What age for hair gel/styling products?

[Anonymous]

My 6YO is asking to wear hair gel. Does anyone else's kid around this age use hair gel? I don't have a problem with it, per se, but it just seems like an extra step to add to the morning routine - and doesn't it make their hair feel all sticky and stiff? Do they have to wash their hair more often (like, every day?) if they use gel? I don't use hair styling products so I'm out of date on hair styling technology Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I would only give a kid aloe as hair gel. Not as sticky and doesn't stink.

[Anonymous]

My almost 6 year old uses product. Not gel though.

Aren't you washing every day anyway? They run around in this heat at recess for 30 min. Sweaty=smelly.

[Anonymous]

my 8 year old does his own hair-he has a "soccer haircut" He uses gel, hair "glue" Started using it in K. I always used some gel in my boys hair. What is the big deal? Is this now a problem too?

[Anonymous]

We put gel in our kids hair when they were going to special events/family outings, etc. If my kid wanted to independently start using it, I wouldn't stop them. There are literally thousands of 'gel' products and how much hold/stiffness and difficult to wash/brush out depends on the product.

[Anonymous]

Those who use it and like the product can you share a link?

[Anonymous]

I'd hold off as absolutely long as possible. My 13 yr old just washes and conditions. Once a week or so she does a deep conditioning.

[Anonymous]

My 8 YO uses more of a wax. She has a pixie cut, and just uses it to get it to sit the way she wants. No issues. She washes her hair every other day.

[Anonymous]

I use this for my son. Only a dime size with some water

https://www.amazon.com/Suave-Kids-Ocean-Blast-Ounce/dp/B00A0IWTEW

[Anonymous]

Why not? We use the Fairy Tales gel to keep the lice away. We used to use Suave starting at 3 or so. Now we added the hair spray.

[Anonymous]

Got my 12 year old some Bed Head gel as he is now in MS. Works well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put gel in our kids hair when they were going to special events/family outings, etc. If my kid wanted to independently start using it, I wouldn't stop them. There are literally thousands of 'gel' products and how much hold/stiffness and difficult to wash/brush out depends on the product.

I think that is amazing letting them do that

[Anonymous]

My son has curls. I've been putting a small bit of DivaCurl gel in his hair since he was around 5 or so. He's 8 now. It gets washed 2 - 3 times/week, more if he gets really sweaty or swims. Not a big deal. Other days, we just spritz with water to reactivate the gel and reset his curl.

I guess it just depend what kind of hair your kid has. For those of us with crazy curls, it is a huge help to control the frizz and keep things calmer. Probably good for other hair types as well...

[Anonymous]

I would avoid anything with silicone or other things ending in cone that are known to cause buildup. I'd also avoid fragrances.

Depending on hair type, a tiny bit of coconut or Shea or jojoba oil might work. Then you don't have to worry about additives that might disrupt hormones.

I'd read about the products or ingredients on the Environmental working group website to be on the safe side. A lot of cosmetic ingredients don't have good proof that they're bad for you, but for kids especially I think it's better to err on the safe side.

[Anonymous]

I use curl cream in DD5's hair and have been doing it for about a year. If I didn't tame the curls, by the end of the day her hair would look like she got in a fight with a rabid squirrel.