When you first bring your baby home from the hospital, there is so much to do and remember regarding care. How often am I supposed to feed her? How many wet diapers is she supposed to make in a day? When is her umbilical stump supposed to fall off? With so many pressing issues on top of being completely sleep deprived, it’s easy for something like hair care to fall by the wayside. However, if you want to give your infant’s hair the healthiest start possible, it’s best that you begin implementing a routine early. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with simple but effective hair care routines to carry you through the first year of your baby’s life.
0-3 Months
The Essentials:
- Head-to-toe baby wash
- Oil of your choosing
- Soft bristle baby brush and comb
During the first few months of your baby’s life, all she really needs is gentle cleansing agent and a light oil. At this age, a baby-friendly head-to-toe wash should do the trick for cleansing baby’s hair. Shea Moisture has an amazing infant care line with scents so lovely they will have you sniffing your little one’s hair day and night. Burt’s Bees tear-free head-to-toe wash and California Baby’s head-to-toe wash are also popular options among mommy circles. In addition, a light oil to lock the moisture into baby’s hair after a wash is ideal. I opted to use Jamaican Black Castor Oil on my newborn after noticing that olive oil didn’t have much of an impact on her curly ‘fro. Whichever oil you choose, it’s best to only test out one at a time as your little one’s allergies are likely unclear at this early stage. In addition, a soft baby brush is needed to gently brush the tangles out of her hair.
The Routine:
Washing baby’s hair anywhere from once a week to every two weeks should suffice. It’s easiest to do this during bath time. After washing and towel blotting her air, gently massage the oil into your little one’s hair. For this age, adding oil once per week immediately following a wash should suffice; however, if you see that your newborn’s hair is noticeably dry, you can go ahead and apply more as needed.
Read more on MadameNoire.
