Hair Tangles Keeping Locks in Line
HAIR TANGLES Keeping Locks in Line
In the bathroom, your child stands wrapped in her towel, her hair a mass of tangles. But just approach her with a comb and you'll hear, ''No! No! Don't touch my hair!''
A hair tangle--that twisted, knotted mat that snags your comb and won't let go--may not be your child's most serious problem in life, but it sure does make your child yowl when you try to pass a comb through it.
Why do kids get so many tangles, you ask? They earn them. ''Kids play in the wind, roll in the leaves, pull winter hats on and off their heads, swim in the pool, sleep with wet hair, turn, twist and chew on their hair, and all without stopping to use a comb,'' says Harley Marks, owner and manager of Kids Cuts in New York City.
Impossible though it may seem, it's not hard to keep a child tangle-free, but she may need some help from you. Kids up to the age of six or seven need a lot of help to keep their hair in line, but even older kids who prefer to manage their own hair can benefit from some expert advice. Follow these tips, from three children's hair care professionals, and your child will be well on her way to a more manageable mane.
Water down shampoos. ''All shampoos, even baby shampoos, should be watered down with spring water,'' says Lorraine Massey, owner of New York Master Practitioners of Hair ( N.Y.M.P.H.), a salon in New York City. ''Manufacturers claim that their shampoos are really mild, but many actually have very strong detergents in them, which dry the hair and make it more prone to tangles.''
As an added benefit, diluting shampoo will make it easier to distribute through the hair, she adds.
| Gum, Tar, Sap and Other Sticky Problems If your child comes home from the park with a big wad of gum or tree sap in her hair, your first line of defense is not the scissors. ''I find that Aveda's Nourishing Clarifying Gel, which is available in salons, sometimes does the trick,'' says hair care expert Elena Ciervo, manager of Kidz Kuts, a salon in Livingston, New Jersey. ''Leave the gel on the hair and gum for about five minutes; rinse and comb out bit by bit.'' Children's hair stylist Lorraine Massey, owner of New York Master Practitioners of Hair ( N.Y.M.P.H.) salon in New York City, finds that ice helps by making the sticky substance hard. ''Once you've frozen the gum, you can crumble it out with your fingers,'' she says. Massey likes to apply vinegar after icing the gunk, and then gob on conditioner. ''The acid in the vinegar helps dissolve the stickiness, and the conditioner helps you work the comb through it,'' she says. You might also try working some mayonnaise through the area, says Massey. ''The heavy greasiness might help the gum to slide out of the hair.'' Harley Marks, owner and manager of Kids Cuts in New York City, likes to use her mother's remedy--smooth peanut butter. ''Mush some peanut butter right into the gum, and the hair will start to separate,'' says Marks. ''Continue to separate the hair with your fingers, then work out the gum with a comb.'' Marks says you might have to repeat the procedure a few times before you get all the gum out. Whatever you try, work slowly and distract your child with music, a story or a favorite television show. |
Use a gentle touch. Parents may inadvertently create tangles by piling hair on their child's head and then giving it a vigorous, lathery shampoo, notes Massey. '' You'll disturb the hair shafts less if you gently massage the shampoo into the scalp and then carefully work the shampoo down the hair,'' she says.
| Brew Your Own For a truly mild shampoo that won't contribute to tangles, try making your own shampoo with your child. It's a fun, easy project and everyone's hair will benefit, says hair care expert Lorraine Massey, owner of New York Master Practitioners of Hair ( N.Y.M.P.H.) salon in New York City. First, buy a four-ounce cake of castile soap from the health food store or pharmacy. She recommends that you ''grate it fine and add it to one quart of spring water. Simmer the mixture on the stove until the soap is dissolved, and then add a few drops of your favorite essential oils such as chamomile, citrus, rosemary, eucalyptus or carrot seed.'' Bottle the shampoo in a plastic container. |
Condition that coif. Using a conditioner after shampooing is a lifesaver--or at least a hairsaver, says Elena Ciervo, manager of Kidz Kuts, a full-service haircutting salon for kids in Livingston, New Jersey. Use a conditioner that is rich in protein and contains oils such as carrot, citrus, rosemary or grape seed. ''Conditioners add lubricants to the hair and make it easier to comb out,'' according to Ciervo.
Tackle tangles tubside. Massey recommends applying the conditioner while your child is in the tub and then combing the conditioner all the way through to the ends of the hair. Finish the detangling treatment with a good rinse and then comb the hair again, she suggests.
Squeeze and pat. ''Try to towel-dry the hair gently,'' says Marks. '' Vigorous toweling leads to more tangles.'' She recommends that you gently squeeze the excess moisture out of your child's hair and then pat it dry.
Try a detangler. When a child has major tangles, a detangling cream can't be beat. ''There are a lot of detangling products on the market, but I prefer Paul Mitchell's product, The Detangler,'' says Ciervo. ''Made from botanical extracts, it's gentle and can be used after every shampoo, if need be. But it is only available in salons.''
Consider the right comb. Work out tangles with a medium-toothed comb, recommends Massey. ''Combing out tangles works best, but don't choose a comb that is too wide-toothed because you'll miss the tinier tangles,'' she says.
Work your way up. If you start at the roots and try to yank your way down, your child will never let you near her with a comb in your hand. Instead, Marks suggests that you clip the unknotted hair out of your way and patiently work away on the problem area. ''Never yank, and always comb from the bottom of the tangle to the top,'' she says.
Don't let her sleep on snarls. ''Every day I see hair that is brushed on the surface but not underneath, where it gets knotted and matted,'' says Ciervo. If your child gets tangles, they'll get worse if she sleeps on them. The solution? ''Brush through her hair every night before bedtime. Get that brush or comb right down to the scalp and through every strand,'' Ciervo says.
Sleep in style. After your child's hair is combed, have her sleep in a braid or a loose pony tail with a fabric-covered elastic band at the top and at the bottom, says Marks. ''Keep the elastic band loose and not too close to the scalp because tension can damage the hair.'' The best coverings are made of terry cloth because they won't tear or damage hair.
