Best Hair Care Products for Black Babies and Toddlers
Curly and textured hair requires a bit more love and care. Here are our tips.
Black and biracial babies’ hair comes in all different types of colors, textures and curl patterns. Whether your little one was born with a head full of hair or it grew in later, taking care of your baby’s hair is just as important as taking care of your own—and there are a few more things to consider beyond just choosing a tear-free shampoo.
How to Care for Curly and Textured Hair
Don’t overwash. Textured hair tends to naturally be on the drier side, so washing more than once or twice per week can strip their hair of natural oils making it dry and brittle. Overwashing can also lead to a dry scalp as well.
Only brush or comb hair when wet. Brushing thick, curly hair when dry is not only an unpleasant feeling for your baby (if you have curly hair yourself, you know what we mean) since it’s harder to work through knots when they’re dry, but it can also lead to breakage. Only brush after getting it wet and you can try using your fingers to detangle first!
Detangle. Be sure to use a good detangler on baby’s curls before you begin brushing or combing their hair. This helps add some “slip” to the strands so the knots come apart easier. Depending on your baby’s curl type and pattern (and the level of tangles you’re tackling), you can use either a detangling spray or a cream.
Moisturize. Textured hair has different levels of porosity, so for some babies, a leave-in conditioner may work. Babies with lower porosity hair might need something thicker to really saturate the hair shaft.
Protective Styling. If your baby or toddler’s hair is long enough, it can be helpful to put it in a protective style (like braids, buns or pigtails) to keep it from getting tangled, dry and brittle. These styles can also help lock in that moisturizing product.
Keep products to a minimum. Younger babies’ hair really doesn’t need much in terms of product (especially when they’re newborns). It’s normal to experience some balding as their hair sheds and grows back in. There aren’t any real remedies for quick hair growth besides proper care and a little patience.
When you’re shopping for hair products, what your baby needs will depend on their specific hair type. Here are a few of our favorite products for babies with curly, textured hair:
Best Shampoo and Conditioners for Black Babies and Toddlers
Look for a mild shampoo that is paraben, sulfate and phthalate free. These products will be gentle on baby’s curls.
Best Stylers for Black Babies and Toddlers
Whether you’re letting their curls fly free or styling their hair, these are the best styling products for babies and toddlers with curly hair.
Best Combs and Brushes for Black Babies and Toddlers
Look for brushes with bristles that have some give to them or a wide-tooth comb to work through tangles and prevent breakage.