Read below to learn about my curly hair routine for toddlers and enjoy a more peaceful, less stressful, and tangle-free bath time experience!
When it comes to bath time with a curly-haired cutie, it usually involves detangling many knots and brushing through lots of thick, long hair. A struggle is almost inevitable if you don’t have the right products and routine in place.
My 3-year-old daughter has the most beautiful, soft spiral curls. Luckily for me, I also grew up with natural curls, so I am familiar with how to manage this type of hair.
My husband on the other hand is not so confident or comfortable washing my daughter’s hair and I don’t blame him!
Below you’ll find my routine for toddlers with curly hair. I want to help you and your child have a more peaceful bath time experience as well as beautiful, healthy-looking curls.
1. Use a Sulfate Free Shampoo
I really like the Fairytales line of shampoo and conditioner for my kids. All of their formulas are free of harsh chemicals, toxins, paraben, and sulfates. They are also dairy, gluten, and nut-free! This is huge!
For my daughter’s curly hair, I’ve tried both the Curly-Q Daily Hydrating Shampoo as well as the Tangle Tamer. All of these products smell fantastic but I actually prefer the Tangle Tamer over the Curly-Q even though she has curly hair! I just think it does a better job of well, detangling. Fairytales also makes a line called Roesmary Repel which actually helps prevent headlice!
After massaging the shampoo into her hair, I use the Skip Hop Moby Bath Rinse Cup which is a tear-free waterfall rinser to wash it out.
I tell my daughter to lean her head back and we count to five, rinsing the shampoo out five times. The Moby Bath Rinser is awesome because it has a lip that sits against the hairline to prevent soapy water from dripping into the eyes.
2. Use a Detangling Conditioner
We also use the Fairytales “Tangle Tamer” conditioner. It smells fantastic and works like a charm. Once I lather in the conditioner, I use a large wet brush to get the knots out.
First, I start at the front of her head where the hair meets the forehead and gently brush backward, working the knots towards the back of the head.
Then I clamp off some hair with my left hand brush only the part that is sticking out of my fingers if that makes sense. This prevents the hair from pulling away from the scalp when brushing through the knots, thus no screaming! Conditioner is my #1 tip in my curly hair routine for toddlers.
Little by little I work my way through several chunks of hair, gently detangling without pulling.
3. Use a Wet Brush:
I really love the Swissco wet brush for both my and my daughter’s hair. Amazon has them but I usually come across them at TJ Maxx and Marshalls and they’re super affordable! It glides right through our hair and gets all of the knots out easily. A wet brush is essential to have a successful curly hair routine for toddlers.
4. Use a Detangling Spray:
After my daughter’s hair is clean, rinsed, and brushed, I wring out the excess water and spray a detangling spray throughout.
We currently use the Honest Company’s Conditioning Detangler Spray in Sweet Orange Vanilla scent. The smell is not overbearing at all it and literally smells like a Creamscicle pop… so good!
I really love the Honest Company products and have been using the Honest Shampoo and Body Wash since my twins’ birth. They’re made with all-natural, hypoallergenic ingredients and smell lovely.
5. Use a Gel Formulated for Curly Hair:
After I comb the detangler through my daughter’s hair and towel dry it with a dry washcloth while she’s still in the tub, I use a dime-sized drop of DevaCurl Ultra Defining Hair Gel for curls and apply it throughout her wet hair.
I scrunch up the curls to give it some form and let her hair air dry!
Sometimes if it’s really close to bedtime, I will use the hairdryer on a low heat setting to get some of the extra moisture out without completely drying her hair. I find that the curls are much more defined and shiny when her hair dries naturally.
6. Pro Tip:
If your child’s curls start to frizz the next day, keep a spray bottle filled with water handy. Mist the hair and let air dry to rejuvenate the bouncy curls. Curly hair loves hydration!
Keep in mind that there are many types of curly hair. Tight curls, loose curls, coarse or fine, different textures, etc. The right products and routine can vary so be sure to research before deciding what’s best for your child!
Here is my sweet little girl and her beautiful ringlet curls. Oh, how I love her so!
Check out the Fairy Tales product line here: http://www.fairytaleshair.com
Check out the Honest Company Website here: http://www.honest.com
I hope you found my curly hair routine for Toddlers helpful! Let me know what routines and products work for your curly-haired cuties or join our Facebook group for more curly-haired advice,
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