How do I care for my little one’s curls and how to I teach him to love and appreciate his curls?- Morgan, Ouidad Creative Director

My KRLY Kid!

When caring for your child’s curls, moisture is the key to maintaining soft, hydrated, tangle free curls. One usually just focuses on the basic shampooing and conditioning. Taking the time to educate with more detail on good hair habits will help them appreciate and love there beautiful curly from a young age. The #1 reason why children dislike there hair and want to straighten their curls, is due to frizz. There is a simple solution…Moisture! When hair is properly hydrated, curls remain shiny, bouncy, and most importantly frizz free!!

Growing up with a head of curls myself, I know the daily struggle my straight haired mom went through, and also my poor tender head!
My mom kept my hair short, which was a “BIG” disaster. So the “headband” became one of my best friends, as you see in the picture below.
Without blaming my mom, I grew up hating hating my curls. I think back to why I disliked my hair? With not knowing how to care for my curls, it was extremely frizzy and “BIG”. This is why it’s important, at a young age…to teach our children how to care for their hair “on there own”.

It just so happens, I was blessed with a son with a beautiful head of tight curls. As most of you parents know, children get a lot of attention due to their curls! I am stopped daily because of his amazing blonde curly locks.
Because of my early childhood hair trauma, I have made it my mission to educate my son on proper hair care so that he loves and embraces his curly hair.

Here is a simple *no-fuss* regimen:
-Massage Ouidad’s KRLY Kids No Time For Tears Shampoo into scalp gently, while running fingers through the ends to eliminate tangling.

For Looser Curls: 2-3 times per week

Tighter Curls: 1 time per week

-Depending on the density of the curls, use a quarter size or more amount of Ouidad’s KRLY Kids No More Knots Conditioner on the mid-shaft to the ends. Use Ouidad’s Wide Tooth Comb and detangle the hair by combing from the ends working your way towards the roots insuring the moisture is evenly distributed.

- On Dry/Coarse hair- Ouidad’s Curl Quencher Conditioner may be needed for maximum hydration.

-For kids that have a kinky/tighter curl pattern they may need a heavier cream based leave in. Moisture Lock Leave-in Conditioner will moisturize the hair and the weight of the cream will help control the volume. I use this product on my son’s hair after the shower. It defines his curls, eliminates frizz and drys soft and silky to the touch. Rake a quarter size or more (depending on the hair’s density) through very wet hair. Blot out the excess water/product and allow to dry naturally or using a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer.

-As parents I think we all agree to avoid using heavy styling products on fine youthful hair. Ouidad formulated Krly Kids Pump & Go Spray Gel to condition the curls while forming a small barrier protecting from excess frizz. This product dries soft without a hard, tacky feeling. This product is extremely gentle and safe for fine hair. A light spritz over wet hair will help control frizz and flyaways with a light hold.

-Botanical Boost Spray- This is one of my favorites. Who has the time to wet their child’s hair every morning? Not me…I spritz this over the surface smoothing my palms over the top of his curls, which mends those frizzes and flyaways that happen while sleeping. Seriously, kids sleep wild through the night, rolling, flipping, turning. They wake looking like they stuck their finger in a light socket! Botanical Boost is the morning go-to product!. It also detangles extremely well, those knots at the nape of the neck.

I hope you got some pointers on how to care for your “Curly Kids”.
When there ready for there first haircut, look for a Ouidad Flagship Salon or Certified Salon near you. A good haircut makes the world of difference. The Carving and Slicing technique eliminates bulk and weight allowing hair to detangle easier and dry with less volume. Usually children don’t damage or overprocess their hair, so with the use of Ouidad’s moisturizing products a haircut could last you 4-5 months.

Ouidad Fan Image via Flickr.com

If you have an active kid with spunky curls, Ouidad knows that it’s probably hard to get him or her to sit still for much of anything. However, getting your little one into the right hair stylists’ chair is super important for curly kids. Not only will the proper haircut make your child look cuter (can that be possible?!) but it will help with those tangles, frizzies and all sorts of curl-issues. Your child will feel better too!

The very best haircut for curls, even on children, is Ouidad’s trademarked Carve & Slice cut. This is Ouidad’s method, created 25 years ago specifically with curls and waves in mind. In a nutshell, Carving & Slicing removes the bulk associated with the dreaded “pyramid” look, while preserving and enhancing your natural curl patterns. This combination produces well-defined ringlets that fit gently into each other like the pieces of a puzzle, creating healthier, more manageable curls.

And, this technique can work on all hair lengths, so whether your young one prefers their hair in a long or short style, you’re in luck! Ouidad recommends haircuts for kids (and adults!) with curls every 10-14 weeks to keep the style intact.

One thing to keep in mind: the unique Carve & Slice method is only available at Ouidad-certified salons, so beware of stylists claiming to “Carve & Slice” without the intense training and understanding of curly hair that only the Curl Experts at Ouidad salons receive.

Good luck with your child’s haircut … and be sure to take a few photos to post on our Ouidad Facebook page!

Photo via Ouidad on Flickr.com

With kids in general, there’s never a dull moment! And with curly kids, sometimes those “not-so-dull” moments can be related to their hair. Ouidad knows that whether it’s tangles, frizz, trying new hairstyles, or simply getting curly kids to wash and condition properly, being the parent of a kid with curls can be quite an exciting ride!

So, we were curious to know: What’s the one curly hair issue that you and your child find most, ahem… challenging? Let us know!