Every parent knows the feeling. The mad early-morning dash out the door, the missing car keys, the half-eaten slices of toast, the dead cell phone batteries, the loud protests from those little people who firmly believe they should be attending classes in last night’s dinosaur pyjamas – the daily school rush is no small feat! Here’s a pain-free kids’ hair care guide for moms and dads.
Easy Kids’ Hair Care Hacks
When you’ve got your hands full, getting your kids properly groomed every day can seem like an impossible task, especially when most little ones will start to squirm and squeal at the mere sight of a hair brush. But don’t despair moms and dads! These smart hair care hacks will turn your child’s daily grooming routine from a battle into a bonding moment.
Clean, Quality Care
First, choose a shampoo and conditioner with NO parabens and NO SLS. The fewer harsh ingredients go onto your child’s hair and scalp, the better. A gentler and more natural product will preserve the natural vitality and body that kids are born with – and that so many of us lose as we grow up and start tampering with chemical treatments.
Less chemicals = more manageable hair = easier grooming all round!
Brush Before You Wash
On hair-wash day (or night), brush out and detangle the hair before you wet it. When you wash, focus mainly on your child’s scalp, because that’s where the extra oil and build up will be. For a thorough but gentle clean, use your fingertips, not your fingernails.
Detangle like a Pro
There’s nothing worse than trying to drag a brush or comb from your child’s scalp to the ends of their hair, accompanied by shrieks, wails and squirming! For pain-free detangling, you should be brushing in reverse. Start brushing from the bottom (the last 5-10cm of the hair), and slowly work your way up to the roots, instead of the other way around.
Detangling doesn’t have to be torture – for either of you! Use the right tools, be patient and take your time.
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Brushes
It doesn’t make sense to brush that beautiful fresh and clean hair with a dirty oily brush, does it? Be sure to clean your brushes, combs and other hair accessories regularly. It’s easy to do:
- First, remove all the stray hairs from the items you want to clean.
- Rub a small amount of shampoo into the bristles or teeth.
- If the items have extra dirt or build up, use an old toothbrush as a scrubber.
- Rinse the items with clean warm water.
- Leave the items in a dry, airy spot on a clean cotton towel, to dry out properly before their next use.
Sticky Situations
Bubblegum in your munchkin’s hair? No need to panic and reach for the scissors! The answer is right on hand, in your fridge – the jar of peanut butter! Using your fingers, work a small amount of peanut butter into the affected area of the hair. Keep working it in until the bubblegum pulls easily away. Crisis averted!
A Quick “Dry Clean”
If you’re pressed for time, or simply can’t convince your little ones to succumb to a hair wash, don’t worry about sending them off to school with greasy locks. Simple dry shampoo is easy to make at home, using nothing but ingredients found in your pantry! Check out these DIY dry shampoo recipes for dark or light hair, and keep some on hand for those times when washing isn’t an option.
Encourage Healthy Habits
The best way to ensure good hair care as your kids grow up, is to empower them to look after their own hair. Teach them fun facts about what their hair is made up of and how it grows. Model good habits in your own hair care regime (and in the way you talk about your hair or appearance). Explain why it’s important to take care of your hair, your skin, your body and your mind.
My new book, WTF Happened to My Hair? includes plenty more insight and advice on peacefully ending the hair care wars with your little ones. There are some clever kids’ hair care tips and tricks in there for busy moms and dads (including a surprising use for tomato sauce you won’t believe)! If you’re intrigued, be sure to pick up a copy and arm yourself with more healthy natural knowledge.