Hair Care for Pre-schooler

I have boys, so I can't help you there. However, I have tried the Wen product personally. I was using it everyday, but noticed that my hair started getting really flat...started using less with the same result. So, I switched back to my regular shampoo, and now I've been using Wen as a conditioner (until my bottle runs out...which has been close to a year now). FYI: It has a very strong herbal and mint smell, which may not be appealing to young noses.

I transitioned at 3 years old. I live in CO, and it's dry. We only wash her hair 2x per week - sometimes just rinse and condition.

Our daughter's 7yrs and we use the 2 in 1 shampoo, then a conditioner nature's gate if I can find it or sometimes find an organic cond. on sale, leave that on while we wash everything else, then comb out (with big toothed comb) while conditioner is still on her hair, then rinse out conditioner. After out of shower, while hair is still wet, I rub 5-10 drops of jojoba oil (or 2 pumps of Marrakesh oil light from amazon.com) through her hair to lock in the moisture. She has fine slightly curly hair. Now that her hair is longer (middle of her back) I put it into a single braid right before bed. That makes the morning brush out SOOOOOOOO much easier. For the morning brush out we use a spray detangler for the couple of tangly areas. I usually take a new bottle of spray detangler, dump 1/2 into a separate bottle, and top up sprayer with water. When it's empty, dump the other 1/2 back in and top up again. Some of the spray ons if you use too much they can get crusty and greasy looking. Anyway, that's our routine.

My daughter is almost 6 and I still use the 3 in 1 wash and shampoo. However, sometimes I wash her hair right when she gets in the bath and then put my conditioner on her hair and put in up in a bun while she plays in the bath, then rinse it out right before she gets out - so it sits on her hair like 15 min. I do this probably once a week. I also use conditioner in her hair when I braid it. It helps with flyaways and treats her hair and I think regular old conditioner works better than that spray detangler leave in stuff.

have you thought about using adult shampoo and conditioner but different bottles not combined? i have to shampoo twice and leave the conditioner in for a few minutes so my hair isnt tangled

Leave in conditioner by Lanza. Best stuff I ever got and my girls hair responds well for it. It is sold at a Ulta place. It is about $14 and if you stick with a dime size each day, it will last you a year. It is great.

I like the Garnier Fructis hair products... for my daughter who has hair like your girl's.

We use the "length and strength" hair cream, which also conditions it. It is a leave in hair cream. It makes the hair very soft/shiny/tangle free and does not leave any residue. It just takes a small dime sized drop. Rub your hands together, then evenly disperse it with your hands throughout the hair and especially the ends.
This brand has other hair creams... which do the same thing.
Even Safeway has it, or CVS. Long's, etc. And it is not expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Strength-Anti-Split...

Also, it is good and important to purchase a GOOD detangling hair brush.
This is the one we have, and it is VERY worth the price:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P241318&am...

You might also get her a satin pillow case... which helps prevent tangles. It helps my daughter's.

Also, trim her hair ends to get rid of split-ends. Or it leads to tangles and dry ends.

all the best,
Susan

I cannot use cleansers with sodium laureth or lauryl sulfates on my skin because they are too harsh, so I choose cleansers without those ingredients for my kids too. I used to use California Baby to wash my kids (body and hair). I also used the conditioner for my daughter. Now they are 4 and 6, and I use Burt's Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet shampoo and corresponding conditioner. Works great for them. I have my daughter brush her hair prior to getting in the shower and find that it makes a world of difference. Hope that helps!

My daughter has Autism. She used to be very sensitive to washing her hair, she would scream. We started using my shampoo and separate conditioner (pantene) on her I think when she was about 3. The 2-in-1's did not do the job. The separate conditioner seems to really help get it more manageable when she gets out of the bath. We also use a leave in spray conditioner/detangler (I think suave, its a green bottle with an octopus on it, its for kids) after the bath and in the mornings that makes her hair easier to brush. She used to br really sensitive to us brushing but has gotten better. The leave in conditioner/detangler has saved us many tears.

We recently started using conditioner on our 4.5yo daughters hair. It was time. It is so much easier to deal with now.

I never really cared for the 2 in one shampoo/conditioners for my kids. I didn't think it was necessary to get them their own shampoos or conditioners besides the baby shampoo when they were little. We use the Paul Mitchell shampoos and conditioners. The Shampoo Three is good especially if they swim a lot, to get the chlorine out. Otherwise, I would just use whatever you use.

My daughters hair started being extremely dry and would not grow at the age of 2. I started using regular (pantene, herbal essence, dove...) shampoo and conditioner and her hair is so healthy and shiny now (she turned 3 in January). The other day her day care provider even asked me if I used a special shampoo or treatment becuase her hair has such a beatiful shine. I don't know this to be the fact or circumstantial but it did work.

This is a fact, using hotter or warmer water on hair dries it out. That was learned in cosmetology school. :)

I still use "kiddie" shampoos for my children, but typically just use whatever conditioner I use on them, too. Pantene, these days, and their hair combs out without too much crying.
I'd love to hear about the Wen, too.