Developing a hair care routine for toddlers and big kids is pretty much finding a happy medium between the infant routine and the adult routine. Meaning less is still more regarding styling but we should still shampoo, deep condition and use a leave-in.
#1 SHAMPOO -Shampooing your child’s hair and scalp is a must because they play so hard and get stuff in their hair. Washing their hair every other week is sufficient if their hair isn’t excessively dirty. Flavor of Amya has a line just for kiddos! The Sweet As Honey Hydrating Shampoo will definitely get the job done! The Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Shampoo should be used once every two months for toddlers and big kids.
#2 DETANGLING/DEEP CONDITIONING-Detangling is the most difficult step because it can cause a little bit of discomfort for your child. Gently removing tangles from your child’s hair helps you retain length and helps you dodge those nasty single-strand knots. Deep conditioning once or twice per month is acceptable for a toddler or big kid. Let it sit for about 30 mins – 1 hour and rinse. You can also apply the conditioner to their hair and have them sit under a hooded dryer on low heat for about 10 minutes if they will sit long enough because we all know how fidgety kids are!
#3 TRIMMING If you are starting to see a lot of damaged split ends, notice hair balls at the ends of the hair, or hear a lot of snapping or popping of hair strands during detangling, then it is time for a trim. Please do not confuse a trim with a hair cut. Trimming only removes about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of hair. Only trim the minimum amount needed to get rid of these damaged ends using SHEARING SCISSORS or have a professional do it. DO NOT use any regular old pair of scissors you have laying around the house, you can cause more damage!
#4 LOCK IN MOISTURE/STYLING If you are like most parents that struggle to keep their kids’ hair moisturized, then you might want to try the LOC/LCO method (Leave In/Liquid, Oil, Cream). The name signifies the order in which products should be applied to the hair. This layering of products ensures maximum moisture retention by using oils and butters to seal in moisture. The Sweet As Honey Detangling Leave-In, paired with the Peppermint & Tea Tree Hair Growth Oil and Sweet As Honey Moisturizing Butter Cream would be a great combination to achieve the LOC/LCO method.
#5 MAINTAINING Adding moisture to your child’s hair in between washing is important. Depending on how dry their hair is, moisturizing it only once per day or even 3-4 times a week is perfectly fine. Moisturizing can be as simple as spritzing their hair with some water and applying oil afterwards or using the Sweet As Honey Detangling Leave-In. Be sure to use a protective style!