If you have a kid with curly hair, you already know their hair can have a mind of its own. One day it’s bouncy and defined, the next day it looks like they’ve woken up after wrestling a pillow, a playground, all three siblings…and somehow lost to all of them.

Kids play hard and they sleep crazy. It’s just a beautiful part of growing up. 

So, the first thing you need to know about how to care for curly-haired kids is this – taking care of kids’ curls is not like taking care of adult curls. They need their own routine, their own trim schedule, different products, and a lot of grace. As a curly hair stylist for kids in Jacksonville, I work with so many curly kids and their parents, and I promise you — it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it feels.

Let’s talk about how to realistically care for your kid’s curls.

How to Take Care of Young Kids’ Curls (7 and Under)

One of the biggest shocks for parents is realizing you can’t treat your young kid’s curly hair like your own.

As an adult, I can do my hair once a week and be okay because I’m not rolling in the grass, hanging upside down on the couch, or having a dance party in my sleep. Your kid is. These kids are living their best life, which means their style will not last a full week.

For most young kids, their hair needs some level of brushing and refreshing every day or every other day. A really common mistake I see (especially with new parents) is being scared to brush too often because they don’t want to “mess up the curls.” The result is tangles, mats, and a really tough wash day for everyone.

Don’t be afraid to brush their hair! In fact…

Here’s 3 tips to make brushing curly hair even easier:

1. Saturate their hair with water first – always. It’s going to make it easier to brush on both of you.
2. Use leave-in conditioner or detangler spray, and detangle gently with a brush or your fingers.
3. Add your product of choice, whether that’s a cream, foam, a light gel, or custard. (More on this further down!)
   

Brushing is the first step in good hair care, and we want our kiddos to grow up knowing how to care for their own hair. But brushing often doesn’t just keep their curls from matting, it also gets them used to the sensation, so it’s not scary, overly tangled and painful, or overwhelming. They’ll grow up seeing brushing as normal care, not something negative.

How Often Should Kids & Teens Get Their Curly Hair Trimmed?

Most kids 7 and under only need a trim once every six months, and definitely no more than three times a year. That’s enough to keep their ends healthy without constantly chopping length. There’s some wiggle room here, depending on how fast their hair grows and their activity level. But a good rule of thumb is once every six months.

Once they start heading into that pre-teen stage (around 8 and up), their hair starts to get fuller and more developed. At that point, I usually recommend trims every 4–5 months to keep their shape and ends in a good place.

We’re not putting them on a strict grown-up haircut schedule at age five. We’re just trimming off the icky, broken ends from summer pool chlorine, ponytails, and everyday kid chaos so their curls can grow healthy and happy.

What a Kids’ Curly Appointment With Me Is Actually Like

Curly kid haircuts last about an hour and a half, and whoever wants to learn how to care for their hair is welcome. Mom, dad, mom and dad, mom and grandma — I have space for everyone to sit, watch, and ask questions.

We do a whole assessment and hair history each time. I want to know their activity levels, if you need product recommendations, and how they like to style their curls. This is usually between me and the adults, but I love to let the kids chime in, too. They love giving their preferences and feeling part of the conversation!

Then we get to the wash, haircut, and drying. But I don’t force kids to sit through a full, perfect, completely dry style if they’re over it. After about ten minutes of sitting still, a lot of little ones are done, and that’s normal. We work with their attention span, not against it.

I also keep the salon kid-friendly, with a snack drawer full of Oreos and goodies, drinks, juices, and lollipops, and I’m totally fine with parents handing over a phone or iPad to keep their little one entertained. The goal is to make them feel safe, secure, and have a good hair experience.

The Best Curly Hair Products For Kids

When it comes to products, my personal preference is to not put a strong hold on kids’ hair. I want to protect their scalp and their hair, so I lean toward:

• Light-hold products
• Minimal or no fragrance
• Products that won’t interfere with their growth and development
  

Nighttime Routines for Kids Who Won’t Wear Bonnets

I know a thing or two about the bonnet situation! A lot of kids absolutely do not want anything on their heads at night. Bonnets, scarves, you name it — they rip it off in their sleep or refuse to put it on at all.

That’s completely normal, and why they need to brush more than adults.

My own daughter cannot keep a bonnet on to save her life. And even for the kids who are willing to wear one, they sleep so wildly that it still might come off halfway through the night. So instead of fighting them every night, I usually recommend just a satin pillowcase or a bonnet and pillowcase. I really like the Kitsch brand satin pillowcases — it gives their hair some protection even if everything else comes off.  

Just remember that it’s perfectly normal for kids to go to bed looking cute and wake up needing you to redo their hair. It’s up to us to accept it (even though you’re secretly dreaming of that magic day where the style lasts a whole week) and normalize doing their hair every day. 

You’re Doing a Great Job

Once kids start hitting that pre-teen stage, their appointments start looking a lot more like yours. They become more involved in the process, and they already know their curls are special because you’ve been teaching them that from the beginning.

I always commend parents who bring their kids in early and ask questions. By caring about their curls now, you’re saving them from the confusion and frustration so many of us (myself included) went through growing up not knowing how to care for their curls.

If you’re in Jacksonville, FL and you have a curly-haired kid, I’d love to help you both. Bring whoever wants to learn to do their hair, come hang out in the salon, and let’s build a routine that works for your child’s hair and your real life.