Forums Biracial Hair Care & BeautyAnyone got a go-to routine for my son’s 3c/4a hair?

Anyone got a go-to routine for my son’s 3c/4a hair?

9 posts

Hey everyone, I’m a white mom in Atlanta and my son is 6 with big curly/coily hair that I’m still learning how to handle. His dad’s Jamaican and I’ve been trying to do right by his hair, but some mornings it feels like I’m guessing. It’s super soft when it’s freshly washed, then two days later it turns into a whole different thing if I don’t keep up with it. I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube tutorials and saved a million posts on Instagram, but real life is different when you’ve got a squirmy kid who wants to be out the door for school. Right now I’m using SheaMoisture kids shampoo, a leave-in from Mielle, and coconut oil sometimes, but I’m not sure if I’m overdoing the oil or if I need something heavier. If anybody has a simple routine, detangling tips, or even a brush/comb recommendation, I’d really appreciate it.

Mar 15

2 replies

Tasha Williams

#1 · Mar 15

I feel you on the squirmy kid part lol. My daughter is mixed too and we’re in Houston, so the humidity is its own personality. What helped me most was stopping the heavy oil every day. For her hair, water + leave-in + a cream works way better than just oiling it up. I use a spray bottle in the morning, section it, then smooth in a little Kinky-Curly Knot Today and braid or put it in two puffs. Also, if you haven’t tried finger detangling first, that was a game changer for us. I do it in the shower with conditioner in her hair, then use a wide-tooth comb after. Way less drama than starting with the comb. For school mornings, I keep it simple because honestly the cute Pinterest styles never survive recess anyway.

David Okafor

#2 · Mar 15

My partner’s biracial and I learned pretty fast that the product shelf can get expensive real quick if you keep buying random stuff from Target. The thing that made the biggest difference was finding a stylist who actually understands mixed-texture hair. We went to a salon in Decatur that had a kid section and it was worth every penny just to see the right way to section and moisturize it. For home, I’d say don’t overthink it. Use a satin bonnet or satin pillowcase at night, and if he won’t keep a bonnet on, do loose twists before bed. Also, those Denman brushes can be amazing, but only if you use them on soaking-wet hair with conditioner. On dry hair they’re kind of evil, at least in our house.