How To Care For Children’s Hair
One of Gloria Cipri-Kemer’s most painful childhood memories is of having her hair combed by her mother. Cipri-Kemer’s thick, curly locks just didn’t want to be controlled. “My hair was a daily battle. The comb would pull at the tangles and snap my head back,” says Cipri-Kemer, owner of Kiddy Kastle, a children’s hair salon in Cypress. “I knew there had to be a better way, so I guess I became a hairdresser out of self-defense.” Here are her tips on tear-free hair care:
To Remove Tangles:
*Wet hair thoroughly and apply conditioner.
* Rinse well and pat hair gently with a towel.
*Detangle hair from the ends up, using a large-toothed comb. Place one hand firmly on the head directly above the area you are combing. This will prevent painful pulling and protect your child’s neck from injury.
*Tangles and large knots can be avoided with regular trimming and conditioning. “Dry hair with bad ends snarls easily and is more difficult to comb without pulling,” Cipri-Kemer says.
Other Hair Problems:
*Sun damage: Hair sunburns just as skin does. Sunburned hair bleaches out and looks frazzled. To keep damage to a minimum, keep the hair well-conditioned and have the dry ends cut regularly.
*Chlorine damage: Chlorine won’t rinse out with plain water or regular shampoo. Beauty shops sell shampoos that dissolve chlorine and keep it from building up on the hair, which causes that coarse texture that comes from swimming in chlorinated pools.
*Self Cut: “We do lots of repair cuts,” Cipri-Kemer says. “Parents arrive all upset, thinking that their child’s hair will have to be cut completely off. But we can usually create an acceptable style out of what’s left.
“Most of the time the child’s hair had been allowed to go too long without a trim, so listen to your child if he says his hair is bothering him,” she says.
Baby’s First Haircut:
Hair should be trimmed whenever it starts to fall in the child’s face. “Children are extremely active, and it’s dangerous to let hair fall in their eyes,” Cipri-Kemer says. The first real haircut is usually around a child’s first birthday.
