Some babies come straight out of the womb with a full head of hair, while others may not see significant growth until much later. No matter where your baby is in their hair growth journey, one thing remains true: all baby hair requires extra special care and attention.
Babies have delicate scalps, making them extra sensitive to harsh chemicals and additives. For this reason, it’s imperative to use gentle, nourishing products to support existing strands and new growth. Today, we’re covering baby hair care tips and sharing the best natural products to protect and nurture your little one’s growing locks.
Baby Hair Care: Tips & Products for Healthy Hair & Scalp
Before we dive into the best products for caring for your baby’s hair, here are some tips to keep your child’s growing mane healthy and happy.
6 Tips for healthy baby hair
While an adult hair care routine may involve several specialty products, harsh treatments and hot tools, baby hair care looks a little different. Babies have fragile, growing hair that requires a gentler approach. Here are the best tips to help your little one’s hair grow as healthily as possible:
Avoid over-brushing
Babies have much more breakable hair than we do, which is why it’s so important to be
extra gentle. Avoid over-brushing their hair to prevent excessive breakage. Additionally, it’s best to wait until their hair is dry before brushing and styling. When you do brush their hair, use a wide tooth comb or soft brush to protect their strands from extra damage.
Style with care
Avoid extra tight or harsh hairstyles when styling your little one’s hair. Instead of tight elastics or accessories that could grab at and rip their hair, opt for soft, gentle hairpieces to protect their mane.
Practice tummy time
While tummy time is important for strengthening muscles and improving motor skills, it can also help prevent bald spots from developing. Practice tummy time whenever possible to prevent potentially negative side effects from spending too much time on their backs.
Feed them a nutrient-dense diet
Once your baby is eating solids, ensure that their plate is packed with all of the essential nutrients to encourage growth and development like healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Foods like avocado, eggs and leafy greens are all beneficial for boosting healthy hair growth.
Limit wash days
Although adults may require more frequent wash days, babies typically don’t need to cleanse their hair as often. Reduce hair wash days to a few times a week, depending on your unique baby’s hair and how long it takes to become oily. On days that you do wash your baby’s hair, be cautious during aftercare by using a soft towel to gently pat their strands dry.
Use hair care made for babies
Although adults can typically tolerate more intense hair care formulas, it’s important to use products specifically made to nurture your baby’s fragile ‘do. Keep reading to discover the best natural hair care products for babies.
The best natural baby hair care products
Alaffia Babies & Kids Detangling Shampoo Coconut Strawberry
This detangling shampoo is made for all hair types using traditional West African natural ingredients like virgin coconut oil, shea, and aloe to nourish and gently detangle fine hair. Alaffia’s detangling shampoo is cruelty-free and made without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones, sulfates, artificial colors, or synthetic fragrances.
Alaffia Babies & Kids Rinse-Out Conditioner Coconut Strawberry
Alaffia’s rinse-out conditioner is formulated using cruelty-free and plant-based ingredients to hydrate and gently detangle strands. It’s made with certified fair-trade coconut oil, shea butter and aloe to promote soft, smooth hair. This gentle conditioner is made without synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, mineral oil, sulfates, parabens or phthalates.
Alaffia Babies & Kids Leave-in Conditioning Detangler Spray Coconut Strawberry
Gently treat tangled tresses using Alaffia’s leave-in detangling spray. This leave-in conditioning product works on all hair types to smooth out knots without causing damage. This spray is fair trade, cruelty-free, plant-based and made without parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, sulfates, artificial colors or synthetic fragrances.
Attitude Baby Leaves Shampoo & Body Soap Bar Unscented
Attitude’s unscented soap bar doubles as a shampoo and body soap. It’s unscented, EWG-verified, dermatologically tested, plastic-free, cruelty-free, vegan, biodegradable and made from 93.4% natural origin. Formulated with soothing and protective blueberry extract, coconut oil and almond oil, this soap bar provides intense moisture for nourished hair and skin.
Attitude Baby Leaves 2 in 1 Shampoo & Body Wash Fragrance Free
This 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash is fragrance-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested, and EWG-verified to nurture even the most sensitive skin. Made with soothing and antioxidative blueberry leaf, this formula protects against pollution and gently cleanses for hydrated, healthy skin and hair.
Babyganics Essentials 6 Piece Gift Set
Babyganics’ 6-piece baby bath set includes a shampoo and body wash, moisturizing daily lotion, bubble bath, foaming dish and bottle soap, alcohol-free foaming hand sanitizer and wipes. The bath kit comes in a reusable fabric cube with side pockets for a complete cleaning and baby care product set that covers all of the bases. This collection is filled with plant-derived and natural ingredients that gently cleanse baby hair, skin and surroundings.
??Dr. Bronner's Organic 4-in-1 Pump Soap Sugar Baby Unscented
This 4-in-1 unscented pump soap is USDA Certified Organic, cruelty-free, non-GMO verified and formulated without foaming agents or detergents. It’s made with skin-loving ingredients like organic shikakai, white grape juice, olive oil, sugar, coconut oil and hemp oil to mildly cleanse and nourish baby skin and hair. Dr. Bronner’s 4-in-1 soap is suitable for the hair, face, hands and body.
The Honest Company Babe's Mini Must Haves Gift Set
The Honest Company’s baby gift set comes in a reusable travel pouch that includes a lavender shampoo and body wash, lavender face and body lotion, and an organic all-purpose balm. Each baby bath essential is hypoallergenic, calming and made without parabens, phthalates, dyes, formaldehyde releasers, SLS/SLES, mineral oil, lanolin, petrolatum, synthetic fragrances or harsh chemicals. The products are formulated with beneficial ingredients like aloe, chamomile, jojoba esters, safflower oil and shea butter to nurture and soothe delicate baby skin and hair.
The Honest Company Conditioning Detangler Spray Refresh Citrus Vanilla
This lightweight spray gently works through knots and tangles with hydrating argan oil, jojoba protein, quinoa extract and shea butter. This moisture-rich formula smooths and replenishes fine strands to revive curls and calm cowlicks and tangles. The Honest Company’s detangler spray is vegan and made without animal testing or harsh ingredients to protect fragile growing hair.
SheaMoisture Baby Deep Conditioner Nighttime Manuka Honey & Lavender
Made with fair trade shea butter, SheaMoisture’s manuka honey and lavender replenishing deep conditioner promotes soft, hydrated curls and better baby sleep with its soothing scent. It’s tear-free, pediatrician-tested, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free and made without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or mineral oil.
SheaMoisture Baby Hair & Body Oil Nighttime Manuka Honey & Lavender
SheaMoisture’s relaxing hair and body oil is lightweight and ultra-hydrating, made with manuka honey, lavender, and plant-based oils to support soft hair and skin. It’s formulated using fair trade ingredients that are pediatrician-tested, hypoallergenic, and free of animal testing, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
