Inside: The best products for biracial curly hair!
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(*Updated* I found another amazing hair product I’m in love with! Check out kinky curly curling custard below!)
Two of the questions I am most often asked about my kids biracial curly hair are, how do you manage their hair and what products do you use for it?
Let me tell you I’ve done a lot of trial and error over the years and because of that, I now can share the products that I am confident in.
These are products I’ve used on my kids biracial hair since they were babies and I would recommend them to this day.
The Best Products For Mixed Hair
Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner
I used this when my kids were babies up til they were young toddlers. I liked that it wasn’t too heavy because their hair was more fine when they were little but they still needed something to help define their curls otherwise their hair would get frizzy really quickly.
(This is the hair texture my son had when he was little and Mixed Chicks worked well for him at this point!)
Once their hair became more curly and coarse as they got older, this didn’t work as well so I changed products. But I would still recommend it if your child has fine curls.
Read here for the best biracial hair products for babies.
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
This is one of the leave in products I use on both of my kids. I graduated to this after Mixed chicks didn’t work for them anymore.
It is thick so you don’t need to use a lot of it so even using it with two kids one jar will still last me months! It makes my kids hair soft, defined, and it smells good!
Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
I use this in conjunction with the Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie.
Again this is something that you don’t need to use a lot of so it will again last you a long time.
This helps to keep their curls defined and with the smoothie, keeps their hair super soft.
(This was around the time I transitioned from using Mixed Chicks to Shea Moisture and Cantu products as her hair texture had changed)
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner
I really like this conditioner because it is thick and moisturizes really well.
Once your child has thicker, more coarse hair, you’ll definitely need a thick moisturizing conditioner because curly hair is very dry. That thick conditioner also helps stay in the hair when you are combing out their curls. (Trust me you’ll need all the help you can get when you are combing those beautiful but tangly curls!).
What I disliked was the price.
Once I had two kids that needed a thick conditioner, it didn’t make sense for me to keep paying a higher price for the conditioner when I was going through it so fast.
But it is a good conditioner so if you don’t mind spending the money or if you only have one kid and you aren’t going through it as fast this is a great option!
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Hydrating Cream Conditioner
This is one of my favorite finds!
It’s a great thick, moisturizing conditioner and it is SO cheap! This makes it easy to buy because I go through conditioner so quickly. It coats my kids hair so when I’m combing through it in the bathtub it doesn’t drip out of their hair while I’m combing.
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Complete Conditioning Co-Wash
Awhile ago, I started using co-wash to see if there was any difference between using that versus shampoo.
I never use shampoo and most of the time I’ll wash/scrub their scalp with conditioner.
But sometimes I’ll use this co-wash because I think their scalp needs to be cleaned of the product that’s always in their hair.
Conditioner probably does this by itself (since I scrub their scalp as well) but because this is in between a conditioner and shampoo, it just makes me feel like it is cleaning their scalp a little more!
This cleans the scalp but is not harsh or drying like shampoo.
If you’re interested in what the step by step process looks like, check out how to cleanse, detangle, moisturize and style mixed girls hair.
I never had success when I tried gel in the past. It was always tacky and weighed my kid’s hair down.
But I have finally found a gel that is worth recommending to you! This has been a game changer!
(This is her hair with Kinky Curly Curling Custard added into the mix)
This is the last product I put on my kids hair. I use this after I use the Cantu Curl Activator and Shea Enhancing Smoothie. You only need a little bit, which means the jar lasts a LONG time (woo hoo!).
I’ve found that this gives GREAT definition and really keeps the frizzies at bay!
I don’t have to use this everyday either. The next day after I use it, their hair is still defined and relatively frizz free (depending on how much they have rolled around it).
So I’ll put a little of this in my daughter’s hair every other day or two (again depending on how much she’s rolled around).
It’s worth it to note that if your child’s hair is more fine or they don’t have a lot of hair yet, you may want to use just a little bit the first day you wash it.
If you use it too often between washes on fine hair, the hair kind of looks like there is too much product in it. But it works AMAZING on my daughter’s hair!!
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges
Another major game changer!!
I ALWAYS wondered how other kids with mixed hair would get such a sleek look when they had their hair styled in braids, pony tails with no frizzies or fly aways!
No matter how sleek it looked when I styled my daughter’s hair in a pony tail or braid, the fly aways would always creep out over the day. I just figured it was something we’d have to live with.
I would combat it as much as possible with bobby pins to tame the frizzies right by her hairline, but it didn’t help much.
Enter edge control…
I stumbled on an article about edge control and I realized this was the product I was missing!
Now when I use this I do get the smooth, sleek look with all of her hairstyles. Fly aways be gone!!
Related: Mixed Girl Hairstyles: A Cute, Easy Style For Biracial Curly Hair (Tutorial)
I also love that this particular edge control is not sticky, flaky, or hard/crunchy when it’s in her hair.
I use my fingers to apply this to her edges and then comb the edges down, but you can also use a toothbrush to smooth this into your kid’s hairline.
Related: Got Frizzy Mixed Hair? Here’s The Secret To Eliminating Frizz
This is a must have to keep your child’s hair protected at night. A good satin bonnet will help prevent your child’s hair from rubbing against a pillow or sheet, which reduces frizz and breakage.
This particular satin bonnet is the only one that actually stays on my daughter’s head all night, (and I’ve tried several!).
You need good hair ties that won’t break your child’s hair when you try to take them out.
These hair ties or scrunchies are easy to take out without damaging your kid’s curls.
Final Thoughts
These are the products that I swear by. My kids always get compliments on their hair and these products only enhance their beautiful curls!
A good moisturizing conditioner is essential to the detangling process and keeping your child’s hair moisturized. Making sure the products you use are focused on keeping moisture in, will help promote healthy curls.
Of course the two game changer products are vital for styling your child’s hair, whether you’re leaving their curls down, or styling them in a protective hairstyle.
Biracial curly hair does need extra care, but with the right products, you can keep your child’s hair protected, healthy, and beautiful!
The Ultimate Guide To Biracial Hair Care is now available! Everything you need to take care of different types of biracial hair is at your fingertips!
Related Reading
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Biracial Hair Care Tips to Help Maintain and Define Curls
Why You Should Discuss Race With Your Biracial Kids
Top 10 Books That Feature Biracial Children
How To Heal Eczema On Biracial Skin (In 6 Steps)
Why Sunscreen Is Important To Use On Your Biracial Children
Question do you do anything to help your daughters hair grow
Hi Robin, I actually don’t do anything to help her hair grow, but there are some things you can try. Don’t shampoo every day because that can lead to breakage. I suggest co-washing every few days or if you want to still use shampoo, wait several days in between washing. Get regular trims. Dry, split ends will continue to split further up the hair so keeping the ends healthy will stop damage to the rest of the hair. Focus on moisturizing. You can do deep conditioning treatments and use products that keep moisture in the hair. Try not to use… Read more »
Thank you
Kinky Curly is an amazing product for any curl pattern. I have used it on my hair as well as my daughter’s hair and we have different curl patterns and hair texture but the definition you get when applied rightly is so good. The Cantu line is affordable and I like their Argan line. Btw you have beautiful kids.
Thank you so much Aarika 🙂
That’s great to know Kinky Curly Curling Custard works well on all curl patterns!