“What do I do? How often do I do this? How often do I do that? Hey kids should I... wait!”

One of the biggest and most important questions of taking care of your mixed kids' hair is the proper hair routine. “What do I do? How often do I do this? How often do I do that? Hey kids should I... wait!” Aaaaand they're gone. Because the process can take too long!

How many times, especially for little littles, have we plopped them down in a chair, turned on their favorite show on the TV or a distracting game on their tablet, and sneakily tried doing their hair? It can take foreverc, and nothing takes longer than when you’re short on time. Their attention span and your patience go poof! So we'll make this curly kid hair routine quick and easy. Promise!

1. Washing and Conditioning 

Look, there's no "one size fits all" for this, especially when your kid has who-knows-what on them after playing outside. A general wash for kids curly hair is around 1 to 2 times a week. Check out this article as to why. This is the quick routine, remember! We found awesome success with the gentleness and effectiveness of Aussie Moist products.‍

• Wash 1-2 times a week depending on activity level
• Focus shampoo on the scalp to avoid stripping curls
• Apply conditioner generously to both scalp and hair
• For quicker drying, wait until hair is partially dry before applying products‍‍
  

2. Products Matter:

My daughter prefers not to have that soaking wet hair hitting her neck right after washing, so if we have the time we'll wait until it's damp. Some products will say “apply to sopping wet hair” so still try to follow the instructions. Apply however many products you use for your kids’ hair – some brands require use of 3-5 products, others only 1. Then gently apply product on their scalp and curls. Remember, less is often more for mixed kid’s hair, so go easy on thick products.

• Use gentle, moisturizing products suitable for curly hair
• Apply products according to the instructions (wet or dry hair)
• Avoid heavy products that weigh down the curls and look greasy

3 Brushing:

Start at the tips of the curls and gently work your way up. Absolutely do not just start brushing from the scalp! Doing so causes more tangles, breakage and split ends. We love Tangle Teezer for this! This brush was a complete game changer when we discovered it three years ago. It glides through curly hair as easily as the room is destroyed right after you cleaned up. Another brush that is good but not as effective as a Denman brush, or a wide-toothed comb.

• Start at the tips and gently work your way up with a detanglind brush like the Tangle Teezer
• Denman bushes can also work, but may not be as effective

4. Don't touch!

It may be impossible for kids but you can resist, mama! Do not touch those beautiful curls after brushing. We'll get more in depth, but the gist is that the oil in your fingers will cause frizz after drying and break apart the bonds of the curls (which keep each strand protected). So don't ruin all your hard work! Otherwise the battle with your kiddos patience would have been for nothing.

• Resist the urge to touch those tempting curls!
• Finger oils can disrupt the curl pattern and cause frizz
• This ensures all your hard work pays off with beautiful, defined curls
  

5. That's it!

4 steps, quick and easy (maybe not getting them to sit) but hey, we can't have it all! Now you're equipped with general ideas on how to get started. It seems daunting – it doesn't have to be. We went through the hard work in time of finding the perfect routine our daughter loved, so you don't have to. Now go be the awesome mama you are and make those curls shine for all the world to praise!

Bonus Tip:

Patience is key! Establishing a consistent routine makes things smoother over time. Every child is unique, so don't be afraid to experiment and have fun finding what works best for your little one.