Proper hair care starts when kids are babies. But tweens will usually start showing interest in caring for their hair themselves. This is a necessary skill. It especially comes in handy for when the kids are not with you, such as at school or at a friend's house. Whether their hair needs some extra maintenance or a full-on routine, tweens need to know how to properly care for their own hair.
Show them by example. The first step in teaching tweens to properly care for their hair is as simple as caring for your own. When they have a good example to follow, it's much easier to get the point across. On the other hand, if your hair is mess, why would they trust that what you have to say about hair care is correct? Anything you are telling them to do is something you should also be doing yourself. My kids already know that if I am telling them something about hair care, I have either been doing that myself with my own hair or theirs. If your family has various hair types, like in ours, make sure they understand which things you cannot do with your own hair, but that are great for theirs. Always have the proper supplies within reach. It's much easier to keep up a hair care routine if your tween has easy access to the supplies. Don't make her search for the basic supplies needed, like a brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, or hair accessories. Everything your tween needs to style his hair should be in a convenient location for him. This will avoid frustration for everyone. You may be thinking about hair products that could be toxic. We have a general rule about toxicity in our house. If something's toxic enough that you'd worry about the kids using it without you, it doesn't belong in the house anyway. We generally purchase or make our own hair care products that use only natural and safe ingredients. Make it a part of the daily routine. There should be a set time for your tween to maintain her hair each morning. She should also know that even if she brushes and styles her hair at that time, there may be extra maintenance throughout the day. Most hairstyles will have to be adjusted at some point during the day. Knowing to do this will also help your tween feel more confident at school and in other public places. Explain the purposes of each item. While you may think it is obvious, there are some things your tween needs an explanation for. He may know what the item is, but does he know the purpose of it as well as why it needs to be done? For instance, myself and two of the kids use Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree Oil in our hair care routine. For us, it helps keep frizz under control, reduces breakage, prevents dandruff and dry scalp, and more. They may know the routine and that a particular item is part of it, but let them know the reason that routine is in place. Teach them easy hairstyles. If you expect your tween to maintain proper hair care, simple styles must be taught. Of course you can also teach them elaborate hair styling techniques. But start with the basics and make sure they have plenty to choose from. This makes it easy for them to get ready in the morning. It also will help if their style comes loose at school and they need to improvise. Girls lose their ponytail fasteners often. Make sure they know how to style their hair both with and without accessories. My tweens know how to style their hair so well that they prefer to always do it themselves. Explain what happens to hair not properly cared for. Not only do tweens need to understand what happens when they style their hair, but they also need to understand what happens when they do it incorrectly. Show them what non-managed hair looks like, if possible. Talk about how people can go bald, get knotted up hair, split ends, and more when the wrong products are used or when nothing is done at all. Have them look in the mirror when they first wake up and ask them if they would go to school that way. If they are homeschooled, like mine, instead ask them if they would go meet their friends that way or go to a sports practice or library like that. When they can visibly compare well kept hair to that which isn't, they may better comprehend why proper hair care is so important.
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Image by RamonP via Flickr.com
Swimming is fun, but what it can do to your hair certainly is not. If your hair looks like you just stuck your finger in an electrical outlet and a bleach factory at the time every time you swim, then this is for you. Even if that hasn't happened to you yet, know that it can. Chlorine is not good for your hair at all. It can cause frizziness, dryness, split ends, bleaching, and more. You need some damage control for your hair before and after swimming. As someone who has personally dealt with various types of hair on myself, my kids, and other family members, I have learned quite a bit about hair.
Condition Hair Before a Swim Before swimming, it is wise to condition the hair very well. A deep conditioner is really good for this. For deep conditioning, I like my homemade avocado conditioner. It helps to protect the hair from root to tip, as well as prevents breakage and provides excellent moisture for all types of hair. Conditioning the hair before a swim can help keep it moisturized, which will help fight against the damage that chlorine can cause. Do a Hot Oil Treatment on Hair Before a Swim For extra moisture protection, as well as strength and overall protection from the chlorine, a hot oil treatment can be good before a swim. A tea tree oil blend is a good choice to use as a hot oil treatment. Simply take your hair oil of choice, heat it in a small microwaveable container for 15 seconds and smooth into the hair. Be sure to cover all areas and comb in. Leave the treatment on the hair during the swim for the most effective chlorine protection. Wash and Condition Hair After a Swim After swimming, the hair can have buildup and residue from the chlorine. It is important to wash all the chlorine out of the hair to prevent damage. In addition to depleting moisture, chlorine also can fade the color or even bleach the hair. I recommend using my homemade clarifying shampoo (the baking/soda vinegar blend). After a good washing, also be sure to condition the hair to restore moisture. A deep conditioning again with the homemade avocado treatment is a great idea and will help keep that moisture in and fight the dryness and frizz. Even though the avocado blend can double as a conditioning shampoo, the clarifying blend is necessary to remove the damaging particles contained in the chlorine. Apply Tea Tree Oil to Hair After a Swim After a swim, once the hair has been washed and conditioned, apply a tea tree oil blend for added moisture and protection. Tea tree oil is good for damage control, moisture, treating dry scalp, and fighting the fade. Tea tree oil also happens to be a fungus fighter and can repair breakage and split ends, which can help keep the hair healthy and strong. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lisa Mason, Contributing Writer Don’t let a bad hair day get you down. There are quick and easy hair fixes for all hair types out there and once you learn the tricks that will work for you, then you can sport beautiful hair day or night, without a lot of fuss and stress. I’ve been told I have beautiful hair and I appreciate the compliment because those who live with me know that I have had my fair share of bad hair days. I have an interesting hair type that can be both a blessing and a curse. My hair stays where it goes when it is wet. This means a great blow-out will last until it’s washed again, even after sleeping on it but a sudden downpour of rain means insta-bad-hair-day. It also means I can add a little lightweight product to my damp hair, poof it a bit and allow it to air dry to experience loose, wavy curls that are an easy no-fuss style. And it also means that when I want to use a high-heat curling iron and style my tresses, they will likely remain in this curled state until my next hair wash. While it probably sounds great, there are some real downsides to this type of hair. For one, certain hairstyles are very high maintenance. I’m also highly susceptible to frizz. Still another fault, my hair does not do swimming pools at all! But over the years, I have learned to love my locks and you can do the same. It all begins with understanding your hair type and your personality type. No matter which you are, it’s important to work with your hair and not against it. Trying to make your hair do something it wasn’t meant to do, especially on a regular basis, is just a recipe for disaster. Here are some quick tips for hair types: If your hair falls flat- Curly and straight hair alike can benefit from more boost. Avoid cream or oil based hair care products and at night, pull your hair into a high, loose ponytail at the top of your head. When you take it down in the morning, you will have more body and less flat hair. If your curls get the frizz- Curls can be a mess when they don’t go where you want them to. Use a flexible-hold styling product and your fingers to help twist your locks in the natural direction of the curls. If your locks are color treated- Colored or highlighted hair needs special treatment. The sun’s rays, regular washing and chlorinated pools can all wreak havoc on your color-treated hair. Use a special shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair and try to limit sun and pool exposure. Here are some quick tips for personality types: The sporty gal- When a regular ponytail just won’t do, consider the flirty but sporty look of a short style. Alternatively, carry hair bands with you often or opt for a more traditional French braid or French pigtails instead of the boring I-just-threw-a-scrunchie-in approach. The busy new mother- Just because you have a new baby doesn’t mean you have to look a mess. Consider a style that you can sleep on. This allows you to prep the night before and get up in the morning with your hair ready to go. The glam girl- When you like big hair but don’t have time for the fuss, consider clip-in extensions that add volume and length to your hair. They are now more affordable than ever before and they’re really easy to use. Casual chic- For you, the haircut is going to be essential. You need something sophisticated, but simple. A wash-and-go style is preferred and will keep your hair healthy and you happy.  Image by Vivian Farinazzo, phalinn, skampy via Flickr.com Lisa Mason is a freelance writer, mother to five and youth sports coach residing in Central Texas. She has published hundreds of articles on writing. Lisa has been a Community Guide at Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been writing professionally since 1998 with a specialty in Internet content. Search her profile for articles on writing and writing tips. Lisa officially began her writing career at the age of 16 after writing for school and local newspapers as well as trade and regional publications. She is the author of 3 writing books, 3 video game guides, 3 poetry anthologies and a how-to poetry book. |
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!
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