When I first had my daughter, there were times when I seriously considered shaving her hair off. I had no idea how to make it grow and stay moisturized. I had just embraced wearing my hair naturally, but I had a hard time figuring out what to do with a 4 year old’s whose hair was without chemicals. I bought a lot of high priced hair products. Majority of them failed to garner the results I sought. Finally one night when I was about to ‘call it quits’ with all of the ‘new advice’ us naturals get on how to maintain hair and what products to (or not to) use, I decided to go online.
I quickly went on a YouTube search of some staples my mother used in my hair (shea butter, oil, grease and conditioning mixes). To my surprise I found a ton of resources. Before the week was out my daughter’s hair was already improving. When people would see my daughter they swore I was buying some new expensive products, but when I told them what I had been using their mouths literally dropped in shock. So let me help some of you struggling mothers with how to keep your daughter’s hair moisturized for the upcoming Winter Season.
Keep your child’s hair moisturized daily. In the winter it’s important that you moisture your child’s hair daily. Every morning, I take a homemade spritz of water, oil, leave in conditioner and glycerin and spray it on her hair. I carry this spray in my SUV in case we have to be somewhere and I need her hair to look shinier and healthier.
Buy a silk pillowcase (or bonnet) that will protect your child’s hair at night. Sleeping on a regular, cotton pillowcase can rub all of the moisture out of your child’s hair. I remember doing my daughter’s hair at night only for her to wake up every morning a mess. So instead of fighting the nightly battle of having to keep a scarf on her hair, I gave in and got a silk pillowcase. I then tie a scarf around her hair or secure her plaits or braids down with bobby pins to make sure her hair isn’t sticking up on her scalp by the time we wake up in the morning.
Find a sealant that can combat the harsh winter elements. I have tried almost every sealant on the market and they were great- for the first day or so and then it would look like nothing every touched my daughter’s hair. Her hair once again would be dry, and brittle so I decided to stop wasting my money and I began to make my own shea butter mixture at home for much less money than I was spending in the stores. So after I wash, condition, apply a leave-in and some oil in her hair, I then apply this sealant which is wonderful for two strand twists, pony tails, plaits, braids, etc.
Lightly oil your child’s hair as needed. Ever since I went natural I’ve heard from everyone that grease is bad for hair. Well I’m here to tell you that for my daughter’s hair that is dry and brittle, lightly oiling her scalp keeps her scalp healthy. So find a light oil (Coconut, Olive oil, etc) that can get moisture in her hair and give it extra shine! I usually oil her hair once (maybe twice) a week and I only use a very little amount that’s enough for her hair to soak it up but not ‘weigh down’ her hair!
With me using these four strategies, my daughter’s hair grew tremendously. It’s not only longer but was noticeable thicker and less prone to breakage.
