Taming toddler hair with celeb hair stylist, Steph Stevenson

We all know the benefits of a detangling spray, detangling brush and a great haircut; so why don’t we think of these things for our toddler’s hair too? 

Renowned celebrity hairstylist, Steph Stevenson – who has worked across various TV shows, including Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice, and is the founder of HNB Salon and Spa – has worked in the industry for 35 years, and knows the benefits of taming children’s hair early on in their life all too well. We caught up with her to get some top tips for toddler hair and how to tame it:

Regular Brushing

Using a tangle tamer, or any nylon bristle brush on your toddlers hair every day, sometimes twice a day, can make a significant difference to how tangled toddler hair gets. Naps and the general way toddlers rub their heads on anything and everything throughout the day such as sofas, carpets, mum’s jumper, means that the hair is receiving friction, causing tangles! 

By brushing your toddlers hair from a young age will teach them that it is perfectly normal. Issues tend to arise when they don’t like you doing it, so you stop. Then it becomes a battle, and the hair becomes more and more wild and tangled.

Be sure to explain to your little one what you’re doing to their hair and why you’re doing it. Show them afterwards how smooth and neat it looks, and use compliments and encouragment to help you both through the battle and get your toddler used to having their hair brushed.

Detangling Conditioner

Detangling conditioner is every parent’s best friend, but any conditioner will help. I hear so many parents saying that they don’t think their toddlers hair need a conditioner, but the science is that conditioner smooths the cuticle, and this is true for not only adults, but children too.

A leave in detangler will allow for smoother brushing all day. Simply shampoo, spray in and brush the tangles out in the bath whilst they are playing to avoid any grumbles. There are so many baby products our there, but my absolute favourite is Bamford’s Baby Collection. It’s expensive but truly wonderful for hair and skin. I also love Original Sprout Miracle Detangler, it’s a life saver, as well as Azeta Bio Baby Hair Gel and Paul Mitchell Taming Spray which are fab for taming toddlers ‘morning hair’.

Wet Brush

For that crazy all-day bed head look, wetting your toddlers hairbrush after a nap and combing it into place will help return the hair to a more ‘groomed’ appearance. This little hack works wonders if you’re out and about and don’t have access to hair products.

Toddler hair cuts

It is entirely up to the parent on when they decide to get their toddlers haircut. Some children respond perfectly well to having their haircut, and some hate it. Toddler hair tends to grow unevenly, and weak hair lines seem difficult to establish due to hair that ‘likes’ to lay in a way that gives babies a wild look sometimes.

If this is the case, I would advise that you visit your local salon early on in your child’s life, but don’t have a hair appointment booked for them when you first go. Just let your toddler be in the environment. Maybe give a treat to someone in the salon and ask them to give it to your toddler, it usually takes three visits to get comfortable and then on the fourth visit, cut the hair. By introducing visits early on, it goes from being a scary place to a safe place, filled with grownups having their hair done.