How to Avoid These Mixed Curly Hair Mistakes

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The world of curly hair is beautiful. Curls come in different forms, shapes, and sizes. Taking care of your child’s mixed curly hair can be tasking and overwhelming. Whether you have only had straight hair or are accustomed to your own curly hair, it is still intimidating to take care of your little one’s curly hair.

Immersing yourself in mixed curly hair can be a lot with the vast amount of information out there. We have provided a well-detailed dos and don’ts checklist to guide you to giving your children a healthy curly hair routine. 

This post is all about mixed curly hair.

1. DO CLEANSE

Yes, there are a lot of curly girl forums that are all about co-washing and avoiding shampoo because it will strip the hair dry. Washing hair is not only essential to clean the hair but a foundational step for a healthy hair care routine.

The shampoo will get rid of product build-up, dirt, dead skin cells, germs, and possible environmental pollutants. Kids are extremely active and will take any opportunity to get dirty when playing. There are now many well-formulated shampoos out in the market that are curl-friendly for your kid’s curly hair.

2. DON’T OVERWASH

Washing curly hair daily will strip the hair dry, cause tangling, and leave the hair susceptible to breakage. If you have been washing your hair daily, the same cannot be applied when it comes to mixed curly hair.

Curly hair is naturally dry because sebum (our natural oil) takes a much longer time to travel down the hair strand to nourish and protect the hair strands. Try washing the hair every 7-10 days with a moisturizing shampoo and a clarifying shampoo once a month.

3. DO MOISTURIZE

Ensuring your child’s hair is properly moisturized is key to ascertaining they have healthy, shiny, soft bouncy curls. Moisture is important in every aspect of your child’s routine and every step in their curly hair routine should revolve around maintaining moisture levels.

• Do use moisturizing leave-in conditioners and moisturizing styling creams.
• Do use moisturizing curl refresher sprays during the week to rehydrate the hair.

4. DON’T DETANGLE DRY HAIR

Curly hair is fragile and needs extra TLC. You want your child to have memories of a great wash day when they were a toddler and not them holding for their dear life in tears as their hair was pulled in all directions. Curly hair can be challenging especially with impatient and tender-headed children.

• Do be gentle and take your time when detangling.
• Do detangle on damp hair. Water always helps make detangling hair more manageable.
• Do use a conditioner with a slip to detangle curls or a detangling spray to ease the process of detangling.
• Do not use your standard brush to detangle the curly hair. Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush specifically made for curly hair.

5. DO TRIAL AND ERROR

This is new to you and nobody expects you to be a super mom or super dad by automatically knowing how to perfectly take care of your child’s hair.

It is essential to take your time learning about your child’s mixed curly hair. Start small so as not to be overwhelmed as you try to figure out what works for their hair.

Add products, one by one to be able to ensure the hair responds well to the products. This also allows you to discard products that are adversely affecting the hair.

6. DO HAVE A NIGHT ROUTINE

It is imperative to have a minimal nighttime routine to protect your child’s hair. A lot of damage can happen at night from tossing and turning which can lead to friction. Friction is an enemy to your child’s mixed curly hair as it causes tangling which leads to dryness, and eventually breakage.

Do swap the cotton pillowcases with a satin or silk pillowcase as cotton absorbs moisture from the hair and leaves the hair dry. Use a silk or satin bonnet or scarf to help retain moisture, protect the hair, and preserve the hairstyle for the next day.

7. DON’T STRAIGHTEN CURLY HAIR

Straightening your child’s hair should not be a norm in your kid’s routine. In fact, avoid heat as much as possible. You may be tempted to straighten the hair to avoid dealing with the curls, however, this will end up damaging their beautiful curls in the long run.

Excess heat can leave the hair dry, brittle, and weak. You will destroy the curls’ hair structure and they will lose their elasticity. Heat on your child’s hair should be very minimal.

8. DO PROTECTIVE STYLE OR LOW MAINTENANCE  STYLE

Curly hair loves to wrap itself around each other making curly hair prone to tangling. It is not ideal to leave curly hair out all the time because by the end of the day the hair will be completely matted and tangled.

Protective styles and low-maintenance styles are a great way to have curly hair tucked away and give the hair a break. Your kids get to be as active as possible with their curly hair well protected. Braids, twists, puff buns are great styles for your kids.

Do not put on tight hairstyles as they will be uncomfortable and the tension can pull the hair and cause breakage.

9. DO TEACH THEM TO EMBRACE THEIR CURLY HAIR

This is the most important thing you can do with your child for their mixed curly hair. In a world where straight hair has been viewed as the standard of “good hair”, positive exposure to natural hair is a must. It is important to be intentional with teaching your child to love and embrace their hair. Let them know all healthy hair is good hair and beautiful.

Do let them choose curly hairstyles that make their personality shine. Do not compare their hair to anybody! It does not matter if you are struggling to detangle their hair, always reinforce positive affirmations about their hair in their presence.

Focus on finding a consistent curly hair routine and be consistent. Your child’s memories with you taking care of their curly hair should be a magical experience full of positive memories.

This post was all about mixed curly hair care.

I hope these tips will guide you towards establishing a healthy curly hair routine for your child. Make sure to check out my Mixed Curly Hair Care playlist on YouTube; or read more on How to Keep Your Child Still for Hairstyling.