Once upon a time, I was able to wash Winter’s hair with a head-to-toe wash, slap some Jamaican Black Castor Oil on it to seal in the moisture and go on about my day. Around the time she turned six months, that routine proved to be ineffective. Her hair was chronically dry and I was buying products left and right, in addition to walking around with a spray bottle to keep her hair hydrated throughout the day. I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable when it comes to hair care, but literally, nothing was working. I even tried the grown-up products that I was using on myself at the time and that didn’t work either. Here’s how I conquered chronically dry toddler hair once and for all.
Satin pillowcase
Winter refused to sleep in a bonnet, so I had to find another to protect her hair at night. Traditional cotton pillowcases and sheets deplete hair of its natural moisture, so whenever possible, avoid them if your child refuses to sleep in a bonnet. Instead, opt for satin pillowcases.
Co-washing
Most of the shampoos that are marketed towards infants and children are not designed for textured hair. They may be sulfate-free, but they still strip natural hair of its moisture. By alternating between co-washing and shampooing every other week, I helped her hair to retain some of its moisture. If you’ve tried washing in the past and it didn’t work out because you weren’t able to clean your child’s hair thoroughly and noticed product buildup, you may want to check out this 2-In-1 Tear-Free Cleansing Conditioner, which provides all of the effects of shampoo without the moisture-stripping ingredients
Use the LOC method
After cleansing your child’s hair, you’ll want to moisturize their hair section by section using the LOC method. The LOC method stands for liquid, oil, cream. Start by applying an ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioner spray. Follow up with an oil and finally, apply a hydrating cream moisturizer such as the Hair Softener by 2 Mango Sisters. Repeat throughout the week as needed.
Use protective styles
I loved to slap a little headband on Winter’s ‘fro and go on about my business. But as she got older, that was no longer conducive to keeping her hair moisturIzed. I noticed that when I put her hair in two-stand twists or braids, it didn’t dry out nearly as fast.
While none of these solutions work perfectly in isolation, when used in symphony, they’re an effective solution to dry toddler hair.
