Tons of people ask me how I deal with Annie’s curly hair. When Maddie, and then Annie, grew curls, I had no idea what to do. I have straight hair, and while it can turn into a rat’s nest when I’m sick or need a trim, it’s nothing compared to the dread locks Annabel used to wake up with.
When I wash Annie’s hair, I use an extra-conditioning shampoo (Johnson & Johnson). I lather up her hair first, and then leave it in while I bathe her and while she plays. I rinse it all out at the end of her bath.
Next, I brush her hair out. This is sometimes the only time I brush her hair between washings, so I make sure I get out every last knot. The brushing is made tons easier thanks to leaving her conditioning shampoo on her head for the length of the bath.
After her hair is brushed, I put Organix Moroccan Argan Oil in her hair (I use this on my own hair, too!). I squirt a dime-sized amount of the oil into my hand, rub my palms together, and then smooth it all over her hair. When I’m done, her hair looks like this:
Then, I let her hair air dry. I usually wash her hair in the mornings, because it takes her hair FOREVER to dry. But when it finally does, it is perfection:
I hope it keeps its curl as she gets older!
I’m still new to tending to the curly-haired, so if anyone has more tips and tricks to share, please leave them in the comments!
Beth says:
You might want to check out naturallycurly.com and The Curly Girl Handbook by Lorraine Massey. I’m a 30-something curly girl who just learned to love my curls this summer. It is frustrating to battle frizz – at least you’re off to a better start than my mom and I had!
Annie’s curls are glorious! Keep up the good work!
jen says:
i love naturallycurly.com!
Dianne says:
YES to NaturallyCurly.com. I found NaturallyCurly.com when I had to figure out what to do with my daughter’s curly hair. It is a great source of help – there is even a forum where you can post photos and questions.
One tip – put a silky pillowcase over the back of her carseat and have her sleep on a silky pillowcase. It will help cut down on the frizzies.
My daughter’s curls looked much like Annie’s at that age except it was curly for the whole length, not just the bottom. But, about a year ago (around 6-3/4 yrs old), the tightness of the spiral started loosening. Within this past year, it has become more wavy and sort of curly instead of tight spirals. She doesn’t seem to care, but I am having a hard time dealing with the demise of her curls. I lived vicariously through her curls — I hope that when she hits puberty and her hormones change, she’ll get the curls back. (I’ve heard that the curls come and go throughout the years with varying hormone levels.)
Megan says:
Beautiful! It’s amazing how long her hair is once it’s combed out, too. I’m curious where Maddie and Annie’s curls come from. Mike’s hair looks pretty straight, too. On the other hand, both my parents have wavy hair and mine is stick straight *sigh*
Heather says:
EVERYONE has curly hair except for me. Mike’s hair is buzzed, but when it’s longer it curls. My brother has massive curls, both my parents have wavy hair, and Mike’s mom and sister have curls, too.
@Adelas says:
I’m new to curly hair, too, and my daughter’s hair is a rat’s nest even if I brush it for her twice daily. Although I condition her hair every time she bathes, I have never used the Argan oil – maybe that’s the trick!
Also, normally don’t bathe her in the morning, because she’s notorious for making messes (food, dirt outside, you name it) and needing an evening bath even if we already did one in the morning. And whatever it is, it’s usually in her hair, too. But on days when I want her to look extra-nice, I’ll remember a morning bath!
Heather says:
Do you ever use No More Tangles spray? I will use that if her hair is a disaster between washings.
I bathe Annie at night if I’m not washing her hair. If I put her to bed with wet hair it would NEVER dry!
@Adelas says:
I use detangling spray, but usually just Suave brand or whatever’s cheap. If I didn’t use it, I literally would not be able to use an implement in her hair without ripping some of it out. The spray allows us to function, and even use a brush instead of a comb. But it rats back up immediately any time she sleeps.
In the hour since you posted this, I’ve already run out to Ulta and picked up that oil, hoping that it will help slicken her hair so it won’t catch on itself.
Marcilyn says:
Target has the up&up detangling spray that is about 1/2 the price of J&J and still smells good!
@Adelas says:
UPDATE!!!!!! OMG I am in your debt for life. For the first time in over a year, when my daughter woke up, I was able to run my fingers through her hair, top to bottom, side to side, and not only was it NOT a rat’s nest, it looks GORGEOUS straight out of bed! Flickr set link to follow later today.
AmazingGreis says:
I love her hair!
Kim says:
Oh so jealous of the curls. loooove them!!
Walkingborder (Karen) says:
Bookmarking this for later. Because I’m days if not hours away from birthing my daughter (after 2 boys) and curly hair runs in the family.
Meghan says:
Ok the curly girl handbook is pretty stellar. I’ve got naturally curly hair and have been “dealing” with it since puberty. Sulfate free shampoos are really best for curls. Curly hair is more dry than normal hair and the stuff that makes shampoo bubble (sulfates) dries it out even more bc it cleans the hair a little too well. I use products that are similar to Wen (by Chaz Dean) or just about anything from the Carol’s Daughter website. Her stuff is all natural and AMAZING! I highly recommend the hair milk. It smells nice and does wonders for your hair
Julie says:
My best advice for curly hair is to limit the amount that you touch it once you style it. Touching it will release the curls and encourage FRIZZ. I haven’t used the oil that you mentioned, but I definitely will look for it.
Rebecca says:
Well color me jealous. I love her curls. I want them on ME and my daughter.
Antonia says:
Thank you for posting this, where do you get the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil, do you need to buy it off the site? I’ll have to look into investing some, plus I’ll have to try the whole brushing after it being washed, I was always told never to brush DURING the shampoo process, but after is worth trying.
Laurie says:
You are doing a great job on her curls! They look beautiful. My own straight-haired mom had no idea what to do with my curls. She brushed them (gasp!) and so of course my head was a frizzy mess. And she kept it very short to try to control it. It took me decades to learn to love my curls. Annie is off to a much better start.
I second the recommendation for naturallycurly.com and Lorraine Massey’s Curly Girl book. There are great tips, and naturallycurly.com has a whole section devoted to kids’ curls.
Erin says:
From this curly-haired perspective, a comb does better than a brush. I don’t get awful tangles since my hair is thicker than a toddler’s babyfine strands, so a brush might be necessary for that, and that’s totally fine. But for regular maintenance, keep a comb handy. Not a cheapie teeth-close-together comb, but a pik comb, you know? shaped like a short fat fork. I don’t even own a brush, because they all just frizz and uncurl the curls; a comb separates them and dispenses whatever product i use much more effectively. i like Zero Frizz serum but have heard great things about moroccan oil and may switch when i run out.
Jamie says:
Thank you for this! My baby has curly hair. Just fine, delicate curls at the very ends of her hair and I was wondering what to do to enhance them. I’m going to pick up a bottle of the Oil to see if it helps her out.
Actually, my oldest daughter has very wavy, slightly curly hair. She might like it too.
heather says:
If you comb out that hair while the shampoo and conditioner is still in it makes it much softer when it dries (hard to believe) and it’s easier to get the little tangles out.
Erin says:
yes. comb in the bath
Jo in Boston says:
I condition in the shower and then comb through the tangles with a large toothed comb while the conditioner is still in my hair. Then, just let it air dry and don’t touch it. Experiment until you find a good conditioner and then pay whatever it costs! She’ll probably wish for straight hair but appreciate her curls later on.
MS says:
I’m going to let you in on a little curly hair girl secret, told to me by a stylist a couple years ago…brush curly hair while its dry, right before the bath/shower. Then shampoo and conditioner in more of a smoothing motion than a scrubbing one. I’ve had curly hair all my life and it has made a world of difference in how my hair looks…also hurts a heck of a lot less to get knots out of dry hair rather than wet.
Keep an eye on all the conditioner and oil, her curls may not need as much as she gets older. Some curls get stuck down on the scalp with too much weight. If you see that happening, go really light on the conditioning and stick with a bit of the oil or any curly hair spray, which will help keep the curls together but not weigh them down.
Good luck!!!! She’s precious!
Trina says:
i have naturally curly hair too. i use that exact same oil. yes, my name is trina davis and i am addicted to moriccan hair oil. expensive? yup. but you can make that brown bottle last forever! and…. it smells amazing!
jen says:
I am almost 40 and have a full head of ringletts. All four of my children have the same as i do!
– always brush hair when it is wet.
– conditioner is a miracle worker.
– dont weigh the curls down.
– i never use a brush, only a pick.
– curly hair has a mind of its own. To try to force it to what you want will result in your headache.
I am sure i have more points, but my yo9ungest dd wants to go to bed.
Good night and good luck!
Beth says:
Life long curly girl here. Ban the brush, buy a pick. Do not look back. Although, in all honesty, I finger comb Katie’s curls and that’s it. We’ve been using Ouidad’s kids line on her hair, but I have a bad feeling she’s allergic to it, so I’m going to have to find her something else.
Katie also has the hair that never dries, and if she sweats at all it strings out — that I don’t quite know what to do with because my hair has either been short (my straight haired mother’s solution, I fit in well with the crowd sporting ‘fros anyway) or on the long side and thick. Very thick. I lose hair accessories to my hair. Curly hair, not just hair an indenture
tmcq says:
My oldest daughter’s hair looks EXACTLY like Annie’s. We use the Live Clean Morrocan Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner, and leave-in conditioner.
I used to use the Johnson’s stuff on it, but her hair needs a little more TLC than the kids’ shampoo and conditioner can provide. The spray leave-in detangler worked great for making her not look like an orphan in the morning, but we’re trying to be sulphite/paraben/pthalate free around her so we switched to Live Clean. We bathe at night, pick it out (with a little of the leave-in conditioner if there are lots of tangles) and put her to bed. In the morning we use more of the spray if we’re leaving it down, or we put it up in ponytails.
It’s a fine line between beautiful curls and homeless orphan. Summer hats and winter toques are terrible for m’curly girl. She hates the spray (she’s 3) so I mostly put it up – it’s a win/win, because it looks nice and neat (but still curly!) and it’s not in her face, bugging her.
Ana Brightful says:
My baby has verrry curly hair. I only comb it with a wide toothed comb when it is wet right out of the bath. After that, it doesn’t get combed or brushed between washings. The product that I have found to work miracles in her hair with frizz and defining curl is called It’s a 10 with Keratin. I love love love this product. It’s not cheap, about $20 a bottle, but it’s the only thing I have found that works with her textured head. So far we are still using our first bottle, it’s been about 6 weeks and the bottle is still half full. I would say the biggest thing to remember about curly hair is that brushes are not friendly towards curly hair, at least when it’s dry.
Lisa G says:
I also like the no more tangles! And I use Argan Oil products from Sally’s Beauty Supply on myself. Never thought about putting it on my Ava. So tom morn she will have her first Argan oilening!! (sp?) Thx- Lisa
Lea says:
Oh man I just LOVE Annie’s curls SO much!! I am incredibly jealous as I have always had stick straight hair, and my 17-month-old daughter does as well. I know can be more work than straight, but it would be completely worth it to me to get those locks! The way you do them makes them look very beautiful! Oh well, my girl rocks her straight hair anyway!
juli says:
i have insanely curly hair that is mostly seen in a tight bun to control it. i just started using the oil last week and am totally in love. i put the oil in brush it through then frizz ease serum. it still ends up in the bun due to its vast length but is so soft now. i also rec paul mitchell kids taming spray and marc anthony leave in detangling conditioner strictly curls. i like the marc anthony better but lately its been a pain to find. i also find putting my hair half up and half down really works to make it smooth but still really curly at the ends.
Lilly says:
Nice job for a straight haired girl! My hair is exactly like Annie’s, except I don’t look as cute and mine are a bit tighter ringlets. Anyway, I have a few tips! Some may not be applicable to the 18 month old Annie, but perhaps the 8 year old Annie could benefit
1. Don’t towel dry! Gateway to frizz.
2. Don’t brush when it’s not wet! (You’ve got that down!)
3. Don’t think curly hair is immune to split ends. Us curly girls get them too.
4. Do test around products. Not all curly products work for all curly girlies. From my experience, it seems that the more expensive the curly haired product, the more likely it will work. That won’t be the same for everyone. One day, you will fall in love with that product and live happily ever after.
5. Do find curl friendly hair dressers. In NYC there are several salons that cater specifically to curls (Devachan, Ouidad, and many more). They have their own line of products, and the hair dressers will analyze your hair like a science product. It’s a splurge, but one trip is worth it.
6. Do establish a simple, easy routine. You’ve got a great one now, but make sure you stick to it! Don’t overload the curls. Curls don’t live up to their potential while being weighed down with gels and creams. PS: I use that Moroccan oil too!
6. Do embrace your curliness. Don’t think twice about purchasing bumper stickers/shirts/flags that say “Curly Girl” or “Curls Rock!”.
7. Do enjoy those curls! I woke up one morning and decided that I HATED having curly hair and went to the salon and had my lovely locks relaxed! Not only did it damage my hair beyond belief, but I had two wait almost 3 years before I felt comfortable in my hair again.
Good luck (you’ll need it)!!
ssfb says:
I just have to reply to the comment about finding a hairdresser that can handle curls. I’m 30 with curly hair and I am still amazed at how few hair dressers actually know how to take care of curly hair. I ended up doing my own hair for my wedding because all 3 stylists I went to for a practice run insisted that you must blow dry my hair first and THEN curl it. (I wanted my curly hair down with just part pulled back and flowers in it) every single stylist had me looking like a cocker spaniel.
Anjie says:
My daughter has curly hair too and I have NO idea how to deal with it. Thank you for the tips to you and your commenters!!
Angel says:
I use the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil and never thought once to put it in my toddler’s curls… hmmm, she might have another bath in the morning!
liz b says:
the advice smackdown had a whole post about tending to the hair of curly headed children here’s the link, I have no idea why I remember or even read the article because both myself and my 15 month old have stick straight hair!
http://alphamom.com/parenting/hair-care-101-for-curly-haired-tots/
liz b says:
p.s. so jealous of Annie’s curls they are adorable
Christina says:
I just picked up my first bottle of organix moroccan oil today at Walgreens! FYI it’s on sale at walgreens 2 for $12! Cant wait to try it tonight!
Lisa says:
I love Moroccan Oil! My stylist uses it on my hair and said she’d get some for me to buy, but I’ve never been able to pull the trigger and spend the money just on myself.
And Annie’s curls are precious! My hair is fine, but very thick, and it gets pretty wavy if I air dry it, but messy-wavy, not cute-wavy.
Kristin says:
As she gets older and looses that baby fine hair texture, look into some leave in conditioners. Also, for me and my boys, I keep a spritz bottle of water in the bathroom. That way, when I HAVE to brush it but there isn’t time for a shower, I wet it, slather it with leave in conditioner, and brushing and styling is a breeze.
Jenny says:
Curly here! Ditch the brush and adopt the pick. I only comb through mine with the pick while the conditioner is soaking. I love the Deva Curl products.
Enjoy the curls!
Lynn @ Walking With Scissors says:
My daughter had gorgeous tight ringlets until she was about 5. Unfortunately, hers morphed into wavy hair that is easily knotted and difficult to manage. I did pretty much the same thing you’re doing, only I used a curly hair serum from Pantene. The only other advice I can give is NOT to cut bangs!
edenland says:
This post kinda made me tear up. You are such a beautiful mum. xxoo
Ray says:
Gorgeous curly-haired babe! Love the hints of blonde in her hair! And I need some of that Organix Moroccan Argan Oil, for my curly hair! =o)
Mom again says:
My curly haired mom, and an African-American woman at her daycare taught me to deal with my daughters curly hair by braiding it. French braids do best, and if done sugly with not quite dry hair can even be left in a second day.
My Daughter is 25 now and spends stupid amounts of time and money making her hair straight. Her slick haired sister and I are befuddled at her desire to eradicate the prettiness we envy!
Auntie_M says:
I have curly hair and love the Moroccan Oil products! (which are made in Isreal, BTW-so what’s w/the name?!)
I also use good old John Frieda FrizzEase products. While I don’t think I’d use the shampoo/conditioner on a toddler, the leave-in Dream Curls spray conditioner might help re-fluff or de-frizz Annie if she ever needs that kind of primping. Can’t believe how absolutely gorgeous those little ringlets are!
Kristina says:
Another person telling you to check out curlygirl website/products. My DD (7) even goes to a specialty curlygirl hairstylist, since I had no idea how to handle her hair. It’s very wavy/ringlety in the back, and beach-wavy in the front and she has TONS of hair. Don’t use products with sulfates (we use Burt’s Bees), only comb (with a wide-tooth comb) when wet and full of conditioner. Scrunch with a microfiber towel and/or fingers. Those are the main rules.
Daisy says:
I’d like to “thirty third” the Curly Girl website, but I have never used their products. If you ever find that Annie’s curls need a little mousse to help keep them defined, I can tell you that Dove or Aveda’s Phomollient are they only two that doesn’t create that awful “crunchy” feeling. I’m also a huge fan of curl creams, my favorite’s being Aveda & Pureology. They are good for sticky, humid weather. Just a small drop, work through the ends, voila!
Kim says:
I had a curly-haired daughter too, but her hair is also mungo-thick and she’s 6 so it’s long too. It’s so thick and long that there is no longer any curl. So Annie could go either way I guess. But be prepared for long and straight OR short and curly. You might have to keep it short to maintain the curl.
Either way you’ll have a lot of fun with it I’m sure.
Penbleth says:
My girls had lovely curls when they were little, sadly they didn’t last. I hope Annie’s do.
Kristin says:
She has the most beautiful curls! My daughter’s hair was curly too, until she was about 3-4 it started to get more and more straight. Now there’s not a strand of curl left and I miss it. I hope Annie keeps her curls too.
ldoo says:
I LOVE this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Baby-Organics-Conditioner-Detangler/dp/B001I2F4BE
I have super curly hair, and what little hair my 3 year old has is really curly and kind of course. It’s a rat’s nest still after I wash it. But the second I put Nature’s Baby conditioner on it, it’s instantly smooth and combs right through. It’s a leave-in conditioner, so you could put it on Annie’s curls on days you don’t wash her hair. Oh, and it smells amazing, and doesn’t have harmful chemicals.
Mary says:
I’m so glad you posted this! My son is 14 months and his curly hair has started turning into a teased tangled puff in the back! I figured out this weekend if I use conditioner and then comb it out immediately after rinsing it, the curls stay curly, and don’t turn into crazy frizz. His hair dries relatively quickly, so i have to make sure to comb it immediately after conditioning. Dry = no chance.
Tami says:
I Love her curls!! :0 I wish I had them, then I wouldnt have to perm my hair all the time.
Suzette Schermer says:
Hi Heather! I love and admire Annie’s curls (in part because they remind me of her sister’s pretty twirls…). In addition to being a PTSAHM, I also consult PT for a curly hair care line. DevaCurl products are healthy (sulfate, paraben and sillicone free) and safe for all curls. If you or Miss Annie are interested in trying the line and sharing your experience, please let me know! Oh, there are some people who report they use DevaCurl on their pets, so Rigby could get in on the action, too!
Good luck with the pending move.
Suzette
Ray says:
Oh, and: After I wash my curly hair, I put Tresemme Conditioner and leave it on. Because if not? It’s all dry!
TracyKM says:
Beautiful hair! It’s definately a challenge when your child has different hair than you!
You might want to re-think the J&J products though, they get low marks from ewg.org: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse.php?brand_id=1128&category=baby_shampoo&brand_id=1128&&showmore=products&start=0
My kids all had bad cradle cap way past the baby stage. With #3, a hairdresser told me it was BECAUSE of using baby shampoos. I switched to an adult shampoo (even though she was still just 2), and her hair suddenly was cleaner, her scalp cleared up, her hair was smoother and got fewer knots too.
Also make sure she’s getting enough Omega 3 products to moisturize from the inside out
Babbalou says:
Another fan of the Curly Girl book. One of the things she talks about which really helped me is the idea of “washing” your hair using conditioner rather than shampoo. My hair gets very dry and dry equals frizz when you’re a curly girl. In the shower (or bath in Annie’s case) massage the scalp and hair with conditioner as if it were shampoo. I comb my hair in the shower to distribute the conditioner and then try to only finger comb aside from that. But I really recommend the book, it’s very interesting.
hdj says:
You got lots of answers, but what I did with my daughter – as soon as I could braid her hair – I did so at night – that way it was not a rat’s nest when she woke up in the morning (and she could go to bed with wet hair – might still be wet in the AM, but that helps w/curls for the next day).
I also always had a bottle of detangler on hand to spray in her hair before brushing (when she would come home from a hard day of playing at preschool – hair was a mess!). I also put it up a lot during the day – braids, pigtails, pigtail braids, etc. Doesn’t show off all the fabulous curls, but it was easier than sitting through the brushings.
Lisa says:
I too have pretty curly hair and I love all these tips and tricks! I actually went out today and bought the Moroccan oil and some sulfate-free shampoo & conditioner because of this post/ these comments! Can’t wait to try them!
Abby C. says:
Johnson and Johnson’s No Tears detangling spray probably saved my parent’s sanity when I was little – crazy curls from the beginning and 30 years later I’ve still got them.
Gonna try that argan oil, though!
ssfb says:
Thank goodness you’re learning how to handle her curls that will be a lifesaver to her later on. I’m 30 and feel like I’m only JUST getting a handle on to properly style my curls. I grew up in a family of straight hair people and my mother constantly telling me to: “go brush you hair that looks like a rats nest”… No matter how many times I tried to explain brushing seemed to only make it worse. I’m glad Annie will have someone helping her and hopefully won’t go through life thinking curls are a curse.
Jenelle says:
You need a knot genie. It totally works, and it’s easy for them to brush their own hair.
http://www.knotgenie.com/
Elizabeth says:
Her hair is SO PRETTY! I wish my girls did what hers do.
Mommy Boots says:
Thanks for this! My 19 month old is a curly girl, too and I’m always trying to find ways to tame it. I’m going to try the moroccan oil and see how it works!
Chris says:
I have straight hair, but I had to say a big THANK YOU Heather! I read this and then I was wandering through Target, (our new house is 53 seconds from target by car, yes we timed it) this weekend in a fruitless attempt to find adhesive something to make our shower less slippery, and there was the Organix Agran Oil. It was an omen right? I didn’t even have to find the Ulta…just pop it in my overflowing Target cart, with the doggy treats and huge package of papertowels.
So, I tried it today, and being afraid of greasies I may not have used quite enough but my hair is drying SO soft and shiny, and I haven’t even used a dryer today, I do believe I’m in love with it. I always use Sulfate free shampoo (Love the Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger, it actually suds and feels clean) and to find something that leaves my hair all soft and shiny and doesn’t break the bank I’m quite excited. I’m also tempted to go back and get their Keratin treatment now… Thanks for the GREAT tip!!!
Jeni says:
So my daughter has a mixture of my hair with my husbands. My husband is an African so he has the short …very short curly hair while I have long soft brown hair. So my daughter got the best of both worlds…well kind of. She has very soft hair however very curly as well. Down side to it is that it gets super tangled if its not brushed every two seconds or so. We finally found something that works perfect for her hair though. Instead of only brushing her hair when she is done with the shower now we can do it whenever. The product we use is Johnson’s(R): No More Tangles(R) Easy-Comb Detangler Buddie, and it works wonders. You can find it at Wal-mart. Strongly suggest it specially when Annie gets older.
helen says:
I used Nuka Beauty Organic Argan Oil,I feel good.Grown in North Africa and mainly in Morocco, Organic Argan Oil is rich in antioxidants and omega 6 fatty acids, and is believed to contain twice as much vitamin E as olive oil. I feel it is Gentle enough to use on all skin types,
Help with skin conditions including acne and diminishes wrinkles and
Easily absorbs into hair to give shine and reduces drying time.