African-American moms are often concerned about keeping baby’s hair soft. For example, Milkmomma014 from the Mom365 Community group Chocolate Mommies says: “My 3.5 mo old has very dry hair. I have been using jojoba oil ad safflower oil in it but I am curious to know what other mommies use.”
Many moms chimed in–we’ve gathered a bunch of their ideas. Read on and see gentle ways to treat baby’s delicate hair.
1. Baby Oil
“My daughter’s hair is really curly. I use baby oil. It adds moisture but it’s not really heavy on her hair.”
—baby jayhawk
Available at Amazon here
2. Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme
“I started using Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme. My four-month-old baby girl has thick curly locks and it was becoming somewhat of a chore to comb out her hair. I use a small amount of the Buttercreme at night (I either wash or wet her hair during bath time) and comb out her hair. This is part of our nightly routine which results in her dozing off to sleep.”
—Charmin
Available at Amazon here
3. Just For Me Lotion
“I found that Just for Me moisturizing lotion works the best, especially for dry hair. I have two girls. One is six years old and I believe that Just for Me is what helps her hair stay in such good shape and continue to grow.”
—Brooke T
Available at Amazon here
4. Baby Vasline
“This is going to sound old school but go to a grocery and get Baby Vaseline. It’s very creamy but it does wonders! Trust me. And a huge container is like $3. My daughter is almost two and I rub her down from head to toe. So she has shiny hair and soft skin.”
—ALEXANDRIA R.
Available at Amazon here
5. Olive Oil Shampoo and Conditioner
“I’ve found that Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo and Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner work really well for my [two-year-old] daughter. The conditioner is a deep conditioner, so I usually wash Lauren’s hair Saturday morning, put the conditioner in and put a plastic cap on it for about 45 minutes while she’s eating/playing then rinse it out. After that I use the Just For Me moisturizer and the scalp grease. We’ve been doing this about six months and this is the healthiest [her hair] has ever looked. I also grease her hair about every two days in between washes because hers dries out really quickly.”
—Kendra J.
Available at Amazon here
6. Coconut Oil
“Since my LO was a newborn I’ve used coconut oil, and I still use it today and she’s 15 months. It works great! Gives the hair an awesome texture and shine. And it doesn’t take much either. It moisturizes my daughter’s hair really good!”
—Rae’Lo
Available at Amazon here
7. Hair Pudding
“My daughter is mixed and she has very dry hair; I use something called Hair Pudding. It doesn’t look greasy, it’s wonderful. I only use a little.”
—1 proud momma
Available at Amazon here
8. Shea Butter + Coconut Oil
“Try using a mixture of shea butter and coconut oil. Get the real African 100% shea butter from any beauty supply store. Mix it by hand or in a blender. It’s great for baby’s skin too. You can also try Shea Moisture products. They are all natural and amazing. I would start out with the curl-enhancing smoothie. It’s very rich and moisturizing. I use it on my hair and my daughter who is 22 months.”
—Nia
Available at Amazon here
