Take Care of Black Baby Hair - Have the proper products on hand to care for your baby's hair. There are hair oils made specifically for black hair. Some brands that are popular are Just for Kids, Pink Oil, Carol's Daughter and Curlz. A more natural option that some people prefer is regular olive oil, or coconut oil.
Do not wash your child's hair until it changes and becomes more coarse at around 6 months old. Their curls are usually soft and don't need much help. Most of the time, a baby only needs a little bit of hair lotion or oil a few times a week. Put some oil on your hands and gently rub it through her hair and down to the scalp. Oil can also help with cradle cap, which is a fairly common occurrence among black babies because of their particularly dry skin. Stay away from mineral oil, which will dry out the hair even more. In the past, people used Vaseline, but this is no longer advised.
Take Care of Black Baby Hair
Only "wash" your child's hair every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how dirty it gets. Don't use shampoo, as it will strip whatever natural oil the hair contains. You can do what is called a "co-wash," which means to wash it with only conditioner. Every 3 or 4 months, you can assess whether there is a lot of product buildup on the hair and wash it with a clarifying shampoo; however, these washings should be few and far between.
Don't wash hair in the tub; black hair is often very thick, and there is so much of it that it can be hard to get at properly. Lay your baby down on a flat surface near a sink and wash the hair there. This makes it easier to section the hair, wash it in portions and reach the scalp. If you baby already has braids, you can wash the braids without undoing them and blot them dry with a towel.
Cover up your baby's hair at night if he is 6 months old or older. Use a regular cotton handkerchief and tie it securely around the back, securing the top portion as well to keep it from slipping down. Oils from the hair can cause damage to the bed linens, and covering the baby's hair also helps preserve the curl and lessens frizziness. Another option if you choose not to cover your baby's hair is to use satiny bed sheets and pillowcases. The slickness of this material will help keep the hair from catching on it, unlike cotton- or polyester-based materials.
Black hair doesn't create its own oil, and will get much drier than other hair types. Therefore, it is important to keep the scalp and hair well-oiled. Babies hair tends to be very soft, but as kids get older, it will get thirstier. There are many different types of curl and grades of hair; some are drier than others, so there is a bit of trial and error involved in finding what works for you. Does this Spark an idea? - by eHow
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