7 Year Old Daughter with Thick Wavy Hair Gets Tangles.

spray on detangler, a wide-toothed comb, and nighttime braids.
and patience when combing.
khairete
S.

Wearing it in braids, pony tails, french braids, etc...are all good ways to keep it tidy and less tangled.

Washing it in the shower is good too. Lather, rinse, etc...then put a really good conditioner on it. Comb out the tangles. Then rinse it well. Towel dry it by gently squishing it but not rubbing it.

I put Aphogee Gloss Therapy in mine when I don't dry it straight. It keeps the shaft smoother and it tangles less. But I also use mousse in it then wash it the next day. Don't brush it all day or in the evening.

I have thick wavy hair, but I didn't always, it got that way after I had kids. I've learned a few tried and true solutions.
First, don't wash her hair with shampoo a lot, you are just stripping the hair of natural oils and replacing them with chemicals (conditioner). Encourage her to work conditioner into her scalp as she would shampoo and then rinse well. This will remove any product and dirt but leave the hair easier to manage.
Second, don't comb it too much and rarely brush it. Don't ever brush it wet, that makes it really frizzy and will break the hair. She should use her fingers to detangle her hair when it's wet and then again when it's dry. You can put a little kid-friendly defrizz product in when it's wet, too. Let it dry naturally, try not to use a hair dryer.
It's a never ending battle keeping the tangles at bay, but braiding it at night will help, too. That's when the worst of it happens. If I think of anything else, I'll edit this post.

Try using a hair detangler you spray on.
Use a wide tooth comb.
Start towards the bottom when you comb & work your way up.
I had the same problem as a kid.

My 8 year old daughter's hair is long and curly, and if we don't keep it well-combed and detangled, it will turn into dreadlocks in less than a week. The only comb/brush we have found which works well with her hair is the Knot Genie. It's expensive ($14 or $15), however we've had our first one for 2 or 3 years and it's been absolutely worth every penny. We also have used a detangler spray from Aubrey Organics called Tangle-Go, which helps stop the tangles and makes combing easier. She also has gotten quite good at taking care of her hair herself, which is a blessing. Good luck!

I love Aveda hair product Be Curly. It just takes a tiny bit, and it really works to control tangles and it leaves the hair soft. My sister has extremely curly thick hair, and works beautifully. I have curly hair too and use it every day. I really love this product http://www.aveda.com/product/5293/16724/Hair-Care/Conditi...

Sephora, has GREAT detangling brushes.
It is worth, the money.
Check out their website.
My daughter has one.
It works.

I haven't found a brush that did the trick by itself, always had to use some sort of spray de-tangler in conjunction with a brush.

Braids.

Seriously. I have had super thick, long hair that is a combination of curls and waves since I was a kid.

My hair was braided every night before sleep, and usually braided some way for a style. There are actually a LOT of hairstyles you can do with braids, if you have the patience to learn them! Lol.

Otherwise, I have always had better luck with wide toothed combs. Curly/wavy hair is structured differently than straight hair, and brushing it causes it to break more easily. So, wide toothed comb, just enough to get the tangles out. Give her one to carry around, and ask her to try to comb it out herself every once in a while throughout the day.

My daughters have really long waist length hair. They tie it in rubberbands when they sleep which keeps the tangles away.

I had the same problem with my six year old. I asked the hair stylist where she gets her hair cut (Regis) to recommend something. She recommended this spray and I can't remember the name of it but its in a purple bottle and it is awesome on her hair. I spray it good then let it sit on their for a minute before combing out and it works great!

The Wet Brush. Looks like every other brush on the market, but it made a world of difference on my daughter's tangled curly hair. Good luck!

I have hair like that. Leave-in detangler/conditioner spray and a wide-toothed comb, used sparingly as possible, should help. Don't aim for perfectly combed-out smooth hair - you won't get it, and may damage her hair in the process. Aim for untangled enough to run fingers through. Also, braiding it loosely before bed should help keep the monster morning tangle knots at bay.

My daughter had some massive curls when she was a baby. As she's grown, the curls have disappeared, but I had a helluva time keeping her hair tidy looking when she was little.

The best stuff I've found is the Target brand leave in spray detangler. You can find it in the baby section. It's a white bottle with an orange top, usually right next to the Johnson & Johnson green bottle.

The Target brand actually worked better than the name brand. Just apply liberally, and brush/comb like usual. It saved us MANY a tear when it came to brushing her hair.

You could try a Tangle Teaser (sally hair supply). It does unknot the tangles without too much pulling.

But what I found worked best is a good leave in conditioner. Not the spray in kind, but the thick cream you put in while the hair is wet.

I strongly recommend using a good conditioner and brushing it out while in the shower. It's much easier to get a brush through it. I suggest using one of those vented brushes with stiff plastic bristles. It slides right through.

Knot gene brush I love!!!!! And organic tahitian hair oil (non greasy) my daughter leaves the house with her hair wet :)