You know how everyone expects a mixed-race child to come with a built-in curl factory?
Well, my little guy looked at those expectations, chucked them out the window, and opted for sleek and straight 1A, 1B, or 1C curly hair type.
Quite the head-scratcher, isn’t it?
Now, I know it’s not unheard of for some children to start with straight strands just to curl later in their toddler stage.
But my kiddo seemed to be holding on to his straight hair longer than usual.
So long, in fact, that I found myself wondering whether his Type 1 straight hair was playing an extended game of hide-and-seek with its curly alter ego.
His hair wasn’t quite a wave, not entirely a straight strand.
It was more like a half-hearted attempt at a curl that decided to take a raincheck.
Here are the best products for 1a, 1b, and 1c curly hair.
Table of Contents
1. The Honest Company Shampoo & Conditioner
The Honest Company has always been my go-to brand for each of my kids, especially as a newborn.
Since Honest is non-toxic, they are extremely gentle for babies and toddlers which makes for an easy introduction to hair wash days.
When I birthed my third child, I had no idea what products to use for his hair for two reasons: he’s my first and only son, and he has straight hair!
While Noah loves bathtime, he is extremely active in the bathtub and I desperately needed a product that wouldn’t turn into a scream fest when it dripped into his little eyes.
Hands down, this is my favorite shampoo and conditioner set.
2. The Honest Company Conditioning Detangler
Going right along with the Honest Shampoo and Conditioner set above, this detangler is an amazing addition to type 1 hair products for your child.
My middle child, Mariah has extremely curly hair (4A/4B curly hair), but she despised bath time as a newborn, so I actually used water and this detangler early on until she was more comfortable with shampoo.
This detangler works best for straight hair because it has a non-greasy formula so it won’t “weigh down” your child’s hair…or feel greasy to the touch.
Added bonus: it smells AMAZING.
3. Cantu Care for Kids Tear-Free Nourishing Shampoo
For kids, the best thing you can do (and you’ll be glad you did) is to invest 1a – 1c hair shampoo that is tear free.
There are several on the market, and I usually keep as many as possible (even of different brands) so I never run out.
But Cantu’s Tear-Free shampoo is nourishing, so it won’t strip your child’s hair strands.
This is extremely important if you want to maintain the health of their hair.
When I was a child, my mom lived and breathed Cantu products.
I grew up with Type 3 hair, but when my mom relaxed my hair (I.e. made it straight) when I was older, I still used Cantu products.
4. Cantu Care for Kids Nourishing Conditioner
If you’re a first-time parent, you might be wondering, “Is Conditioner Really Necessary (especially for kids)?“
YES!
Remember, shampoo cleanses the hair follicle, but after being rinsed, it still needs nourishment.
Conditioner adds an extra level of protection to each hair strand.
Trust me, your child will need that extra layer because aside from the natural elements of wind and rain, but also from roughhousing, and rough sleeping during naps.
This is perfect to pair up with its counterpart mentioned above but also works as a great co-wash for those in-between hair wash days.
5. Cantu Care for Kids Conditioning Detangler
If you want to stick with Cantu products for your child, definitely look into purchasing the entire set which includes this detangler.
Even if your mixed-race child doesn’t have curly hair, you will still need to invest in a detangler to keep their hair looking its best.
My youngest who has straight hair loves to mess his hair up throughout the day.
But, the back of his head where he sleeps always looks disheveled even though he isn’t a rough sleeper.
A quick spray of the detangler is an answer to my prayers, especially since he is always on the move.
6. Just For Me Hair Milk Leave-In Detangler
Just For Me holds a special place in my heart.
The brand has been a family staple in my family since I was a little kid.
My sister and cousins all grew up with some or all of their products at one point.
I usually always have one or two products in each bathroom, but their detangler is one of my favorites.
It has a light airy smell to it which isn’t overpowering to use on my son.
It’s also amazing because it has a spray nozzle, so even if my son is crawling away avoiding the hairbrush, I can spritz a few squirts of this and lay his hair down with my fingers.
And surprisingly that usually does the trick, because it’s formulated with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut milk (both of which won’t weigh down 1C curly hair).
7. CurlyKids Curly Deep Hair Conditioner
No matter your curl pattern (or lack thereof), it is essential to have a deep conditioner in your hair regimen.
Many parents solely rely on shampoo and conditioner, but a deep conditioner will also do wonders (FROM THE START) for your kids!
I love the CurlyKids Curly Deep Hair Conditioner because it is gentle for small kids.
But, a huge plus, it’s free of parabens, silicones, sulfates, and petrolatum!
This is major because the latter, especially, can weigh down straight hair.
All around, this deep conditioner will be perfect for first-time parents and small children when acclimating to hair-wash days.
8. African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo
Pre-shampoos didn’t exist when I was a kid (or maybe my state is too small to have heard of them), but I wish they did!
When my mom relaxed my hair (i.e. made it straight), I remember every wash day felt like my hair was straw and gasping for air — or in this case, nourishment.
Basically, a pre-shampoo protects the hair strand before shampooing so as to maintain its natural oils.
Most sulfate shampoos strip the hair of its natural oils (thus, requiring conditioners).
But, sulfate can still penetrate a little too deeply into the hair follicle and cause issues of frizz, and imbalanced porosity.
Start your kids young by adding an extra precaution to give your child’s 1b hair type the nourishment it needs (just in case).
African Pride has been around for ages, and it’s a trusted and respected brand in the relaxed, transitioning, and natural hair world.
These were the best products for my son’s hair type 1c.
If you found this helpful for narrowing down the best 1a, 1b, and 1c hair products for your kids, make sure to check out the mixed hair category on my blog.
I have dabbled in too many to count hair products for my three kids, all with different curl patterns and hair types (click here for their regimen).
If you also have kids with opposite hair types, click here to read more and join us over on Instagram to catch us in real-time as we live out our daily Do You Even Mom moments.
[This post has affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. Read my full affiliate link disclosure here.]
21 comments
At first I started using cleaning and laundry Honest products and to my surprise they were excellent – which rarely happens for me with products endorsed by a celebrity. Decided to try their shampoo and condition, instant hit.
I honestly feel the same way! Thank goodness for YouTube so you got to see real and honest reviews, but Honest “honestly” does live up to their claims.
I’m with you with pre-shampoos, I wish these were around when I was growing up, I was so depressed that my hair had 1 out of 10 good days. It was a mess, no matter what products I used.
It is such a trial and error, but so worth it when you find what works.
You and me both, girl! I had 99% chances of having a bad hair day, every day so I know the feeling. And whenever I got lucky and my hair would look amazing, I had nowhere to go to show it off :))
Do you use the deep-conditioner with every wash or just when you think they need it? Thx!
I wouldn’t say every wash, more like once a week. But, you can always DC if you want to more often. When I first went natural (transitioning from straight relaxed hair), I DC’d daily, then migrated to just 1-2x a week. Whatever works best for you [and your child].
I’ve seen Cantu products recommended for biracial kids by CGM fans quite a lot, I have to give them a go next.
Let me know what you think of them!
Thanks for these! My toddler needs a new routine asap, his hair has slowly become unmanageable. He went from having a buzz cut to wanting a ponytail and that is hard maintenance, especially when he’s home alone with dad.
Oh no haha, that is adorable though. I wonder what my son’s preference will be when he’s older.
That pre-shampoo is bloody genius! I make sure I never run out, we all use it
It really is! Even if you do run out, you can always apply the conditioner first to help protect curls 🙂
Nothing seems to work anymore, I need to change things quickly. I’m thinking of starting with Cantu for now, I can find these at most stores near me, I don’t have to order them online.
Honestly, that’s why Cantu is a staple for SO many parents of curly hair, especially in the African-American community. My mom had several different Cantu products when I was growing up, and it’s shocking how little the products have changed over the years (which is actually a good thing).
Quick question: how often do you wash their hair? I find myself washing their hair twice a week because they sweat a ton, just like their dad. Is there a way to switch to a weekly wash session? Would dry shampoo work? If yes, which brand do you recommend?
Honestly, it depends on the season. Because I was pregnant and gave birth twice in the past three years, I was exhausted, to say the least…so sometimes, I washed their hair weekly, sometimes twice a month. The best thing to do is to stick to a routine though because curly hair can be unforgiving. The more you do it, the fewer headaches (or tangles) you’ll get, and your child’s hair will only benefit from your persistence and consistency.
We love Curly Kids products! They work amazingly well and they’re so budget-friendly.
I wish I knew about them (or they were around) when my oldest was younger!
We have the same problem. Our little one loooves bath time, he splashes like it’s his job haha. This forced us to look for tear-free products, the one from the Honest Company is my fave so far.
I know tear-free is a chemical, but it is SO helpful with bathtub with those accidental splashes in a baby’s eyes.