Manage curly hair?

CaraMay

My child, age 22 months has lovely soft corkscrew curls. His hair is still quite short but the problem is that it turns into a total birds nest at the back after he has slept on it. We don't want to cut it but can't find a product to keep it frizz free.

Any ideas on how to manage it?

guillespe

A strong conditioner - I know it could be tempting but,i wouldnt go near any sprays or any gels or anything like that as the little fella could put his hand on his hair and into his mouth..As kids do!!

If you are looking for gels and sprays try to find some in a baby allergen free range if there are any.

CaraMay

It's strange as it seems almost better without a conditioner. I have been using Pantene.

I only wash it weekly so it's hard to keep right in between.

bscm

Conditioners reduce the frizz and help the curls form their defined natural shape (curly hair is naturally dry). Sleeping with a head-wrap on normally helps the curls from becoming matted/frizzy, but obviously with a young child it might be difficult for them to sleep with something on their head.

Mary-Ellen

Could you use coconut oil as a conditioning treatment or use a tiny bit as a serum?

It's availible in tubs in Dunnes or health food stores

KGLady

I'm a naturally curly and so I've years of experience in trying to manage the dreaded pillow fuzz Dehydration and friction are the two causes.

A light weight conditioner will be great for him, the Johnson & Johnsons is kids stuff pretty good. And I'd personally be a bit wary of too much product on a little fella that young, what I use to refresh my curls at the back is a spray bottle with a bit of my conditioner and water, and then when they are damp just give them a scrunch or twist them about my fingers if the natural curl is very badly out of shape. Finger combing will be better than a brush or a comb day to day, and give him a good old thorough brushing at bath time when his hair has conditioner in it.

As for the friction element, most pillowcases are cotton and not only does it to a superb job of absorbing his natural hair oils making it drier, it also causes enough friction when he's sleeping to fuzz up the hair. A satin pillowcase made a serious difference to my hair and majorly reduced the amount of pillow fuzz I get as it doesn't absorb like cotton and the slippery surface of it doesn't agitate the hair when moving about in sleep.

Best of luck with his hair, sounds lovely

CaraMay

I tried the coconut oil and it really stank. Is this to b used as a conditioner or use every day? I wash it weekly.