As a parent of an afro-textured baby, you’d be forgiven for thinking that your child’s hair would be the easiest part of parenting. After all, the only thing you need to do is make sure it’s always washed and combed ? right? Wrong. Just because your baby’s hair is curly doesn’t mean it will stay that way. Here are some tips for making sure your little one’s ‘fro stays as healthy as possible.
1. The Afro-textured Hair Needs Adequate Conditioning and Moisture
The hair is similar to the skin and it needs care and protection just like the skin. Use products that will not weigh the hair down, so it will be light and bouncy.?
Grooming myth: The more often your child uses products to wash and tame their curls, the healthier their hair will get. This is nonsense. Scalp oils and conditioners can loosen the natural “knots” on the scalps, and products like shampoo, conditioner and baby conditioner (a mix of warm and cold) can break up the natural oils. If your Afro-textured Baby loves to use body wash and conditioner, be prepared for cleaning it twice a day as those products work their way into the curls and leave behind pollutants that can be harmful to their health. Be sure to maintain Automatically, just make sure these products don?t contain anything that will encourage your baby?s sagging hair. If you are searching for the best Afro Hair Products, Cosmetize UK has the complete collection of Afro baby haircare products that helps your baby?s kinky hair moisturise.?
The following beauticians share how to care for the healthy curls of your next new toddler or small baby.
Kathleen Kennedy of Chelsea Piers, Authentic Results
SHAKE SHAMPOO TO COMBAT AGE-RELATED STUFF
?I recommend always following the pH of the shampoos you purchase. The darker it is, the more damaging it is to the body. Generally speaking, if a product is too alkaline, it can dry up and flake off. A product with a strong pH of 3.5 is neutral. Always double test on a small patch of skin to make sure it is working well.?
2. When Should You Start Caring for Your Baby’s Hair?
There is no hard and fast rule as to when you should start taking care of your baby’s hair, but it is usually around the age of 4 months. The reason for doing this is because the baby will be more aware of what you are doing and it will be more fun for him or her. It might be a bit tricky for you to remove straighteners from your little one?s hair, so use a cotton bud and a rule of thumb to ensure you remove any noticeable streaks.?
If your baby has straight hair, then one thing you can do is apply a comb to straighten out any kinks. This can be done by sweeping the comb across the hair from one side of the scalp to the other, or even just by running a brush through the curls.
Plucking out tangles is also an option. Plucking out any hair that has curly tangles can leave your child with a full mess in the shower, so if you have to pluck then do it daily.
Your little one will usually prefer brushing their hair with an organic hair shampoo recommended for babies ? this will give them a much healthier head of hair and ensure you brush it more often than if you used a handlebar brush.?
You shouldn?t allow your baby to leave the bath until it?s completely dry. This means no forcing them to drink their bath water, adding natural sweetness to their water ? unless it?s your baby and you?re each allowed a sip. Allow your little one to brush their hair as you would a pet. Start by taking care of their hair while they?re still wet and then they?ll enjoy the experience before doing it themselves when they?re dry.?
To keep your baby?s hair healthy and looking nice, wash and condition it regularly. Here are some suggestions:
?? Use this rhythm for cleansing your baby?s hair:
?? Take out a damp washcloth and gently pluck out the hair from the bottom of the head.
3. Which Products to Use and When to Use Them
It?s important to have a well-rounded skincare routine to keep skin healthy. There are two main skin types: normal and dermatological conditions. Normal skin is smooth and tends to have clearer, whiter skin than any of the other skin types. Dermatologically diagnosed skin can look a little darker than normal, and tends to be bumpier, redder, and drier. Your baby likely has mild to severe skin issues, so you must get your baby?s skin tested. If you have a family history of eczema or psoriasis, your child may also have these conditions, meaning that any issues they have may be permanent and require routine medical attention.?
Some of the issues your baby has could cause their hair to get permanently tangled or frizzy. It?s important to spend some time brushing and cleaning their hair every morning, as soon as they wake up. Using a baby shampoo, a quality conditioner (for babies under 6 months), or a mixture of the two, is often all that?s needed to make sure their hair stays healthy. You may also find that simply bathing their hair helps get rid of frizz. Bathing their hair in the morning and evening is a good way to keep their skin moisturized and clear.?
Many babies become dirty whenever they are put to bed. So it?s important to cleanse your baby?s skin and hair any time you are apart from them. A simple alcohol-based cleanser with antioxidant properties can do a great job of helping clear up any stinky smells your baby may have.
Most babies can go to sleep without waking up at the night. However, sleepovers can happen ? especially once your child becomes a toddler or preschooler.
4. How Often Should You Wash Your Baby’s Hair?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends washing your baby?s hair every 2-3 days. If you notice that your baby?s hair smells dirty or looks greasy, then it?s time to bathe him. This is a great time to spray a deodorant or antiperspirant ointment under his hair, preferably a shampoo with osmolality (foam-board) that is water-based and non-perfumed. Three to five minutes should get all the product out and reduce any potential bacteria buildup. Of course, you can also use Cetaphil or OxiClean to speed up the process.
For reasons still not entirely clear, your baby?s hair is remarkably perky, so washing it too frequently can lead to it getting tangled and tangles forming. To prevent this from happening, give your baby a regular scalp brushing every day, particularly if he gets his hair wet or touches his feet often. This should leave him looking and feeling shiny and healthy. The more often you brush your baby?s hair, the less likely your baby will develop the ?fuzzies? ? growths at the back of the head that look like gigantic antennae. It appears your little one?s love for crossing his arms is particularly great this time of year as they get so excited.
Be sure to give your baby vitamin and mineral supplements if your baby?s hair isn?t growing well. Though you don?t have to give your baby any specific vitamins or minerals every day, it?s a great idea to do so regularly so that your baby gets everything he needs for optimal development.
