OT: Child's hair

[hoosiergirl7]

You've already gotten a ton of great advice in how to handle the problem at hand. I just wanted to add, that hair is actually healthier and behaves better if it is NOT washed every day, just like you are only supposed to wash the scalp, massaging it throughly, and condition the strands.

I second this. I have very curly and fine hair but a lot of it. And I've known for a long time that you're not supposed to wash your hair every day because the shampoo strips your hair of essential oils your hair needs to stay healthy. Washing your hair every day actually does quite a bit of damage to your hair. So don't do it.

If your daughter bathes every day then just rinse her hair, but don't wash it every day.

 

[pha1226]

Some of us with fine hair and oily scalps look like we haven't showered in a week if we skip a day of shampooing. I've always washed my hair every day and it's very healthy. I really think it depends on the texture of your hair and your body chemistry.

 

[bzzymom]

I have been having this same problem with DS 10. About a months ago, he just stunk. I made him take a bath and I washed him and washed his hair. He knows that if he doesn't get himself clean, I will be doing it and he does not want that at all. He has very think hair and takes a shower and doesn't do a great job at waching his hair and rinsing it. I bought suave brand clarifying shampoo for him, and we get his hair trimmed an thinned every 4 weeks.

 

[gonemousin']

Some of us with fine hair and oily scalps look like we haven't showered in a week if we skip a day of shampooing. I've always washed my hair every day and it's very healthy. I really think it depends on the texture of your hair and your body chemistry.

I agree...I think the general "average" rule of thumb is not to shampoo daily. However, like everything, there's always an exception. I tend to have a drier scalp, so every other day works best for me, but my friend's hair is horrible unless she shampoos daily - and she has an oily scalp. Go figure! But for those who shampoo daily because they think they need to for cleanliness reasons, then by all means, skip a day...your scalp may thank you!

 

[frtchr]

I'm glad your DD is squeaky clean again!

This reminds me of something that happened when I was a kid. I was in charge of my own baths and hair, but somehow, I got the shampoo and conditioner mixed up! I "washed" my hair with conditioner for quite a while before my mom noticed that my hair was pretty weird. She sat in on a bath one time and realized my mistake. She still teases me about this!

 

[surfergirl602]

Hi, my DD, age 8 has been begging to wash her own hair and take care of her own bath. I had just been checking behind her, making sure toes were clean, etc. So I agreed. Anyway, she has VERY thick hair. Her hair looks disgusting. It is a battle each and every morning. She is not rinsing thoroughly, and now has a build-up of shampoo, dirt, etc. in her hair that is just revolting. Although she "washes" her hair every day, this morning, it looked like her hair had not been washed in a month. SO gross. Of course, it matters not to her. I told her tonight, I was washing her hair. Is she too young to handle this, and HOW am I going to get her hair clean now??? I mean it is bad. What can I do to strip it??

Pantene makes a great clarifying shampoo. I use this on my daughter. She has long blonde wavy hair that curls in ringlets at the ends, and she's 7. She's the same with the bath time independence. Every other shower/bath, I get to do her hair. We need to comb and braid it before bed time every night, or she looks like she's been through a tornado when she gets up. It cuts back on tangles. We also have to use adult shampoo and conditioner for her as the kids stuff dries it out too much. make sure she's only using a little bit. Too much and its not going to come out of her hair. We wash hair every other day.

 

[bjscheel]

I have read this as advice for adults but it would work for kids. Once you *think* you've gotten it all rinsed out, rinse it for one more minute. So you could tell your kids to get it where they think it's rinsed, then count to 60 (or 100...) while rinsing more.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

The shampoo and conditioner I just bought came with pumps attached on top. Maybe if you had those and told your daughter how many "squirts" she should use, then at least there wouldn't be too much shampoo/ cond. to start with.

 

[bellebud]

my kids (dd8 and ds6) have been showering for years now. baths are only for fun and playing... i make them get in the shower to *wash* after a bath. I just never felt like baths got them clean, and dd's hair was too hard to rinse properly. My dd has long, thick hair and she uses sauve shampoo and conditioner. i've taught them both how to shower by first having them shower w/ me for a few months (this was a few years ago), then i 'coached' them on their showering from outside the shower for a few months (glass door makes it easier than a curtain, but either way would work), and now i can just say "go upstairs and shower"... although I have to warn ds6 "i'm going to smell your hair, pits, heiney and feet when you get out, so you better really wash!".

I also taught dd to use her fingers like a comb, or use a very wide tooth comb for the conditioner, and sometimes she still call me upstairs to check that all the conditioner is out. and as long as she combs it again after the shower, we have no knots. but i really took a lot of time teaching her how to properly wash and condition her long hair. combing that conditioner through is key for her.

 

[princessmom29]

Some of us with fine hair and oily scalps look like we haven't showered in a week if we skip a day of shampooing. I've always washed my hair every day and it's very healthy. I really think it depends on the texture of your hair and your body chemistry.

You are TOTALLY right. Fine hair has to be washed more often. Mine is baby fine and looks like an oil slick if it is not washed daily. DSis has curly hair and if she washes every day it looks like a dried out puff ball.