SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop
  • TOPICS
        • CONCERNS

          • Frizz
          • Hair Growth
          • Hair Loss
          • Regimen
          • Scalp Care
        • CURL CARE

          • Braids & Protective Styles
          • Color
          • Haircuts
          • Hairstyles
          • Locs
          • Straightening
          • For Kids
          • For Men
        • LIFESTYLE

          • Business
          • Celebrities
          • Trends
  • PRODUCTS
    • Top Products
    • Cleansing
    • Ingredients
    • DIY Products
    • Hair Tools
    • Moisturizing
  • TEXTURE
        • FINE (1A-1C)
          Straight with minor waves.
        • WAVY (2A-2C)
          Forms a loose “S” very easily straightened
        • CURLY (3A-3C)
          Forms a definite “S” shaped like a corkscrew
        • COILY (4A-4C)
          Very tight curl when stretched creates an “S”
        • LOCS
          Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes"
        • QUIZ
          Take our quiz to learn your curl pattern
      • 1a
        1b
        1c
        2a
        2b
        2c
        3a
        3b
        3c
        4a
        4b
        4c
        Locs
        Discover your curl pattern, the best hairstyles and products just for you!
        Take the quiz now
  • TEXTURE TALES
  • TEXTURE ON THE RUNWAY
  • LEADERS IN CURL
  • BEST OF THE BEST 2024
  • ASK A CURL EXPERT
  • GET INVOLVED
Home • For Kids

How to Care for Your Kids' Curly Hair When You Don't Have Curly Hair

Discover the secrets to managing kids' curly hair. Learn how to care for and style those precious curls with ease.
Share this Article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
How to Care for Your Kids' Curly Hair When You Don't Have Curly Hair
Image Source: @educatingmummy
By Victoria Davis · Published June 5, 2024

You’ve mastered your hair care routine and can make it out the door within minutes. Your curly kids’ hair, on the other hand, needs some work.

There are a completely different set of rules when it comes to styling your kids’ curls compared to your straight hair. Your hair may easily glide through a comb, but you can’t figure out why you can’t style and care for your kids’ curls without running into tangles.

The secret is that you can! It simply takes learning how curly hair works to master a routine your child will enjoy much more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chelsie Dort (@lifewiththedorts)

Image Source: @lifewiththedorts

Another secret? You’re not alone. Many parents with straight hair have the same struggles when dealing with a new hair texture, says Britteny Davidson, a curly hair stylist in Indianapolis who has seen a fair share of children plop down into her chair.

“I have a lot of clients who come in specifically for that reason — because their hair texture is different from their kids’,” said Davidson. “Some people may think that it is only moms with biracial children who need help, but it’s black moms who have black children, too.”

Davidson has been a stylist for 11 years but began specializing in curly hair three years ago.

“I was so happy to find my niche because before, I was just doing what was popular at the time. As I got older and went natural, I saw a need — specifically here in Indianapolis — for curly hair stylists. I just jumped right in,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mixed Chicks LLC (@mixedchickshair)

Image Source: @mixedchickshair

Over the years, Davidson mentioned that her client base of kids has increased as parents have become more curious. She now sees about ten curly kids each month. Sometimes, parents come into the salon only for consultation and hair product recommendations.

Article continues after video.

It’s not that parents don’t want to deal with their child’s curls; they simply don’t know how.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carrie Young ✰ (@getcarriedawayy)

Image Source: @getcarriedaway

“They want to learn,” said Davidson. “I tell them to bring their kids to me just twice a year so I can give them tips and give their kid a haircut.”

For those who can’t visit the salon as often, Davidson recommends three items to have in your kid’s curly hair kit: A quality conditioner, a wide-toothed comb, and a bonnet. She says parents don’t need expensive tools to care for their children’s hair.

“The game changer for me was reading the ‘Curly Girl Handbook’ by Lorraine Massey and Michele Bender,” she said.

How to Care for Your Kids’ Curly Hair When You Don’t Have Curly Hair

When styling your kid’s curly hair at home, Davidson recommends these six tips:

  1. Don’t pile the hair on top of the head to wash
  2. Always use more conditioner than shampoo
  3. Don’t use shampoo as often — it dries out the hair
  4. If the hair becomes matted more easily, detangle often
  5. It’s OK to condition more than once a week
  6. Don’t detangle the hair unless it’s wet

The confidence your kid builds around their curls matters, too.

APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
Amazon
APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
SHOP NOW
Top Product.
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
Briogeo
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
SHOP NOW
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
Target
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
SHOP NOW
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
Lanolips
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
SHOP NOW
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
Amazon
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
SHOP NOW
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
Amazon
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
SHOP NOW
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
Amazon
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
SHOP NOW
Curlsmith  Shake + Shine
Amazon
Curlsmith Shake + Shine
SHOP NOW

“What’s great now is when you watch TV, there are a lot of curly-haired kids and adults. Showcasing them when they are on TV is important,” said Davidson. “Even if you’re out and you see someone with curly hair, compliment that person in front of your child and point out that they both have beautiful curls.”

Are you a parent of a child with curly hair? Share with us your favorite tips and routines below!

Read next: 15 Puff Hairstyles for Kids

Read More

How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Beauty
How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Beauty
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women ...
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
Curly
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My Curls
Curly
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My...
Jayda Cheaves Is Revolutionizing Hair Culture One Style At A Time
Shop
Jayda Cheaves Is Revolutionizing Hair Culture One Style At A...
Company Information
  • Customer Service
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Subscribe
  • Newsletters
FOLLOW US
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop