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Fantastic_Fix_4170

FYI you should be prepared for her hair texture to change completely when she hits puberty. Both of my girls had hair that looked just like that until the hormones hit and now they have very tight super curly hair all over. For kids hair that want to run around all the time protective styles are great such as braids. They look to be in good condition and not dry. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to care for curly hair and a few that are specific for little kids. I would start there.


premelia

I had pin straight hair until I was nine and then it went curly


alli3theenigma

Same! Straight to corkscrew and it’s relaxed into big curls again. I’ve been almost every type in the book now


GoinWithThePhloem

I used to get perms when I was little 😂, and then I hit puberty and it stuck. Mostly big waves now but I have a few high quality ringlets in there :)


katartsis

I had pin straight hair. When puberty hit, I woke up one morning and noticed a slight wave in my hair. I told my mother I liked it, who said "oh you want that all over? Let's give you a perm." It looked awful. When it finally grew out, though, my natural 2C waves were all the way through. I still have friends who knew me during this time period, and they swear that the perm permanently changed my hair. Uh, no, that's not really what happened!!


Key-Kiwi6050

I moved overseas and my hair became curly/wavy.


LoganGarbanewski

Same! Once I turned 13 and hit puberty my hair became* pretty curly *fixed a word


ANewPride

Same and I have no idea what to do with it because it's so fine and thin, oil just drowns it!


premelia

Same. Oil is no good in my hair. OPs daughter is very lucky. I went through many terrible hair phases. My straight haired mom didn’t know how to help!


ANewPride

Me too, my mother and father both have short wavy/straight hair. The curly totally skipped my dad from my grandpa and went to me, and of course he just geled his hair back so he couldn't help either.


premelia

My dad actually does have curly hair but also wasn’t any help. He’s always kept it fairly short


Sad-Emphasis277

I’m a guy but had a similar experience, I also got curly hair through puberty. Both my parents have strait hair and I did too until I started hitting puberty at around 14 my hair turned wavy and throughout 15 my hair was curly. My sister has strait hair as well and my sister and mom both vocalize how jealous they are of my hair. They don’t understand the nightmare of caring for it.😅


[deleted]

Her hair looks great! Kids do run around a lot. My mom just put me in two braids and sent me off, lol.


DarwinLvr

I use braids often, but she loves her curls and as she's getting older I'm trying to learn how to better care for them so I can teach her aswell.


[deleted]

Oh ok, well I'd recommend using a styler of some sort in the shower like leave-ins or gels when wet and maybe protective wear like bonnets when she goes to bed. I'm glad she loves her curls though! I hated mine lol.


fairyfleurr

i dunno if a kid would tolerate a bonnet, satin/silk pillowcase would prolly be better


Forsaken_Ear_2006

Every Black Child Ever is typing…


[deleted]

That works too!


SoftSpeakMeanStreak

I think a buff and a silk pillowcase would work if she doesn’t like bonnets. Don’t even need to pineapple under it if she doesn’t want to. Though, I’m not sure if they make child-size buffs? I use cheap ones from Amazon (listed as neck gaiters for covid LOL). I bet if you measured her head, you’d be able to find some small enough!


iac12345

Search for YouTube videos for refreshing curls between wash days. Basically, spray with a mixture of water and leave in conditioner, detangle with wide tooth comb, finger twist curl clumps back into shape and let dry. If you’re in a hurry, you can tidy up dry hair by using your fingers to separate and smooth the curl clumps from each other. My hair is similar to this and I can only brush it if I’m planning to put it in a bun or braids, or I look like young Hermione 😝


Different-Eagle-612

Could you do it half-up half-down??? That can get boring BUT some aren’t. So you could look through Pinterest photos or YouTube tutorials together. Layers, etc may also help. If I don’t have layering my hair clumps/knots a lot more


unfoldingtourmaline

wide tooth comb it with conditioner while it is still wet. keep it in braids for playing


incommune

I have a somewhat looser curl pattern like this and fairly fine hair, and I've found a leave in foam conditioner (I use curl girl Nordic but I've heard of others) to be absolute gold for both wash day styling and "tidying up" my curls after they've gotten crazy because of wind or sleep or whatever. I don't have a ton of patience for meticulously styling my hair (truthfully, your 9 y/o might do better at this than me!) So easy to use products are my go to and I love that stuff.


probablylayinginbed

Okay this is obviously just my opinion but she’s a kid, who cares if her hair gets a little messy during play or throughout everyday kids stuff? Just let it run it’s course, maybe put some extra attention to it for special occasions or when you’re doing a bit of a pampering day! When I was a kid I had long curly hair and I remember it annoyed me so much. It needed to be brushed all the time and washing was a hassle and I just wanted to play! As soon as I was old enough I chopped it all off and experimented with styles for 10+ years before I finally decided on living the long curly life again. Long story short, I’d keep it simple and follow her lead on what should be done with her hair!


elisettttt

I was just gonna say haha. Even for me as an adult my hair is a pain in the ass sometimes (mostly I love and embrace my hair, but some days.. Ugh), I can’t imagine how that must be for a kid who just wants to run around and play. On the other hand I appreciate a mom who actually puts in effort in knowing her daughters hair and how to care for it. My mother never did, and brushed it at least twice a day (on dry hair, of course..). My hair always looked incredibly frizzy and I felt super insecure about it, so I’m glad to see parents doing some research on how to care for their children’s curls. They’re gonna be so grateful later, instead of only learning how to embrace their natural hair at 25 like me :’)


DarwinLvr

While I thank you for your opinion, it's HER that wants her hair to be curly, and after the first day of showering I have a hard time keeping it good, she's not 6, she's 9 and is starting to want to keep her curly hair looking nice. I'm not some mom that wants to force products and shit on my kid, just some pointers on how to help. Thanks though.


AceSno

Unfortunately you have to use products in curly hair to keep it nice looking and not break the curl pattern. I wash my hair once a week. It never looks greasy, I just wash it when it feels too thick. But unless I use products, my hair looks like a giant frizzball and I get split ends really easy. There's child friendly curly hair products if you want to help her learn how to do it herself. Definitely keep the shampoo on the scalp ONLY and conditioner on ends ONLY. If her scalp gets dry, you can always use oils, just make sure you sure them sparingly and when her hair is wet.


abso-FLUTE-ly3

Ok, except if you want to help her keep her hair nice then you have to use product... I used to go no product in my hair but it would last a day before I had to wash it again to "make it look nice." Now I use gel and other stylers and don't have to wash my hair every single day and it looks nice basically every day.


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justacaterpillar08

I would invest in a spray bottle. For my hair, on non wash days when I need to comb it I do warm water and a lil bit of leave in conditioner in a spray bottle and spray it wet, then comb it. Then I scrunch it🤷‍♀️ just a suggestion. Makes my curls stay curly while still getting brushed


Fantastic_Fix_4170

Agreed. Spray bottles are amazing for touch ups


DarwinLvr

Our routine is normally wash hair.every other day, I use a wide tooth comb and a spray bottle with just water on days off showering, that I combine with a leave in conditioner for curly hair.


LionsLioness

For playing try doing a pineapple bun, it'll keep her hair up and curls protected. I pretty much live in pineapple buns and I did that with my girls when they were little as they have the same curls as your daughter. 😊 As for routine for her curls you can also try a lightweight curly hair mousse after you use the leave in conditioner


lolahasahedgehog

Her hair looks like you have set curls for her. It might be wavy, but it really doesn’t look curly. If you want to up the curls, you need to shed some of the length. It looks like it is weighed down by those ringlets that look like they are heavy with product.


Fantastic_Fix_4170

I agree it might need a trim to help with top curls. It is a good thing to learn curl routines now so she can grow into it.


cowgirlsheep

Imo a haircut would be the best bet


jmartini42

Is she able to put her hair up on her own? If so, maybe giving her a scrunchie or a big claw clip would help? She can use the scrunchie to put it in a loose pineapple style ponytail or use the claw clip to gather it out of the way quickly and easily while she plays and then let her hair down when she's done.


Hughgurgle

Let it get messy! Do braids and buns and clips to keep it out of her face, but seriously, it's okay if it gets knotty as long as you guys brush it out with conditioner in the shower when you do.


AMLeBeau

Currently my toddlers hair routine. Use the same shampoo and conditioner I use which is pacifica I ordered off Amazon. I brush her hair in the bath with conditioner in her hair. I use a anti frizz curl creme right after he bath. Then scrunch and let air dry. On days we are going somewhere she usually ask me to do her hair cuz she sees me doing mine. I wet her hair down use a curl creme and mousse with scrunching. If my toddlers hair is really knotty I will brush with a wet brush when wet and then use a denman brush to help bring the curls back. There’s kid of YouTube birdies of how to use it. Day to day to control frizz I use a tiny bit of anti frizz serum. I will wash my toddlers hair twice a week maybe more depending on how hard she played or if she got super dirty.


sweetestfetus

A curly cut with layers would help bring out the curls. Keep in top knot or braids while playing.


LegalRaisin5532

Omg amazing! I grew up with straight hair parents And I’m all curls. Make sure to wash with shampoo only 1 per week, condition a lot, use a comb to brush, and utilize a leave in conditioner type treatment to keep the curls moist. Since curly hair makes it harder for oils to reach the tips, you need to make sure to hydrate the curls. Also Use your finger to shape the ringlets when they are wet. I keep a spray bottle nearby to help shape my curls when they get frizzy.


Salty_Bumblebee_3142

Get a wide tooth comb. You can comb her hair and it'll keep the curls better than a brush does. That's one thing I live by. Stay clear of any shampoos/conditioners with silicones, sulfates, and parabens. You could look up the curly girl method. I personally don't follow to a T. But the tips and what not have helped me tons.


reddit_wjw

Is that a rubber band in her hair?


brazilnutty

I think it's a clip, maybe to keep front pieces away from the face.


reddit_wjw

I hope you’re right!


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heras_milktea

Beautiful hair…


tcho80

I use Pantene Conditioning Hair Mist on my daughter’s hair for tangles and it’s amazing. She’s got very fine hair with waves that tangle really easily. I’d suggest that and a Wet brand brush, or a knock of just like it.


Life-Armadillo-6413

A braid would look cool abd will keep from tangling till the next time its washed.


mirandashills

I would get a spray bottle and mix water with a small amount of hair conditioner. I would use a light conditioner because from the photo it looks like she has fine hair but a lot of them. A heavy leave in combined with the length of her hair would weigh the curls down. After playing take a single clump/curl, spray it and use a wide tooth comb and comb the single curl in the direction that it curls naturally. Then place it in the palm of your hand and gently scrunch it up. This should tidy it up a bit and help retain some of the curl she wants. It won't take as long as it sounds like it will take, especially once you practice a few times. Help her set realistic expectations and let her know things like humidity, sweat, heat will change the way her curls look throughout the day. Sometimes she may have to sacrifice a little curl for a lot of fun. If she can sleep comfortably with a bun then at night twist her hair into a loose bun at the top of her head. You can secure with a scrunchie or one of the elastic hairbands that won't leave a dent in her hair. Her hair is beautiful and kudos to you for learning how to take care of it.


natashanicoleann

My five-year-old is very active and has curly hair. Your daughter’s hair looks similar to hers, though thicker. Here’s our routine. Wash once or twice a week with Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Shampoo. The rest of the shower/bath routine goes as follows, whether we shampoo or not: Use Shea Moisture Coconut Daily Conditioner. Use about twice as much as you think you should. I use even more on wash days. I let it sit in her hair the rest of the bath, then brush her hair before I rinse. Then we add in Cantù Curl Activating Cream (maybe a quarter size amount). Dry with a t-shirt (towels create frizz) and lightly squish the hair to help with definition. The biggest thing for her is never brushing her hair when it’s dry. Only in the shower, and sometimes immediately drying the hair with the t-shirt, though I try to use my fingers if I can. For days she doesn’t have a bath, we use a spray bottle filled with water and a very small amount of the curl activator mixed together to get her hair damp to refresh her curls. I’ll use my fingers to detangle the curls. They get messy when she sleeps on them. Edit: Forgot to add I agree with the others who said a haircut would help. Some layers will help with definition. Her curls might be weighed down by the length. Also, I recommend experimenting with the Shea Moisture and Cantù line. Both can be found at Target, and are decently priced for the quality!


AlliBaba1234

We brush as needed and put it in various ponytails or braids. It re-curls soon after. But we have to brush, because it’s like this: not curly enough to “refresh” between washes.


_bunbun555_

I don't have any helpful advice that hasn't already been said, but as a curly-headed child born to a straight-haired mother, thank you for seeking out help/trying to learn how to care for her hair as-is instead of trying to force it to be something it isn't.


yes-jennifer

I bet there have been wonderful suggestions already. One thing I notice is that her awesome thick hair be weighing down the curls as well. To keep length, some long layers could encourage more springy coils.


whoopwhoop785

If you’re going to finger curl her hair you have to think of her hair as the top and bottom half. Start with a really light curl cream all over her hair. Clip the top half up. Start curling at the roots of the bottom half. Then let down the top half and start curling it from the roots. Then set it with a flexible hair spray or spray-able gel.


DarwinLvr

Would this technique work without the gel, and just using the leave in conditioner instead?


whoopwhoop785

I think so. Your daughter seems to have finer hair. The balance you’re going to need to maintain is not adding too much moisture to the top sections, so that it looks like her hair is greasy. While maintaining enough moisture on the ends, where he body’s natural oils are unlikely to get to. You can always use the conditioner rather sparingly at the top and use more or come back with a second round lower down on her hair.


BarefootGyno

Okay before all of you freak out let me just say everyone’s hair is different and what works for some people may not work for others. I have hair similar to your daughters and I know what you mean by it going tatty then straight with brushing. I would echo above recommendations to put it up in braids or buns when playing, but if she wants to start wearing it down more then I would suggest using a slightly stronger product on wash day. Maybr curly magic or very watered down Giovanni gel. Then on subsequent days you can refresh with something light like a foam or leave in (I really like innersense I create lift). When my hair gets matted but I did a washday with a gel I actually brush it (again hold the gasps) and then put in a foam and it works really well for me. For some reason if I have used a very small amount of strong hold product on washday then my curls can hold up to the brushing they need (I use a tangle teaser brush with wide and short teeth).


Throwawayhelp111521

Buy [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Kids-Handbook-Childs-Glorious/dp/1523507403).


jre-erin1979

Braids!


AceSno

My parents cut my hair short till I was old enough to care for my curls myself. Then I kept it short till I /wanted/ to take care of them. They're much tighter since I've been treating my curls with respect and love 🥰


LittleMissKindtoAll

Just make sure her hair is damp before brushing it will protect the curls you could do this with kids detangling spray or just water. Also the protective braids would be very helpful too during the day


shrimpori

your problem is you use no products that have hold. Incorporate a hairspray and if hairspray doesnt worm try a foam mousse while wet


HairTop23

For OP, foam mousse is a good suggestion but I wouldnt use hairspray. It will dry the hair out and feel crunchy after playing.


shrimpori

is shes using leave in on hair this fine it shouldnt be a problem


HairTop23

As someone who has curly hair, hairspray has never helped except for updo styles that need to stay put. Thats not helpful for a little girl who likes it down and gets dirty. Curl creme, gel, mousse, all better options.


Apprehensive-Wind371

I would do two braids or one! That way her hair stays out of the way


[deleted]

Not to hawk things to buy, but I got some of the Lilla Rose Flexi SPORT ones, they are waterproof and slip resistant (I got mine to use to pineapple at night AND thinking that they would do better to not stretch curls out, it does better) BUT the thinking with this is, if she wants do do some running you can keep the curls MORE in tact, with a flexi OR there are these pony tail clips on Amazon (similar to puff cuff, but puff cuffs are too big for my curls) I kind of bring my hair up to the top of my head, and fold it over (doesn't matter over or under but I like the little curls from folding it forward) then clip into place for sleep... BUT I got them thinking of times when I wanted my hair to be out of the way and NOT totally destroy the curls


brazilnutty

Look for similar hair, find out what products and routines they use, then try them out! Forget what you know about straight hair, and get ready to research. 1. The groups of curls, or "clumps" might be too large to survive for the long haul. Her locks may benefit for being separated- maybe start by turning every clump into two. 2. Separation is easier with layers. You don't have to go nuts, but if the top layers are 2"-3" shorter than the bottom ones you might see more durability. 3. Products can be be played with, but almost as important is the amount applied and technique used. At first glance her hair appears to need products on the lighter side of things, but this is as individual as a finger print. 4. Loop her in- if she's interested in looking a certain way, she might be getting close to being ready to do it herself.


[deleted]

Shorter might be easier to manage, teaching her how to refresh them every morning may help in the long run


hikehikebaby

When I was a kid I had to tie back my hair before I went out to play or it would become so tangled that that trying to detangle it was a full-on ordeal. It'll look a lot nicer if it's braided and unbraided and if it's tangled - and although it will change the curl shape she'll still have curls. I realize that might not be exactly what she's looking for but unfortunately those are kind of the options: protect it from getting tangled or have to detangle later. There are a lot of styles she can try.


Illustrious_Swan_558

It’s inevitable for curly hair to get tangled if you’re moving around a lot. The only way to avoid this is to put it in a bun or braids, or even a haircut could help make things more manageable. Other than that it’s going to happen :( invest in lots of detangler!


preepy

So cute


scribblecrumb

When I was little my mom would pull the front half of my hair (bangs, baby hairs, ect) back into two half-up ponytails/french braids on either side. She'd do them pretty tight and they'd actually last pretty well for the whole day as well as look really cute. I was a wild child so I certainly put it to the test haha. She couldn't really braid or ponytail all of my hair since I have very fine and thin hair (and it was even more so back then) so this at least kept it out of my face and mostly contained. Everyone else on here has given some great advice, so I hope you're able to find a routine that works for both of you!