinated water. Sis always remember to have regular hair treatments before and after you put them in or take your extensions down. Allow your natural hair to breathe for a while after taking out your extensions (preferably two weeks or more before putting them in again.) While your extensions are in CLEANSE/CO-WASH and MOISTURISE your scalp using a cleansing shampoo/conditioner and natural oils (preferably a cleanser with tea tree, witch hazel, rosemary or mint). RAKE & SHAKE This is a technique where your fingers or a rake brush is used to define small sections of your hair. The LOC or LCO method is applied to make your curls or kinks pop, diffuse or air dry then shake and go. SILK PRESS Hot combs are played out. A Silk Press is where its’ at girl! Here we use high quality flat irons and heat protectors which gives the hair the appearance of a relaxer – type look. Ask your stylist about this stlye' TWA This is what we call a teeny weeny AFRO. These can be styled in cute yet chic ways and can be SLAYED with a touch of colour. TWA's look fly on anyone, ask you stylist about this style. WnG (Wash and Go) Work is hectic, life is stressful but Sis your natural hair should be the least of your worries. Style it by first using a good moisturising shampoo and conditioner. Then applying a good moisture based product with just a lil gel fingers raking small sections or using a rake brush those CURLS and KINKS will be 'poppin'. Complete this No manipulated style with a diffuser or air – drying.