Deep Conditioning Adventures (and How We Came Up with a New Holiday)

Let's face it, the struggle is real when it comes to our mixed kid’s hair. We spend countless hours on detangling, styling, and praying for healthy, defined curls, only to be met with DRYNESS. Remember the time you forgot the dino nuggies in the oven because your kids decided the walls were the perfect canvas for their "artwork?” That dry. We've all been there.

My journey with mine and my daughter's curls was similar. From product graveyards (creams, gels, mousses – you name it!) to the banana-avocado-egg mask disaster (never again, banana flakage!), we were just done. So many methods. So many products. SO. MUCH. WASTE. Honestly, we were really struggling with finding something that didn’t make our scalps flake.

The Great Coconut Disaster (and Why We Ditched It)

So many curly hair forums raved about coconut oil, so we saturated our curls and shampooed...and shampooed...and shampooed.. But instead of moisture, we ended up with solidified chunks of oil and dry, flaky scalps. I kept avoiding my daughter’s eyes in the mirror as I tried to brush the chunks. That look when they are completely and utterly done with you. You know the exact death stare I’m talking about!

Enter Rosehip Awesomeness (and the Nifty Heat Cap)

Our search for the perfect non-chunky oil led us to rose hip oil. It's perfect – smooth when applied, scentless, and our curls loved it! Olive oil was okay. But I had to listen to “it’s stinky” for 15 minutes straight, so we ditched it. But the real game-changer? Our final last ditch effort when using just oil still left our scalps flaky? A hot oil treatment.

I thought “What can we have to lose!” and gave it a shot. However, my daughter hates oils in her hair. Especially after all the experimentation. Not to mention the random oil patches on the couch or wherever else she sat! She was over it. So here came the creativity... Spa day! We call it: Spa-liday! It’s literally a whole family affair now. My husband and three sons enjoy it just as much as we do! We make homemade sugar scrub, buy some face masks, and get the massage gun out for our once a month deep conditioning!

**Key tip: put a towel under where you have the kids slap on your dyed sugar scrub. Just trust me on this.

Spa Day for Curls: Bonding and Beautiful Hair

Deep conditioning isn't just about healthy hair, it's about bonding. Let me say this one more time because it is that important: bonding. Grab some popcorn, crank up the tunes, and turn doing your kid’s hair into a spa day! This quality time is just as important as the treatment itself. Showing your daughter or son how to do their curls can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This is a bonding moment for you to show your awesome kiddo how beautiful their hair is and how awesome you are are it too.

The Deep Conditioning Do's and Don'ts:

• Do: Gently wash scalp before (this won’t work as well if there’s tons of build up)
  
• Do: Saturate hair and scalp with oil (rosehip is our fave!).
  
• Don't: Neglect the scalp – it needs love too!
  
• Do: Embrace the heat (a heat cap work wonders).
  
• Do: Relax and enjoy the spa day vibes (and popcorn!).
  
• Don't: Shampoo harshly afterwards – focus on the scalp only.
  
• Do: Condition after shampooing and style as desired with your fave product
  
  

The Big Reveal: Soft Curls and Gorgeous Grins

The results? After 45 minutes came soft, defined curls that bounced with life! But the true magic is in my daughter's smile. Seeing her confidence soar with healthy hair and how she couldn’t stop grinning at herself in the mirror…makes it all worthwhile. Well, almost. Could’ve definitely gone without coco-chunks (don’t know if that sounds like candy or something else). But pat yourself on the back, mom. You did it!

My family enjoys the one-on-one time together, and  your kid’s will love spending time with you too!

So mamas, ditch the stress and embrace the deep conditioning adventure! With a little trial and error (and maybe a few dino nuggie-free zones), you'll find the perfect routine for your little curly kiddo. Remember, it's about the journey, the laughs, and the beautiful hair that comes along the way. ✨

Now it's your turn! Share your deep conditioning wins (and fails) in the comments below. Let's support each other on this crazy, curly hair journey!

Additional Tips:

• 
  Deep condition once a month (twice for teens).
  
• Two heat cover options: shower cap with warm towel or nifty heat cap.
  
• Braid longer hair and pin on top of head before applying heat cover.
  
• Deep conditioning time: 15-60 minutes (your choice!).
  
• Shampoo scalp only to retain healthy nutrients.
  
• Use a light, non-clogging product on the scalp if needed after
  
  

Remember, you've got this mama! And most importantly, have fun with it!