5 Hair Care Tips For Black or Bi-Racial Kids

Being a licensed braider AND having 4 girls of my own , I have learned many hair lessons. Here are a few tips I hope you can benefit from.

1. WASH ONCE A WEEK AT THE MOST

People of Color tend to have drier scalps and need extra moisture for healthy hair. Washing your child's hair daily could strip the necessary oils from their hair and make it brittle and dry. Try washing their hair once a week to start and upping it to two times per week if you notice it gets oily more quickly.

2. USE NATURAL MOISTURIZERS /SKIP THE FANCY STUFF

In tandem with the dry scalp tip above, after washing you’ll want to add oils and moisture right back into your child's hair. While there are a ton of products on the market, it’s best to skip all of them until your baby is at least 3 years old. From the time your baby is born, using the simplest most natural products like coconut, avocado, or almond oil are your best choices. Put a little in your palm and run it through your baby’s hair with your fingers.

3. USE YOUR FINGERS TO COMB THROUGH CURLS

If your baby has curly hair, odds are you’ve been at war a time or two trying to detangle those beautiful locks. While you can use a wide-tooth comb, running your fingers through your baby’s hair will truly do the trick! Using your fingers is easier and will help with keeping their natural curl pattern intact.

4. BE CAREFUL OF CERTAIN FABRICS

Due to the texture of Black hair, any amount of friction with fabrics like cotton or wool can cause their hair to be dry, brittle, and break off. Because of this, it is best to use hair wraps, hats, scarves, pillowcases, etc. that are lined with satin or silk. The most popular type is called a bonnet. These fabrics are gentler and will help keep the moisture in the hair rather than the fabric.

5. EMBRACE YOUR CHILD'S NATURAL HAIR

Having a baby with naturally curly, wavy, or kinky hair may take a little extra research, and I can’t always promise the curls will look the same day to day but lead as an example — the more you love your child’s natural hair, the more they will too.