How to Take Care of Black Children's Hair

Kids are active and don't take too well to the types of hairstyles that require them to be still, so make sure to find hairstyles that will at least last through the end of the day. Black children's hair tends to be thicker and can be more of a chore to take care of because the texture doesn't lend itself to a quick brush-and-go technique. However, the perk of black children's hair is that the styles may last longer, especially with braids.

Things You'll Need

• Comb Brush Hair oil Hair gel (optional) Barrettes or hair balls Rubberbands Beads Pick

Instructions

1. French braid the hair of black boys from the scalp straight back. Start from the front of the scalp and work your way back into plain French braids. Oil the hair about an inch apart as you braid to help eliminate dandruff, itchiness and other forms of scalp irritation. Using rubberbands on the end of each braid can help keep each braid in place. Black girls' hair is often braided too, and the styles get to be a little fancier (e.g. part in the middle and braid towards the ears on each side so the hair is shaped into rainbows). Use beads to make the braids look more feminine.

2. Part black girls' hair into sections, usually three or four, to get individual ponytails. While some parents choose to just twist the hair with oil, twists easily unravel even when they are braided at the end. Consider braiding by taking apart three chunks of hair in each ponytail instead of twirling around two chunks of hair. If the braid is tight, that's okay because wind, running and her fidgeting with her hair all day will probably leave her with the puffy ponytail you wanted in the first place by the end of the day.

3. Shampoo and condition regularly. While black women and men can go up to 2 weeks without getting their hair washed (black hair tends to be dryer, and if washed excessively, it takes out natural oils that don't develop in full with conditioner), children tend to get into sand and dirt on a regular basis, so it's essential that their hair is cleaned frequently.

4. Comb and brush hair daily. With French braids, it's not necessary to do so (although you should check to make sure the scalp is oiled sufficiently), but comb out ponytails and other styles. Depending on the hair texture and sensitivity, this may prove difficult or extremely easy. Because black children's hair tends to be thicker, some may be rather tender-headed when it comes to heavy brushing or combing. While you may think the child is just whining, if a tender-headed child has her hair fiddled with too often, the scalp can bleed, especially if the hair is tangled.

5. Use soft hair gels to keep strands of hair in place in the front and the back of the head. Avoid using hard hair gel, because although it may achieve the correct shape you're looking for, the gel can become hard, leave flakes and a mess on the collar of the child's shirt when taking it off and on, and make hair hard to comb.

6. 

   Perm the hair only after checking for head sores and making sure you know how to complete a perm without leaving perm burns. If you are unsure, ask a licensed professional to do it first, then watch and learn. Or perm your own hair first to see if everything works out.

7. 

   Pick a child's hair out if he's wearing a small afro so it's neat along all sides. Using a pick will achieve this look. Regular brushes and combs may flatten the afro, but it's meant for the comb to start from the scalp and work its way out of the head in a circle motion around all sides.