Many African American babies are born with thick, coarse, curly, or wavy hair that requires extra attention. Regardless of its texture and curl style, the hair appears to be dry and brittle – so treat it kindly!
Here’s how to keep your child’s hair tidy, moisturized, and tangle-free:
Washing up
Most Asians and Caucasians wash their hair as much as they do once a day to avoid extra blood. Yet African Americans don’t contain as much gasoline as whites do. Overwashing will strip off the natural oils of the scalp and leave the hair dirty, brittle, and frizzy.
Instead, wash the baby’s hair just once a week with soft baby shampoo. Biracial baby’s hair is usually less messy and contains more oil, but if appropriate, you can wash your hair twice a week.
Combining and detangling
Because African-American hair appears to be kinky, it can be quickly tangled. Mix the tangles gently to avoid breakage. A few tips:
Using a large-tooth comb or a soft-bristle brush.
Don’t even attempt to comb kinky hair when it’s cold.
Apply a small amount of oil or cream moisturizer to help detangle the hair.
Moisturizing
It’s important to moisturize your hair every week to keep it soft and manageable. Getting the best dosage may depend on the shape and function of your baby’s hair, and you can need to play with various materials. Here are a few options:
Search for natural foods such as jojoba oil, emu oil, avocado oil, pure coconut oil, or almond oil in natural food markets.
Make your own moisturizer by combining light oil (sweet almond oil or extra virgin olive oil) with natural ingredients (rosemary or lavender).
Spread a small amount of moisturizer over your fingertips and gently sweep it through your hair and onto your scalp.
Your baby can be sensitive or allergic to other foods, such as essential oils, so watch out for unexpected reactions or breakouts. Remove mineral oil or petroleum jelly goods as they appear to clog the pores.