Some parents get lucky and only have to worry about scrubbing their baby’s head with body wash every few days and calling it a job well done. Others have to style hair right out of the gate. Either way, both “teams” will eventually have to confront the daunting task of choosing products for their baby’s hair.
Obviously, you can’t throw whatever shampoo and leave-in conditioner you use on their head. It’s too harsh, and hello, it burns if it runs into their eyes! With that being said, some babies definitely require some extra care in terms of moisture. They might need it sooner if they suffer from cradle cap too. That scaly skin can build up quickly and cause itchiness and overall “ick” to look at.
We get it, it’s scary to decide what you can use on your child’s hair and skin. You want everything to be natural and give them the best healthy head of hair possible and promote hair growth. That’s why we’ve taken the burden off your shoulders and researched some of the best moisturizers for baby hair. Check out our top picks below!
Baby Hair Moisturizer – Our Picks
- Johnsons Tear Free Conditioning Hair Moisturizer – Best for quick spritz of conditioner
- Carols Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey – Best for taming edges and short hair
- Coconut Essentials Coconut Baby Oil – Best for sensitive skin/scalps
- SheaMoisture Butter Baby – Best scented oil
- Cara B Moisturizing Hair Mist – Best for detangling hair
- Soft and Precious Creme Dress – Best for defining curly hair
Note: Our individual reviews are below, but you can also click any of the links above to check current prices on Amazon and other retailers
Table of Contents
What can I put in my baby’s hair to keep it moisturized?
Before you have children, you might assume that you can use whatever is already in your shower on their fresh baby hair. While that might simplify things, it’s probably not a good idea. Read on to see what is safe and recommended in keeping your baby’s hair moisturized, shiny and healthy.
Is vaseline good for baby hair?
A tiny bit of Vaseline can be helpful for taming frizzy hair and cow licks. You can also use it to provide a bit of hold for styling. However, the product may be too heavy for thin or fine hair. However, if your baby has a touch of cradle cap, it might be best to steer clear of Vaseline or petroleum jelly because it can clog the pores and worsen the condition.
Is olive oil Safe for baby hair?
Olive oil is an excellent choice for your baby’s hair care routine. For one, it’s natural and chemical free, an ideal characteristic in any product for your infant. It improves the texture, shine, strength, and manageability of hair. Additionally, it’s helpful for itchy and dry scalp issues, as well as removing cradle cap.
Is coconut oil safe for baby hair?
Like olive oil, coconut oil is natural and safe for baby hair. It has antibacterial properties and is great for treating eczema and dry skin, in general. You can use it to moisturize and style hair. (Speaking from experience for curly hair, it can lead to some buildup and weight on curls).
Is shea butter safe for baby hair?
Once again, this is a safe addition to your babe’s hair care routine. Shea butter alone, is free of chemicals and parabens. It’s great for skin, especially dry skin and eczema. It’s probably not the best or easiest choice for taming frizz and styling (unless it’s in another styling medium).
When can I start putting products in my baby’s hair?
You’ll want to wait a while to apply traditional products to your infant’s hair. Natural moisturizers, such as olive oil or coconut oil, however, are considered safe right out of the gate. As far as baby styling products, it’s probably best to hold out until they’re closer to 6+ months depending on the ingredients.
How often should I moisturize my baby’s hair?
Keep their hair and scalp moisturized by applying product 2-3 times a week. This goes along with only washing their hair around twice a week. Curly hair, especially, is healthier the less you wash it.
Why is my baby’s hair so dry anyway?
If your baby’s hair and scalp are dry and flaky, just know that it is completely common and normal for infants. It’s probably due, in part, to a condition called cradle cap, which is a type of dermatitis that causes scaly patches. The pores of the scalp become blocked and, in turn, the hair lacks the healthy oils from the scalp.
Baby Hair Moisturizer Reviews
Johnsons Tear Free Conditioning Hair Moisturizer
This conditioning spray is recommended for children ages 2+. However, it is paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and dye free, should you need to use the product a bit earlier for kiddos blessed with lots of hair!
This conditioning hair moisturizer is designed to make hair smooth, manageable, and shiny which is ideal for hair with texture. For best results, spray it on damp hair and style as usual. For curly-headed kids, you can probably get by with using this as a quick refresh between washes or with styling.
What we liked:
- Easy-to-apply spray
- Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and dyes
- Gives smooth, manageable, and shiny appearance to hair
- Can use along with other Johnsons hair care
- Great for curls, especially refreshes between washes
What we didn’t:
- Won’t be the best for moisturizing the scalp for young infants and newborns
Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey
Now, this product is a little different from a lightweight hair oil or spray. This pomade is ideal for edges on updos, short hair, and curly styles. It provides moisture, hold, and shine to hair while taming frizz.
Like pretty much everything from Carol’s Daughter, this product is paraben, petroleum, and mineral oil-free. Another great characteristic of hair pomade is the fact that a little goes a long way. You can likely get months and months of use from just one jar.
What we liked:
- Great for hold and style
- Tames “wispy” hair around hairline
- Adds definition and shine to curls and waves
- Product will last a long time because a little goes a long way
- Paraben, petroleum, and mineral oil-free
What we didn’t:
- More for style than moisture
Coconut Essentials Coconut Baby Oil
This coconut product is really a one-size-fits-all jar of nourishment for hair and skin. It’s great for a list of ailments including dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, diaper rash, and even stretch marks. Plus, this product is all natural with no chemicals, parabens, alcohol, or gluten.
For cradle cap, coconut oil is great for loosening the “scales” on the scalp. Use the oil to soak and loosen the dry skin and use a soft brush to exfoliate it away. It’s also great on actual hair after washing to add moisture and shine.
What we liked:
- Treats skin issues such as dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, diaper rash, and stretch marks
- Great for baby and adults
- All natural with no chemicals, parabens, alcohol, or gluten
- Easy-to-use remedy to clear cradle cap scales
- Use to add shine and moisture to dry hair
What we didn’t:
- No cons here. Coconut oil is a great tool for skin and hair care.
SheaMoisture Butter Baby
Once again, oil is really the workhouse in baby products. You can use this SheaMoisture Butter Baby oil to massage their skin after a bath or smooth a little over their hair after washing. This oil is Vitamin E rich and has the sweet scent of myrrh and honeysuckle. So, not only will their hair be shiny and healthy, they’ll smell clean and fresh after use.
Inside this oil, you’ll also find organic, raw shea butter and soothing chamomile. Both are great natural ingredients for soothing irritated or chapped skin. Additionally, this product is paraben, phthalate, propylene glycol, mineral oil, and sulfate free. Plus, SheaMoisture doesn’t test on animals!
What we liked:
- Vitamin E rich
- Contains organic shea butter and chamomile oil
- Great for hair, as well as dry, irritated, or chapped skin
- Sweet scent of myrrh and honeysuckle
- Free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, and sulfates
- This company does not test on animals
What we didn’t:
- None! This is a great skincare and haircare tool
Soft and Precious Creme Dress
This is a pretty simple curl cream that is useful for smoothing textured hair. It probably wouldn’t be necessary for straight hair, but it wouldn’t “hurt” it either. It contains olive oil and lavender for moisture and shine with a light scent.
Use this on wet or damp hair to lock in moisture, preserve style, and tame frizz. You can also use this to tame wispy hair in updos or braids. Curl creams, in general, are versatile products that can be used in any number of hair routines successfully. (Coming from someone with curly hair, this is one of the best tools to use in combination with gels or sprays because it locks in moisture to form defined waves and curls)
What we liked:
- Use on straight, wavy, or curly hair
- Made with olive oil and lavender
- Keep your baby’s hair smooth
- Locks in moisture, preserves style, and tames frizz
- Great tool to use with other products in hair care routine
What we didn’t:
- This cream is not as thick as it appears (which may be fine depending on hair texture!)
