How often should a 1 year old baby wash his hair?

31 Jan

How often should you wash your hair to keep your hair looking attractive? Opinions on this matter differ: some argue that you can get by once a week, and others that three will not be enough. In fact, this is a personal matter for each person, it all depends on his nature, the amount of secretions of the sebaceous glands, and so on. You may have thick, shiny hair that reaches below your waist and can be styled into any hairstyle, but what does it matter if your locks look greasy, dirty, and like they haven't been cleaned in a long time? Let's figure out together how often you need to wash your hair so as not to harm your strands and still look neat.

Shampoos or herbal preparations?

Newborn babies' hair looks different for everyone: some may have long fluffy hair, while others may not have any fuzz on their heads at all. These baby soft fluffy hairs cannot yet be called real hair. And in general, the amount of hair on a baby’s head does not at all indicate how thick the child’s hair will be in the future.

As you know, children's hair is always softer and thinner than already formed adult hair, and therefore is more susceptible to the negative effects of external factors (water hardness, ultraviolet radiation). In the summer months, children's hair quickly fades in the sun, and in winter it changes color: this is how blondes from birth can become brunettes. By the way, water has no less impact on the general condition of children's hair than ultraviolet radiation. So, literally before our eyes, thick hair just yesterday can turn into “three hairs on the head,” and straight hair can turn into curls.

How to properly care for a one-year-old child's hair? Every day we hear such promising advertisements on TV screens praising tear-free shampoos. But should we believe her? In general, washing the hair of a child of the first year of life using detergents is not based on anything. As a rule, most children's shampoos contain sodium laureth or lauryl sulfate - the main ingredient that is responsible for the formation of a large amount of foam.

According to the conclusion of experts from the Cosmetic Ingredients Review organization, which is responsible for the safety of the use of cosmetic ingredients, sodium lauryl sulfate and its analog ammonium lauryl sulfate, the concentration of which is 2%, can cause skin irritation. This applies to both animals and people.

The amount of irritation of the scalp depends on their concentration and the duration of exposure. Frequent use of such aggressive detergents can lead to disruption of the skin's natural protective barrier. As a result of the constant use of such shampoos, which contain the above substances, peeling, dry skin, severe hair loss, dermatitis and other skin diseases can occur. Based on this, it is better to use grandma’s advice and not overuse washing with detergents. Well, unless the baby gets very dirty, use soap.

There are often cases that small children develop so-called crusts on their heads. They can be easily removed after bathing with a soft brush. It will also be easier to remove them if you soften the baby’s head with oil before water procedures; it helps to quickly soften the crusts, and its remnants are easily washed off with water. But after bathing procedures, it is not recommended to apply oil to the head and leave it for a long time, since it will prevent the skin from “breathing.” In addition, skin irritation, even itching, may occur.

It is very useful for children's hair to rub aloe or nettle juice, but it must first be diluted. This procedure will contribute not only to the strengthening, but also to the growth of the baby’s hair. The juice must be applied using a cotton swab or a soft brush, separating the hair. You can leave it on your hair for an hour, but not more than a day.

Important!!! It is not recommended for children to apply onion and garlic juice; they can cause serious irritation to the child’s skin, and the unpleasant aroma will remain on the hair for a long time.

How many times a week should you cleanse your hair?

Many people naively believe that washing your hair when it gets dirty is enough to keep your hair in good condition. Perhaps for those lucky women whose hair does not cause problems from birth, this is a good option, but since you are reading this article, it means that something is bothering you, and you need an accurate answer.

As mentioned above, everything depends individually on the personal properties of the girl’s curls. Cosmetology experts say that washing your hair more often than every three days will not have a very positive effect on the health of the strands themselves. In this regard they are certainly right. Why? It's all because of the structure of the hair.

The fact is that every hair on our head is covered with a protective film . This film consists of fats and lipids. It creates a favorable environment for the hair cuticle, and the cuticle itself is responsible for the health of the curls. The more often we wash our hair, the less of this film remains on our hair. Just imagine, the cuticle, without the protection that fats and lipids provided it, begins to collapse, that is, the hair itself is destroyed.

It’s especially bad for girls who are forced to put their hair in order every day through numerous styling, which means exposing them to all sorts of hair products, from mousses to spray varnishes. The latter, by the way, are very harmful to the strands, since the varnish does not allow the hair to be enveloped in fats. Therefore, thanks to such a spray, the strands become dirty many times slower. Perhaps this is a positive side for you, because you can now cleanse your hair less often, but, as mentioned above, this is very, very bad.

When you use shampoo, almost all fats and lipids are washed away, as they are affected by the substances contained in this soap product. This procedure will not cause harm until you start washing your hair every day. This is especially true for those ladies who suffer from dandruff or too dry curls.

Since fats and lipids are washed away by shampoo, the strands are no longer moisturized, which means they can become dry, especially when you don’t use a hairdryer at all or use it at too high a temperature. Dandruff also gets worse for the same reason: the skin remains dry, which means irritation and the appearance of fungus increases.

Thus, your hair will thank you if you give it water treatments no more often than every three days. During this time, a protective film will have time to form on the strands and ensure the safety of their cuticle. However, now some people will face another problem: their hair gets dirty too quickly. And this relates to another reason.

Washed, combed, rinsed... - with what and how?

So, what kind of care for children's hair can be considered correct? Undoubtedly, if your child has healthy hair, it does not require special care. But you should still take care of your hair every day.

We comb our hair most often. IMPORTANT! Those with long hair should start combing their hair from the ends, since it is the ends of the strands that can become very tangled. And so gradually comb strand by strand. For children's hair, it is recommended to use soft brushes made from natural bristles, and combs made from natural materials are also suitable.

An important point in hair care is washing it. There is no need to use shampoos to wash children's hair every day. Simply wash your hair with warm water. It is better not to use hot water; it can damage the hair structure and scalp. If your tap water turns out to be very hard, you can soften it a little by boiling it with the addition of regular baking soda (a teaspoon per liter of water).

How to wash a child's hair in a good mood)

When using even the mildest shampoos, you should not believe the advertising, they will not benefit your hair, so use them as little as possible. If your baby has healthy hair, it will be enough to wash it only once a week. In the summer, city residents will still have to wash their hair more often, since a large amount of dust is mixed with exhaust gases, heavy metals from industrial pipes, and all this “beauty” settles on the hair. It is recommended to put a Panama hat or cap on the child's head in the summer; the fabric will prevent dust from settling on the hair.

It is advisable to rinse a child’s hair every year after washing it with various herbal decoctions. But, it is necessary to choose the composition of herbs for rinsing with caution. Thus, chamomile has a drying effect, its frequent use can lead to dry hair and scalp, and dandruff may appear. On the contrary, herbs such as nettle or birch leaves have a strengthening effect and cannot cause harm. It is worth noting that rinsing your hair with herbal mixtures daily is not recommended, just like washing your hair frequently.

Happy owners of healthy hair just need to wash and comb it on time; this will be the most proper care for it.

Bathing rules

To properly wash your baby’s hair, you need to follow these recommendations:

To wash a newborn, you need to use a special one; bathing him in a shared bathroom is prohibited. Before bathing, the bath is rinsed, doused with boiling water and filled with warm boiled water (the optimal temperature is 36° or 37°). Be sure to measure the temperature with a special thermometer before washing your child’s hair. Otherwise, the child will be afraid of this procedure.
For bathing, use boiled, settled water; if the baby is older than 1 month, then use a herbal decoction of chamomile or string. Regarding the volume of water, the baby's body should be covered and his head should be above the water without strain.
Cover the bottom of the bath with a diaper to prevent the baby from slipping. Gently lower it, supporting your head and back. First, wrap your baby in a diaper so that he gets used to the water.
You should not soap your child’s head or body if he has jewelry on his hands. This way you can scratch his delicate skin.
When the baby is already in the bathroom, you can start washing your hair. First, gently wet your head with water, then soap your hands with any product you choose. Then you need to soap your head so that the shampoo does not get into your eyes. The correct way to apply the cleanser is from the forehead to the back of the head, gently massaging the skin. If soap gets into your eyes, you need to carefully rinse them with water.
After the massage, it's time to rinse your hair. Do not use a ladle for this purpose; it is better to do it manually. To rinse off any remaining product, simply scoop some water into your palm and gently pour over the head. At the same time, make sure that water does not penetrate into the ears. After the product is washed off, his head is covered with a diaper and his body is washed.
The first time, it is recommended to constantly talk with the newborn so that he is not afraid. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to wash a child when he falls asleep, this will frighten him.

Concerned mothers are looking for an answer to the question of whether they need to wash their babies. The fact is that they are afraid of damaging this area. But according to pediatricians, this fear is absolutely groundless, since this area is protected by thick cartilage and skin. The main thing is to wash your head carefully. But if fear still prevails, then do not massage the skin on the fontanel, but simply wash it with water.

You need to take care of your hair from an early age!

If you want your baby’s hair to look well-groomed, beautiful and lush, then adhere to the following rules:

Proper hair washing

Wash your hair no more than once a week (in the hot season or in case of heavy pollution - several times a week).
When you wash your baby's hair, avoid pressing on it, especially for infants whose fontanel has not yet become overgrown.
The most suitable water temperature for washing hair is slightly higher than human body temperature.
It is not advisable to use detergents intended for adults - shampoos, gels, soaps.

Benefits for hair

Use soft water, which is not difficult to prepare yourself. To do this, you need to add baking soda to boiled water in the following proportions: 1 liter of water – 1 teaspoon of soda.
The use of rain or melt water, but it must be collected only in an environmentally friendly area, and not within the city.
It is recommended to rinse your hair once a week with decoctions of various herbs, namely nettle and birch leaves. It is not advisable to use chamomile decoction; on the contrary, it will dry out your hair.

What can harm your hair?

Wash frequently, especially with aggressive shampoos.
Use water that is too hot or too cold.
Ultraviolet radiation.
Urban dust containing harmful substances is especially harmful; to avoid it getting on your hair, it is better to wear hats.

Beautiful hair - forever!

So how can you keep your hair healthy and beautiful for life? Just start taking proper care of your hair from an early age. A one-year-old child's hair already requires daily attention. The main principle in hair care is to do no harm! Before washing your baby's hair, carefully read the composition of the shampoo. It is not recommended to use herbs, essential oils, various rinses, masks, conditioners for children's hair without consulting a specialist. Use hair styling products only in special cases and to a minimum. And we remind you once again: the less you use detergents, the healthier your baby’s hair will be!

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Hair wash products

Many parents are at a loss as to whether it is possible to use baby soap or shampoo to bathe newborns. Pediatricians say that this is acceptable, the main thing is to choose the right remedy:

Solid or liquid soap. It is allowed to wash a baby with baby soap, as long as it does not contain fragrance additives or other chemicals.
Children's shampoo based on natural ingredients. The special product does not sting the eyes, and it contains plant extracts. You should not wash your hair with shampoo if its ingredients list contains sulfates. These toxic substances accumulate in the body and cause allergies or serious illnesses. Pediatricians advise paying attention to a product called Siberica, but before purchasing, make sure that it is suitable for children from birth.
Hypoallergenic foam or gel for babies is suitable for washing the body and hair. The packaging of detergents should bear the inscription “from head to toe.”