It’s that time of the year again. The leaves are starting to change and we’re preparing for our littles to go back to school. Back-to-school season is both exciting and stressful. Prior to school going into the session, we have to allot money for buying new supplies, clothes, and whatever else our children may need. As parents, we try our hardest to make our children feel the best they can on their first day of school. This often includes their hairstyle. If you have committed to styling your children’s coily hair in a way that embraces its natural state, you may be concerned about maintenance.
The Clean and Simple process might be challenging if you’re still in the early stages. Your child’s hair may still be detoxing and you’re learning new methods alongside adopting a new mindset towards natural hair. This is no small feat! You should be proud of yourself for going on this journey!
Your schedule is likely filled with a seemingly never-ending list of things to do as a caretaker. That’s without learning a new hair care regimen for your children. Luckily for you, we here at Brown Skin Women have ample experience taking care of children’s curly hair. Here are some tips on how to manage your little’s hair during the ever-busy school year.
Say goodbye to the added stressor of doing hair every morning!Weekly Cleansing.
This is arguably the most important tip. The hair and scalp need to be washed in order to remove the buildup of dead skin, natural oils (sebum), and products. Children need to cleanse just as often as adults do. The number of times per week may vary due to your child’s lifestyle but once a week is the rule of thumb. Remember: a clean head is the foundation of easier-to-manage hair.
Style according to lifestyle.
As mentioned above, you need to take your child’s lifestyle into account when styling their natural coily hair. If they’re active and play sports throughout the week, twists are your best bet. They are versatile, easy to do, and a beautiful style. You can also do a twist-out a day or two before wash day! We discuss different styles that may be suitable for your child in our Mommy and Me webinar. Parents will also be able to ask any questions they have.
Secure the hair at night.
Children are notoriously rebellious when it comes to wearing scarves or bonnets at night. You’ll want to use nightwear that aligns with the hairstyle your child is wearing. If your child has braids, then a satin scarf should be used to secure their hairstyle. It’s important to establish and maintain the practice of protecting the hair at night. It’s an important step in the Clean and Simple regimen.
Allot time.
Put aside time weekly for you to cleanse and style your little’s hair. This should become an expected, regular routine. If possible, try to do this routine on the same day each week (or as close as possible, we understand that sometimes schedules change.) When following the Clean and Simple regimen, you will only have to do weekly maintenance depending on style. This will free up time throughout the school week and make your mornings go a little more smoothly.
Create a bonding space.
Turn hair care into a bonding experience. Foster an open, loving environment when you do your child’s hair. You can listen to music that your child enjoys while you wash their hair and find something fun to watch while you style it. Most importantly, use your listening skills during this time. If your child says you’re pulling too hard? Validate their feelings and adjust. If your brush is scraping their skin and they flinch away? Adjust. Ask them if they’re okay and be willing to make the changes needed. Your children should feel heard and loved while you do this activity. It’s a beautiful moment that they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. A safe environment will make your children look forward to having their hair done. If they choose to have children themselves, it’ll be something they want to continue.
Our trainings will help you learn the best techniques and which products so there will be No More Tears during child hair care. Enrolling in Home Hair Care Academy will help remove the trials and errors of hair care. Switching to science-based hair care and embracing natural coily hair will foster a healthy, happy relationship between your child and their hair. A goal of Brown Skin Women is for curly haired children to fall in love with the hair that grows from their head. We want them to know how magical their coils are.
Life is obviously full of unexpected twists and turns.
Many of those twists come from our children. As parents, we have to do our best to adapt. We may get frustrated, but we have to remember that WE are the parents. When we took on taking care of another human life, we agreed to the frustrations, fears, and inexplicable joy that comes along with parenthood. The way we address and react to these moments of frustration will shape and mold them. If your little keeps taking off their satin scarf at night, explain calmly why they need to wear it. You should calmly explain to them as you gently detangle the knots from their hair the importance of protecting their hair at night. It’s important to discuss the actual consequences of their actions. Those consequences should not be surrounded around your anger or frustration.
Check out the Kids Corner in our Home Hair Care Academy If you want to learn more about healthy caretaker hair habits.