Baby Hair-Care Basics

The mysteries of infant hair explained, plus how to keep it healthy
By Maria Livingstone
 
Like so many things baby-related, newborn hair (or lack thereof) is unpredictable. Whether your baby's bald or bushy depends upon a mix of genetics, ethnicity, and hormones. But no matter how hirsute your tot is, try not to get too attached to the look. Their hair will likely change during the first year. Check out how:
 
Hair today, gone tomorrow. 
If your baby was born with hair, they'll probably start to shed it during the first six months, thanks to hormonal changes. That hair loss peaks when infants are around 3 to 4 months old, says Dan Brennan, M.D., a pediatrician in Santa Barbara, CA, and a dad of two. And it can be quite dramatic (a hairy kid can turn into a bald one) or more subtle, especially when your infant's new hair grows in simultaneously.
 
Seeing spots. 
Another reason for your baby's thinning locks? Since a younger baby will spend a lot of time on his back, the friction of their head against the crib mattress and the car seat tends to produce a bald spot, especially in the back of the head, says Dr. Brennan. If you notice that your baby favors one side when they’re lying down, try changing their position so that their head doesn't go bald and flatten there, too.  Their bald spots will disappear when they are a bit older and starts to spend more time upright.
 
Who's that kid? 
Once all their new hair grows in (sometimes as early as 6 months, sometimes as late as toddlerhood), it may have a completely different texture or color, or both.
 
Hair-Care Basics
However your baby's hair looks when it grows in, it will be finer-and more fragile-than yours, so follow these tress tips to prevent it from getting too dry or damaged:

Wash as needed
Babies under 6 months produce less oil on their scalps, so there's no need to shampoo more than two times a week - and just once a week if your baby is African-American, says Erica Harris, a stylist and owner of Joi Salon and Spa Escape, in Boston. Once your child is older - and more likely to rub bananas in her hair - you may want to shampoo it more often. African-American babies should stick with the once-a-week shampoo routine, though you can rinse it every night with water and conditioner. No matter how many times you wash your baby's hair, try to use hypoallergenic, fragrance-free products, says Dr. Brennan.

Tame tangles
A good trick for preventing knots if your baby has a lot of hair or tight curls: Use a baby-friendly conditioner after shampooing and rinse out only about 75 percent of it, Harris suggests. Use a spray detangler for sparser hair (leaving in conditioner can make fine hair look greasy), and spritz just the ends, not the scalp. To coax out a stubborn tangle, hold a chunk of the hair between the scalp and the knot, spray it, and gently comb through.
 
Style safely
Keep an eye on any clips or hair accessories your baby's wearing; they may pose a choking hazard if they slip off (so what's okay for church when your babe is on your lap may not be safe for your sister's wedding, when she's bouncing between aunts and grandmas). Since infant hair can break easily, avoid pulling your daughter's hair into a super tight ponytail until she's a toddler, recommends Harris (not that she'd let you anyway!).
 
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Here's another nice article I found

Question: "I thought all babies were born bald, but my newborn has so much hair it sticks straight up from her head like a Mohawk! Will it look normal soon? And how do I take care of all that baby hair?"

As you’ve discovered, not all newborns are born bald but arrive on the scene with a shock of thick hair. While some of these babies come out with perfectly coiffed locks, the rest look like they’re having a bad hair day, with a punk-style Mohawk, or tufted patches, or the scraggly comb-over of a little Homer Simpson. No one really knows why some babies are born with lots of hair, though experts believe it probably has something to do with maternal hormones and the genetic lottery.

Whatever your baby’s hairstyle du jour, don’t worry too much (or get too attached). Newborn dos are hair today, gone tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know about your newborn’s hair:

Newborn hair loss. If you were surprised by your baby’s massive mane, just wait: All that hair may disappear. Newborns shed like a golden retriever in the first six months (and some can go from luxuriantly coiffed to bald as a cue ball). That’s because all those pregnancy hormones (the ones that may have given you great hair, too!) plummet after birth, so your baby’s hair stops growing. Then a phase called “telogen” kicks in, when lots of the hair falls out altogether.

Newborn hair growth. Luckily, the telogen phase is usually followed rather quickly (or even simultaneously) by new hair growth. But the baby hair that grows in may be nothing like your little one’s newborn locks. Color and texture often change — again, thanks to hormones — so your baby’s thick, dark hair could make its reappearance a lot sparser and lighter. Red can give way to blonde. Curly goes straight. You never know. Eventually your baby’s hair will grow in and she’ll look less like a punk rocker and more like the coiffed baby of your dreams. Exactly when that happens can be anyone’s guess (it’s different for every child). Some get a great new head of hair by six months, some not for two or three years.

Until then, here’s how to take care of whatever hair your baby does have:

• Don’t wash your baby’s hair every day. Particularly with newborns, there’s just no need. Aim for a quick shampoo when you bathe your baby, which doesn’t need to be more often than a couple times a week.
• Be gentle when you massage a tearless baby shampoo into your baby’s scalp. A too-brisk scalp massage can stress hair follicles and speed up hair loss or breakage.
• Comb your baby’s hair with a soft-bristle brush or a wide-toothed comb that won’t snag on tangles or pull your baby’s hair.
• Avoid headbands or ponytails that pull your baby’s hair back too tightly, which can damage it.
• If your baby needs a quick trim later to look presentable, go for it. Just do it when she’s well rested and fed, so she’ll be less cranky, and set her up with some toys to distract her.

For now, Mom, cut off a lock of that soft Mohawk to tuck in the baby book, and enjoy the punk look while it lasts. Your newborn’s hair will look different soon enough.

Here’s to your baby’s lovely locks — now and later!