Help with My Babies Hair

Hi J.,
I am african american. My husband is italian and african american. My girls have long curly hair. I use Herbal essences shampoo for "colored/permed/dry/damaged". I only shampoo one time so not to cause excessive dryness on the scalp and hair. I then follow with Panteen conditioner "Relaxed and natual for women of color". I leave this in for approx 2-3 min. It leaves their hair soft and silky. Apply a moistuizing "cream" leave in conditioner to her damp hair. I use Nexxux humectress, it is really good. It is expensive but you only need a little. Or I use Motions CPR "Triple Action leave in Conditioner". I apply a small amount to each section and comb through to the ends. She is going to need lots of moisture and conditioning. Try to use "cream" anti frizz/moisturizing products when her hair is dry. If that is too heavy, I've used "liquid" leave in conditioners for dry/brittle hair . I put them in a spray bottle dilute w/little water and spray it on their hair in the morning or when needed.

Many african americans use Oil based products. But Oils do not moisturize. They just coat her hair and leave it looking greasy and oily. Water based products and creams give the "moisture" that is needed and softens the hair with out leaving it sticky and greasy.

Many african americans shampoo less frequently due to the time and process. It should be fine for you to shampoo her hair more often. Water is the best moisturizer! Just use products designed for dry/brittle/damaged hair to retain the moisture once hair is dry.

One more thing. Many african american women wrap their hair in a satin scarf at night. The constant friction on cotton pillow/sheets causes excessive dryness. One of my daughters will not go for wrapping her hair at night. Therefore, she uses satin pillow cases. This also helps with dryness.

I hope this is helpful!!!
D.

Hi! I have a friend who has a similar problem with her daughters hair. Try Aveda anti-humidity hair lotion. She says it works good for her. Let me know how it turns out. Good luck!!

Hi J.,

I am a hairstylist in Norcross (and a mom of a 3 yr. old boy).
I haven't worked with a lot of ethnic hair, but the people that have come in with that texture have enjoyed using a glossing product by Hairtoys. I would love for you to come in and just try the product on her to see if it works. It's not a thick gel product,but a light gloss.
My name is A. and we are located at Sharp Haircuts off of Peachtree Parkway (141) in Norcross.

Good luck!
A.

Hi mom! Since your daughter is bi-racial and has a dry scalp, I would refrain from washing her hair everyday. Many African Americans only wash their hair once a week because most don't have oily glands in our scalp and the scalp is constantly dry. I don't use greasy products in my 2 year olds hair either, because it doesn't do anything but gloss the hair (she has long thick curly hair). What I do use is after washing her hair (I still use baby shampoo because it doesn't bother her eyes) is BB Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion (it is in a hot pink and white bottle) or Luster's Pink Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion (in a light pink bottle with black writing). You can get it in the African American hair section in Walmart. It looks just like lotion when you use it, but it is hair lotion. The reason I use it is because my sister, who is a beautician, suggested it for my daughter's natural hair. It really works well because it isn't greasy, and it moisturizes her scalp. I would try parting her hair and putting it in sections of her scalp. Hopefully this should help with the dry scalp.
I would stay away from Just For Me until I did my research on the product. I don't know if that is good for untreated hair (meaning hair that hasn't been relaxed). I think they just market it for little girls, but I don't know if it is good for all. I never bothered to use it on my daughter after one use. The one product by Just For Me I did try on my daughter, I didn't like it at all. I really hope this helps! Good luck! :)

my son went throught a period like that when he was a lot younger. He had curls with texture. Not enough texture that i could use something like just for me, it was the same problem as with your daughter, his hair would looke greasy and dirty.
i started just rubbing in some baby lotion, or even just a little of the creamy baby oil and it did the trick. hope this helps

Okay Mom "how often do you wash your daughters' hair"? Many African American wash our hair once a week or once very two weeks depending upon the texture, how quick the hair is to smell sour or sweaty. If you are washing your daughters’ hair more frequent than that…. then you are dying it out. Try the following shampoo and conditioner – Olive Oil Shampoo in a green bottle with black writing. It can be found at your local beauty supply place and Crème of Nature Conditioner. Oil your daughters’ hair with African Pride Hair and Body Oil all three products can be found in your local beauty supply store. Section your daughters’ hair and apply the African Pride Hair and Body Oil directly to the scalp -- message the scalp, brush and style.

Hope this helps