Is it just me or has summer gone by way too fast? We are already approaching August and getting back in school prep mode. Not only do we have to get uniforms, books, and school supplies but if you have curly kids, now is the time to solidify their hair care routine for the school year! To make it easier for you, I’m giving you 3 tips to transition your curly kids from the pool to school.
1. Start off with a cleanse & trim.
I’ve been keeping the girls in braids all summer long to protect their hair from the pool and the hot humid weather. While they’re braided, I like to spray the Primer from our Maximum Thermal Protection collection to protect their hair from UV rays. This is important because the sun can lighten hair and dry out the hair shaft and the scalp if left unprotected. I also like to apply Midnite Train and Defunk on their hair after a pool day to add moisture and remove any odor from their braids.
Once it’s time to head back to school, I highly suggest taking those braids out and giving your kids a deep cleanse and a much-needed trim. Start off with our clarifying cleanser — Squeaky — and make sure to really scrub that scalp! Then follow up with our Heal & Renew Intensive Hair Masque and a trim. If your kids are like mine, they probably haven’t had a trim all summer long. Back to school is the perfect time to freshen up their hair, get rid of split ends, and start the new school year with healthy hair!
2. Choose flexible, protective hairstyles.
When school starts, I suggest that you continue your protective hairstyle routine. Some great protective styles for curly kids are single braids, braided ponytails, and two-strand twists. The less manipulation required throughout the week, the better! Don’t feel like you have to be the mom that styles their kids’ hair every day! Choose styles that are flexible.
For example, in the first few days, my girls will wear two french braids in their hair. Once they start getting a little fuzzy, I take the braids down at the back and leave the braids intact at the front. Once we get to the end of the week, I take the twists out and let them rock loose curly hair. All of my girls love to flip their hair around so they will most likely look crazy by the end of the day (LOL!), but that’s okay because it’s Friday and time for a restyle anyway.
It’s essential to have the tools and accessories you need to maintain these flexible styles. Let’s say you are having a hectic morning and you don’t want to take down or manipulate her hair. Grab a headband to protect her edges, some bobby pins or rubber bands to secure the back, and let her wear that around for a day or two. You can even add some gold jewels to spice up an old hairstyle. Stock up on the accessories now for a quick fix later!
3. Moisturize & protect before bed.
While they’re rocking their protective styles, remember that you still need to spray their hair every night with a good moisturizer. Midnite Train and Thirsty Curls are great hydrating leave-in sprays. I personally prefer to spray Midnite Train every night because it’s a lighter leave-in conditioner, so you won’t have to worry about product buildup. If I need extra moisture in the morning I will apply Supercurl or Extra Butter with a brush to smooth out the edges and they’re out the door!
My last (and most important!) tip is getting your curly kids used to wearing a bonnet at night. A bonnet will keep the style neat overnight and help retain the moisture you applied to their hair before bed. If you don’t plan to do their hair every day, this is key! Like many of you, I got lax over the summer and let this slide. But it’s time to get back on the wagon ladies! It’s a hard discipline to enforce, but it’s absolutely necessary to keep your kids’ hair intact throughout the week.
I hope that you are continuing to have a great summer and that these tips help you transition effortlessly into the new school year! Don’t forget to follow us on social media @unclefunkysdaughter and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when flash sales (Hint! ;)) and other exciting announcements are live. You don’t want to miss out!
xoxo
Renee Morris (@lifebyrenee)
