A Mom’s Guide to
Maintaining your Child’s Natural Hair
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by: Brianna Rhodes
et’s go back in time to when we were kids sitting in between our mother’s legs while they brushed and pulled at our hair every morning right before school. These are the memories that a lot of African-American women have in regards to their childhood, and dealing with their hair. For years, parents have struggled to find the right methods and products to maintain their child’s hair. Due to frustration and a lack of patience, many mothers have made the decision to experiment with relaxers or “kiddie perms” to create a more manageable and pleasurable experience for the child. There really is no reason for a parent to relax a child’s hair if you just take the time to learn how to take care of their naturally curly textures, before resorting to the chemicals. While your kid’s are growing up , it is always important to teach them that they are beautiful the way they are no matter the color of their skin or the texture of their hair. Culturally, hair is an especially important reflection of an African American person, and for children it is a reflection of their parents. Healthy haircare tips for kid’s toddler age and up: The benefits of using good shampoos and conditioners
Any shampooing should be done with moisturizing sulfate-free shampoos, and conditioners should be creamy and rich. In the early age low-manipulation styling is best.
Children’s conditioners should always be moisturizing formulas, they do not need high-
powered reconstructing conditioners unless their hair has been chemically treated.
Moisturizing is one of the most important parts of any textured hair care regimen, and selecting quality moisturizers , oils and butters is important in children’s hair care. Greases are not recommended, because they cause dryness and weigh down the hair with build-up, which can be damaging to the hair. Water and water-based spray and cream products are the best moisturizers. Products like detangling sprays, leave-in conditioners, creams and custards. Conditioner washing is recommended. Most conditioners contain small amounts of cleansing agents in them, so getting the hair clean is never an issue. Using quality shampoos and conditioners is important! Deep conditioners are not usually necessary unless the child’s hair has been chemically treated. Protein/moisture treatments on chemically treated hair as needed.
Hair Styles. Buns, braids, and twists are great ways to style your kids hair and are easily manage-
able. But you should also make sure that certain styles do not damage your child’s hair such as pulling your child’s hair too hard or combing too tightly. There are an array of options and resources out there that can help with maintaining your child’s natural hair. Remember to always teach your children that they are beautiful as they naturally are. Source: A Comprehensive guide to textured hair care “The Science Of Black Hair” Author, Audrey Davis Sivasothy
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