Any parent knows there’s not enough lavender oil on earth to make bath time/bed time the relaxing occasion it’s portrayed as in commercials. If you happen to have a kid with long and/or curly hair, you know that bath time can be nothing short of a horror show. This was my situation until I crafted this no more tangles, no more tears hair care routine, featuring Caretrico Moist Bounce Treatment, S-HEART-S Scalp Brush Mini and Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence.

Natural Hair Care = Tear-Free Kids

You may think detangling is a conditioner-based condition, but much can be accomplished in the shampooing step. Start with thebest shampoo for your child’s hair type (we have one for every type). I prefer Caretrico Type S for my daughter’s hair.

It’s important to really saturate the hair before shampooing; don’t just quickly dip it in water. When hair is very wet, it allows shampoo to suds up optimally, providing the best clean and allowing the brush to move through the hair with the greatest of ease. What brush, you say?

Brushing Up on Hair Products for Kids With Curly Hair

Here’s where you get to break a hard and fast beauty rule: brushing wet hair!

The S-HEART-S Scalp Brush Mini is specifically designed for this task. Once the shampoo is in the hair, you brush with the scalp brush, starting at the scalp and running through the length of the hair several times. Here is why we LOVE this scalp massaging brush:

• It’s 376 round-tipped nylon bristles are specially designed and shaped to remove dirt, buildup and excess oil from the 40,000 follicles on the scalp.
• These bristles gently massage the scalp as they clean, promoting circulation and giving a deeper and more invigorating cleaning than can be achieved by fingertips alone.
• Although this brush delivers a heavy-duty cleaning, it does so with the gentlest touch, so hair is never yanked or broken. Welcome to tear-free detangling that your child can do all on her/his own!

After thoroughly brushing the hair, rinse out shampoo completely. You will immediately feel the reduction of tangles. Of course, this brush can be used by the whole family; I love it as much as my daughter does. It makes my hair more smooth and manageable, and styling infinitely easier.

In Perfect Condition Thanks to Caretrico

I used to use leave-in conditioner to do most of my detangling dirty work. However, after using the S-HEART-S Scalp Brush Mini, you will see (and feel) that most of that work is already done. After rinsing shampoo, squeeze excess water out of hair and apply conditioner to the bottom two thirds. Caretrico Moist Bounce Treatment has been a lifesaver for my family. Even before I discovered the S-HEART-S Scalp Brush, this conditioning treatment did a fabulous job of perfecting my daughter’s curls…not to mention the way it completely transforms MY hair after highlighting! Also, the rose hip oil-infused scent of Moist Bounce Treatment is amazing. Unique, subtle, divine.

A Spray A Day to Keep Tangles Away

The finishing touch to the routine is Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence. Created as a leave-in heat styling spray, a few sprays provide light yet effective conditioning. I use this in the morning to take care of any tangles that may have happened overnight. (If your child’s hair is long and extremely tangle-prone, I recommend braiding it before bed.) Daily Damage Defence will tame any unruly wisps of hair that are sticking up and unravel any knots, though after brushing and conditioning, these will be minimal. I use this on my son’s short hair as well, to pat down any cowlicks that sprang up during sleep.

Nothing is better than the warm sun and fresh air after you’ve been trapped inside avoiding the extreme cold that we’ve experienced this winter. While there’s no need for all the layers of clothing on the beach, you do have to layer product to protect your hair. If you don’t, intense sun and salt water will dry your hair out.

Going to the Beach Should be Glamorous

Beyond big sunglasses, think updo or bun for longer hair, slicked back for short hair. Wet your hair and spray it with Vine Minus Ion Care Water, it works as a driver for other products, depositing them into the hair shaft. Coat your hair with conditioner like, Caretico Moist Bounce Treatment then layer it with Arimino Aqua Moisture. The silicone based Aqua Moisture acts as a sealer, locking in the treatment and keeping your hair from wicking up the salt water. S-Heart-S Scalp Brush Mini is perfect for applying products and is designed not to stress the hair, even when it’s wet. For short hair, just brush it neatly back, with or without a part. For longer hair, twist it into a chic bun after brushing.

Try Braids

You can also make braids and wrap them around your head for a more exotic look. All sorts of fun looks are possible with braids. It’s a good time to experiment with creating new styles that you can incorporate into your life back home. If you just have to have your hair blowing in the breeze…wear a hat or cap. Keeping the sun’s rays off your hair helps keep it in good condition.

Use a Gentle Shampoo

There’s little need to shampoo on a daily basis. If cleansing is needed use a gentle shampoo- Caretrico Moisture Bounce Shampoo is a really good choice. It nourishes without weighing your hair down. Use conditioner or treatment only daily. Oils work as cleaners too. Then, rinse, rinse, rinse.

Give Blow Dryers and Curling Irons a Rest

Give your hair a break from blow dryers and curling irons…let it dry naturally. Work the smallest amount of Aqua Moisture in your hands and lightly touch it throughout your hair, starting at the ends. It adds shine and tames any unruly hair.

During the holiday party season, over-indulgence, over-scheduling and over-styling can all take their toll on your hair and scalp. Here are my top tips to keep your locks looking luscious through the New Year.

Stress

Stress can increase hair shedding in certain individuals. Simply put, it’s due to the conversion of adrenaline to testosterone. While keeping stress levels in check is tricky at any time of the year, it’s especially hard during the holidays! If you don’t have time to go to a yoga class, or are staying with family, there are a few things you can do to create your own “om” zone. Invest in noise cancellation headphones, lock the door and download a meditation video or cd! Even 10 minutes of meditation can really work wonders when it all becomes a bit too much…

Diet

Your hair is composed primarily of a special protein called keratin, so getting adequate amounts through your diet is vital to hair growth. Luckily for you, holidays are the perfect time to take advantage of hair-helping, freshly prepared proteins such as turkey and red meats. The amino acids found in these nutritional powerhouses will help fuel your follicles! Iron and ferritin (your body’s supply of stored iron) deficiencies are very common causes of hair loss, so tuck into a steak, some stew or bit of bison to improve and sustain your iron blood levels.

Alcohol

Itchy scalp? Blame it on the alcohol. While this is not the case for everyone, white wine and champagne can trigger dandruff flare-ups in people who are prone to them. Stick to red wine, and try to drink in moderation! For those of you who already have an itchy scalp, invest in a good flaky/itchy scalp shampoo, conditioner and scalp toner to soothe and clear up any irritation. The Philip Kingsley Take Comfort/Flaky Itchy Jet Set has all 3 in one neat little bag specifically made for travel!

Styling

During the party season, it’s very tempting to reach for hair straighteners and curling irons on a daily basis. While heated styling tools are certainly a convenient way to perfect your style for an evening out, they can wreak havoc on the condition of your hair. Those high temperatures can dry out and snap your strands – they’re even capable of boiling the water within your hair’s cortex (core), causing rupture to the follicle! Scary stuff. Try limiting your use of straighteners and/or curling irons to twice a week, and always prep hair with a heat protective product. In the interim, use a weekly pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, such as Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, to help restore bounce, moisture, manageability and elasticity to your hair.

Shampooing

Frequent shampooing creates the optimum scalp environment for healthy hair growth. That said, it’s really tough to find the time to shampoo your hair often enough during the winter: there really isn’t the option to let it dry naturally when it’s so cold outside! Try to wash your hair every other day, and in-between washes use a dry shampoo with hair and scalp benefits.

There is very little difference between caring for your hair at the beach and when skiing. In each instance, your hair is subjected to similar environmental hazards. For example, windy conditions, the sun, sweat, salt or chlorinated pool/sauna water, even hats—be they large rimmed sun hats or snug & wooly ski attire.

The primary consideration is protection from all of these elements, of which I will describe below:

Salt & Chlorinated Water

Salt water has an osmotic effect on the hair, meaning that it leaches water out of your hair. Chlorinated water can be just as damaging. To protect your hair from associated distress, use Philip Kingsley Swimcap. I originally formulated it for the U.S. synchronized swim team in 1984 and it contains UV protectors, moisturizers and is highly water resistant.

The Sun

Have you noticed that the skin on your face burns just as easily on the beach as when skiing? The same applies to your hair & scalp. The sun on both the slopes and the beach can be exceedingly damaging, causing hair to become brittle and dry and any exposed scalp prone to burn. To help prevent this, use my Swimcap Cream (as described earlier), or wear a hat. To re-hydrate and replenish your hair & scalp, apply an intensive treatment twice a week. I recommend using my Exfoliating Scalp Mask and multi-award winning pre-shampoo conditioner, Elasticizer. They both ensure trouble-free scalps and resilient, manageable, shiny hair.

Wind

Apply weatherproof products that counteract dehydration. For example, Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence. As an added bonus, this will enable you to have protected and flyaway-free hair when going to social events!

Sweat

The sun, physical exertion and hats can all cause a sweaty scalp. This can result in itching, a buildup of bacteria and greasy looking hair. Apply Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner to your scalp to inhibit the spread of bacteria, clear irritation and soak up excess oils. Furthermore, always shampoo your hair at the end of the day to thoroughly cleanse your scalp and hair. Choose the correct shampoo according to your hair type and follow with the correct conditioner, also according to your hair type.  If necessary – and it won’t harm – shampoo your hair in the morning, too.