Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
Cozy Friedman is the founder of the first children’s hair salons in New York City as well as SoCozy children’s hair care products. She answered parents’ most pressing questions about their curly kid’s hair from the NaturallyCurly community below.
Question: If I cut my daughter’s hair, will she lose her curls?
I will give you a little background about her hair. I have never trimmed her hair. She is 3 years old, and when her har is wet it goes to her lower back. When her hair is wet I can twist it around my finger and it will hold that almost all day. We put her hair in ponytails a lot for school. When it is dry, it is a little lower than mid back. Most of her ringlets are below the shoulders. I know that the weight of the hair will straighten the top part. My question is, if I cut it will she lose the curl or will it stay curly due to weight being taken off? I know it is good for the hair to be trimmed from time to time. I know if she is going to lose the curl, she is going to lose the curl (I hope not I love her hair”>.
Cozy: It is a very difficult question to answer without actually seeing and feeling her hair, and then you still don’t know until you cut it. Perhaps a good trim that adds some long layers will actually enhance her curls. It is possible, as you mentioned, that the weight of her hair is what is making it straight on top. It is also possible that those curls you are seeing are from her “baby hair,” and that sadly they will be gone after you cut her hair. Either way, trimming your daughter’s hair regularly is an important part of maintaining healthy hair and good grooming.
Question: My 3 1/2-year-old daughter Anastazia has very curly hair. When it dries. it’s very difficult to comb.
Can you help me find a product that will give her hair life and body and give it a moist look? I would love for her to wear her hair down, but it is a nightmare to fix later.
Cozy: I am so glad you asked this question! Curly hair should NEVER be combed dry for two reasons. 1. It makes hair look frizzy and brittle, just as you mentioned. 2. You can really damage the hair. This is such a problem for so many of the clients that we see that we actually just created a product just for this need! Use So Cozy Luck Lime Pre-Detangling Treatment in the bath with a wide-tooth comb. After shampooing, apply a generous amount of Pre-Detangling Treatment to hair, using more in tangled areas. Comb hair, starting at the ends and working your way up toward the scalp, inch by inch. Tangles will comb right out. Wring out all excess water and towel dry. Do not comb the hair again. Instead, scrunch hair with So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream, to help maintain & control curls, as well as avoid frizz and add shine.
Question: My 3-year-old son is scared to death of going to get his hair cut.
I have to drag him kicking and screaming every time. Is there any thing I can do to make this a better experience — for us both?
Cozy: You are not alone! So many kids are afraid of getting their hair cut (which is the reason I opened children’s hair salons”>. I have three words of advice for you — Distraction, Distraction, Distraction! Come prepared. A book, snack, lollipop, fun toy or promise of a reward may help. It may not. If there is a kid’s salon nearby, I recommend going there because the stylists have more experience working with a terrified child. Do you have any idea what your son is afraid of? We have found so many different reasons for kids’ fears, some of which are easily avoided. For instance, perhaps he hates the cape. In that case, just skip the cape and bring a spare t-shirt. Maybe he is afraid of the trimmer, and needs to feel it in his hands to see that it’s not so scary. See if he will sit on your lap because that may help. Whatever route you take to help him, remember that if he sees you worried and scared, he will definitely be scared too!
Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash
Question: My daughter’s hair looks so pretty after I wash it. The curls are perfect! But when she wakes up in the morning, it’s a poofy mess.
Is there something I can do — braids, a ponytail — to prevent her hair from getting messed up when she sleeps?
Cozy: I usually recommend that girls with long hair sleep with a loose braid or ponytail to prevent this from happening at night. However, this will not prevent all of the “poofiness.” Some frizz will happen just from the friction against the pillow. It’s very easy to deal with! Use So Cozy Fruity Delight Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler. Spray hair to lightly dampen and gently scrunch. It will take two minutes in the morning, and curls will look good as new!
Question: I have a question about styling products.
How young is too young to use gels and styling creams? Can it hurt their hair? Dry it out? I feel like my 2-year-old’s curls need some hold or they get so fuzzy, but it feels weird to put styling product on it.
Cozy: My biggest problem when I opened my first Cozy’s Cuts For Kids in 1994 was finding high-quality, gentle hair-care products for kids. I was so desperate that I had to create my own hair-care line. That is how So Cozy was born! There is nothing wrong with using products in your child’s hair to maintain a well-groomed look, just make sure that you are using gentle products that are enriched with vitamins, minerals and natural ingredients. Try So Cozy Groovy Grape Gel, which is alcohol free. It will not dry out his hair, and will help hold the curls without looking stiff or greasy.