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Natural Hair Care for Kids – with Laki

NaturalHairZone.com spotlights our young naturals and asks their Mamas for tips on how they care for their little one’s fros.

Q & A session with Laki

At NaturalHairZone.com, we are serious about natural hair care for children and believe that natural hair care should be a priority for your little one from a young age. Luckily something kids never need to worry about is thinning hair, as kids have amazing hair.

Profile: Lakica

Age: 4 years, 4 months

Read about what Dede’s Mama said about her kid’s natural hair.

1. How old is your little pumpkin?

She is four years and four months.

2. What is her hair texture?

She has 3C Type Hair.

3. What does wash day look like?

When I have not detangled her hair in a while, wash day starts with putting on her favourite cartoon so I can work on her hair peacefully.

I usually spritz it with water using a spray bottle and get it damp but not dripping wet. I then work this moisture into her hair, using my fingers to detangle/work it in;
I then slather coconut oil into her hair, working it in and then brush the length of her hair using a Denman brush;
Afterwards, I apply a generous amount of Organics conditioner (it is my favourite as it has a lot of slip) and work it through her hair with my hands, detangling it further.
I then use the Denman brush to distribute this throughout her hair shaft.
After it sits for a few mins (about three mins, as I don’t particularly like her sitting with a wet head too long), I rinse it off. I rarely use shampoo and rather use ACV rinse to clarify her scalp.
When I use shampoo, I use it when her hair needs a deep cleanse, and I am careful to use a spray bottle to spray the shampoo onto her scalp and lather it before rinsing. I try to avoid working the shampoo down her hair shaft as it strips it of moisture.
I then dry her hair with an old cotton t-shirt and usually blow dry it (only if it’s winter, to avoid her getting cold with a wet head) or in summer, send her out to play so that her hair can air dry (this gives her the best ringlets).
When damp, I usually add a leave-in conditioner for moisture and shine.

She has a lot of hair, and I always plan to have it washed weekly as this cuts my wash day time in half, and I don’t even have to put on any cartoons.

Then she sits still, and we fly through her wash day routine, using the same products as above.

4. Salon or Mama’s hands?

Mama’s hand, without question! I struggle with salon visits as an adult and would not put my pre-schooler through that. ☺!

Editor – if you think your little one could benefit from thicker natural hair, read how to achieve it in our article.

5. What is your little one’s hair regime?

It is quite simple – in this natural hair care for kids – with Laki, I co-wash once a week / sometimes once in two weeks and back in protective styling.

I usually leave her hair out for special occasions, once in a while – but I like to keep it protective styled as she is quite active outdoors and has a lot of hair. Mama ain’t gat no time for that.

6. What products do you use on her hair?

Water
Olive oil/coconut oil to detangle
ORS conditioner to detangle
Homemade leave-in conditioner

7. What is your go-to protective styling?

Plaits with her hair and banded ponytails.

Editor – if you don’t know what protective styling is, read up on our 50 must-know natural hair care terms.

8. How do you get your little one to cooperate when doing her hair?

I have been doing her hair since she was very little, as she has always had a full head of hair. So she knows the drill.

As she has gotten older, I do not have to always put a cartoon on while I do her hair, but putting on a favourite cartoon with a bowl of popcorn/strawberries usually does the trick.

9. What word of advice do you have for other mums out there?

Get into it. Make doing your daughter’s hair a habit.

To make it fun for the both of you, have little rituals to make it less of a hustle, such as saving a favourite cartoon and snack for when it is her hair time or even putting on audio storybooks that both of you can listen to while doing her hair.

Also, to each his own, but I would advise moms (especially little ones) to learn how to do their girl’s hair as she will most likely learn from you early on.

This will also allow her to take ownership of her hair and natural hair journey when she grows up, instead of going to salons and leaving it in the hands of a hairstylist (who does not always know what’s best for one’s hair).

Also, please get into the habit of giving positive feedback to her about her hair from the get-go.

How strong and versatile it is, how pretty you think her coils are when moisturised and style it in fun and varied ways so she can appreciate the versatility and beauty of her hair texture.

Editor – do want to know more about how to properly care for Afro Textured Hair, including kids?

10. What is your natural hair advice to live by?

Take your time with doing your little one’s natural hair. Water it with lots of water 😊, consistent care and lots and lots of praise, and when your little one gets older, she will thank you for this.

Editor – perhaps you need to find out if your child has low-porosity hair, or if your little one wants longer hair, read how to get longer natural hair.

We would love to hear how you look after your little ones’ natural hair, share in the comments section below…