It is so cute to watch her try to wash her hair herself, and use a comb for the first time! It seems though, that her little head of hair is surprisingly hard to take care of. After all, your toddler’s hair is different from yours; it is thinner, more fragile, and probably more prone to knots and tangles. If you are the mother of a little girl, you may have questions on how to take care of and style her hair. Here is a short question and answer session to cover the basics of toddler hair care.
How often should I wash it?
Your toddler’s hair is much more delicate than yours, so it is important to be careful to keep it healthy. Twice a week is adequate to keep her hair clean, without stripping it of its natural oils. Even once a week is fine if she has especially fragile hair. Don’t worry about her hair becoming oily, it won’t.
Should I use a brush on her hair, or a comb?
Your choice of either using a brush or a comb depends on your daughter’s hair texture. Straight hair can easily be brushed; brushing keeps it looking neat. If your daughter’s hair is curly or wavy, or textured at all, you will want to comb it rather than brush it. Running a brush through curly hair can break the delicate strands; a comb will do just fine to keep it tangle-free.
Do I need to use baby shampoo?
Yes. Baby shampoo is gentler than adult shampoo, so it is safer for your daughter’s fragile locks. Also, baby shampoo will not irritate her eyes, in case they are exposed to the suds.
What about conditioner?
For now, you don’t need to worry about using a conditioner on your toddler’s hair. Since it is so fine, your daughter’s hair can get weighed down with the extra conditioning. If it becomes tangled easily, a lightweight leave in conditioner designed for detangling can help.
Can I curl her hair, or straighten it?
For now, it may be best to not try to straighten or curl your daughter’s hair. Using heat styling at this age poses an obvious danger when considering a squirming toddler. Rollers can pull her hair, causing pain and discomfort. In addition to these reasons, remember that toddler hair is very fragile, and curling or straightening could cause severe damage to it.
Remember…
Your toddler-daughter’s hair is precious. It is important to properly care for it and nurture it so that it grows healthy and strong, just as you care for and nurture your daughter, herself.
