Diedre

I have 3 children with curly hair, and my youngest daughter has wavy, curly hair.

Learning to manage and style her hair has been a challenge because while it is not completely straight, yet not completely curly either.

I have 4c hair. It is kinky, coarse & requires a lot of moisture, while hers is between 2B/2C.

Her hair is a mixture of waves and curls.

Her hair is fine, wavy and gets weighed down easily by products that my hair craves. Learning what to use in her hair has been a bit of trial and error. Here’s what I’ve learned about wavy, curly hair:

It’s Okay To Use Shampoo On Wavy Curly Hair

There are a lot of women who subscribe to the curly girl method–a method that discourages shampoo.

Wavy curly hair often looks limp and weighed down when saturated with products, so for that reason, I don’t like the curly girl method.

Using shampoo cleanses the scalp and hair of product build up, giving you a clean slate for moisturizing and styling.

I typically only shampoo 1-2 times a week.

Most curly girls only use shampoo once a week, but when your child spends a majority of their time outside, or they go to school on a regular basis, I like to shampoo more than once a week.

Avoid Products With Toxic Chemicals & Opt For Products With Natural Ingredients

Sulfates are what give shampoo bubbles & suds and parabens have been linked to cancer. Typically if you are reading a product label and cannot pronounce most of the ingredients, they are not good for your hair. Companies add these products as preservatives, but can be harmful for your skin and hair.

Products with added fragrance are full of hidden chemicals. Plant derived ingredients can help with hair moisture and growth without the use of toxic chemicals.

Detanglers & Leave In Conditioners Are A Necessity

Curly wavy hair needs moisture. A lack of moisture often causes frizziness. I love spray leave in conditioners because it is easier to control the amount that is coming out of the bottle and it adds a nice shine without being too thick.

Using thick butters and leave in conditioner creams weigh the hair down and make it look lifeless.

Some of my favorite leave in conditioners come from the Taliah Waajid kids & Taliah Waajid kids lines & Kinky Curly Knot Today.

Using Gel Minimizes Frizz & Defines Curls

On days that we skip gel, my daughter looks like she has bedhead. Gel keeps her beautiful wavy curly hair defined and polished.

The trick to knowing how to manage and style curly hair is to identify the curl type. Once you have an understanding of what your specific curl type needs, you will be on the road to beautiful, healthy curls!

Are you a total loss when it comes to styling your child’s naturally curly hair? Purchase my e-book, The Frustration-Free Guide to Curly Hair to answer all your curly hair questions + get a guide to products by curl type! 

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase something through the links on this page.*

With two of my three kids in school, finding easy hairstyles that get us out the door quickly is a must!!

My oldest two are girls, and are often very opinionated about their hair. They both have different textures of curls, and I’m working on teaching them how to love and care for their curls.

I keep a basket of products in their closet, and they often ask me what product I’m using and why. I use this as a teachable moment, so that one day, they will know how to style their hair without my assistance.

When they were babies, I was a little lost when it came to products. I have curly hair too, but the texture of my hair is much thicker than theirs. It took lots of time (and money) to figure out what works for them.

After I learned what worked for them, I had to teach my husband—this works out great because now if I’m running behind in the morning, he is the one styling their hair!

Here are a few of our quick and easy hairstyles:

The Relaxed Bun:

Basically this style is a lazy version of a tight bun. After making a ponytail, I pull the hair almost all the way out of the band and leave a little hair at the bottom.

You can dress up this hairstyle with a bow or a headband. It’s also known as a topknot.

Do your girls like watching Sunny Day on Nick Jr? Thanks to her, my girls have started requesting different hairstyles.

Two Space Buns

This is probably one of my favorite styles. For moms who are not good at braiding or parting, this style is very forgiving.

It only requires 1 part down the center of the head, then making two ponytails. The two ponytails are then wrapped around each other and pinned down into buns.

And voila! Two space buns!   It’s an easy relaxed style, or you can dress them up with a scarf or headband.

Side Pony

I know what you’re thinking….

The side pony is such an 80’s style! But trust me, the side pony has made a comeback! My daughters love to dress up their ponytails with cat ears or turbans.

You can give the side pony some versatility by making it high or low. Either way, it’s such a cute and easy style!

Half Up, Half Down

If your daughters are like mine, they like to wear their hair down a lot. The problem with keeping curly hair loose is that it leaves the ends open to breakage.

Typically a style like this one is for special occasions like church or birthday parties. This is not an everyday style.

Braided Pony

Hairstyles like the braided pony are great protective styles.

A protective style tucks most of your hair away from daily manipulation.

Depending on the curl type, this style may last a few days without having to refresh it.

In order to achieve a sleek look without frizz at the end of the day, I recommend finding a gel to slick the edges down.

If you don’t have curly hair yourself, learning how to style curls can be a bit of a challenge. These 5 styles are simple and don’t require a lot of prior knowledge to accomplish.

If you are totally clueless about curly hair and need some help, then the Frustration Free Guide to Curly Hair is for you!

In it, you’ll get a FREE guide to the best products by curl type. It even breaks down the need of each curl type to make styling easier.

It’s only $8 and full of information that will change how you view your curls.

Click here to purchase.

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.*

Caring for baby curls is a little different than caring for an older person with curly hair.

Finding products that are gentle, but hydrate, define, encourage growth & moisturize all at the same time can be a bit tricky.

All three of my children were born with curly hair. The oldest and youngest  have similar thicker tighter curls patterns, while my middle child has looser, wavy curls. Finding the right products for them has been trial and error.

It’s important to know that genetics plays a role in your child’s curls. Your child may even have hair similar to a distant family member, and nothing like the people in their immediate family.

When I was pregnant, I envisioned what my children would look like, and I wondered what their hair would look like.

My husband has brown straight hair, and I have 4c hair (the thickest, tightest curl pattern). Our children got his hair color, but two of them got a curl pattern similar to mine.

Less is More

Baby curls really don’t require a lot of manipulation. Enjoy the easy care routines while they last! Use a shampoo that is formulated for babies.

This ensures that if the shampoo gets in your baby’s eyes, it won’t burn. Finding products that are free from harmful ingredients such as sulfates and parabens can cause dryness which=dry curls.

Conditioner is Your Friend

If your baby doesn’t have very much hair, you don’t have to worry about using a lot of products.

Wash with conditioner every other day. There are many conditioners on the market with natural ingredients that are formulated just for children.

After bath, use a light cream or leave in conditioner to seal in moisture and define those baby curls. One of my favorite leave in conditioners is Mielle Organics. 

I also love the Mane Choice kids line.

Take it Easy on Their Scalp

Keep in mind that babies have very sensitive scalps. Some babies are prone to cradle cap, and that is perfectly normal! It will usually clear up on its own.

You can speed up the healing process by using a little coconut oil on the scalp, and using a baby brush to gently brush the scales out.

Use Protective Styling

Curly hair is prone to be dry and damaged when left free daily. Simple styles like cornrows, ponytails, buns and braids promote healthy hair growth.

If you do not feel confident styling hair, refer to Pinterest for ideas or enlist the help of a stylist.

Know that Baby Curls May Change

What worked for your child’s baby curls may not work as they grow. Their texture and curl pattern may change, so you may have to adjust the products that you are using.

If you find that after your child’s curls look dull and lifeless after you have used a product, it probably doesn’t work for their hair anymore.

If you are totally clueless when it comes to styling curly hair, don’t worry, I’ve got you! When you purchase my e-book, The Frustration Free Guide to Curly Hair, it will help you understand the unique needs of curly hair and take the frustration out of your day to day routine.

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