Hair Care For Kids: Expert Tips For Healthy And Strong Hair In Children

Do you struggle to maintain your child's hair? Healthy hair depends on many factors and needs a lot of care. Here are some practical tips on child hair care.

Washing your child's hair

There are a few basics to be followed when washing a child's hair. Washing the hair properly is one of the important factors for a child's hair growth.

Vasundhra Vasu, a cosmetologist who runs a salon in Chennai, says, "Hair should be washed at least twice a week. As far as possible, use a separate shampoo and conditioner. A good shampoo should have a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 and should have sodium citrate as a neutralizing agent."

"If possible, use herbal products for you and your child as these are safer options," says Edna Mahajan, a hairdresser from Chennai.

Try to stick to natural shampoos, which are infused with vitamins and antioxidants, which will moisturize your child's hair.

How to make homemade shampoo

You can also make your own shampoo for your child.

• Mix one-fourth cup of distilled water with an equivalent amount of herbal green tea.
• Add to this one tablespoon of lemon juice and honey. Your homemade shampoo is ready to use.

After a shower

Do the following after a shower:

• Gently squeeze the water out of the hair with a towel. Rubbing too hard with a towel can make the hair frizzy and cause it to fall.
• Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair, as any other comb can pull out lots of hair.
• Avoid using the hairdryer directly on wet hair as the heat can make the hair dry.
• Leave your child's hair loose when wet, since tying it up immediately can cause the hair to get all tangled up.

Oiling your child's hair

Oil is a good lubricant. "Your child's hair will grow better if they oil their hair regularly. You need to massage the scalp as this helps the blood flow to the hair roots and nourishes the hair," says Vasundhra. She recommends olive or coconut oil, which doubles up as a natural sunscreen and keeps the hair moist. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause dryness of hair.

Brushing your child's hair

Brushing helps blood circulation in the scalp. "For curly hair, combs with big teeth should be used. For straight hair, use a brush with smaller teeth. Combs with very small teeth harm the hair," says Edna. The hair should be brushed from the bottom and worked till the top, removing the knots along the way.

Trimming of hair

Trimming will reduce split ends and keep the hair healthy. "Trim once in two months for girls, and once a month for boys," adds Edna.

Diet for good hair growth

• Fruits and vegetables, including orange and yellow vegetables containing vitamin A, help promote a healthy scalp.
• Strawberries, citrus fruits, dark green vegetables, and tomatoes contain vitamin C, which prevents hair breakage.
• Vitamin E in green leafy vegetables and proteins in eggs and fish also promote healthy hair.

Exercise for healthy hair

Regular exercise stimulates blood circulation and hair growth. Try to ensure your child indulges in physical activity or games twice to three times a week.

Hair accessories

Wearing tight rubber bands can cause balding later. Avoid heavy metal clips as they damage the roots. Children should use plastic or light metal clips as accessories.

Lice treatment

Lice can be treated with a good anti-lice lotion. If you are looking for a home remedy, Vasundhra has a suggestion. "At home, you can grind tulsi leaves and apply them to your child's hair for about 20 minutes. Wash it off later," says Vasundhra.

Dandruff issues

During puberty, many children get dandruff. You can treat this troublesome problem by alternately washing the hair with a medicated shampoo and a mild shampoo. Home remedies often work well on children. Apply warm coconut/olive oil, massage the scalp, and leave it overnight, before washing with a gentle shampoo the next morning. Massaging the hair with a mixture of vinegar and warm water also helps.

Note that if any shampoo is not completely washed off, or if conditioners or other styling products are used when there is dandruff, it could worsen the condition.

Healthy hair demands regular oiling, shampooing, and brushing. With some care and guidance from your side, your child can have a healthy mop of hair.