Hair Care- African American

I have a friend that has a mixed daughter, and she uses a product called Mixed Chicks. I think she gets it online. She said it's a little on the pricey side, but she and her daughter both say it works better than anything else they have tried, and trust me, they have tried just about EVERYTHING on the market.

Please don't use Vaseline, ultra sheen, blue magic, or royal crown. These are outdated hair care products that were used before anyone knew better. Now we know better, so please, do better. If you are still uncertain ask a professional hair stylist who specializes in "ethnic" hair which products they would recommend. I initially used the Just For Me or other child products. My stylist suggested different products that were good for non-chemically treated hair. There are many things on the market, some better than others, in different price ranges. Consult with a professional.

I wash my daughter's hair with head and sholders sensitive scalp shampoo and conditioner combo and that doesn't dry her hair. I also rub sweet almond oil on her damp hair. For detangling I am currently using Carol's daughter detangler from the Princess and the Frog line; prior I was using Tui leave in conditioner. As a result, my daughter's hair isn't dry and her scalp doesn't flake.

Also, after reading some other answers I would suggest you stay away from products with petrolium. Petrolium messes with the scalp oil production and leads to dry scalp issues. I learned this from expierience.

I cosign the other poster's suggestion to use jojoba oil, almond oil, and olive oil mixed with water in a spray bottle. You can also try a mix of water and aloe vera (gel or liquid at whole foods/ health food stores) and then seal with unrefined organic coconut oil (also at health food stores). A commercial product I like is Kid's Organics Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizing Cream (Sally's or any Beauty Supply Store).

For a wealth of AMAZING hair care information please check out this site: http://www.longhaircareforum.com. They have a kid's hair care section, and the members there give great advice.

Also - avoid products with mineral oil or petroleum as the main ingredient. And you can try cowashing her hair a few times a week. Cowashing is washing her hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Water is nature's best moisturizer so cowashing her hair often will only infuse it with moisture. Shampoos (especially those that contain sulfates) are what strip the hair of its moisture and natural oils. Cowashing is a great way to add moisture to the hair without stripping it. And seal in the moisture with oil (coconut, olive, almond, etc) after washing.

I have more to share, but don't want to write too much. PM if you would like more info...

HTH

Do NOT use petroleum jelly on her hair. In addition to the drying, etc., it attracts dirt and just feels NASTY. Don't use it on anything except lips and cuticles.

I use i.c. hair polisher. It's at beauty supply stores and drug stores. I am black and have fine and thick hair. This stuff protects it from "the elements" (sun, wind, humidity, curling iron, blow dryer...) and helps maintain softness.

You might also try tea tree oil (on her scalp) and vitamin e.

Try using the products by Carol's daughter. They are some in Some Macy's stores, and you can buy them online. The thing about having a kid is that you can't just put what you put in your hair in her hair. I had to learn this the hard way because my daughter's hair is totally different from mine. I can go to the beauty supply and get just about anything to put in my hair, cant do that with her. Most products sold in the beauty supply contain mineral oil, which has drying and damaging effects, especially to a baby like yours with new hair.

I have even used the renu herbs hair products on my daughters hair and it worked well. They are no drugs or harsh chemicals in renu herbs hair care products, I even use this on my hair. They is a store here on S. Gessner and even in houston, you can still order her products online, her name is Robyn.

hope this helps......

Try olive oil, or jojoba oil, or almond oil mixed with water in a spray bottle and spritz her hair or you can also mix the oils together and add to water and use as a spritz. You can also use a small amount to the oil and apply directly to her hair. You can also try shea butter and if you want something commercially Miss Jessie's Baby buttercreme is really great for baby's hair but it can be expensive. Check out Naturallycurly.com or MissJessies.com and Carol's daughter also has some good products. My suggestion is to use more natural products like the olive oils etc, because some commercial products can irritate your babies skin.

Best of luck from one who knows about "our" hair.

Try using pink hair lotion or coconut oil on the baby's hair it will keep it nice and moisturized without making it too greasy. Do not wash her hair daily, only once or twice a week. If you wash it too much it will start to break off and fall out.

Any grocery store or family dollar will have what you need.

Pureology is a great vegan shampoo and conditioner that has great PH. Many store-bought brands dry hair out, so I get mine from the salon. I buy it in big jugs so that I save money. And, you can use it for your hair as well as my baby's.
With very curly hair, you need to use a leave-in conditioner as well. Again, I'm predisposed toward salon stuff, and you can find deals if you buy it big. I use Paul Mitchell leave-in conditioner on my daughter's hair. Put it in while the hair is still wet. Once the hair is dry, put in some anti-frizz serum, which also hydrates. I like RUSK deepshine.
The unfortunate thing about beautiful, curly hair is that it is by nature dry, dry, dry. The more hydrating products you can get into it, the better.
Also, do NOT wash her hair every day. Curly hair needs a break from shampoo. I wash ours every second or third day.

I don't remember brand names but you can find good products to use in the beauty section of Fred Meyer or similar stores. Fred Meyer has a small section devoted to hair care for African-American people. My daughter's sister uses a cream type product on her baby's hair. I think it has the word pink in it's name. She rubs it into the hair, I think, when the hair is dry.

You can also use a leave in creme conditioner after shampooing.

I co-sign w/ everything Melanie M told you. I have two girls, ages 6 and 9 and we all have natural hair. The only product I would add is a leave-in conditioner called Cantu Shea Butter. It is only $4.97 at Walmart and our hair loves it, but I seal in the moisture w/ an oil. Walmart also has this oil that is pretty cheap but good called Herbal Oil for $1.97. I seal the girls moisture in with that and we are good to go. Just don't add anything else to that leave-in b/c it does not play well with things that are not oils. In the morning after I take off their little satin bonnets, I spritz their hair w/ a mixture and seal w/ an oil. A less expensive spritz you can use is mix some conditioner like Suave Tropical Coconut conditioner w/ water and extra virgin olive oil or glycerin. This works good on my kids hair, but all of our hair is different and responds differently, so trial and error is a must.

Another thing I would suggest is to try to keep your child's hair in protective styles because that tends to keep the moisture in also and lessens breakage from unnecessary manipulation. Some examples are two strand twists, box braids or plaits, etc. I am not a huge fan of braids that are flat to the head because there are a lot of people out there that pull the hair too tightly. And stay away from products were petroleum or mineral oil is used as the first ingredient.

I co-wash their hair about 2-3 times per month and then do a real wash w/ shampoo once every 4 or 5 weeks. Some people wash w/ baking soda and rinse w/ apple cider vinegar, but you will eventually get to that one day. Play around and try different things first. I am what they call a recovering product junkie because I have tried quite a few things, but now I have found what seems to be working for us now and I will stick to it until it stops. lol

HTH.

Liv. It is in red and white container and it's at Sally's. My daughter hair is really fine and my neice's hair is very coarse and thick. Works on both types. Also helps to grow. I use Just for me shampoo/conditioner weekly for her cleaning care. Hope this helps.

I used Vaseline then if it doesn't seem to control it as she grows, use ultra sheen, blue magic or royal crown.

You can make your own oils. Equal parts of walnut, sunflower, very lite olive and vitamin e. Rub a very small amount into your hands then put on wet hair. This will lock in the moisture. Putting on too much will make it greasy. You could also watch her diet.

there are hair creams out there just for that type of hair.

We have started using Hair Milk and Spray by Just for Me and we use B&B hair grease on her scalp. I wash her hair once a week but I put the cream on her hair everyday when I put it in ponytails. I also make sure I take her hair down at night before she goes to bed. I know it sounds crazy but for really dry hair, keep it greased and put a satin scarf on her hair at night to hold in the moisture. I love B&B products and try Carol's daughter, its a little more expensive but she has a line for the hair maintance for little girls. Good luck to you and your princess!!