Jun 8, 20224 min read

How To Wash Curly Baby Hair with No Tears

My baby girl has a head of beautiful curly hair that is getting fuller by the day. It almost took me by surprise because she was rather bald when she was born. I almost feel like I woke up one day and thought, ‘OMG what am I going to do with all that hair’. Because something had to be done, it was now too long to just let it be (which has been my strategy since birth). It was tangling and looking a little in need of rescue. Her curls were not in their full glory and I realized that my baby girl now needs a hair regimen.

In this post, I’ll share what has worked for me to wash and detangle her hair to beautifully define her curls- with no tears!

The Science of Curly Hair

A strand of hair or hair shaft is a flexible protein called keratin made of three parts: the medulla, cortex, and the cuticle, that grows out of a follicle. Hair can be straight, wavy, curly, or kinky. The shape of the follicle, located underneath the scalp, plays a large part in determining how it grows out of the scalp.

Follicle Shape

Oval follicles produce curly hair.
Round follicles produce straight hair.
A flat oval follicle shape will create kinky, coily hair.

Curly Hair and Tangling

The twists and turns in the structure of curly hair make the cuticle weaker and also makes the hair prone to tangling and damage. Brushing the hair regularly (daily) is the best way to handle tangles because brushing combs through and separates the hair, resetting the timer on the tangling process.

Make Sure the Hair is Wet

Curly hair is weakest when it's dry and this is also when it's the hardest to brush. Adding moisture to the hair will plump and strengthen the hair and allow it to better handle the brushing process, which can otherwise be painful and damaging.

How is Curly Hair Naturally Moisturized

The hair’s natural oils, called sebum, are produced at the base of the scalp, and move down the hair shaft, moisturizing the hair as it does so. When the hair is straight, the oils move down the hair with no issue. When the hair is curly, it makes it more difficult for the oil to follow its curl pattern and moisturize all those beautiful loops, making it prone to dryness. So added moisture after a wash is a must.

Locking In Moisture

Washing hair removes dirt and buildup, but it also strips it of its moisturizing oils. For curly hair, which is prone to dryness, re-adding and then sealing in this moisture is vital for hair health. A good hair butter or leave-in conditioner is great for moisturizing newly washed hair. Following that up with a great sealant oil will ensure long-lasting moisture and protection. Regular olive oil is a great alternative that you probably already have in your kitchen.

The Science of Babies

As the proud mother of an almost 17-month-year-old toddler, I’m obviously an expert on all things babies. I joke, but I have learned some things.

Babies don't like it when you pull their hair- so be gentle.

You'll have to figure out the right size sections that work for your baby, where brushing the tangles out doesn't hurt them. I find the smaller the better, but don't make them so small that getting through the entire head will take you forever. Which brings me to:

Babies have a very short attention span- so be quick.

From the time you start you're on the clock. My baby likes the head massage aspect of the brush, so that buys me some time, but it's only so long before she gets over it and wants me to entertain her. This brings me to:

Always have a distraction at the ready.

Never underestimate the power of distraction. Just throwing in a teething toy in the bath will give your baby something new to focus on and play with which will buy you a few more precious minutes.