Consultancy Corner: Don’t take baby hair lightly

As your kid grows up, along with the heightened outdoor play and exploration at this age, comes sweaty, smelly, rough and tangled hair on account of the combination of dirt and sweat that accumulates through the day. Add to this regular oiling of hair as a norm and your kid’s hair can get really messy by the end of an active day. 

For many parents, when their little one is growing up, they can often be faced with the challenge of knowing which hair care products are appropriate for their kid’s hair.  

In the absence of any specialised options, most parents end up using adult or family hair care brands for their kid’s hair.  But, did you know that kid’s hair is a delicate thing? 

After birth, the density of hair follicles on scalp progressively decreases (owing to the increase in scalp size), whilst thickness of hair increases, rapidly increasing for the initial 4 years and reaching maturity by 10 years. 

This primary terminal hair grows two inches thicker and longer vis-à-vis baby hair in the initial year and matures to five inch thickness and length by the age of 10. During this stage of growth, kid’s hair is still weak and more prone to damage as compared to adult hair. 

Research data indicates that a third of mothers start using an adult/family shampoo on their kid’s hair by the age of three, with progressive increase in usage as the kid grows up.  

Qualitative studies suggest they do so by making a few quick-fixes such as diluting the shampoo before usage, to soften the harshness on hair or shampooing the back of the head by putting hair in front to avoid contact with eyes. 

But, did you know that adult/family shampoos have pH above 5.5, whereas an ideal kids shampoo pH should be around 5.5-6. A pH level above 6 may increase the negative electrical charge of hair fiber surface, resulting in friction between the fibers and ultimately leading to cuticle damage and fiber breakage.  

As such, be careful of the hair care products used on your kid’s hair. A mild, easy lather and non-irritating formula that deeply cleanses hair and scalp is ideal for your little one’s hair & scalp unlike adult shampoos which might be more harsh. 

Let us understand that human babies are baby humans and are not miniature adult.