Daughter's curly hair is making me crazy!!!!

[SarahKate]

Hi DISers!

I have an 8 year old DD who has curly hair that's not quite shoulder length. I've always had some challenges with keeping her hair detangled, but over the summer the underneath part of her hair in the back got really coarse and almost impossible to keep detangled. There is also a part on the back that tangles every day, as she mainly sleeps on her back.

I've tried many different kinds of shampoos/conditioners and there's a leave-in product that was highly recommended to me which does help to a certain extent but by the next day it's just as bad as before.

What should I be using for her hair? Should I be using some sort of oil-based product? What recommendations do you have? I just don't know what to do about that coarse hair - it almost seems like it's past being able to be helped!

Just sooooooo tired of fighting this battle every single day. And to top it off, DD is very tender-headed which makes it worse!

Thank you!!!!

 

[torinsmom]

Hi DISers!

I have an 8 year old DD who has curly hair that's not quite shoulder length. I've always had some challenges with keeping her hair detangled, but over the summer the underneath part of her hair in the back got really coarse and almost impossible to keep detangled. There is also a part on the back that tangles every day, as she mainly sleeps on her back.

I've tried many different kinds of shampoos/conditioners and there's a leave-in product that was highly recommended to me which does help to a certain extent but by the next day it's just as bad as before.

What should I be using for her hair? Should I be using some sort of oil-based product? What recommendations do you have? I just don't know what to do about that coarse hair - it almost seems like it's past being able to be helped!

Just sooooooo tired of fighting this battle every single day. And to top it off, DD is very tender-headed which makes it worse!

Thank you!!!!

My son is biracial and has white texture, but lots of curls(at least before he started getting it cut really short :-() I used the Curlz products when he was younger and they worked really well. They are really moisturizing, but not greasy.

http://www.curls.biz/curly-hair-products/curly-hair-products-curly-q-for-kids.html

 

[MamaJessie]

What if you put in two braids at night and then just rebraid it in the morning? (there will be no tangles so it should be easy) I have wildly curly hair and my mom used to always braid my hair before bed when I was little.

 

[SarahKate]

Thanks for the replies so far!

I actually found that Curls website earlier tonite, so I'm glad you mentioned it. I saw they have a "sampler pack" that has the shampoo, conditioner, and a few other things. That might be a good thing to try, although I'd love to find a product I can just buy here locally!

To the other poster, DD's hair has layers in it, so braids wouldn't work very well, unfortunately.

It's just weird because her hair has never gotten this coarse before. I wonder if it's her getting older. Her daddy is 1/2 Japanese, and I wonder if she's inherited a little of the coarseness (definitely NOT getting the curls from his side of the family though!!!).

 

[Gigi22]

My MIL had her daughters (who all had very long, straight hair) tie up their hair in "rags" during the night. It is kind of an old-fashioned way to curl or wave hair gently. They basically combed through their hair, sectioned it, and kind of rolled it up and then tied the sections up with narrow pieces of plain cotton. I wonder if you tied up your little girl's very curly hair, it would keep detangled?

 

[southern_redhead]

I want to think I have seen Curlz at Target.

 

[tessieg]

My oldest dd has very long very curly hair. She too is tenderheaded so I know how tough that is to deal with. We have experimented through the years--she is 11 now-- and have come up with this: shampoo and very generously condition every other day(she'll use a handful of conditioner), spray in detangler or curl enhancer spray when she gets out, brush completely through all layers when it is slick and wet, and then in the mornings use a pick. We never try to brush her dry hair--it snarls up when we do.
Hope you find what works for you and dd. My dd gets compliments daily on her gorgeous curls--I remind her of that when we are trying to tame it before we go out!!!

 

[Angry Eyes]

Did your daughter swim a lot this summer? If so then she may have a build up of chlorine residue. We have a pool and my blonde daughter's hair actually gets "crunchy" for lack of a better word if we don't strip it with Redken's Pre Art product only available through the salon. It's the only thing that helps. Just a thought.

 

[Evi]

Try Moroccan oil. Always condition her hair and use a wide tooth comb to comb through it while its wet. You have to use moisturizing products daily and do a deep moisturizer once a week. I had super long hair when I was little and My hair is naturally curly like big thick ringlets. My mom used to braid it at night but I hate the zigzags it leaves but as an adult I find wrapping my hair in a bun while its still humid straightens it out alot leaving me with a more of a loose curl.

 

[dyna]

As a kid I had very very thick very very curly hair the tighest pony tail I could pull together at base of neck was 6 inches around (try to get a pony tail holder aroung that!) Hair was very long too never shorter than waist length an sometimes down past me butt.

So curly that even when wet it only hung to 1/4 of it's length

At that time 30+ yrs ago I thought everyone brushed hair NO that was the last thing mine needed. What needed to be done was wash it condition it well (BTW it took at least 8ozs of shampoo to wash hair an about that much conditioner too) while wet get the tangles out an then just let it hang an dry naturally no brush or picking after it was dry.

When towel drying DO NOT RUB HAIR AN HEAD just wrap it gently in a towel or even better old tshirt does wonders.

I learned as an adult to pick hair out in shower with the conditioner on it, rinse wrap loosely in a towel an maybe pick hair out again just to get it laying the way I sorta wanted it to it always did have a mind all it's own I usually used a leave in conditioner in it too that I put on after towel drying. (ISO makes a bouncey creme that is a leave in conditioner that worked well for me a big 32 oz bottle lasted me about a year the the few yrs.

www.curly.com has lots of curly hair hints an tips that you might try.

I never found any shampoo an leave in conditioner any better than the aussie mega products....aussie moist shampoo an conditioner for dry damaged hair always did the best for me. Vive was OK too but harder to find in my area.

As I have gotten older an gray hair has thined alot an last spring I went had all mine cut off it;s not anymore than an inch long anywhere on head now an I LOVE IT!!!

 

[angwill]

My son's hair is the same and when I asked about what to use at ulta they told me to buy Redken All Soft. It is wonderful. His hard curls become really soft and easy to comb through.

HTH

 

[Pastamom]

Another great website is naturallycurly.com. They rate products and give some great tips.

does DD wash her hair every day? - I've found that washing with conditioner instead helps a lot (called no poo washing Then use a detangler or leave-n conditioner.

Good luck

 

[deawd]

My niece is biracial and has a ton of thick,curly hair. Here is what works for her. Don't wash it too much. We often condition it without washing it -- we just rinse it really well before conditioning. Wrap it in a scarf when she sleeps. Don't brush it too much. Use a detangling spray whenever you brush it. We like Curls and Mixed Chicks products. We get both online. Each has their own website.

 

[torinsmom]

Thanks for the replies so far!

I actually found that Curls website earlier tonite, so I'm glad you mentioned it. I saw they have a "sampler pack" that has the shampoo, conditioner, and a few other things. That might be a good thing to try, although I'd love to find a product I can just buy here locally!

To the other poster, DD's hair has layers in it, so braids wouldn't work very well, unfortunately.

It's just weird because her hair has never gotten this coarse before. I wonder if it's her getting older. Her daddy is 1/2 Japanese, and I wonder if she's inherited a little of the coarseness (definitely NOT getting the curls from his side of the family though!!!).

You might see if there are any salons locally that sell the products. Here is a list.....

http://www.curls.biz/salon-finder.html

My son's hair has definitely gotten coarser as he has gotten older, so it could be that. Make sure you are not washing it every day either, because it will wash away the natural oils. I also like the advice from a PP not to brush it after its dry. If you need to use anything, use a pick.

 

[SILLYANDI]

My daughter has thin curly hair and swims competetively so she is in the water 5 days a week. She showers everytime she gets out of the pool with garneir fructise sleek & shine shampoo then heavy on the sleek & shine conditioner which she combs through her hair and gets all those back of the neck rats nests out then rinses. After, she uses the sleek & shine anti-frizz or farouk biosilk which seems to keep it from tangling (or frizzing up) and she has beautiful ringlets because if it!

She used to have the worst dreadlock like tangles and she hated to comb her hair. Now it's not a problem at all.

 

[ilovejack02]

I don't have this book, but have heard great things about it. I have curly hair too, but not real course so doesn't tangle much. I do find that sleeping with my hair in a pony tail helps it look neater when I wake in the am.

http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Lorraine-Massey/dp/0761123008

 

[robincara]

I use CHI Silk Infusion on my dd's curly hair and it makes it super soft and easy to comb. I usually only use this after she gets out of the shower but you can use it on wet/dry hair. On days that she doesn't take a shower I use Paul Mitchell Taming spray. Last year I was so sick of combing my dd's long, curly hair every day for school, that we got it cut and donated it to Locks of Love.

 

[czycropper]

My DD12 has very thick curly hair (imagine ringlets down the back) and I have curly hair which I chemically straighten and would probably be the same, if it was left natural which I was about 10 the last time that happened and I'm turning 50 tomorrow so......

Here's what I've learned which actually works - Never brush it when it's dry, always use a wide-tooth comb, condition, condition, condition, don't wash too often - 2x a week is fine; sleep with it in a pony tail. Moroccan Oil is great!

We've been using Ouidad products and they have worked wonders on both of our hair. Their website is wonderful! www.ouidad.com They're not cheap but worth the money. I've tried other products that just don't work.

 

[justbishop]

http://www.cjsewingroom.com/ is a WAHM that makes a very highly raved product for biracial hair called "spritz o' butter" I think. Would probably be great for any curly, tangly hair, you can get it custom scented, plus it's all natural and CJ is really wonderful to work with

 

[SCADC]

I too have naturally curly hair, which is becoming frizzier as I age. My hairstylist told me that it is due to the fact that grey hair is finer.

Anyway, I use the CHI Silk Infusion and it has really made a difference. I also began today, using a shampoo that is sulfate free. This should also help. I never have problems with tangles since I only comb throu my hair when it is wet and has the CHI Silk Infusion in it. It actually seals the hair shaft and helps hair to dry faster.

Later this month, I am getting a Brazillian Blowout treatment on my hair. It takes 90 minutes and has to be done again approx. every 3-4 months. It takes away frizz, but not the curl. It also helps with problems when the weather is humid. You hair will not "draw up" with this treatment. It is not a chemical process.

I am so excited to get this treatment!