Easy Curly Hair Routine For Toddlers & Kids With Curly Hair

toddler curly hair, kids curly hair routine - curly girl method for kids

Are you wondering “how do I take care of kids or toddler curly hair?” If you have a toddler or kid with curly hair, then you know that taking care of their hair can be a challenge.

Curly hair is often dry and prone to tangles, including little girl curls. So it’s important to use curly girl approved products and methods to keep it healthy. The Curly Girl Method for kids is a great way to take care of curly hair without using harsh chemicals or products.

In this post, we will discuss tips on how to take care of toddler or kids’ curly hair, how to use the Curly Girl Method for kids and provide an easy curly hair routine that you can follow at home!

How Do I Take Care Of My Kids Curly Hair

I get asked this question often from new moms and dads of kids with curly hair. The short answer is: simplicity is key!

Keeping the process of taking care of your kids curly hair simple, will make it easier for both of you to keep up with it. Get your toddler or kid involved and make it a special fun time for you guys.

When your child sees you enjoying it, they will be more likely to enjoy it and even want to learn. Over time, they will pick up on the healthy hair care habits you’re forming and will be able to continue it on their own as they grow.

Here 7 main guidelines to take care of kids curly hair:

Do not brush dry curly hair
Only use microfiber towels to dry hair
Use curly girl method approved products
Keep curls moisturized
Protective hairstyles
Use Satin pillowcase & hair tie
Cleanse & Condition weekly

Do Not Brush Dry curly Hair

Brushing dry curly hair will cause breakage, split ends, and frizz. Always dampen or wet hair before using a curl girl brush or comb to detangle or style.

Use Microfiber towels

Microfiber towels are gentle enough to dry hair without pulling and causing damage.

Towels made from other fabrics will cause hair to get caught in the fibers and friction will result in damaged, frizzy curls.

What Is The Curly Girl Method & Approved products?

The Curly Girl Method is a simple way of taking care of curly hair that doesn’t use harsh chemicals or products. It’s based on the idea that curly hair needs moisture to look its best.

The Curly Girl Method is a hair care system developed by Lorraine Massey. It’s based on the idea that curly hair needs moisture to look its best, and that harsh chemicals and products can damage curly hair.

You don’t have to follow every rule of the curly girl method precisely but it’s a good guideline to develop healthy habits on how to take care of your kids or toddler curly hair.

The basic idea is to use gentle, moisturizing products and avoid harsh chemicals. You can read more about the curly girl method here.

Keep Kids & Toddler Curly Hair Moisturized

As you know curly hair is prone to being dry. Therefore, you always want to ensure that your toddler or kid’s hair is well moisturized to prevent frizz and breakage.

protective hairstyle - toddler curly hair, kids curly hair routine - curly girl method for kids

Use protective Hairstyles

Your toddler or kid is almost always on the move so the best hairstyles for them would be protective.

Think big goldilocks curls, twists, plaits, braids, and buns.

These hairstyles will help to keep curly hair moisturized and less frizzy while they’re busy being kids.

Satin Pillowcase & Scrunchie

Letting your kid and toddler sleep on a satin pillowcase will prevent frizz and damage by reducing friction while your child sleeps. Once you do this, refreshing their curls and waves when they wake up would be much easier.

Read all about how to sleep with curly hair.

Similarly, using satin or silk hair scrunchies will secure their ponytails and hairstyles without damaging their hair.

washing toddler curly hair, kids curly hair routine - curly girl method for kids

Cleanse & Condition Weekly

Cleansing and conditioning your kids or toddlers curly hair is critical. Build up from hair products and dirt will weigh down their hair and can clog hair follicles causing an itchy scalp.

Cleansing will gently remove dirt and conditioning will, of course, work to replace moisture.

How To Use The Curly Girl Method For Kids

The Curly Girl Method for kids is not different than the adult version. It’s simple and focuses on using gentle, moisturizing products.

The main difference is that you will need to use products that are specifically designed for kids curly hair.

Check out these recommended curly girl approved brands for kids and toddlers with curly hair.

Here are some tips on how to use the curly girl method for kids:

Use gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners.
Avoid using products that contain harsh chemicals, like sulfates, silicones, and parabens.
Use products that are designed for curly hair, like shampoos, conditioners, and styling products.
Use a moisturizing gel or cream to style curly hair.
Avoid using heavy oils or butters, which can weigh down curly hair.

Easy Curly Hair Routine For Kids

Now that you know how to use the curly girl method for kids, let’s discuss an easy hair routine for your kids and toddlers curly hair, that you can follow at home.

If your toddler was like mine, she may not love wash day. I tried many different ways and routines to keep it short and make it fun and eventually this is what works for us.

This wash day routine is simple and only requires a few products:

Pre poo & detangle: Before shampooing, use a pre-poo to gently detangle curly hair.

Shampoo: Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse your child’s hair.

Condition: Use a conditioner that is designed for curly hair. Leave the conditioner in your child’s hair for a few minutes to help detangle and soften the hair.

Styling Products: Use a moisturizing gel or cream to style curly hair.

Oil: Apply a light oil like argan oil or jojoba oil to the ends of your child’s hair to seal in moisture.

Pre poo & detangle

Before you shampoo your child’s hair, use a pre-poo or conditioner to help detangle and soften the hair.

Pre poo is when you apply a conditioner or oil to your hair before you shampoo. This helps to detangle the hair and soften it so that the shampoo can cleanse it better.

You can also use a detangler spray or conditioner to help detangle your child’s hair before you shampoo it.

Start by parting your child’s hair into small sections. Apply an oil like coconut oil or a leave in conditioner to each section and use your fingers, a comb or brush to gently detangle the hair working from the bottom up.

Be careful not to tug on the hair or pull it out, as this can cause damage and breakage.

After detangling you can leave the oil or conditioner in your child’s hair for 30 mins to overnight before cleansing.

Shampoo

Now that the hair is prepped and detangled, you can shampoo it to cleanse it.

My daughter doesn’t like to wash her hair in the tub and so we wash and condition it at the kitchen sink. I simply lay a towel on the counter and roll it at the edge of the sink to provide a cushion for her neck.

She really doesn’t fuss about it but if your child doesn’t like this option, you can purchase one of these to help with wash day.

To cleanse, use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse your child’s hair. Sulfates are harsh chemicals that can damage curly hair.

Start by wetting your kids curly hair and applying a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to the scalp. Massage the shampoo into the scalp and work it down to the ends of the hair.

Be sure to rinse the shampoo fully, as leaving any residue can be drying and damaging to curly hair.

Condition

After shampooing, apply a curly girl approved silicone free conditioner.

Leave the conditioner in your child’s hair for a few minutes to help further detangle and soften the hair.

Detangle using your fingers or a detangling brush like this one.

Follow the product’s recommended time to leave the conditioner in and then thoroughly rinse out all of the product.

Deep condition

If your child’s hair feels dry or brittle, you can use a curly girl deep conditioner to help hydrate and soften it.

Deep conditioning is when you apply a conditioner or mask to your hair and leave it in for a period of time, usually 30 minutes.

The deep conditioner will help to moisturize and soften the hair, and will help to reduce frizz.

Styling

Now that the hair is clean, conditioned, and detangled, you can style it using a moisturizing leave-in conditioner and curl cream.

Start by apply the styling product to wet or damp hair, and distribute it evenly throughout the hair using a curly girl brush like this detangler or this Denman brush.

You can then finger coil or twist the hair to encourage curl definition and to keep your kids’ curly hair frizz free.

Oil

Once you’ve completed your hairstyle, use oil to seal in the moisture.

Oil will keep your child’s curly hair as tangle & frizz free as possible. Apply a light oil like argan oil or jojoba oil to the ends of the hair to seal in moisture.

Argan oil is a light, non-greasy oil that helps to nourish and protect the hair. It is also high in antioxidants, which help to fight free radicals and protect the hair from damage.

Jojoba oil is another light, non-greasy oil that helps to moisturize and condition the hair. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals that help to nourish and strengthen the hair.

Drying Your Kids’ Curly Hair

You can leave your kids or toddlers hair to air dry or you can diffuse if they would allow you. If you live in a hot climate, this may be ok to do.

However, in colder climates, some kids don’t like to feel their hair wet especially if it’s long. In this case, let your child’s hair air dry for about 10 mins after styling and then diffuse as much as you can on the cool setting.

refresh Day Routine For Kids Curly Hair

I refresh my daughter’s hair while she’s reading her favorite book or playing with a toy.

Refreshing toddler curly hair starts on wash day and learning the best ways to sleep with curly hair.

Using the right products on wash day will set you up for the week and will make refreshing after wash day so easy!

On the days following wash day, here are 2 easy way to refresh your kids curly hair.

Refresh Day Routine For Kids Curly Hair: Dry Refresh

Take down hair from the pineapple
Shake out hair gently
Smooth a serum to beat any frizz
Scrunch or finger coil

And that’s it! This refresh method works the best for 2a 2b 2c curls. So easy and super simple.

Refresh Day Routine Kids & Toddler Curly Hair: Damp Refresh

Take down hair from the pineapple
Shake out your waves gently
Spritz water or leave in over your hair
Finger coil any pieces that need attention
Air dry or Diffuse

Final thoughts On This Easy Curly Hair Routine For Kids and Toddlers

Curly hair routine for kids can seem daunting, but with a little bit of patience and these simple tips, you can help keep your child’s curly hair healthy and frizz free!

Follow the tips and use the products recommended in this post, and you can help keep your child’s curly hair looking its best! Remember that every head of curly hair is different and what works on one may not work on another. So, always experiment and do what works best for you and your kids.

If you have any tips that help you with caring for kids curly hair, please leave a comment below so that we can help others.

Easy Curly Hair Routine For Toddlers & Kids With Curly Hair

Easy Curly Hair Routine For Toddlers & Kids With Curly Hair

How Do I Take Care Of My Kids Curly Hair