Brazilian straightening is a straightening method that, as its name suggests, comes from Brazil. It is normally intended for adults with curly or frizzy hair. Since this technique is very widespread, many mothers wonder about using this type of product on their children. We will try to clarify this rather under-exploited topic, so Brazilian straightening for children: good or dangerous ?
Brazilian straightening for children: what you need to know
First, Brazilian straightening is known to moisturize hair , because keratin is inserted, most often from plant materials. This protein allows the hair to be nourished, shapely, shiny and above all smooth.
This last aspect is what many young girls want to have in order to be like their favorite star, for example. It is important to specify that hair evolves continuously until adulthood, so we cannot use all adult products on a child. However, if the product used is correct and not harmful, it can be used on young girls from 6 years old .
From what age can a child have a Brazilian straightening treatment?
The age of 12 is often recommended to start, because this is around the time that young people start to pay attention to their physical appearance. We want to clarify that many hairdressers will refuse to do this Brazilian straightening until a later age.
They believe that a child does not need to make such a physical change and will not agree to do it until around the age of 16. However, if you still want to help your child, you still have the option of straighteners for the youngest age or use a straightening kit to do at home.
Be careful, you still have to be careful with the products you use so as not to damage the hair or even harm the child's health. Some brands even offer products designed especially for young girls today.
In these products, Brazilian straightening is less aggressive and therefore more harmless. Indeed, since the hair does not yet have its definitive structure, it is necessary to avoid destructuring it as a straightening would do, for example.
Patience
Then there is the whole practical side that comes into play. Your child will have to sit in the hair salon for 3 hours while the product sets. That already seems like a long time to you, so imagine for her. It would be better to do this at home. To make the moment more fun and enjoyable, here are the steps to follow:
- Do a test on a single strand of your daughter's hair to check that her hair will be able to withstand the treatment.
- Wash your hair with a purifying shampoo. It helps to deeply cleanse and remove unwanted substances from the hair. It will also open the hair scales.
- Dry your hair until it is moderately damp.
- Apply the smoothing product evenly to thin strands. The product should be applied over the entire length of the hair, without applying too much.
- Leave the product on for 30 to 60 minutes. The application time varies depending on the nature of the hair, so you should check what the bottle you are using recommends. Put on a film or cartoon to make the time pass more quickly.
- Rinse your hair without completely removing the product. Make this moment seem like an intermission, like at the movies.
- Dry your hair with a straightening brush and straighten the strands with plates up to 10 times, while paying attention to the temperature of the straightener. You can then continue straightening your hair while watching the movie.
Brazilian straightening maintenance for children
For the maintenance of her Brazilian straightening, everything depends on the age of your child. If she is used to you washing her hair, it is up to you to apply the necessary care. For example, you can give her a mask once or twice a week, in order to nourish her hair and establish a ritual between mother and daughter.
We advise you to always use keratin-based products and always pay attention to the composition. Since children's skin and scalp are much more sensitive than those of adults, detergent products will act up to 5 times stronger.
You then risk burning your child's hair and skin. If you opt for a Brazilian straightening treatment at home using a special kit, keep an eye on the product ratings and sheets on the internet. Often, people who have purchased this kit will comment and give their opinion. Read these comments carefully, they will be very useful to you so as not to buy a useless or dangerous kit.
Indeed, some brands sell it under the name of Brazilian straightening while in the end, you buy a straightening kit . The latter is very harmful to your child and to the nature of his hair. On the other hand, the rules after applying Brazilian straightening remain the same as for an adult.
Your daughter should not wash her hair for at least 2 days, even three days if she can wait. She should not tie her hair in a ponytail or even wear a hat, at the risk of getting an irreversible mark on her straightening. For hair regrowth, if your daughter has slightly wavy hair, it will take several months before the difference in hair type is noticeable. If, on the contrary, she has curly hair, it will be necessary to do some touch-ups.
Brazilian straightening and children: to conclude
Finally, we have described the products and ages recommended for applying a Brazilian straightening treatment to your child. This styling method is therefore not without risk. But when it is correctly applied with good products, there is nothing to worry about. The main thing is not to use overly aggressive chemicals that could irreversibly alter the nature of your child's hair.
