Kids Routine for Easier Washdays, Styling & Tips

Here at Trepadora, we truly understand the love-hate relationship many have with their natural curls. When it comes to our curly kids, we want to give them the very best advice and products so they can love and embrace their natural hair. With so much information online, we know it is easy to get confused or overwhelmed in just a couple of clicks. We have for this reason curated a simple guide with all the essentials, so you and your family can feel confident that you have cracked the code to a routine that works for your child.

Cleanse

For the health of their scalp, we recommend washing your child’s hair at least once a week. This may need to be more frequent, depending on factors like school activities, weather and lifestyle. Our Goji Berry Mint Reviving Hair Rinse is perfect for removing dirt, excess oil and product build-up without stripping the curls of their natural moisture. Double cleanse if they do a lot of sport and tend to get very sweaty! Curls should be completely wet before applying cleansers. You may find re-wetting as you work in our sls-free shampoo will help spread the shampoo ensure the scalp is thoroughly cleansed. Rinse clean.

Condition

Follow cleansing with our rich and creamy Coconut Almond Detangling Conditioner, perfect for dry, frizz-prone curls. If your child has fine hair, you can use Babassu Quench Leave-In Curl Primer as an alternative. If you struggle during the detangling process, adding a little more water after applying the conditioner can help massively in allowing this rich conditioner to penetrate and spread easily. If hair is very knotty begin finger detangling after a few minutes and then follow with a detangling brush.

Style

For younger children with fine hair we recommend using Babassu Quench Leave-In Curl Primer. On wet hair, use a generous amount of this light-weight conditioner after rinsing out the Coconut Almond Detangling Conditioner as this will be your main source of hydration. Then smooth a small amount of Papaya Slip Taming Potion on top to set curls in place. Diffuse dry.

For older kids you should choose to use a good amount of strong hold styling gel after applying the Babassu Quench Leave-In Curl Primer. All Trepadora styling products work for all curl types. The products listed below we consider to be a good and easy starting point.

For waves → Papaya Slip Taming Potion is a cream-gel hybrid which provides a flexible hold. Style easily, without weighing the hair down.

Curls and coils → Acaí Berry Fix Defining Gel is a medium hold, protein styling gel. Its anti-humidity and anti-frizz benefits will give them long-lasting shiny curls.

Trepadora products are designed to work best when the hair is thoroughly wet.

Start by sectioning (even if it is just two sections)

For each section: If you feel their curls are not soaking wet, rewet that section. Detangle to ensure curls are smooth and then apply your styling product, using the praying hands method (gliding your palms in a smoothing motion down with hair sandwiched between). Brush through again (or finger rake) and let curls fall.
Once all sections are complete, gently scrunch curls with your hands, then scrunch one more time with a Curly Towel (or a cotton t-shirt) to remove excess water.
Use a diffuser, you can use this in a medium setting with medium heat. Even fifteen minutes of hover diffusing will accelerate the drying time and seal in the curls’ moisture. You should diffuse until the curls are fully dry.

Try to explain to them the importance of not touching their curls during the drying process so that they achieve little to no frizz. Ideally their hair should be fully dry before bed.

Tips

One of the biggest concerns parents tell us in our flagship salon is how easily curls get knotty, and how hard they are to detangle. Here are some of our tips:

If you have used a styling product in the evening, sleep with the cast in and then scrunch it out in the morning.
Try a silk/satin bonnet, pillowcase or scrunchie to secure curls whilst they sleep.
Dry curls lead to tangles, knots and possible breakage so do a quick twist set or loose braids before bed time. If the hair is tangled or feels brittle, use a pea size amount of Miracle Maca Moisture Balm per section on dry hair before braiding or twisting (use more if needed). Untwist in the morning! This also works to refresh the style, infuse moisture and reduce frizz.
We do not recommend brushing curls when dry as it can result in losing definition and breakage. If the hair has become very tangled, before washing use Miracle Maca Moisture Balm or Babassu Quench Leave-In Curl Primer to section and finger detangle. You can also use a wide tooth comb or our Trepadora Pick to ease the tangles out.
If your child has a sensitive scalp or suffers from dandruff, eczema or psoriasis, Hibiscus Pink Cleansing Clay-Wash is a great option to use as the last step of a double cleanse. Is also a good alternative for quick washes, in between “big wash days”.
If you don’t have a diffuser, you can try the plopping method using an old t-shirt or cotton towel to speed the drying process

Remember, this is a general guide only. Every hair type is different and influenced by external conditions. Keep practising and experimenting until you find a routine that works for you and your child or contact our salon for custom support.

Our flagship salon offers hair cuts for kids from 1 year old and up. We also have educational Wash & Style only kids appointments. Perfect for a little pamper session before they go back to school or if they have a special event to attend.

We would love to hear how you get on! If there is a particular topic you would like us to expand on, leave a comment or send us a message with your thoughts.