The Best Hair Routine (and Products!) For Kids With Curly Hair

The Best Hair Routine (and Products!) For Kids With Curly Hair

Not sure how to care for kids' curls? We share the best tips and tricks for mastering your kids' curly hair routine and providing the moisture and curl definition they need.

Allow us to set a scene: you spent a long, loooong day running after your little one(s). You made them three (mostly) well-rounded meals that they (mostly) ate without complaint. You enthusiastically sang along to “The Wheels on the Bus” one too many times. And now the time has come for…

…bedtime? Er, not quite yet. Sorry.

First: bath time.

If you’re a parent, you’re probably well-acquainted with the fine art of negotiation that occurs when it comes time for your kids to take a bath. Whether their plea is “just five more minutes”, “not tonight” or “I’m never taking a bath again” (um), bath time can be a challenge, to say the least. This is especially true if you have kids with curly hair, which might add on even more time and effort to your kids’ bath routine. But that’s fine, because as a parent of little ones, you’ve got nothing but time, right?

………

Yeah, we didn’t think so.

On top of that, many parents also have a different curl type than their kiddos (while others may not even have curls at all), which can lead to a lot of guessing and trial and error. Who has the time?! That’s why we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know about curly haired kids’ routines, from how to truly understand your curly haired kids’ particular curl type to how to select the best curly hair products for kids.

Understanding Your Child’s Curl Type

Got kids with curly hair? The first step is making sure you know their curl type. Curly hair has a range of different textures and patterns, so knowing what kind of curl you’re dealing with will help you pick the right techniques and the best curly hair products for your kids, so you can style their curls more easily (and quickly!).

So before you continue reading below, brush up on the different curl types and then make sure to take our specially developed curl quiz to determine your curly haired kids’ curl type. This is the most important step in perfecting your kids’ curly hair routine.

Washing & Conditioning

Got their curl type? Great! We’ve officially made it to the tub. Let’s move on to washing and conditioning.

One of the reasons that so many moms turn to LUS (Love Ur Self) when shopping for the best curly hair products for kids is that our products are totally kid-safe. We take ingredients seriously and our dermatologist-tested and approved formulas are suitable for all ages. So whether your little one has wavy, curly or kinky-coily hair, you can rest assured that our Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Hydrating & Detangling Conditioner are safe to use on your curly haired kids. This is thanks to the inclusion of good-for-you ingredients that are at the heart of LUS (Love Ur Self)’ 3-Step System: shea butter and moringa oil. Our products are also hypoallergenic, non-irritating and suitable for sensitive skin, and they're free of parabens, gluten, silicones, synthetic dyes and more. (Our 3-Step System is also tried and tested by moms worldwide, who love LUS (Love Ur Self) for keeping their—and their kids’—curls healthy and defined.)


The best way to have this process go smoothly is to make it fun. You know the drill. Grab the bath toys, the rubber duck—whatever toys and games your little one loves. Set them up for success by making sure they’re well-rested and in a good mood. (We know this is easier said than done, but it can make all the difference. So grab those bath toys.)

Detangling

For most kids with curly hair, detangling where sh** gets real. This is the part of the evening that they (and you) probably dread the most, so we’re here to help. Firstly, detangling their curls while they’re still wet will help everything go much more smoothly. We recommend combing or brushing your kids’ hair after conditioner is applied and has been sitting on their hair for about two minutes. This is because conditioner softens the hair and makes it extra slippery, so that it’s easier to glide through knots and tangles.

When it comes to detangling tools, it’s all about personal preference. Our two faves are our Wide-Tooth Comb (which features rounded tips and widely-spaced teeth that can get through tangles on all curl types, while still being extra kind to the scalp) and the LUS (Love Ur Self) Detangle & Style Brush, which is designed with curl health in mind, thanks to the geometric distribution of its 400 (!!!) round-tip bristles, allowing it to easily glide through knots and tangles, reducing any snapping and breakage bristles.


Styling

You made it through washing, conditioning and bath time! Is it bedtime yet? Almost. It’s time to style your curly haired kid’s beautiful locks. At this stage in their life, their curls are still changing and can be quite delicate. A safe bet? LUS (Love Ur Self)’ 3-Step System, which is formulated without moisture-depleting ingredients such as sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. Yes, our beloved All-In-One does indeed make an excellent kids curl cream.

And while it can be tempting to cocktail a ton of products to give your little ones healthy, defined curls, doing so can overload their strands and make them susceptible to excess build-up on their hair and scalp. So like we always say: keep it simple! Our All-In-One is formulated for all curl types and is the only kids curl cream you need for keeping your little ones’ strands looking and feeling their best.

If you’re finding that your little one’s curls need a little bit of a refresh in the morning, try our new Wash·Style·Refresh Kit, which features our 3-Step System plus our beloved Infinity Spray Bottle, which makes refreshing curls (and even extending the wash cycle) a breeze. Bath time with kids is hard work (IYKYK) so get the most out of each wash!


Want to see a wash routine for kids with curly hair in action? Check out the video below, featuring our girl, Storm, who shows us a step-by-step guide to washing, conditioning and styling her 3-year-old’s type 4 curls/coils, the LUS (Love Ur Self) way.