There's nothing more fun than a DIY spa day with your daughter, especially when it comes time to test a new 'do. Not all hair, however, is created equal. "Ethnic hair is much more dry and because of this, is much more fragile," says Cozy Friedman, CEO of Cozy's Cuts For Kids and author of Cozy's Complete Guide to Girls' Hair ($13, originally $16). Because of this, multicultural hair may require specific products and rituals to make it perfect. Here, tips from the veteran hairstylist on caring for natural hair.
When shopping for shampoo and conditioner, Friedman says to buy "alcohol-free products, so as not to dry out the hair." She also advises against buying petroleum or mineral oils. "They are too heavy and clog the pores, as well as actually prevent moisture from being absorbed into the hair." Instead, she suggests buying "light oils that will hydrate, like jojoba, avocado, coconut oil, or shea butter."
"You should not wash hair more than once or twice a week," Friedman says. "Overshampooing dries out the hair and scalp of its natural oils, which will cause hair and scalp to become dry and brittle."
During the postbath brushing, Friedman says to use a wide-tooth comb. "It will be much more gentle on the delicate hair than a fine-tooth comb and cause less breakage." She also suggests wrapping hair in a silk scarf at bedtime, using silk pillowcases, or doing an old-fashioned hair wrapping. This will help prevent breakage.
Now that you know how to care for your daughter's hair, learn how to style it with three looks straight from Cozy's Complete Guide to Girls' Hair.
Friedman adds that braids should never be too tight. You should also braid the hair all the way to the very bottom and secure with a coated elastic. "Leaving the tiniest piece of unbraided hair can cause split ends and breakage," she says.