Hi I saw your post.
There are a few things you can do to care for a child with kinky hair. Here a couple of do's and don'ts. I am african-american and this what I do for myself and my daughter. Her hair is natural (no chemicals) and mine is relaxed.
Do keep it braided. This will keep it tangle-free and easy to manage.
Do keep it moisturized. I'm not talking about goo-gobs of grease. A light oil moisturizer is sufficent.
Do comb the hair out after washing. If not, it will be a tangled mess in a few hours, and definitely do not let the child go to bed with wet hair. You and her will be crying the morning!
Do use a wide tooth comb. Small tooth combs can break the hair.
Do use a HARD bristle brush. This makes a huge difference. Our hair needs a little more strength when it comes to bristles. But only when it's dry, and just to catch the frizzies around the eges.
Do TRY to learn how to cornrow. I taught myself when my daughter was about 18 months. I don't have to do it every morning, it looks neat for a few days, and it keeps it managed. I recommend waiting until the child is at least 2 years old to start braiding....but that's something else all together!
Don't use shampoo's with sodium laureth sulfate. It dries our hair out, causing more tangling and damage. Baby shampoo's usually do not have this ingredient. Secondly, products with mineral oil (aka baby oil) and petroleum (sp?) oil weigh the hair down because it "sits" on the hair. The hair does not absorb it. Try to find products with natural oils. My daughters hair didn't really need oil for a while. This was because her natural scalp oil was enough. Only when she got older did I have to use a moisturizer.
Don't wash your child's hair every single day. Wash it when it's dirty. Believe me, a child's hair isn't dirty after a day or two.
Don't PLEASE do not relax it. With practice and patience your friend WILL learn how to manage the hair. It is unnecessary to relax a child's hair at any age.
Don't let the child be ashamed of her hair! It's gorgeous and beautiful. With some practice, patient, and a little bit of know how it's a piece of cake.
P.S. your friend won't have to worry about all of this for a looonng time. But it is good to know. A child of mixed race can have bone staight hair, or very kinky hair. It just depends on nature. But, it is good to know how to care for hair, just in case and to get yourself prepared for what's in store.