Hair washing for long haired kids - Updated with pictures post # 26

[rhianna813]

** Pics of my DS are on page 2, post 26 **

Now that DS is in Kindy he has an earlier bedtime, 8:00. I try to get him started on his bath at 7:00 but sometimes we are delayed. He has very long , curly (sweet ringlets)baby fine hair. This is why we don’t cut it – it’s gorgeous. But it’s a pain to wash and detangle. Sometimes I pull my own hair in the process hahaha

So he tends to have quite wet hair when he goes to bed. Anyone else with long haired kids - what do you do with evening hair washing? Use the hair dryer? Wash as early as possible? Or just go to bed with wet hair?

Thanks for any advice!

Rhianna

[beanma]

I put it up in a bun so it doesn't get wet and tell my kids not to get their hair wet if they can help it so it won't be wet when they go to bed. If we wash it we try to wash earlier and sometimes do use the hair dryer if it's going to be wet at bed time. Washing hair is such a production around here (esp with my 6 yr old) that we try to do it earlier in the day. We don't wash it every day. My oldest does do her own now and she is welcome to wash it as frequently as she wants or whenever I think it really needs it whichever comes first. She's not to the greasy-headed era of puberty yet, so it still looks good if we skip a day or two.

[khanni]

My kids have long, curly hair as well. We do just put them to bed with wet hair. I always go to bed with wet hair, so I guess I've never thought about it much.

As far as the detangling, I hear your pain. We tried quite a few things and finally found this product, which works wonders:

http://www.diapers.com/Product/Produ...productId=6027

I put it in and leave it in, and now it is SO easy to comb their hair. It used to take FOREVER, and now it takes literally seconds. The first time I used it, my son's hair looked a bit unruly, but every time after that, it has worked great! I highly recommend it.

[KCMichigan]

We put them to bed with damp heads!

In the winter, I blow dry it so it is not 'drippy' and more damp than wet, but one DDs hair is so thick it would take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to blow dry and neither she nor I have the patience.

I use Johnson and Johnson detangler and also condition it when we wash it- I let the conditoner sit for 3-5 minutes before rinsing. We wash it 2-3x a week.


KC

[Alyantavid]

My long haired boy's hair was super fine so it dried pretty quick. But he did usually go to bed with damp hair. I didn't wash his as often as I do mine so it was only a few times a week.

I used shampoo, conditioner and a apple cider vinegar rinse. I did trim it a few times to help with the tangles as well.

[ann_of_loxley]

We just tend to go to bed with wet hair. My son has very long fine hair - its beautiful as well. We don't cut it because he doesn't want it cut but I am glad he doesn't because I love it! hehe We don't have a bedtime and we don't have to be up at any time in the morning...but if he has a bath and gets his hair washed, it is usually right before we do head off to bed anyhow. Being so fine, it does dry quickly but it is still wet when we go to bed. I don't see much harm in that. You can get waterproof pillow covers if you really want to. I am not fussed. Its not like its dripping wet! I would use the hair dryer but he hates it - its so loud.

[beanma]

I don't like my kids to go to bed with wet hair (theirs is also fine like some pp's kids') because it tangles more if they sleep on it wet. We've got enough trouble in that direction already. I don't need any more help!

[rhianna813]

Good to know I am not alone on this one :-)

I forgot to add one important detail. I work outside the home and get home at 5:30. So there is no option to wash hair earlier than that. But I would be willing to do the bath before making dinner (hard but willing) IF it you all did this too. Looks like that is not the case *whew*

I will stick with the damp hair. Seems like that is not too unusual. Thinking of using an older diaper to help get as much water out as possible though. Maybe microfiber towel?

And thanks for the detangler ideas. Right now I am using shampoo or baking soda to wash his hair occasionally (I no poo with BS and ACV myself) and Pantene for his conditioner. I smather a ton on and start the combing process in sections. If I can wash/detangle every other day it's easist but that tends to not happen. If it goes for a few days without washing or it's really humid... scary!!!

The price of beauty

Rhianna

[tbone_kneegrabber]

if its long enough to braid, you can braid it while its wet, before bed, to reduce tangling

[snoopy5386]

go to bed with a wet head.

[firewoman]

Can't he take a quick shower in the morning? My kids don't bathe at night unless they got really dirty that day.

[crl]

Are you washing it everyday? That seems unnecssary to me. We only wash DS' hair once a week unless it's gotten particularly dirty. . . . That's what my mom did too when I was a kid. Mine always got washed Sat. after dinner.

Catherine

[ShadowMoon]

DS has long, fine hair that curls at the ends. If I have to wash it in the evening then he goes to bed with a damp head. I only wash his hair once a week though, (unless it gets really dirty). I try to do it in the earlier part of the day on my weekend.

[Autumn Breeze]

My daughter is 4, and never had a hair cut. Only the ends are curly though, so I can't really help with the ringlet curly advice bit.

With my daughter we only wash it every other day. This winter we are having to do pigtails and braid them because it's SO DRY in the house that she's got major static head so the tangles happen almost instantly. We really don't want to cut her hair either.

I MOST prefer, though she doesn't, is washing in the shower, then applying conditioner and COMBING through it then!! Usually this means the conditioner sits too long and we might shampoo again, but when she's out, and I've towel dried her hair, it is MUCH MUCH easier to comb through and she isn't going to bed with a wet head, just damp (in the braids)

[honeybunmom]

Curly hair really does not need to be washed every day. My daughter's hair was down to the small of her back when wet. Curled up to about the bottom of her shoulder blades. I use California Baby Conditioner which can be left in, comb it through (with a wide tooth comb) and put it in a braid. With the heat set at 70 degrees for bed time, I don't have a problem with her going to bed with her hair damp.

She wanted her hair cut and we did that about 2 mos ago. I finally ordered the products the stylist recommended from Oidad, a curly hair care company. This should cut down on our comb out time. Prayerfully.

[Tamsin]

If its winter and its cold they get it dried with the hair dryer. If its summer they go to bed with damp/wet hair.

[Kailey's mom]

bed with towel dried hair for the most part. There is no way my dd would come near me if I had a blowdryer in my hand

[Jane]

I've found trimming 1/4" off all the ends really really helps with combing out curls. And reducing tangles. Are you combing it gently before the bath? That helps a ton, too.

[ann_of_loxley]

Originally Posted by beanma

I don't like my kids to go to bed with wet hair (theirs is also fine like some pp's kids') because it tangles more if they sleep on it wet. We've got enough trouble in that direction already. I don't need any more help!

We also use conditioner. Which prevents tangles and it means I can gentle comb out his hair in the bath whilst it has conditioner in it. It also leaves his hair tangle free for much longer.

I think we average out at about once every 3 weeks for a wash!

[momofsage]

leave-in conditioner, and braid it before bed. works for us! we did finally trim my dd's long, fine hair a few months ago (she's 4.5 and that was her first ever haircut). I was really attached to her baby curls but it was SO much easier once we trimmed it--amazingly so. good luck.