The Science: Shampoo – How Often Should You Wash?

Most kids with curls do not need shampoo every day.

Let’s clear this up straight away:
Your kid’s hair is not dirty.
It’s just curly.
And curls don’t want to be squeaky clean. They want to be moisturised, respected, and left the heck alone most days.

🧼 “Squeaky Clean” is a Lie

That squeaky feeling after a shampoo? Yeah, that’s the sound of all the moisture being snatched out of the strands like joy from a Monday morning. Curly hair thrives with natural oils—strip them, and you get frizz, breakage, and drama.

🛁 Washing Routines: One Size Does Not Fit All

Curly routines depend on:

  • Age
  • Curl type
  • Lifestyle (Are they rolling in mud or just drawing on the walls?)
  • Toddlers (1–3): Once a week max
    • Once a week is enough. Seriously. They’re not working in a coal mine.
    • Co-wash (conditioner-only wash) or a gentle cleanser with no sulfates.
    • Keep it fun: sing, splash, let them “help.”
  • Young kids (4–7): Every 5–7 days
    • 1–2 washes per week. Add more if swimming or sweating lots.
    • Use a sulfate-free shampoo every other wash.
    • Alternate with co-washing if the scalp isn’t grimy.
  • Tweens (8–12): Every 4–6 days (or as needed for scalp)
    • They’re experimenting, hormonal, maybe even self-conscious. That’s normal.
    • Let them learn what feels good for their scalp.
    • Introduce clarifying shampoo only once a month if product buildup is real.
    • Teach about moisture balance—too much washing = thirsty hair.

🧴 Goodbye, Sulfates 👋

Ingredients to Love

Aloe vera, glycerin, chamomile, coconut oil, shea butter.

Ingredients to Avoid

Drying alcohols (think alcohol denat, ethanol) — brittle-city

Sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate) — strip moisture

Parabens — questionable stuff, often unnecessary

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Alcohols (like SD alcohol, not the good fatty ones)

💡 Co-Washing vs. Shampoo: What’s the Deal?

Co-washing = using a conditioner to cleanse the scalp. Sounds wild, but it works wonders on curls that hate being stripped.

  • Great for dry, coarse, or tightly curled hair.
  • Use a lightweight conditioner with slip (aka, it makes detangling easier).
  • Still scrub the scalp gently—co-wash doesn’t mean don’t clean.
  • Shampooing has its place:
    • After swimming in chlorine
    • When there’s product buildup
    • When the scalp is itchy or flaky

🧴Pro tip: Always follow shampoo with a deep, hydrating conditioner. Shampoo opens the door. Conditioner brings the good stuff in.

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