Wash Day for Biracial & Black Children with Curly hair: Step-by-Ste Routine

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8/22/20253 min read

Make wash day for your biracial or Black child stress-free and tear-free with this complete step-by-step curly hair care routine. Includes detangling tips, product recommendations, and time-saving tricks.

Introduction

If you’re new to caring for curly or coily hair, you’ve probably already learned that wash day is a whole thing. It’s not just a quick shampoo and rinse — it’s a special time to hydrate, detangle, and protect your child’s beautiful curls. For many moms, wash day can feel overwhelming at first, especially if your child’s hair tangles easily or takes a while to style. But with the right routine, it can actually be a fun, bonding experience — and a lot less stressful. Today, I’m walking you through my tear-free, kid-friendly wash day routine step-by-step.

1. Get Prepared Before You Start

Before you even touch the hair, make sure you have everything ready so you don’t have to scramble mid-wash.

What you’ll need:

  • Spray bottle with water

  • raitail comb to aid to take down braids and detangling brush

  • Sulfate-free shampoo

  • Moisturizing conditioner

  • Deep conditioner or hair mask

  • Leave-in conditioner

  • Curl cream or styling butter

  • Oil (like jojoba, argan, or olive oil or a hair serum)

  • Satin bonnet or pillowcase for aftercare

💡 Pro Tip: Sit your child somewhere comfortable (like at the sink or on a stool) and give them a tablet, book, or music to keep them entertained.

2. Pre-Poo (Pre-Shampoo Treatment)

The pre-poo step helps protect the hair from getting stripped of its natural oils during washing.

How to do it:

  • Spray hair lightly with water to make it damp.

  • Apply a slippery conditioner or natural oil from roots to ends.

  • Gently finger-detangle large knots.

This step reduces breakage and makes the rest of wash day much easier.

3. Cleanse Gently

Curly and coily hair doesn’t need to be shampooed daily — usually once a week or every 10 days is perfect.

Shampoo tips:

  • Use a sulfate-free shampoo so it won’t strip the hair.

  • Focus on the scalp — that’s where dirt and buildup live.

  • Gently massage with your fingertips (never nails) to avoid scratching the scalp.

4. Deep Condition

Deep conditioning is non-negotiable for healthy curls.

How to deep condition:

  1. Apply a rich conditioner or hair mask from mid-length to ends.

  2. Cover with a plastic cap.

  3. Let it sit for 20–30 minutes. (You can speed this up with a heat cap or by wrapping a warm towel around their head.)

This step restores moisture, softness, and shine — and makes detangling easier.

5. Detangle in Sections

Trying to detangle all the hair at once will lead to frustration (for both of you).

Sectioning method:

  • Part the hair into 4–6 sections.

  • Apply more conditioner for slip.

  • Detangle from ends to roots using a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush.

💡 Pro Tip: Always detangle with conditioner in — the “slip” will help the comb glide through.

6. Rinse and Apply Leave-In Products

After detangling, rinse out the conditioner with cool water to seal the hair cuticle.

Then, while the hair is still wet:

  1. Apply leave-in conditioner.

  2. Apply curl cream or styling butter.

  3. Seal with a light oil to lock in moisture.

This is called the LOC Method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) — it’s the gold standard for curly hair moisture retention.

7. Style in a Protective Way

For kids, protective styles help keep hair healthy between wash days. no I am not talking about tight braid with extension.

Beginner-friendly options:

  • Two-strand twists

  • Chunky braids

  • Low puffs with satin scrunchies

Avoid tight ponytails or styles that pull on the edges.

8. Nighttime Care

Before bed:

  • Tuck hair into a satin bonnet or use a satin pillowcase.

  • Lightly spritz with water and reapply a small amount of leave-in if needed.

This keeps hair from drying out and getting frizzy overnight.

Conclusion

Wash day doesn’t have to be a battle. Once you get the hang of this routine, you’ll find your rhythm — and your child will know exactly what to expect. Over time, it becomes less of a chore and more of a little weekly ritual between you and your child.

💌 Want my full “Wash Day Made Easy” checklist with products and step-by-step instructions? Download it free from my to start caring for your kids curly with confident.

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