Child & Hair Products

Infant
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Q: Hi. I am hoping you can help. My daughter is 7 months old. Her hair is about an inch and a half long and goes towards her forehead from the back then stands straight up.
 
My question is: how do I style it? Can I use products on her? If so what? Any help would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks again for your time!

 
A: Well, I don't advocate exposing your daughter to products like aerosol hairsprays, and such, but I can see where you need to be able to exercise some measure of control over her hair. At this point in the game, I would recommend using very gentle products, like detangling sprays, to weight the hair and allow you to comb it down.
 
However, this may not be enough. The hair may need some stronger hold. If so, you should use either a lightweight spray gel (applied to the child's brush and then using the brush to apply the gel to the hair) or a hair wax/pomade.
 
The key is going to be making sure to be very minimal with the products you use. Also, you need to be very alert for any signs of irritation. In fact, it would be a good idea to dab a small amount of the product you want to use on your child in an area like the back or the leg and allow it to sit for a few minutes and then wipe it away - wipe, not wash. Watch the area for 24-48 hours and keep an eye out for any redness or irritation in the site.
 
If there is any sign of sensitivity, then you know not to apply the product to any other area of your child's body. As an option to actual hair product, you may want to try using baby lotion or baby oil for styling if you are concerned over sensitivity to other products.
 
You may also want to make sure to use baby conditioner in addition to baby shampoo, remembering that the hair can benefit from conditioning every day, and only needs to be shampooed when it is dirty.
 
I hope this is helpful and wish you and your daughter all the best.
 
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See also:
 
Kids hair and hairstyles
 
How to care for your baby's or infant's hair
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