The best red haircare tips to boost ginger pride in children
As most of us probably already know, looking after our hair makes us feel good. When our hair is shining, we feel better about ourselves, we find ourselves being more positive and the day just feels a little easier.
But most of all, haircare reminds us to feel proud of being a redhead.
This is why we encourage you to take care of your little gingers’ hair too.
While all children should feel some form of self-confidence in the way they look, helping your child to feel ginger pride from a young age will work wonders…trust me.
Unfortunately, although it is becoming less common, redheads are still targeted with insulting comments and verbal abuse. Ginger pride helps children to build up resilience to those negative comments.
With more self-confidence, redheaded children are more likely to block out the verbal insults and focus on how lucky they are to have their special and unique features instead.
Be gentle (in touch and in chemicals):
Red hair is known for being more prone to dryness than other hair types. Not only that, but experts have also found that the MC1R gene makes our hair follicles more delicate and in need of a gentler approach.
As Gingerful notes, “moisture is key for maintaining healthy and manageable red hair”, especially in children.
Sulphate-free products are the way to go, such as shampoos and conditioners that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), as they will be softer on the scalp and hair roots.
You should also avoid using shampoos and conditioners that contain silicones, considering a build-up of silicones can result in dryness and a dulling of colour.
Less washing:
Similar to the way children don’t require bubble-baths every day because of their sensitive skin, children also do not need to wash their hair as often as adults.
According to the hair product brand Pantene, adults are encouraged to be washing their hair every two to three days, depending on their hair type.
Children under 11 however, should have their hair washed just once or twice per week – says medical expert Poonam Sachdev.
While brushing your child’s hair is a great way to distribute the natural oils all over their head, boosting a healthy scalp and hair growth, combing out knots can lead to hair breakage.
The best way to detangle hair is by using a leave-in conditioner and a wide-toothed soft bristle brush that has been designed specifically for children.
Once the hair has dried, mist the hair with water and slowly comb the knots away.
Note that you should always brush the hair from the bottom and work your way up to the top – this goes for adults and children!
Styling:
While we are all about boosting red hair pride amongst ginger children, it goes without saying, you should avoid using heat-styling products on your child’s hair.
Gentle styling techniques, like braiding and using soft hair accessories, will boost ginger pride while keeping things fun and interesting.
Sun care:
Wait! I am sure you have all heard enough about how redheads need sun care and you just want to enjoy the winter season in peace, but trust me, you will want to hear this one.
As hard as it is to keep them on their heads, encourage your child to wear a sunhat or a scarf to keep their hair and scalp out of direct sunlight.
Yes, those pesky UV rays can still reach you on a frosty day too.
There are also plenty of hair products that have built-in UV protection to help prevent damage and colour fading.
Compliments and positivity:
The most important way to boost redhead pride and confidence is by telling your child how special they are.
If you got home from work and your child told you how great your hair looks and how lucky you are to have such beautiful orange locks, how would you feel?
I’m sure it would make you feel GREAT.
So, why not remind your child how lucky they are to be a part of the less than 2% club. Celebrate their unique beauty and help them understand that what matters most, is how they feel about themselves!