The Battle Begins
Hair brushing at our house usually sounds like a bad horror movie. Cue the screams. But there’s hope — here's what finally worked.
First things first: find a detangler spray that’s worth its salt. We swear by the Honest Company’s stuff. Spray it generously (I mean it) before you even pick up the brush. Then, a brush with soft bristles, like those from Wet Brush, can make a surprising difference.
Why the Drama?
Honestly, kids hate the sensation of hair pulling — can you blame them? Plus, if your child has even the tiniest of knots, it’s like trying to drag a fork through spaghetti. And sometimes, it's just a morning thing. Who really wants to be reminded of the existence of tangles at 7 a.m.?
Practical Solutions
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Timing is Everything: Try brushing their hair in the evening rather than morning. Fewer time constraints, fewer battles.
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Distract, Distract, Distract: Turn on a cherished episode of Bluey. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, offer to tell a funny story or play their favorite song. (Not sure why, but Lady Gaga seems to work wonders in our house.)
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Let Them Help: Hand them a small brush. While you handle the major tangles, let them 'help' with the other side. It gives them some control and, well, it's kind of cute.
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Change the Scene: Do it in front of a mirror so they can watch. Or if you've got the energy, try making it a game. Pretend they’re getting ready for a royal ball because suddenly, brushing becomes an exciting preamble.
A Real-Life Scenario
One evening before dinner, I said, "You can pick the bedtime story if you let me brush your hair now." There were suspicious eyes watching me, but it surprisingly worked. We ended up reading The Gruffalo four times that night. But hey, hair brushed, screaming avoided.
The Inevitable Backtrack
This might not work every day or with each kid (my second child still thinks hair brushing is akin to medieval torture), but it's a decent start. Sometimes, the best we can do is reduce the screams to an acceptable level.
Just Try This
Tonight, try brushing hair after bath time when everyone’s a bit more relaxed. Might still result in minor protests, but chances are, you'll both survive with your hearing intact.