The Truth @bout Natural Hair With Anu: Weekly Q&A

November 8th, 2011 - By Alexis Garrett Stodghill

Natural Black Hair Care For Children

This week on The Truth @bout Natural Hair With Anu, Ms. Prestonia helps a reader learn how to better care for her infant’s natural hair. Here’s what our resident natural hair care expert has to say.

Hello, Anu,

I need some advice.  I have an eleventh month old baby girl and need some advice on caring for her hair. I have been told everything from “brush her hair before she goes to bed so it will grow” to “use hair care products specifically targeted for babies.”

This is my regimen.  Currently, I use olive oil in her hair everyday and when I part her hair in barrettes, I use coconut oil. I have read in the past not to use mineral oil.  I have noticed her hair is a little dry.  When I wash her hair, I use the baby shampoo, specifically for curly hair.  I wash her hair every two to three weeks because she does not like her hair washed and cries.

To make matters worse, I have a five-year-old daughter, so you would think that I would know what to do.  No! I have had her going to the beauty salon for about a year now, and her hair has doubled in length.  Why is that?

PLEASE HELP A CLUELESS MOTHER! Oh! and by the way we have 100% negro, African-American hair that is very curly or some would say “kinky.”

Thank you
Cathy, age 39

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Deyana-Hopkins/1628667639 Deyana Hopkins

    Ohhh my, that’s way too much oil. Too much oil is bad, and too much protein is bad. You need to oil the baby hair as needed and wash the baby hair with a baby head to toe like Johnson and Johnson even tough it has surfer in it its fine. There is only a little because they aim to clean the baby without drying out the skin and hair , but add a LITTLE conditioner in the head to toe to give her hair the protein it needs. She’s gonna be a toddler soon and I’m sure her hair texture has changed since she was born, so it’s ok to use a conditioner like Pantien Pro V Relaxed and Natural as a conditioner, because she may not have as much natural oil and protein as she did when she was first born she may nee something stronger. Remember too much of anything is too much.  

  • Pingback: Madame Noire: Caring for Baby Hair: The Truth About Natural Hair

  • sweettea

    How come you don’t just ask your older daughters stylist?

  • RahTruth

    Too much oil can clog the hair follicle and stunt growth. Try using a lighter oil or even an oil based daily conditioner (the kind that look like hair lotion). Pantene Relaxed and Natural makes one. So does Kera Care. Also, make sure you’re avoiding heat whenever you can. Air dry the hair rather than blow drying, for example.