super conditioning shampoo and conditioner?

[dAZ]

I'm trying to figure out how to help my daughter for summer camp. Last year she said the only thing she didn't like about camp was that her hair was unmanageable for her. She has SUPER thick, long hair and camp is very rustic with lots of lake swimming. She's learning to french braid but I'm looking for product to send with her to shower with or leave in after shower. Her hair is SO differenct from mine so I'm looking for help from someone who knows how to deal with thick long hair. Tia.

[ElizabethBennet]

How old is she?

My daughter also has really long and thick hair, which is different from my own texture. She’s only 7 so she’s not quite to the point of braiding it herself but I plan on having her at least rinse her hair every night after camp. While it’s still damp I’m putting in the Shea Moisture coconut leave in conditioning spray and then putting it in a braid before bed. The braid stays in for camp. I won’t let her go with it down or even a ponytail, it would get too tangled if I did that.

[Pippin]

I mentioned this in the wavy hair thread but I like to use coconut oil as a hair mask before washing. Macadamia professionals also has a few hair masks for different hair types. The coconut oil would probably work well if she applied some to the bottom half of her hair and then braided it. That might also help protect it from the lake water.

[pantsparty]

Does she blow dry her hair at camp? I have long, thick, straight hair and the only way it looks good is if I blow dry it. I can use all the product in the world, but if I let it air dry it just won't look good. I like the Redken All Soft line myself personally.

[peachy]

Maybe a haircut with thinning would be helpful too, especially before camp

[secretlyevil]

Jun 25, 2018 0:28:28 GMT -5 peachy said:

Maybe a haircut with thinning would be helpful too, especially before camp

I was going to suggest the same thing. A good leave-in conditioner for her to use daily would help too. If she rinsed it daily before bed, combed through with the leave-in conditioner and braiding should keep it under control. 

[tiramisu]

Does her hair tangle easily? What's the texture of her hair like? (Straight, wavy, curly, fine, coarse...)

[gastro]

I use Moroccan argan oil on my hair (damp right out of the shower). You could get s small spray bottle so she could spritz some on?
I’ve used all sorts of conditioners and always go back to Pantene proV.

[dAZ]

Jun 24, 2018 21:23:32 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

How old is she?

11 years old

[dAZ]

Jun 25, 2018 0:01:15 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

Does she blow dry her hair at camp? I have long, thick, straight hair and the only way it looks good is if I blow dry it. I can use all the product in the world, but if I let it air dry it just won't look good. I like the Redken All Soft line myself personally.

No, she doesn't use a hair dryer even at home.

[dAZ]

Jun 25, 2018 8:37:15 GMT -5 tiramisu said:

Does her hair tangle easily? What's the texture of her hair like? (Straight, wavy, curly, fine, coarse...)

Thick, long, wavy....on a good day, I'd kill for her hair but it's difficult to manage on her own.

[pantsparty]

Jun 25, 2018 13:07:03 GMT -5 dAZ said:

Jun 25, 2018 0:01:15 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

Does she blow dry her hair at camp? I have long, thick, straight hair and the only way it looks good is if I blow dry it. I can use all the product in the world, but if I let it air dry it just won't look good. I like the Redken All Soft line myself personally.

No, she doesn't use a hair dryer even at home.

Oh, I see. I wonder if a smoothing hair oil might help, at least on the length past her shoulders. I don't have curly hair, though, so I don't have a specific rec.

Does she wash her hair every day there? I wonder if the lake water is also contributing if she's not washing it from her hair consistently.

[wawa]

Any basic leave in conditioner will probably be helpful, but braiding it before swimming would be my strong recommendation. Summer camp with long thick wavy hair is all about the french braid in my book, so hopefully she can perfect that before she goes because there's really not a whole lot that won't make the aftermath of that a pain in the ass until she can get in a shower and finger comb out the mess with a shitton of conditioner.

[ESF]

Jun 25, 2018 16:14:52 GMT -5 wawa said:

Any basic leave in conditioner will probably be helpful, but braiding it before swimming would be my strong recommendation. Summer camp with long thick wavy hair is all about the french braid in my book, so hopefully she can perfect that before she goes because there's really not a whole lot that won't make the aftermath of that a pain in the ass until she can get in a shower and finger comb out the mess with a shitton of conditioner.

I agree with all of this, but I’d recommend getting a wide tooth comb or pick and using that in the shower with conditioner instead of finger combing. I picked this trick up when I was on the swim team in high school and I still use it every time I wash my hair. Makes it much easier.

As a bonus, hair falls out into the shower and can easier be picked up, instead of all over my bathroom.

I’d probably use a rinse out conditioner in the shower to help comb through, and a hair oil in the hair before braiding. If she learns to do the French braid while her hair is still wet, and then undoes it in the shower, she won’t have to deal with the more difficult dry-brush ever.

[minty]

I have lots of thick, frizzy long hair and have a couple new favorites. The first is Nexxus kerafix. It’s a very moisturizing conditioner, love the silkiness after using it.

Second one is very different- it’s cleansing conditioner from R + Co. it is shampoo and conditioner combined, and you use a very small amount. It takes some getting used to, because it doesn’t give you suds, or that goopy soft feeling in the shower like when your hair’s coated with conditioner. But it does leave it very manageable and soft and not frizzy when it dries- and no waxy residue. And because it’s only one bottle, it’s super convenient for pool/gym/travel. It’s pricey but will last a long time.
www.randco.com/shop/shampoos-conditioners/analog-cleansing-foam-conditioner.html