From coils & kinks to waves & zigzags, it’s time to learn how to care for children’s curls
Whether your little one has a different texture of hair to your own, or you’d like to pick up some top tips on caring for their curly or wavy hair, we’re here to help you understand all you need to know about your child’s textured hair.
Baby hair changes a lot in their early years and goes through several stages of development before it’s true texture begins to show. When it’s finally time to open your at-home salon, caring for a coarse hair texture can be a simple and enjoyable routine for both you and your child.
What are the different textures of hair?
Hair texture is generally grouped into four types:
Type 1 – Straight hair
Type 2 – Wavy hair
Type 3 – Curly hair
Type 4 – Coily hair
Within types 2, 3, and 4, each category is further broken down into subcategories, labelled from A to C (2A, 2B, 2C), depending on the curl or wave pattern.
What kind of hair does my child have?
The only real way to know which hair type your child has is by comparing their hair to pictures of the different hair types you can find online. Take a look at the patterns you can see in their hair when it’s in its natural state, without any products or styling.
Keep in mind that most people don’t just have one type of hair – you may find they have a mixture of both type 3 waves and type 4 curls.
Can I tell what texture their hair will be when they’re a baby?
It won’t be obvious what texture baby’s hair will be straight away, and it can take up to two years for their natural texture to appear.
It’s actually common for babies who are born with curls to end up with straight hair once they enter their terminal (permanent) growth phase. The reverse can also be true – straight hair shedding and new hair becoming curly.
As baby starts to grow more terminal hair, you can get a clue to their hair type by watching it dry. After washing, you can see if their hair strands dry straight, or if they start to bend or curl.
How should I look after my child’s hair?
What works for one person might not work for another, even if they have very similar hair. To begin with, you don’t need to invest in a long, complicated routine, especially while they are young. For young babies and toddlers, all you should need is a gentle cleanser (shampoo), conditioner and a wide-toothed comb for detangling.
As they get older, you can begin to introduce styling products to help define and hold their curls, and you may need to try a few things out or change up their washing in the process as you discover what works and what doesn’t.
Generally, each hair type has a different concern:
Type 1 - Straight hair
Straight hair grows faster than other hair types, and it tends to be shinier but feels greasier quicker. It needs to be washed more often, so it can be helpful to use a dry shampoo.
Type 2 - Wavy hair
Wavy hair has a slight texture, so it’s less greasy than straight hair, but it can still be a little oily.
The biggest challenge with wavy hair is that it tends to frizz easily, so using a little styling mousse is great for keeping it under control.
Type 3 – Curly hair
Curly hair tends to be fine and dry, so it’s important to use a moisturising shampoo to keep it healthy. It tends also to be frizzy hair, so using a curling cream will help to keep curls defined.
Type 4 - Coily hair
Type 4 hair is tightly curled and can have a mixture of textures, ranging from tight S-shaped coils to more of a z shaped, zig-zag pattern that doesn’t actually curl around itself. It tends to keep the same shape whether it’s wet or dry. The texture of type 4 hair tends to prevent moisture reaching the individual strands, so it’s the driest type of hair.
This type of hair is better when washed less often, as little as once a week. Make sure you use a shampoo designed for textured hair, as well as a moisturising conditioner. After washing, use a pick comb to detangle and add a little mousse or gel to reduce frizz and add shine.
Top tips for textured haircare
Wash less, not more
Type 3 and 4 produces a lot less oil than straight hair, so it actually benefits from being washed less frequently too. Over washing with shampoo can disrupt the natural balance of oils and further strip the hair of moisture.
While they’re little, shampooing only needs to happen around once a week to keep their curls healthy. This can be increased to twice a week, or however often you feel necessary, when they reach five or six years old.
Detangle often & working in sections
With all that playtime and running around, children’s hair often gets in a tangle, and textured hair even more so. The detangling process can be uncomfortable for little ones, so being gentle is the key here.
You want to detangle hair when it’s damp, rather than dry or sopping wet, to protect against breakage and loss of curl pattern. Divide the hair into small sections and apply a good amount of conditioner or a detangling spray to create a good slip. Then, using a styling brush or wide tooth comb, gently brush downwards through the hair, starting from the tip (bottom) and working up to the root (top) of the section, near the scalp – this method helps avoid any further tangling. Gradually work through the sections until you’re able to run the brush smoothly through their hair from roots to tips.
Moisture is key
Moisture retention is important when caring for textured hair to keep it healthy, soft and curly. Always ensure you’re using more conditioner than shampoo and invest in a good leave-in conditioner to keep moisture levels topped up throughout the week.
You may even want to try co-washing – using conditioner in place of shampoo, even on the scalp. This can benefit curly and coily hair by helping to maintain natural moisture levels, allowing it to grow healthier.
When shopping for products to use on their hair, look for ingredients like natural butters (shea, cocoa), oils (coconut, jojoba), water and proteins like silk or wheat protein for damage repair. It’s best to avoid any products that include alcohol, as these are more likely to dry out your child’s hair.
Not too tight
As your child’s hair follicles are still maturing, take extra care when styling their hair in tight cornrows or when applying rubber bands with no slack on their scalp, so as not to damage their growing locks. You might want to try looser styles instead, like bunches or twists.
Airdrying over hair drying
Keep heat to a minimum to prevent your little one from losing their natural curl pattern over time. Instead, wrap their hair in a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt (regular towels absorb too much water and cause frizz), then let it air dry.
Let’s refresh
If they’re in between washes and you notice their curls begin to drop or lose their shape, simply mist their hair with water or a curl refresher spray and wind the curl around your finger to reintroduce the shape.
