Advice for a mother of a child with 3c-ish hair for the future

[stachelbeere]

Hello!

My friend has a 9-year old baby girl that I saw yesterday for the first time. My friend has 1b-ish hair, her husband 4b hair and their baby seems to have 3c hair (it's hard to say at this point as it's very short but that's my guess for now). I talked to my friend about how tightly curly hair requires completely different care than straight hair so I'm asking the most comprehensive hair people I know - you of course, people of LHC for advice!

I would appreciate any tips, videos, links, product advice on how my friend can raise her beautiful daughter while taking care for her hair and teaching her how to do it :) my friend will be very grateful as I'll send her the link to this post!

[likelikepenny]

Hello!

My friend has a 9-year old baby girl that I saw yesterday for the first time. My friend has 1b-ish hair, her husband 4b hair and their baby seems to have 3c hair (it's hard to say at this point as it's very short but that's my guess for now). I talked to my friend about how tightly curly hair requires completely different care than straight hair so I'm asking the most comprehensive hair people I know - you of course, people of LHC for advice!

I would appreciate any tips, videos, links, product advice on how my friend can raise her beautiful daughter while taking care for her hair and teaching her how to do it :) my friend will be very grateful as I'll send her the link to this post!

- Moisture!
- Protective styling until you feel comfortable doing more styles (a simple bun or braid will suffice)
- Use sulfates sparingly (no more than once a week at most, unless swimming etc.)
- Teach them to embrace their natural texture, it's unique and beautiful!
- Be gentle with detangling (only detangle with soaking wet hair with conditioner and a wide tooth comb)

[stachelbeere]

Thank you likelikepenny! By moisture you mean moisturising conditioner, I assume?

Also - the baby is 9 months old, not years, sorry about the mistake ;)

[Simsy]

There are a few natural hair gurus on YouTube, and a couple at least specialise in kids. You really need to watch them to determine if they can help, but there is bound to be someone there.
Seconding moisture; oil, conditioner, deep treatments, plain water. As with all hair, it's trail and error with what works and what doesn't.

Otherwise likelikepenny has covered the big 5, with one minor amendment from me...sulphates may be the golden ticket or they may not. Don't discount them just because someone said to. She probably won't need them much, if at all; but it is wise not to close useful doors and suphates have their place in haircare.

[likelikepenny]

Thank you likelikepenny! By moisture you mean moisturising conditioner, I assume?

Also - the baby is 9 months old, not years, sorry about the mistake ;)

Sometimes moisturizing conditioner isn't enough. Curly hair needs water above all else. LCO or LOC work well for most curlies.

I definitely agree with Simsy as well. The reason why I mentioned using sulfates sparingly is because most people with straight or wavy hair shampoo with sulfates every or every other day. They still have a very important place in hair care i.e. clarifying.

[lapushka]

There's plenty of YT videos out there with full wash-day routines. I'd have her search YT for the words "wash 'n go" with the hairtype in the title. Have her visit naturallycurly, tightlycurly and invest in the book curly girl by Lorraine Massey. That would be my starting point.

[XiaoBaiTu]

You already have the basics covered here, I just have a few tips specific to raising curly-haired children:

-Little kids are active, sometimes squirmy, and often impatient, so you'll need to minimize the time she's just sitting there. Distract her with a movie or story, sing a song, let her play with some special toys that you save just for hair time, and as soon as she's old enough to be interested, let her try to help (even if its just holding things for you or picking out the barrettes/hairties she wants). Keep her from getting bored and hair time will be pleasant.

-You can be lazy about styling, but not about the health of the hair. This means spending extra time to condition and detangle properly, but avoiding time-consuming styles unless they are protective and sure to last for at least a week.

-NEVER try to detangle her hair without some moisture! I have awful memories of crying and struggling while a brush was ripped through my completely dry hair. ALWAYS gently finger detangle with water and conditioner before going in with the brush or comb.

Enjoy your little one! Children grow up so quickly. If you want advice on a specific routine, I second Lapushka - look for YouTubers. Elle P Stewart is one that specializes in baby and toddler natural haircare.

[Hairkay]

Thank you likelikepenny! By moisture you mean moisturising conditioner, I assume?

Also - the baby is 9 months old, not years, sorry about the mistake ;)

I did wander how it was possible to have a 9 year old baby, lol.

I agree with the others about keeping the hair moisturised and detangling on damp hair. Here is some videos on baby hair care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcJGcBvzNDg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvl-4jZbbg8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFLQchTp5Mw&t=144s

We had a thread a while back when someone knew of a baby being adopted with type 3/4 hair and there was lots of advice there. The only thing I recall being over the top was the suggestion of getting a hair steamer. No baby I know would be happy sitting under that and no parent I know would be happy with that either. That's unnecessary.

[stachelbeere]

Thank you everyone for the responses! I'm sure my friend will find them very helpful and youtube visuals will be appreciated. I just sent her the link to this thread.
Just one question Hairkay - would you have the link to the thread about the person who adopted the 3/4 hair type baby? I think that might be interesting as well.

ETA: yeah - steamers seem very redundant for a little baby/ girl :)

[Hairkay]

Thank you everyone for the responses! I'm sure my friend will find them very helpful and youtube visuals will be appreciated. I just sent her the link to this thread.
Just one question Hairkay - would you have the link to the thread about the person who adopted the 3/4 hair type baby? I think that might be interesting as well.

ETA: yeah - steamers seem very redundant for a little baby/ girl :)

Hi Stachelbeere,

sorry I can't recall the title of the thread so I can't look it up.

[Arctic]

It was me, my friend adopted a baby girl with type 4 hair. Looks through my started threads from 1,5 years ago or so (I start very few threads so it's not difficult to find). The thread is very informative with tons of video links.

[Aunty Miki]

Not babies, but you might find something useful on Urban Bush Babes YouTube videos. I discovered them through a post on LHC😀

[lapushka]

It was me, my friend adopted a baby girl with type 4 hair. Looks through my started threads from 1,5 years ago or so (I start very few threads so it's not difficult to find). The thread is very informative with tons of video links.

Do you recall the title, or can you provide us with a link; because I have searched the titles on your name for "adopt" and "curl" and came up zilch.

[Arctic]

Do you recall the title, or can you provide us with a link; because I have searched the titles on your name for "adopt" and "curl" and came up zilch.

Sorry about that, I'm super busy and wouldn't want to spend my few free minutes searching old threads. Here it is: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=133856

You can easily find threads a person has started through their profile.

[stachelbeere]

Thank you Arctic for taking the time to dig out this thread, much appreciated! Lot's of great information in it - how is your friend's child doing (hairwise)? :)

Your thread reminded me of another thing that my friend may find useful, namely tips for specific products. I know we all live in different place around the globe but if anyone has any product recommendations in Belgium (specifically Brussels) that'd be a great coincidence :)

Eta: on 2nd thought: do products not matter all that much...?

[likelikepenny]

Thank you Arctic for taking the time to dig out this thread, much appreciated! Lot's of great information in it - how is your friend's child doing (hairwise)? :)

Your thread reminded me of another thing that my friend may find useful, namely tips for specific products. I know we all live in different place around the globe but if anyone has any product recommendations in Belgium (specifically Brussels) that'd be a great coincidence :)

Eta: on 2nd thought: do products not matter all that much...?

Products do matter, but it's mainly technique. If you get the technique right and know the specifice type of products you need, rather than the brand, you'll be ok.

[Arctic]

Thank you Arctic for taking the time to dig out this thread, much appreciated! Lot's of great information in it - how is your friend's child doing (hairwise)? :)

Your thread reminded me of another thing that my friend may find useful, namely tips for specific products. I know we all live in different place around the globe but if anyone has any product recommendations in Belgium (specifically Brussels) that'd be a great coincidence :)

Eta: on 2nd thought: do products not matter all that much...?

My friend has been learning really well and found that thread helpful. It's been a learning curve, though, as she has complete opposite hairtype herself. The best method has been actually doing not reading, and she has arranged some teaching sessions with other adoptive parents with people who are more experienced (both older adoptive families and ethnic hair dressers).

The little girl has tons of new growth around her edges (I think they had made too tight styles at the original country + using stretchy headbands around the hairline a lot) and her hair seems to be doing well. I'm not sure if they plan to grow her hair (at least yet), the last I saw her it was ear level-ish when stretched (the hair growing from the top of her head).

There are lot of misinformation out there, though, for example my friend had heared from several people that normal hair shears wouldn't cut afro hair. I was like :bigeyes:. My friend has been using lot of oils and butters and moisturising her hair often and doing simple, non-tight hair styles.

That being said, I've gotten an impression that even in 9 or so months my friend is still learning (for example: oils seem to be great for hair and skin, but attract dust). But I also have gotten the impression they are making all the hair stuff fun together time and the girl doesn't mind hair care.

I haven't been asking about her hair very often as I feel it is pushy, and I live far away from them, but this is based on what my friend has told me.