Color, texture and thickness of a baby’s hair are all genetically predetermined. If your baby has inherited good genes for hair, chances are that s/he will show good hair growth in a couple of years. That said, there are some home remedies to make baby hair grow thicker. Let us find out what they are:
1. Eat well during pregnancy
It is believed that by 14th week of pregnancy, the fetus develops fine hair called lanugo. Thicker hair starts developing on the baby’s head around 30th week of pregnancy. Naturally, mothers need to eat a healthy diet and take the prenatal vitamins as prescribed by their OB/GYN. Folic acid, zinc, vitamin A, biotin and other B vitamins are particularly important. Mommies must also eat proteins in the form of fish, sea food, lean meat etc. Spinach, milk, eggs, cereals, citrusy fruits etc are also beneficial for healthy hair growth in baby.
2. Estrogen during pregnancy
There is an old wives’ tale that if the pregnant woman has severe heartburn during pregnancy, her baby will be born with a head full of thick hair. Now research is suggesting that this might actually be true. According to a study conducted at the John Hopkins University, mommies with severe heartburn have higher estrogen levels which cause the sphincter at the end of the esophagus to relax. This leads to heartburn but also gives thicker hair for baby. Take small frequent meals and sleep upright to prevent heartburn.
3. Massage
Once the baby is born and its cradle cap is filled out, you can start massaging her scalp and hair with warm oil. Use baby oil, olive oil or coconut oil for the head massage. Rub gently in circular motion with your fingers, Regularly doing this can promote hair growth. Follow this up with a gentle head wash with a mild baby shampoo. You can also make a homemade shampoo with baking soda, tea tree oil and a few drops of water. Massage this mixture through the baby’s scalp and rinse off with warm water.
4. How to grow African American toddler hair
African American babies and toddlers suffer from hair breakage due to thin, brittle hair. This hair type is very dry and tends to break due to inadequate moisture. Following toddler hair growth products can help:
- Sulfate free shampoos– When washing toddlers’ hair, always use non-drying sulfate-free shampoos. Avoid using regular no-tears baby shampoos as these are very drying and contain surfactants.
- Avoid heat, color, chemical relaxers and other styling products on toddlers. While these can look great, they also tend to cause a great deal of damage to the already weak hair shaft.
- Use water/water based creams or sprays for toddler hair moisturizing. These are available in the form of leave in conditioners, creams, custards and even half water and half conditioning products. These toddler hair products help prepare the child’s hair for detangling.
- Avoid products containing mineral oil or petrolatum
- Shea, mango, cocoa and avocado butters are also good products for African American toddler hair growth.
Avoid tight braids in girls with natural African American textured hair as it leads to traction alopecia that result in hair breakage.
5. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is one of the best home remedies to make baby hair growth thicker and stronger. Mothers-to-be can take a couple of teaspoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil internally, on a daily basis. However, make sure to consult your doctor first before doing so. Also once the baby is born, ask your pediatrician whether you may use coconut oil for baby’s head and scalp massage. Coconut oil, when sourced from a reputed vendor, is generally safe for use on baby’s scalp. Discontinue use if you see any rashes or if the baby’s hair fall worsens.
6. Vitamins for baby hair growth
Talk to your pediatrician about reasons why your toddler hair growth is slow. Adding vitamin supplements containing Biotin and other hair growth vitamins can generally help.
7. Treat scalp fungal infections
Fungal infections of the scalp, known as tinea capititis or ringworm of the scalp, can lead to hair fall and hair breakage in toddlers. Use anti-fungal shampoos and creams as directed by a dermatologist. In most cases, the hair that is lost due to these infections grows back once the condition has been treated. Continue using the shampoo twice a week or as directed by a physician. Massaging the scalp with a mixture of tea tree oil and coconut oil is known to help prevent such infections. For slightly older children, give peppermint or nettle tea to drink. These herbal teas purify the blood and strengthen the hair follicles.
8. Aloe Vera
Apply pure aloe vera gel to baby’s scalp to condition it, prevent dandruff and encourage faster hair growth.
9. Gelatin
Gelatin mixed with Aloe vera gel and tea tree oil massaged on toddlers scalp can stimulate faster and thicker hair growth.
10. Apple cider vinegar
For older children with hair loss, use diluted apple cider vinegar to wash the hair and scalp. You can also mix a few teaspoons of the vinegar with some juice and feed it to the child. Apple cider vinegar restores the ph balance of the body and also delivers nutrients to the hair and scalp. Regular intake can prevent hair fall and also restore hair growth.
Dealing with baby hair loss can be difficult but we hope the above remedies prevent hair fall and also make her hair grow thicker and stronger.