Kids Hair

Maintaining and looking after a kid’s hair could be difficult for some parents. This is more so when it comes to washing the hair and hairstyles. For the former, try using a mild shampoo with a favorite scent. You could also use a shampoo with your kid’s favorite cartoon character on it. Most kids are more willing to wash their hair if you choose a shampoo that does not sting their eyes.

Getting your child to visit a beauty salon for a haircut could be an experience in itself. Some children dread a hairdresser as much as they do a doctor. Kids hairstyles should be simple, easy to manage and easy to maintain. You will need to take several factors into consideration before cutting your kid’s hair. These include: the type of hair your child has,(thick, curly, fine, or straight), will your child need help looking after her hair and the chosen hairstyle, does your child participate in sports, will you need to use hair accessories etc. Once you have decided the above, choose a hairdresser who specializes in children’s hair. Be sure to brush your kid’s hair and wash it regularly as it gets tangled due to their daily activities. Check for head lice and dandruff. Teach your child to also look after his/her hair.

Hair loss or alopecia can affect children too. This could be caused by fungal infections, trauma, as a side effect to chemotherapy, or conditions like hypothyroidism, or by inflammatory conditions. Children with hair loss usually suffer from the following conditions:

• Tinea Capitis: This is a fungal infection involving the eyebrows, eyelashes and the skin on the scalp. It is also known as ringworm of the scalp.
• Alopecia areata: children with this hair loss condition have total loss of hair in one or more areas on their scalp.
• Trichotillomania: This is when the child pulls out his own hair resulting in an irregular patch of hair.
• Congenital alopecia: This is when babies are born with areas with no hair on them.
• Telogen Effluvium: Infants are more prone to this as mature hair replaces baby hair. Older children may be susceptible to it if they have been seriously ill, or under stress.
• Traction Alopecia: This is physical damage to the hair. This occurs with tight hairstyles or when the hair is braided too tightly.
• Scarring alopecia: Inflammatory reactions or trauma could result in bald patches which is another cause for hair loss in children.