Curly hair isn't one thing. A loose wave, a springy curl, and a tight coil can all live on three kids in the same family, and each one asks for something slightly different, even though the goal is the same, soft, defined hair that still looks like your kid.
Start with what you're seeing, not a chart
Skip the strict curl-type charts. Instead, look at two things, how much moisture the hair seems to lose during the day, and how much it tangles at the ends. Looser waves usually dry out less but tangle at the crown. Tighter curls and coils tend to run drier overall and knot more at the ends, since natural oils have a harder time traveling down a tightly coiled strand.
For waves and looser curls
Waves and looser curls usually do well with a lightweight leave-in that smooths without flattening the wave pattern. Our Curl Leave-in Cream, worked through damp hair starting at the mid-length, softens frizz without weighing the wave down.
For curls and coils
Tighter curls and coils benefit from a little more moisture support. Pair our Curl Leave-in Cream with our Taming Conditioner in the shower first. The conditioner is built specifically for curls, waves, and coils, and it softens and detangles while the hair is still wet, which is when curly hair is most manageable.
For every pattern, detangle before you dry
No matter the curl pattern, detangling wet hair with a gentle, wide-set brush before it dries makes the biggest difference in how the day goes. Our Cat-Shaped Detangling Brush has soft, flexible bristles that work through knots without the tugging that turns a five-minute routine into a fight.
The goal isn't to change the curl
Whatever pattern your kid has, the goal of a good routine is never to fix or flatten it. It's to give the curl the moisture and care it needs to do what it already does well.
When you're not sure, start with the conditioner
If you only add one new product to a mixed-curl-pattern household, start with our Taming Conditioner. It works in the shower across waves, curls, and coils alike, and it gives you a baseline to see how each kid's hair responds before you build out the rest of the routine. From there, add the leave-in cream once you have a feel for how much moisture each kid's hair actually wants.