As your little one grows, their sense of personal style and independence does, too. It’s very common for young ones to want to grow out their hair. Long locks take a long time to grow, and that time can seem like an eternity for a toddler. While the best trick to growing out hair is allowing time and nature to take their course, there are also lots of hair care methods to help your kid's hair become stronger and avoid breakage, adding length over time! Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to help your kid's hair grow long and strong.

Hair Growth Tips

Of course, hair grows at its own pace—there is no magic formula for quick hair growth. The timeline on hair growth can look different for everybody. Typically, an infant’s birth hair will naturally fall out and begin to regrow shortly thereafter. This can take awhile—hair usually only grows about 1/2 an inch to an inch per month.

Every year, your kid can expect approximately 5 to 6 inches of hair growth. For little ones, it’s especially important to use safe and natural products and maintain a consistent hair care routine. This ensures that the brand new hair that is growing will be strong and healthy, laying the foundation for a full head of long, lovely locks! 

1. Wash with gentle and natural products

It goes without saying that shampoo should be cleansing, but the cleaning agents in many kid’s shampoos and conditioners are too harsh for tender locks. Chemicals strip away the hair’s natural oils, and can lead to a dry scalp, dull hair, and loose strands.

It’s important to make sure that your shampoo is also hydrating, so look for shampoos that feature a high-moisture formula. Similarly, you should look for a clean and natural conditioner that will moisturize without adding grease or build-up.

Many kid’s shampoos and conditioners feature the same harmful chemicals as adult hair products — including parabens, sulfates, and even formaldehyde. Colorful kid’s products may also feature harmful dyes and synthetic colors. Be sure to take a close look at the ingredients in your kid’s products, and look for paraben-free, natural products. 

When washing hair, aim for two to three days between washes. Washing hair too frequently can weaken strands, and intermittent washing will allow for a healthy distribution of natural oils. Washing with safe and natural products assures that hair strands stay healthy and strong, and minimize the hair loss that can result from damaged strands. 

2. Deep Condition

Maintaining a healthy head of hair is the best way to stimulate growth — and healthy hair means hydrated hair! It’s important to use conditioning products to ensure hair remains moisturized and fortified. Be sure to follow up shampoo with a gentle conditioner — SoCozy’s 3-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner + Body Wash makes the whole hair-washing process easy and mess-free!

Leave-in Conditioner is also an excellent way to lock in lasting moisture and work towards healthy hair. SoCozy’s Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner is perfect for keeping curls moisturized, de-tangled, and frizz-free. The natural and non-toxic formula features Keratin, Soy Protein, and Kiwi extract for softness and moisture. Spray generously from root to tip, then work in with a wide tooth comb from the bottom up. Mist over dry hair to calm frizz and boost shine.

3. Use hair-fortifying ingredients

Healthy hair starts from the inside out! In addition to helping your little one take care of their hair, adding foods rich in specific vitamins and minerals can help them maintain their lustrous locks. Folic acid, which can be found in asparagus, peas, and citrus, can help to strengthen hair strands.

Additionally, Vitamins E and B found in peanuts, corn, bananas, and eggs helps hair grow strong. Of course, calcium is an excellent nutrient for growing bodies! It can be found in broccoli, milk, yogurt, and other dairy products.

4. Trim hair regularly

While trimming hair may seem counterintuitive, periodic trims help to keep hair healthy and set long hair up for success. Trims encourage the hair to shed broken strands and part ways with pesky split ends. While hair trims may add a bit of extra wait time in the quest for long hair, the whole and healthy strands your kid will end up with will be worth the wait!

5. Brush or comb regularly

Brushing hair can stimulate the scalp and encourage blood flow, helping with hair growth! It’s important to find a brushing/combing routine that works for your little one’s hair type. For kids with straight hair, gently run a round brush through damp or dry hair. For kids with curly hair, use a wide-toothed comb to gently comb through damp or wet hair. 

It’s normal for some hair shedding to occur while brushing hair, but the best way to avoid unnecessary hair loss is by minimizing tugs and tangles. Gently brush or comb from the bottom of the hair up towards the root to work out any knots or tangles. 

No matter what your age is, waiting for your hair to grow out is the ultimate test in patience. Your little one will soon learn that the wait is so worth it for long, beautiful locks! With the help of safe and natural SoCozy hair products, your daughter’s hair will begin to grow almost as fast as she does!