You must be very gentle when caring for the sensitive and delicate tresses of children.  This method will help to reduce tangling, breakage, and will give better access to the scalp.  This method is great for those children with very long and thick hair.

1.       Detangle – Section the hair into 4-6 sections with your fingers.  Secure the hair with  clips.  Spray a detangler solution on a section of the hair and comb from the ends of the hair working your way to the root.  (Never begin combing from the root.)  Re-secure the hair with the clips after you have completed a section.  Complete this process for each section of hair.  A trim may be necessary if you notice hair balls in the hair.

2.       Shampoo – Run warm water through the sectioned hair.  Remove a section of hair from the clip.  Squeeze a small amount of shampoo in the palms of your hands and rub your hands together.  Massage the shampoo through the scalp down to the ends of the hair. (Scrubbing hard and/ or with your nails will cause tangling, breakage, or pain to the child’s hair and/ or scalp.)  Check the scalp to be sure that excess buildup has been removed. Continue on to the next section until all sections have been completed.  Thoroughly rinse the shampoo from the hair.  Please do not over-shampoo the hair (squeaky clean is not necessary).  Once or twice at the most.
 

      3.       Condition – Gently remove excess water from the hair by squeezing the hair of blotting the hair with a towel.  Apply the conditioner to a section of hair and comb through, from the ends working your way to the roots.  Adding heat will provide for a deep conditioning.  The heat from a hooded dryer, heating cap or a warm dampened towel will open the hair shafts and allow the conditioner to penetrate.  Rinse the condition out with cool water to seal the cuticles of the hair.

4.       Leave in Conditioner – Apply and a leave on conditioner to protect the hair.  Comb through.

5.       Style as Usual.