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Home › Articles › Your Children › Lovely Locks

Lovely Locks

Solutions for Your Child's Hair Hang-ups

By Lisa Marie Metzler

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My 9-year-old daughter was born with straight hair that eventually grew out with adorable ringlets in it. I can't tell you how many times we have been stopped by an adoring fan because of her curls. If I had a dime for every comment she's received, we might have enough for her first year in college!

Of course, there's a price one has to pay for high maintenance hair. The daily chore of detangling, braiding and conditioning can easily wear on the child and mom's nerves. There are some days when my daughter wished she had straight hair. Of course, her cousin with the straight fine hair wishes she had the curly locks. I guess the grass (or hair!) is always greener on the other side. Whatever type of hair your child was blessed with, you'll find ways to manage it more easily with these tips from hair stylists and moms alike.

Curly and Wavy Locks
You can bet Shirley Temple had some help with those adorable, bouncy curls. Although it may take a bit longer in the morning to style, curly hair can be easier to manage with a few styling tricks and products.

Gina Ritter, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is mom to a 23-month-old son with very curly hair. "It's like his hair has a mind of its own," Ritter says. She's been able to control his curly locks by occasionally using baby oil to control the "frizzies."

Oil can control the frizzies, but Leslie Miller, hair stylist practicing in Beulah, Mich., recommends using natural oils. "Anything petroleum based should be avoided, as it causes build up, pore blockage and actually can create more tangles and matting," she says. Gretchen Heber of NaturallyCurly.com, Inc. suggests using coconut oil, avocado oil or shea butter to moisturize. Lavender mist will provide shine and smooth curls.

Curly hair types need only to be washed once or twice a week. Use a daily leave-in conditioner to avoid frizz and keep tangles at bay. "Every other day, we only condition instead of washing her hair with shampoo," says Kelley Hunsicker, of Irmo, S.C., about her daughter. "To keep the natural curls instead of having frizz, I comb it out while wet and never put a comb in it again until she's washed it out. I allow the curls to form while her hair is drying naturally." Braiding before bedtime can make the morning routine less hectic too.

The best cut for curls, according to Heber, is a bob haircut with bangs and no layers. However, if your child has very thick and wavy hair, you may want to consider layering, which helps the curls bounce up and cuts back on tangles. It's also a great look for girls who want to still have longer hair but not the tangles and matting. On occasion, your child may want to try a straighter look. However, you should avoid using chemical treatments on children's hair. "If a child wants to wear their hair straight for a few days, there are numerous styling products that help relax the hair when used in conjunction with a roller brush and hairdryer," says Heber.

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