I have been having a lot to problems brushing Rhiana's hair. She says it hurts and cries the whole time. I am being gentle and am using non tangle shampoo but I don't know what else to do. She must have a really sensitive head. Does anyone have suggestions of something I can do to make it easier for Rhiana?

Does Rhiana have curly hair? You might try using conditioner (like VO5) instead of shampoo. I know it sounds weird, but it works. Just make sure you massage her scalp with your fingertips. I think the sulfates in the shampoo dry out the hair and also make it tangle. When our girl was little, I also used Johnson & Johnson's No More Tangles spray and it really helped.

When Rhyanne has had problems with her hair being really tangled I comb through it while she is still in the bath with conditioner on her head and that usually helps get a majority of the tangles out. I also put her hair in a braid before putting her to bed which helps avoid tangles in the middle of the night.

Sara

I was going to ask if it was curly, too. Also, do you comb it from the top/scalp down or from the bottom up? If her hair is curly and you comb it from the top down the curls lock and tangle more than if you comb from the bottom/ends up.

E had long thick hair. I keep it almost exclusively in braids. I can sometimes get two days out of braids, but mostly try to re-braid each day. If she goes two days in braids, the third day her hair has some nasty tangles. When she gets a bath, we make sure to condition it. I use the curly johnsons baby shampoo and then just whatever conditioner I have for myself.

Little kids just seem to get their heads in everything, if it's not food, then they're pulling blankets over their heads and just being goofy, as a result, they tangle their hair so much, not to mention how fine it is and the static at this time of the year.

Another hint, spray your brush with static guard if it's really staticy. Works amazing and makes their hair look awesome! But I'd do that after the knots are out, then use it as damage control as needed.

oh wonderful tangles.
This is what i have found to help.
1. hair serum. apply a small dab while wet.
2. blow dry first then brush through it.
3. conditioner is better than detangling shampoo or in addition to.
4. wide pick comb first then a brush.
5.I also use a detangle spray when the hair is dry.
6. braids help keep tangles away.
7. cut her hair.

note: i don't do all of these things at once. but i always use a conditioner. I always put in a little serum and always comb through with a wide tooth comb.
on the days in between when her hair is dry and I haven't washed it, i use the detangling spray and the wide tooth comb.

Good advice from everyone. I use conditioner (what I use for myself) in Fiona's hair. It makes a big difference. I've found, though, that a bit part of the problem is in how little girls interpret the sensations of getting their hair brushed. While getting knots out may not always *hurt* it almost always *pulls* a little bit. We've found that talking to Fiona about the difference between hurting and pulling has helped some. Fiona has been one to cry the entire time too, but she has done much better both since I started using conditioner, and since the 'interpretation' lesson.

I use hair detangler spray. You can buy it or you can make it: 9 parts water to 1 part conditioner.

I know children with sensory issues have a hard time with stuff like that, my oldest son with Autism does not like his hair combed at all. It is usually to do with touch, it might not be that it is hurting, it might be more to do with the feeling it causes while your brushing? S

I just found this on a website
Tactile sensitive children also hate to have their teeth brushed or their hair brushed,

I would try to make it fun, buy maybe just even brushing when it doesn't need to be brushed or brushing while she is watching a movie. Also doing it when your not in a hurry. You could have her take turns on your hair.
I am not sure if this the kind of help you were looking for? I remember you had your dd evaluated for Autism and I don't remember the results but I guess that is what came to my mind when I read your post that it may be sensory related?

Anyway I hope this helps!

I agree with Christine. If you brush curly hair from the top down it will snap and break and be a mess by the time you reach the ends. Also, I wouldn't even brush curly hair. Either use a wide tooth comb (with lots of conditioner) or finger comb it and let it do its thing. :mrgreen:

Watch out for your brush too, those ones with the little balls on the end are plain mean. They grab every knot and pull. We have found the soft straight bristles to be much friendlier. :-D

No Tangle Spray is a life saver. It helps so much with the tangles and the static this time of year. Walmart sells several brands and it isn't that expensive. I would also use conditioner on her hair every time you wash it and brush it as soon as she's done with her bath.