girl hair tangly question

[Anonymous]

My DD has long hair and it's not the easy type. It gets tangly easily. Thin, slightly wavy, etc..

I've bought a thousand products that help. Just on a daily basis, she has to maintain it or else tangles surely form.

During this summer, she has been swimming a lot.

There have been a few tangles that have been really bad.

Is the fight to keep longer hair worth it for her? I'm sort of fed up, should she be completely responsible for the tangles or me?

[Anonymous]

teach her how to braid her hair. she should always have a swim cap, or have her hair tied back in a ponytail or a braid for swimming!

[Anonymous]

wet brush + braid wet hair

[Anonymous]

Get her a shower comb and tell her if she wants to keep her long hair she needs to run the comb through it after she gets out of the pool. It takes 10 seconds and it’s so easy and prevents majority of tangles. Also if you just braid it in the morning she won’t get tangled much either. Try regular or fishtail braided pigtails. Easier than it sounds, I promise. Just get tiny rubber bands so they stay in place in the water.

[Anonymous]

Do you want her hair long, or does she? If she wants it long, teach her how to care for it herself. If she doesn't care about cutting it, just get a cute short cut and let her enjoy the freedom.

[Anonymous]

How old is she? My DD is AA so very curly hair but she likes it shortish. My fav conditioner after trying sever types us Camille Rose. You can get it at Target. After swimming we always rinse/condition her hair.

[Anonymous]

My DD has long thick curly hair and if she complains a lot I remind her we can cut it if she doesn’t want to deal with it. It’s not a threat it’s just a reminder it’s her choice. That said, swim cap, intense conditioner during the shower and then Moroccan oil leave in conditioner after then brush with a wet brush. It’s typically not that bad.

[Anonymous]

This is precisely why my mother cut my hair as a kid -- and what a relief! I would cry buckets getting my long hair detangled. Go shoulder length, so long enough for a ponytail, braid, or bun and easy enough to comb.

[Anonymous]

If it's wavy, treat it like textured hair. But since it's fine, don't load it up with products.

For us, the key is to always condition it (even if she isn't shampooing) and to use a wide tooth comb or wet brush on it after conditioning and before rinsing. Doing this reduces most tangles. Then, coutnerintuitively -- do NOT brush out the tangles as they form. If it gets tangled, wet it again (you can use a mister spray) and then do the wide tooth comb or wet brush again.

A lightweight leave in conditioner can also help, but use sparingly because her hair is fine.

I actually disagree with the advice to braid it when she swims. I'd suggest using braids at other times to prevent tangles -- braiding it at night can be useful, or for school. But for swimming, because the chemicals are drying, it can actually make tangles worse. Instead, have her jump in the shower to wet her hair down before swimming, and comb a leave in into it. You can also have her wear a swim cap if that's too much (depends on her age).

Basically the key is to do the opposite of what you want to do (brush out the tangles all the time). Don't brush it except when it's very wet and has a moisturizing product in it. It will be hard at first, but give it two weeks and it will get better.

[Anonymous]

My girl does not let me comb her hair and she wants her long hair like princess. I don't even bother to comb her anymore, and cut it a bit shorter. What is silly is that she only allows teachers to combine her at daycare.

[Anonymous]

You need a post-swim conditioner such as Malibu that takes the chlorine out.

[Anonymous]

When my DD had long hair, I made her hair it braided or in a ponytail every day. It HAD to be braided for swimming (also, you know to pre-wet and put in leave in conditioner BEFORE swimming, right? That helps protect it).

Anyways I convinced her to cut it by telling her it would be easier to brush and I'd allow her to wear it down more frequently. Maybe try bribing her if you prefer it shorter. It's so much easier now that it's shoulder length.

[Anonymous]

Cut it. If she can't maintain long hair, it needs to be cut shorter to a manageable length. Length she can take care of on her own.

[Anonymous]

My hair is similar. My mom always sprayed detangler in it when it was wet

[Anonymous]

My daughter has fine wavy hair (but lots of it) and we always used this:

https://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Intensely-Smooth-Conditioning/dp/B005GQ6HUK#

Massage it in after shower; comb with wide toothed comb/brush; then braid wet. It made all the difference in the summer - and her hair was shiny all year round.