10 Tips for Baby Hair Growth

Have you ever wondered why your baby doesn’t have any hair? It’s actually normal for babies to be born with little to no hair. They will likely start growing locks a few weeks after birth, but rarely do they have hair at the time of their birth. In young babies, baby hair is scanty and fine. And most of them lack in the regular hair fall process that is commonly seen in adults. Adding to this, babies sweat a lot more compared to adults, and this makes it difficult to make their hair grow faster. There are several different ways to help start your baby’s hair growth.

Different Types Of Baby Hair

Baby hair texture is different in infants than in adults. The texture tends to be curly or wavy as it grows and changes as the baby gets older. As your baby grows, the number of follicles decreases. New hair is formed in the areas previously populated by follicles, and your little one’s hair texture will change over time. The baby’s hair will most likely grow in this pattern due to genetics, but that doesn’t mean that there is any problem.

Your little one’s hair can be of several types: straight, wavy, curly or kinky. It may have a combination of these types. The best way to evaluate the type of hair that your child has is by leaving it free from products for a few days, giving it a good shampoo, conditioning it, and then allowing it to air dry.

Timeline of Baby Hair Growth

The baby grows all sorts of things before it is born. It grows body hair, head hair, fingernails and toenails, eyebrows, eyelashes. The baby also starts to grow eyebrows and eyelashes in the 30th week. Eyebrows and eyelashes will not be visible right at birth, but the baby will grow them in normal amounts after that.

The process begins at birth. At first, all our hair is in a resting phase. After 7 or 8 weeks, the first hairs to emerge are usually on top of the head, often called ‘crown’ hairs. These may be followed by more hairs on the side and back of your baby’s head often called ‘temples.’ While your baby is still in the womb, their hair will be fine and straight. But when they are born, it usually changes to a much thicker texture with a curl or wave (called “corkscrew” hair), and sometimes even starts to darken. It can change color several times in the first few months, but usually settles into its permanent color around a year old.

Baby hair is real hair. We were born with a certain amount of hair (the number varies from one baby to another) and, unfortunately, the rate of growth is not very high. Some babies start to lose their hair by the time they are 3 months old and others won’t lose it until after a year. No matter when your little bundle of joy falls into this bracket, it is still important for you to take care of their precious head of hair.

Tips to Grow Baby Hair

Having a baby with beautiful hair is a dream for many mothers, especially when they get older. So how can you make baby hair grow? We will discuss some tips and tricks to help your son or daughter have healthy and lustrous hair. However these tips are recommended to start implementing around 6 months of age, if your child is any younger it may not be the right time to start utilizing these tips.

Maintain healthy diet

Healthy eating is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. If you are still breastfeeding it is also important you are maintaining a healthy diet along with your baby. Many experts agree that a balanced diet helps support hair growth. If your baby is at least 6 months old and eating solid foods, give them vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables to help support healthy hair growth. For example: pumpkin, mango, carrots, beans, meat and eggs are all high in vitamin A, B vitamins and zinc which support growth.

Use coconut oil

Get healthy, shiny hair for your baby with the help of coconut oil. Apply a small amount to your baby’s scalp, and help eliminate cradle cap. Use organic or extra-virgin coconut oil — it’s unrefined, meaning it hasn’t been processed. Apply a small amount to your baby’s scalp, and allow the oil to sit for about 30 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Comb your baby’s scalp

Brush your baby’s hair with a soft-bristled brush. This will help loosen the cradle cap and remove dry skin. Combing your baby’s hair regularly is a way to improve hair growth. It also improves blood circulation in the scalp, which can in turn make the hair grow thicker and faster. Comb your baby’s hair gently every day to give it a lovely sheen and make it grow faster.

Use a soft towel

One of the best things you can do for your baby’s skin is to use a soft towel for hair drying after shampooing and conditioning. Use a soft, preferably natural fiber towel to gently blot your baby’s hair dry. Never rub their hair with a rough, rough material like a t-shirt or bath towel. When you’re drying your baby’s hair, use a soft towel. Harsh rubbing can damage hair follicles and cause thinning, balding, and breakage. Instead, wrap your baby in a towel that’s light and fluffy.

Shampoo regularly

Just because a baby’s hair is soft and silky doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be washed. Regular shampooing keeps their scalp clean and also loosens the cradle cap. Also, baby’s hair tends to be oilier than adult hair, so it needs to be washed more often. As your baby’s hair becomes more opaque, you may also want to shampoo it once a week. It is always recommended to use tear free and kid friendly shampoo.

Use hair conditioner

Using hair conditioner on your baby’s hair is an easy and effective way to give their locks a healthy boost. This method also helps preserve the integrity of color and enhance shine. Apply conditioner after shampooing, then rinse it out with warm water. Make sure to use a kid friendly conditioner and tear free.

Aloe Vera

Dealing with underdeveloped hair on your baby’s crown? Aloe vera is a natural way to make hair thicker. Rubbing aloe vera on your baby’s head is a great way to help strengthen your child’s hair and prevent split ends. Apply the gel directly to the scalp and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing.

Gelatin

Gelatin is a kind of protein. Many proteins like gelatin are made up of lots of amino acids such as proline. Gelatin is another wonderful natural way of treating your baby’s dandruff. It is such a great hair care ingredient that has zero side effects. Mixed with honey and cider vinegar, the gelatin latches onto old skin cells on your baby’s scalp and ride them of the dandruff

Avoid hair ties

The hair tie can break the baby’s hair in a number of ways. The friction caused by tying the hair can end up loosening the hair follicles, this leads to gradual shedding of hairs. Avoid using heavy elastic bands because they tend to compress the hair shaft, damaging it in the long run. Do not use these kind hair clips to pull your baby’s hair. It is better to use a silk headband instead.

Vitamin E

If your child has fine, brittle hair you can use Vitamin E oil to help your kid with it. The properties of this oil work great for the kid’s coarse, crazy or curly hair. All you need to do is mix a few drops of vitamin E oil in coconut oil and apply this mixture to your baby’s scalp at night. As vitamin E oil is an antioxidant, it will lock the moisture in the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.

Conclusion

If your baby’s hair loss has you concerned, keep in mind that this is a perfectly normal part of development. In most cases, you can expect the hair to grow back within the first year. For some babies this may take longer, and for others the baby may never grow back all of his or her hair. It’s important to be aware of what causes hair loss in babies, but the important thing is to remember that it’s absolutely normal for babies. If you feel that your baby is losing too much hair, or if you have any concerns about your child’s health or treatment plan, reach out to your pediatrician for an assessment. Until then, celebrate those beautiful baby curls while they last!