How To Do Baby Hair? Step-By-Step| Process & Safe Practices Of Cutting Baby Hair.

If you are wondering how to cut your baby’s hair at home, do not worry, for we have got you covered. Here are some simple steps and tricks to help you out.

Your baby’s first hair cut is a memorable experience, however trying to trim it yourself can be challenging and it requires a lot of patience. As we all know babies do not sit still very often so finding the right time to trim their hair is the first hurdle to tackle. Lets not forgot what tools you should use or when can your baby even have their first haircut. In this blog we will cover just these concerns!

1. Lets start off with, when your baby should have their first haircut. Typically a baby hair will shed their hair a few months after being born. Excepts recommend waiting to cut your babies hair after their first birthday because It can take up to a year for their hair to grow again yet all babies are different. If you find their hair grows fast and it is irritating them, then anywhere from seven months should be fine.
2. You may be thinking if you can cut your own babies hair, of course you can! You can also go to a professional. There are salons out there who specialise in children’s haircuts and have an array ideas in how to make it a special event for you and your child. Although if you want to have a go yourself you will need the following tools to help get you started.
3.  A good pair of scissors, is a must but be sure to be very careful when cutting your babies hair because they wiggle a lot, it may lead to them being injured. This is when patience is needed, if you could have another person to help you it will make the job a lot easier. Other tools you may need are a small comb, water spray (if you want to cut it wet) and perhaps some old clothes for them to wear.
4. Lastly, the challenge is to keep them still. You could try letting them watch a film, play with their favourite toy or you could even make a game out of it! Only you know your baby but some of these tips may help. Happy cutting!

Read the more tips clicking here.

Caring for curly hair

So your little one has curly hair and unless you already have it, you might be wondering what you can do to keep it healthy. Curly hair comes in all different textures and curl types so a good place to start is to research what type of curls they have. Their curls could range from type 2 (wavy) to a type 4 (coils) and each curl type has an array of textures and growth patterns. This may sound very confusing at first but here are a few basic guidelines to help you keep curly hair healthy.

1. Research the hair curl type to find the right products to keep it healthy
2. Try not to shampoo their hair daily and consider looking into the “no poo method”
3. Do not brush their hair with a normal hair brush, use only a wide tooth comb
4. When brushing out their hair, try to do it when wet with conditioner in or after washing with leave in conditioner
5. Be as gentle as you can with their hair when brushing or styling for instance brush from the ends up to avoid breakage
6. Stay away from heat styling
7. Not do use a normal towel, a t-shirt or microfibre towel will work best to avoid frizz and breakage
8. Consider using a satin or silk pillowcases, hair bands and caps to again avoid breakage
9. When they are younger it might be easier to keep it shorter, so it becomes less tangled
10. Keep it regularly trimmed with a hairdresser who has been trained to cut curly hair.
11. Try different protective hairstyles to avoid pressure on their hairline
12. Remind them that their hair is beautiful and so are they!

Hair care tips for busy mums

All mums unfortunately know once you have a baby, your haircare routine may go out of the window. It may make you feel like a former shadow of yourself, especially during the first few months after giving birth or even when they are older. Just trying to get trying multiple children in the car, is a task in itself! Hair washing is the last thing that needs to be done but do not worry! You are not alone. Here are some tips to keep your hair healthy.

1. Hair washing can wait

This may seem obvious but your hair really does not need washing every day. In fact it is recommend that you wash your hair once a week and there is even a ‘no poo’ movement that suggests the longer you can resist from hair washing the better because your hair will start to clean itself. Therefore keeping the natural oils in your hair which help to keep it healthy and not striped by sulphates found in shampoo. Keep in mind, this depends on what products you are using, if you tend to style your hair with lots of products like hair spray then it is perhaps better to avoid not washing your hair to prevent product build up.

2. Stay away from heat

Let your hair airdry and stay away from heat if you can. It will help to keep your hair healthy but everyone’s hair is different! Do what is best for you. Yet, a quick tip could be to let your hair air dry to about 75% and then quickly dry it with a hairdryer and style. This will save you a lot of time and be less damaging.

3. Invest in some quality products

A decent shampoo and conditioner will make all the difference, this is the same for a good deep conditioner or a good hair oil. Hair oils can be used as pre shampoo treatment just pop them while you are on the go, argan oil is good oil for this! Don’t forget about a good dry shampoo, this will become a holy grail, if you are trying to wash your hair less.

Best hair oil for hair growth

Hair growth is based on many factors such as diet, genetics and the way you style your hair. It is recommended to get regular trims every 6-8 weeks but this is just to make sure spilt ends are kept at bay. Coconut oil and Argan oil have been shown to help keep hair hydrated, keep it damage free, prevent a dry scalp and simulate hair growth but which one is right for you? Below is a quick insight into each one.

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is so versatile , it Is not only very nourishing for your hair but great for your skin too. This very popular oil contains a mixture of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for healthy hair. It also contains a large content of fatty acids that penetrates the hair follicles deeply without evaporating. The oil will simulate hair growth and leave your hair soft and silky. Just be careful because coconut oil contains a lot of protein, some hair types can be sensitive to this which may result in it feeling rough and it may cause breakage. Try to source organic cold pressed coconut oil to get the best results. Coconut oil is also very heavy so it is best used as a hair treatment than a leave in.

2. Argan oil

This oil from morocco is called ‘liquid gold’ due to its rich golden colour. It extracted from the nuts of almond trees and again like coconut oil it is great for your skin as well. This oil will help to repair damaged hair and protect hair follicles from further damage. It will also keep your hair hydrated and give it an amazing shine. Therefore making it a good oil for hair growth because your hair may experience less damage. Argan oil is not as heavy as coconut oil so may be better as an leave in oil or a few drops put straight into styled hair. It is recommended for people with heat damaged, dry, brittle or frizzy hair.

Dry scalp in babies

Is your baby suffering from a dry scalp? It can be tricky to determine the cause. Read on the find out three common reasons why your babies scalp is dry and how it could be treated.
1 . Cradle cap
The exact cause for cradle cap is unknown although it is thought to be caused by an excess of oil built up under the skin or a combination of genetic and environmental factors. and it is one of the most common causes of a dry scalp in babies. Cradle cap forms think oily patches on the scalp and may be either white or yellow in colour. Your baby may also have these patches in other oily places of their body for instance their armpits or ears. The skin condition should not be itchy or irritating to your baby. Home remedies include brushing your babies scalp, washing their hair and making sure their scalp is regularly hydrated. In extreme cases, prescription creams can be used after consulting with a doctor.

2. Dandruff
   Dandruff in babies is a type of infantile seborrheic dermatitis like cradle cap but it has a different appearance. It is white, dry and will be irritating and itchy for your little one. There are many factors that could cause dandruff for example it is thought to be an genetic trait or it could be caused by an allergic reaction to a product. There are serval ways to treat dandruff from home such as using a medicated shampoo, keeping their head hydrated, using only gentle products and regularly brushing their scalp. Over washing is not though to cause dandruff but it is recommended to not wash a babies hair too much so their natural oils can moisturise their scalp.
3. Allergies
   Allergies to products or food can cause a dry scalp. If the dry scalp is accompanied by a red, itchy and irritated scalp then allergies may be the culprit. It is best to contact a medical professional to rule out a cause and start appropriate treatment.

How to help your babies hair to grow

It is exciting to wonder what your baby will look like while pregnant. Will they have blonde, brown or red hair? Blue, green or brown eyes?
Some babies are born will locks of hair and others none at all but do not worry there are some ways to help your little ones hair grow. Below are a few methods you could try.

1. Appy coconut oil

Rich in vitamin E, coconut oil is not only beneficial for the skin but it can simulate hair growth by improving the blood circulation to the scalp. Gently apply organic cold pressed coconut oil to your babies scalp two times a week, this can help keep their scalp moisturized and prevent skin conditions like cradle cap. Be aware to test a small patch of skin before applying to their scalp, to rule out an allergic reaction.

2. Brush your babies scalp

Gently brushing or messaging your babies scalp will help to simulate hair growth by improving blood circulate. It may also help to relax them so do not be surprised if they drift off to sleep!

3. Use a soft towel

Use a soft towel or a 100 % cotton t-shirt to very gently dry their hair. This will prevent any damage to the hair follicles and prevent breakage.

4. Invest in a gentle shampoo and condition

When shampooing and conditioning their hair, try to use products that are made for babies and are very gentle on their skin. This will prevent any damage to their scalp and dry skin.

5. Avoid hair ties and keep their hair regularly trimmed

By avoiding hair ties this will help to prevent any tension on their scalp and damage to their hair. Keeping their hair regularly trimmed will help to keep their hair healthy and prevent any tangled ends.

Ways that could prevent Head Lice

Unfortunately head lice are everywhere and everyone will get them at some point in their life. Especially children while they are in school or in nursery! Although, there are some steps that you could take to help keep headlice at bay. Lets have a closer look.

1. Encourage children not to share
   This means not to share items that have been close to another children’s head such as hair brushes, combs, hats, scarves, towels, helmets, pillows and duvets. Sometimes this will be impossible to manage but a little encouragement may make the appearance of head lice a little less.
2. Regularly wash items

Sometimes with a busy lifestyle, cleaning everything your child’s head have been in contact with is the last thing on your mind yet when you can pop items such as hats, scarves, pillows in the wash. The NHS website suggests that a hot wash is not needed when head lice rear their ugly heads.

3. Hang things on induvial hooks
   This is a practice done in most schools and nurseries but just reminding your child to this while they are there, might help to prevent those nasty nits.
4. Check for nits once a week

Check for headlice at least once week, this can be done while they are in the bath with conditioner on to help the comb glide through easier. They can be found everywhere but concentrate at the back of their head and behind their ears.

5. Look out for symptoms

Look out for the symptoms to catch headlice early. These include an itchy scalp and small red bumps or sores on the back of your children’s head or neck.

6. Do not panic

Remember that there is no need to panic if your child catches headlice. Take the proper precautions to get rid of them and remember to tell your child’s care provider to help to the spread.