In the previous part of this article, we started with the basics of handling your child’s hair, including shampooing, combing the hair without hurting the child and taking your child for the all-important haircuts. In this concluding part, we will continue to look at some other aspects associated with children’s hair.
The right haircut: While you might think that a certain hairstyle looks really cool on some kid you saw on TV, it does not mean that it will work well on your child too. You need to consider the type of hair your child has and more importantly, how high or low maintenance it will be. If you are a working parent, then you need to get a haircut for your child, which is easy to maintain and requires minimal attention, during the day.
Many parents like their child to have a cowlick or a protruding tuft at the front of the head. While this style might look really cute, it is often difficult to handle, especially if your child has curly hair. When you are at the stylist, ask them to blow dry the hair from the roots, right till the tips. If you have a hair dryer at home, you too can do the same, with the help of a tight bristled brush. However, ensure that you do not use a high heat setting, as it could hurt your child. Such hair styles need to have a certain amount of weight to them, so that they stay settled, which is why you might have to let them grow long. When the hair grows long, you can either blend them with the rest of the hair or allow them to continue as a cowlick. If the cowlick refuses to settle down, you could use a styling gel, cream or even leave-in conditioner, as it will help soften the hair. Then you can either leave it as is or blend it with the rest of the hair.
Keeping it trimmed: You might have gotten your child to sit through a haircut, but that does not mean that it is all over and done with. You will have to keep getting regular trims, because this will not only ensure that the hair is healthy, but also allow it to grow longer. It is imperative that a trim, or even a haircut for that matter, be started with hair that is damp. Here are some of the things that you, as a parent, too need to keep in mind, while your child is getting a haircut or trim:
- The area around the ears and neck need to be handled very carefully, because if your child moves, he or she could get hurt. Ideally, the hair should be combed down towards the ear and the ear itself should be folded downwards, before the hair is trimmed down with clippers or trimmers. There is not only lesser chance of your child getting hurt with trimmers, but it is also much easier. The stylist should follow the natural shape of the ear to guide the trimmer, taking it down to the neck and then working across the neck to the other ear.
- If you are planning to get bangs for your child, then the best way is to comb the hair straight back. The hair has a tendency to fall into its natural parting, which will allow the stylist the gauge the direction and length of the bang. At the line of the forehead, the stylist should pull out a think wedge of hair, in the shape of a triangle, leaving the longer strands of hair, behind. This hair should be used to create the perfect bangs.
Damage control: Toddlers can be extremely hyper and many a times, they can get creative in their own way with their hair. If they find a pair of scissors, they could very well give themselves a haircut, leaving you and your stylist to take care of it. Let’s say, your little one has cut up all the hair in the front, you could try to create short bangs, which when grown out, can be styled in different manners. For girls, the hair can be evened out and then be wearing a hairband, the hair can be neatly pushed back. If it is only a chunk of hair that is missing, you can ask your stylist to create layers, which will allow the missing chunk to blend in. However, if your child has managed to hack all of the hair, then you will need to rush to the salon, because only a professional might be able to handle it. In the most severe of situations, your child might need to have his or her hair taken to a boy cut or even a crew cut. In such a situation, invest in cute headbands, hats or even bandanas.
Here are some other tips that you need to keep at the top of your mind, when you are handling your child’s hair:
- No matter what you are looking at for your child, your keyword should be gentle. From the combs and brushes you are using to the shampoo and conditioner that you buy, you need to make sure that you purchase the gentlest of products for your little one.
- It might be convenient to use your own brushes as well as hair care products for your child, but do not do this. Not only are the products you use, much stronger and harsher, the brushes might be metal, which could hurt your child.
- Wash your child’s hair, only when it is absolutely necessary, because every time you wash the hair, you will wash away whatever natural oils there are. This is all the more important because the oil glands are not yet active in children and constant washing will dry their head and hair completely.
- A great way to activate the natural oils in the hair is by brushing, but you need to make sure that you gently detangle the hair first. This is also a good solution to make really dry hair, manageable.
- Never ever brush wet hair, because the hair is most vulnerable when it is wet and will most certainly break. It is also more difficult to remove the tangles from wet hair.
