Choosing a shampoo and conditioner for your child is an important part of their hygiene and appearance. Shampoo is designed to clean the scalp and hair while conditioner leaves it soft and manageable. While there are many products on the market to choose from, there are several factors to consider such as safety of the ingredients and brand preference, explains Baby Center. Find a shampoo and conditioner that fits the needs of your child.
Significance
The Children, Youth and Women's Health Service notes that personal hygiene is important in having a healthy and clean body. For kids, learning how to take care and responsibility of their own hygiene is an important learning tool in youth, including having clean hair. The scalp is constantly releasing small amounts of sebum or oil. Over time they can build up and the hair can be oily, scaly and acquire an odor. Using shampoo and conditioner will help wash away these oils and give hair a clean and healthy appearance. Kids should use shampoo and conditioner daily or as the hair becomes dirty or greasy.
Function
A quarter-size amount of shampoo and conditioner is generally all that is needed for cleaning the entire head, unless your hair is much longer. Shampoo works at cleansing the scalp and hair, while conditioner makes hair more manageable. Regular shampooing and conditioning make the hair easier to style and pin back with barrettes, pins and ponytails. Shampooing and conditioning makes it easier to cut and style short hair.
Features
Find a shampoo and conditioner that is safe and chemical-free. This will assure your child has a pleasant washing experience. Johnson's explains that choosing natural hair products that are gentle and mild to a child's skin and eyes is essential when selecting a product. Johnson's suggests choosing all-natural products that use 98 percent naturally derived ingredients. Products that substitute natural preservatives for chemicals will reduce the likelihood your child will have an allergic reaction to the formula. Many shampoos and conditioners geared toward kids may be a 2 in 1 formula, where the shampoo and conditioner are mixed together for a single use.
Identification
Several brands of shampoo and conditioner on the market are geared toward attracting kids. Often the appearance of the bottle will resemble a popular movie character or a special scented shampoo will smell like candy or fruit, explains L'Oreal Paris USA. Most kid's shampoos and conditioners are found in plastic bottles in the baby section or a special section in the shampoo or personal hygiene isle.
Considerations
If your child is faced with a specific skin condition, his physician may suggest a special kind of shampoo or conditioning treatment. Seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff, is common in many infants and children and is sometimes referred to as cradle cap, explains Family Doctor. It is treated with salicylic acid, selenium sulfide and pyrithione. These shampoos work at controlling the dandruff and drying out oily areas of the scalp.
Some shampoos and conditioners can cause eye irritation in kids. Natural-Skincare Authority states two of the main ingredients in most shampoos and conditioners--sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate, can cause stinging and eye redness. Avoid getting product into your child's eyes when using.
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