How to Teach Your Child Simple Hair Care Techniques for Hair Health

From infancy to elementary school, parents are responsible for grooming their children. As they grow more independent, teaching them about grooming and self-care habits will help them to become more self-reliant.

Learn how teaching your children about self-care will empower them as they grow.

Talk about hair products and why we comb our hair

When your child is young, the most important thing is to keep them comfortable by using a shampoo formulated for sensitive skin and eyes, specifically for children, and by keeping their hair combed. Explaining to children why you comb their hair teaches them the basics of detangling.

As they grow and their hair care products change, they will have already developed a consistent hair care routine, which is essential for maintaining healthy hair, regardless of hair type—straight, wavy, or curly. Using the right hair products can help protect hair from damage, especially when washing, as this process can sometimes strip natural oils.

For those with curly hair, using a wide-toothed comb is important to prevent breakage and minimize the risk of tangled or matted hair. Combing through hair, especially after washing, helps to evenly distribute natural oils, making it smoother and more manageable. It’s also beneficial to detangle hair at night to reduce knots that can form while sleeping. A gentle comb-through can be particularly useful in maintaining hair’s health and reducing damage.

Talking with your kids about hair products, styling equipment, shampoos, and conditioners will help them make informed choices. When you take your kids to grocery stores, you talk to them about fruits, where they come from, and which foods help them grow strong. By exposing your children to foods and products that make them feel good and look good, you can instill a sense of pride and growing self-awareness in them.

Demonstrate easy-to-do styles in hair care

Teaching children how to care for their hair can be made fun and simple by demonstrating easy-to-do styles that promote hair health. Whether a child has curly hair, straight hair, wavy hair, or coily hair, it’s important to use natural hair care products suited to their needs.

Deep conditioners and detangling sprays are great for keeping dry hair moisturized and making detangling easier, especially on wet hair.

Using a wide-tooth comb on straight or wavy hair

Demonstrate how to use a wide-tooth comb and explain how it can help preserve the curl pattern while reducing tangled hair.

Regular trims for healthy hair

Getting regular trims is essential for maintaining hair health. A visit to the salon can be exciting for kids and boosts their self-confidence once they get their hair professionally styled.

Using a hair dryer

As long as you use a low setting, your child can use a hair dryer safely under your supervision.

Product knowledge

As the saying goes, “Teach them young.” Just as you would teach your child the importance of sunscreen to protect their skin from sun damage, teach them the importance of protecting their hair from heat with heat-protective products to keep the hair healthy. 

Here are some terms you can introduce while your children are learning about haircare beyond just washing hair and how you can break them down in a simpler way: 

Oily hair: Sometimes, our hair gets a little shiny and feels slippery because our heads make something called oil. It’s like how our skin sometimes feels a little wet and sticky. Oily hair is when there’s a lot of that oil on our hair.

Healthy hair habits: These are things we do to keep our hair strong and happy, like brushing it gently, using good shampoo and conditioner, and not pulling on it too hard.

Healthy scalps: Our scalp is the skin under our hair. When it’s healthy, it doesn’t feel itchy or hurt. A happy scalp helps our hair grow better!

Sulfate-free shampoo: This shampoo is gentle and doesn’t have bubbles that can make hair dry.

Moisturizing conditioner: It helps make your hair soft.

Detangling process: Sometimes, our hair gets knots, like when you get your shoelaces all tangled. Our hair becomes smooth when we gently brush or comb those knots out.

Hair accessories: These are fun things like hair clips, bows, and headbands that we put in our hair to make it look nice.

Evergreen Beauty College Salon

Did you know that Evergreen Beauty College has a student-operated salon on campus where you can get a professional haircut from our trained students who are supervised by an instructor at a discounted rate?

Our students are trained in all types of textured hair and can talk to kids about the importance of a daily hair care regimen.

Whether you’re a mother or father considering cosmetology school, becoming a student as a parent is entirely doable. Our programs offer flexible schedules where you can graduate in 12 months or less. Consider touring our campus to see if cosmetology is right for you.

FAQ: How to teach your child simple hair care techniques for hair health

 How do you manage kids’ hair?

Comb your child’s hair at night and in the morning to detangle it. Use a gentle shampoo for sensitive scalp and eyes.

How do you teach a child to wash their hair?

Show your child the proper amount of shampoo or conditioner to pour in the hand and teach them how to massage it into their hair before thoroughly rinsing it out. Using a children’s shampoo that won’t burn their eyes is important.

How often should children wash their hair?

Children should wash their hair 2–3 times per week.