My Kids Haircare Routine
I remember getting my hair done as a kid. I was a salon go’er so I felt extra cute when I left. I specifically remember being interested about what was used, why it was used, and when to use it. I think I was a scientist in my former life.🧑🏽🔬
Over time and experience with my own hair, I have learned through research and trial and error what works and what doesn’t work with my girls hair and even my sons hair. Boys need love too.
My haircare routine is pretty consistent and works for all of us. Most importantly, I am using all clean, toxic-free haircare product. Win!
Here are the tools that I use:
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Here are the products that I currently use:
Avery’s hair
Look at all that beautiful hair! 😍
Avery’s hair typically stays in braids simply because, she has A LOT of hair. While I love doing her hair, I am not built to do my hair, her hair, and Harper’s hair. Since Avery is old enough to go to the salon, she goes about once every 3 weeks with giving her hair a break every 3 months. When I do give her a break, I revert back to this haircare routine to keep her hair healthy.
Avery’s hair is thick and rich. It’s full of body and density. Coarse but soft at the same time and beautifully coiled. I would classify her hair type as 4a.
Harper’s hair is thick and smooth and super curly. Very soft but strong. She has more hair than all of us combined for a 2 year old. I would classify her hair as 3c.
There is honestly no rhyme or reason on when I pick wash day but its typically a week overdue when I do. Don't judge me 🥴
It takes about an hour and a half from beginning to end to do Harper’s hair and about three hours or more to do Avery’s hair. Again, girly has a lot of hair.
Step 1: I prepoo with coconut oil or olive oil before washing. I only do this if I have been lazy with their hair and it needs a little extra love. If their hair is not too tangled, I detangle a little in this step.
Step 2: I wash twice with the shampoo mentioned above. Focusing on the scalp and not the hair itself. I only wash the actual hair if there is food or something in their hair. This really only applies my 2 year who does 2 year old things. 🤦🏽♀️
Step 3: I deep condition with the conditioner mentioned above. I apply in sections. For Harper, 4 sections, and for Avery, 6 or 7 sections.
Step 4: Once the conditioner is applied, I use my Qredew to steam the hair. I do about 5 mins with Harper (she will not sit still for anything longer), and about 15 mins with Avery.
Step 5: Once I have steamed, I then detangle in the sections I have created with the oh so ever magical Felicia Leatherwood detangling brush (purple brush). This brush is magic. It detangles like a dream and is very forgiving if you get a snag in the hair. I love this brush.
It takes about 15 mins to detangle Harper’s hair and about 25 mins to detangle Avery’s hair.
Step 6: Once I have detangled, I rinse the conditioner out with semi cold water and apply the leave-in mentioned about.
Step 7: Depending on how I am feeling I will decide what type of hairstyle I will do. Apply the pomade lightly to the scalp and style.
Tips:
Sealing the hair for retained moisture:
A water based moisturizer (water is the first ingredient) should be applied to the hair before an oil or a butter. Most oils and butters chemical makeup have molecules that are too big to be penetrated by water. Which is why they makes great moisturizers and sealants because they trap the moisture in but, they must be used properly. This applies to the skin as well. Note: Some people use the LOC method as well. You may have to trial and error to see what works for you.
When styling, I spritz the hair with a little bit of water (since it is damp from washing), I use the leave in as my moisturizer, and then apply the Clean Mundi Hair and Body Butter or the Kreyol Essence hair butter to seal the moisture in, comb and style.
Avery’s hair tends to be a bit on the dryer side so I am sure to be generous with the moisturizer and the butter and brush it through to ensure the hair is coasted.
Harper’s hair on the other hand does not need as much but I am sure to coat every strand and brush it through.
Depending on what I grab and what I feel like messing with, I may use castor oil as my sealent. Castor oil is thick so apply lightly and add more as needed.
Ways to retain moisture:
Another way to keep moisture in the hair is to ensure the ends are secure. For Harper, If I do sections of twisted ponytails, I will coil her hair at the ends until smooth. Ensure the ends are tangle free. Sometimes I will secure the ends with rubber bands coated in oil. For Avery, I will always seal her ends with beads or oiled rubber bands. Again, her hair can be a bit dryer at times so I want to retain all the moisture.
Braided and twisted styles hold moisture and last longer than a hair puff or lose hair. It is definitely a lot easier but it causes more frizz and tangles. I only do theses styles every now and then.
When refreshing hair and re-moisturizing the hair when it is dry, I generously spritz the hair with water. Not soaking wet but damp enough to open the cuticle so it can receive moisture. You will know when the hair has enough water just based on how smooth the hair is and how well your hairstyle turns out.
I only apple hair gel when I want them edges laid or the hairstyle to last but since quarantine, I do not use it much. Where we going???
If you are interested in what wash day looks like for my girls, comment below.
To see my recommend non toxic leave in conditioners, click here —>LINK
With Love,
Mundi🌱
