Detangling your toddler’s hair can be a nightmare for both of you. While brushing your kid’s hair could be a nice morning and bedtime ritual, it often turns to tears. The knots, the tangles, the yanking, and pulling – brushing your toddler’s hair is far from a pleasant experience. The more an experience becomes negative for kids, the more they’ll fear it in the future. And getting your kids to cooperate is half the battle.

End the power struggle and banish knotty hair for good. Discover some secrets to detangling your toddler’s hair and ways to prevent tangles in the first place.

How to Take the Tears Out of Detangling Your Kid’s Hair

Follow these strategies to detangle your child’s hair painlessly:

• Wash and condition your child’s hair with a moisturizing conditioner, then pat dry (avoid rubbing your child’s hair with a towel).
• Have a distraction for your toddler so that they’re less likely to focus on the detangling. Grab their favorite sticker book, fidget toy, book, or the like to keep them occupied while you get to work on their tangles.
• Start the process by combing your fingers through the hair, then move to using a wide tooth comb or detangling brush.
• Use a detangling spray that contains natural moisturizing ingredients. Thinner hair responds well to a lightweight spray, while thicker hair may require a detangling cream or lotion. Experiment to see which works best for your toddler. Use your detangling spray after you’ve run your hands through their hair and identified the knots.
• Choose a detangling brush that has flexible bristles. Segment the hair and work in sections. Start from the bottom and work your way up to the root. Always brush through your kid’s hair when dry (wet hair is more fragile and likely to break).

Tips to Help Prevent Tangles in Your Toddler’s Hair

Now that you’ve got the knots out, you’re going to want to tweak your routine to help prevent tangles from forming. Try these strategies to keep your toddler’s hair tangle-free:

• Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that contain natural oils and proteins like coconut, jojoba, keratin, and vitamins to nourish and strengthen hair. If hair is moisturized the cuticle will lay flat maintaining a smoother outer layer. Smooth hair is less likely to tangle and knot. Brush your child’s hair while the detangling conditioner is still in and then rinse.
• Before bed, braid hair or put in a ponytail or loose un. This helps keep hair in place so there’s less friction and movement throughout the night. It’s also useful to keep your child’s hair in a ponytail or braid during sports and activities for the same reason.
• Use a detangling spray regularly and brush your kid’s hair a few times per day.
• Use a cold rinse on hair to help close the cuticles
• Avoid rubbing dry with a towel, pat dry instead or use a microfiber towel
• Try a satin pillowcase at bedtime
• Keep up with frequent hair trims, getting rid of split ends will help minimize tangling
• Minimize the use of hot tools on your toddler’s hair. Blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can cause dry hair that is more likely to break. If you must use heat tools, always use a heat protectant spray first.

Detangling your toddler’s hair does not have to cause tears. Follow these tips to minimize the chances of tangling and easing the process of removing knots. Invest in moisturizing and detangling hair products formulated for kids that will make your life easier. Fairy Tales Hair Care Tangle Tamer line is a carefully designed formulation of natural moisturizing ingredients to remove and prevent tangles. Order the Tangle Tamer Shampoo, Conditioner, and Detangling Spray today.

Risa Barash,
Founder & Owner of the entire Fairy Tales Hair Care Family