Do you understand the importance of fully knowing the hair type of your child?  It is so critical!  Knowing their hair type will help you easily choose which kids hair products to choose for them, or how to cut and style their hair for the best overall look!  In this article, we break it down very clearly for you.  Some of this information will probably be new for you!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Opening Thoughts

So, how well do you really know your child’s hair?  I ask because kids hairstyles and kids hair products look and react differently on their particular type of hair.  Specifically,

• hair type
• hair texture
• porosity of hair
• hair elasticity

and

• sebum production of the scalp

are unique for every human being.  Fully knowing all of them for your child will enable you to help them look their very best!  Let’s take a closer look at each to guide you along.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Hair Structure

It is important to begin with a refresher of your high school biology and anatomy class!  Let’s take a quick dive into the basic structure of human hair.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Hair Type

Knowing your child’s hair type is the very first step in being able to select the best kids hair products for them.  Further, this knowledge will enable you to choose the right kids hairstyle and get the most beautiful presentation possible.  This is achieved via the various styling techniques and hair care products available to optimize their locks.

There are actually four (4) main hair types.

• Straight
• Wavy
• Curly
• Coily / Kinky

Madison Reed actually provides expert tips on caring for each of them.  I will include the links at the end of this article.

If you are unsure what hair type your child is, here is a simple test you can try.  Leave it free of products for a day or so.  Next, give it a good wash with shampoo and conditioner.  Finally, let it air dry.  Upon drying, if it dries completely straight, then your child has straight hair.

If there’s a natural wave to it that doesn’t completely curl up, your child has wavy hair.  Conversely, if it does curl up with larger curls, then they have curly hair.  Finally, if the hair curls up with very tightly wound curls, your child has coily or kinky hair.

Now that you know the hair type of your child, you can choose hairstyles based on their type.  Also, you can select the right kids hair products!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Hair Texture

Now that you know all about hair type, the next step is identifying your child’s hair texture.  Further, lots of moms and dads don’t think of hair texture, or thickness as a factor of hair type.  But it definitely is!  This characteristic of hair strongly affects how your hair holds different hairstyles and hair products.

In case you weren’t familiar, there are actually three main hair textures.

• Fine
• Medium
• Coarse

Hair texture has but one determining factor – the diameter of each individual strand of your child’s hair.  A common misconception is when parents confuse hair density with diameter.  For example, a child with fine hair can have lots of it, but it is considered “fine” nonetheless.  Don’t confuse thin hair with fine hair!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Fine Hair

Fine hair typically lightens very easily.  When your child gets to an old enough age to color it, if they have fine hair it will also process very quickly.  The bad news is that it is more vulnerable to chemicals than other textures, and thus susceptible to damage and getting over processed.

At a young age, it is most important to keep harmful chemicals away from your child’s hair, even when it comes to kids hair products!  Choose products that are organic or all-natural so you can ensure their hair grows healthy and strong into adulthood.  Finally, fine hair requires less styling to hold it in place.  Less is more regarding kids hair products, so you can avoid unnecessary waste by applying it sparingly!

How do I test if my child has fine hair?  Very easily!  Simply cut a six inch long piece of sewing thread, and lay it on your bathroom counter top.  Next, brush your child’s hair and pull an individual strand from the brush.  Finally, lay the strand next to the sewing thread.  If your child has fine hair, the strand will be significantly thinner than the thread.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Medium Hair

Medium hair is exactly what it sounds like.  It is the mid-range of hair diameter, and is thicker than fine hair yet more easily manageable than coarse hair.  The great thing about medium hair is that it does not have any special considerations or vulnerabilities either way, and can hold most kids hair products.  Further, most hairstyles will also look great with medium hair since it is not prohibited or vulnerable to certain styles like fine and coarse textures.  Finally, medium hair is fairly easy to style and holds its shape longer than fine hair.

How to test if your child has medium hair?  You can use the same hair strand / sewing thread test mentioned earlier.  If the strand is equal in diameter to that of the thread, their hair is medium.  If you don’t have sewing thread available, simply take the strand of hair and rub it between your thumb and index finger.  Fine hair will barely (or not at all) noticeable to touch.   If you can feel the hair, but not extreme to the touch, your child’s texture is medium!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Coarse Hair

Coarse hair is the thickest range of hair diameter.  It has the largest circumference, and as such, is slower to absorb product or color.  Again, once old enough to color their hair, tell them to expect long processing times.  Coarse hair is also more resistant to chemical treatments such as permanents and straightening.  Finally, coarse hair is the strongest, and most difficult to damage.  It is not as susceptible to chemicals or toxins as fine or medium hair.

You can test your child for coarse hair by comparing a strand to the sewing thread.  Coarse hair will appear thicker than sewing thread.  If you rub between your fingers, you will be able to feel a strong, thick strand.

Coarse hair is typically the most difficult to style.  Be sure to select a barber or stylist who is experienced with coarse, thick hair.  Like very fine hair, when styling, there is less margin for error.  Coarse hair styling is also normally more expensive than the other textures, as it is more time consuming.

There are brands and models of kids hair products that are made specifically for thick, coarse hair.  Check out our article on the Best Kids Hair Products 2018 for more information!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Hair Porosity

Porosity is a measure of the void, or empty spaces in a material.  In this case, we are talking about your child’s hair.  It is calculated scientifically by taking a fraction of the volume of voids over the total volume.  The percentage that results is the porosity of your child’s hair.  The lower the number, the less porous it is.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Testing the Porosity of your Child’s Hair

Without having to earn an engineering degree, we can test this simply by seeing how a strand of their hair floats!  If the strand of hair sinks immediately, your child’s hair is most likely highly porous.  If it floats, your child’s hair is not porous.

Typically, the more porous the hair, the more moisture it needs to stay healthy.  Blondes are generally more susceptible to hair porosity than brunettes or red heads.   For more porous hair types, conditioning hair and adding moisturizers like coconut oil is essential.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Hair Elasticity

The scientific definition of elasticity is the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed.  Regarding your child’s hair, elasticity is essentially an indicator of how healthy it is.  Further, elasticity is an indicator of how manageable your child’s hair is to style.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Testing the Elasticity of your Child’s Hair

For a simple test, gently stretch your child’s hair to see how “flexible” it is.  If it breaks right away, your child’s hair elasticity is low.  Conversely, if it stretches to a considerable length (50% of its original position), then their hair is highly elastic.  For a final health check, begin relieving the pressure on the ends to see how well it returns to its original form.

For children’s hair with low elasticity, it is imperative to avoid chemical or toxin induced products at all costs.  As your child ages, be sure to buy products with strengthening treatment.  Matrix Biolage makes some good products for this, and even aids in treating split ends!

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Sebum Production of the Scalp

Understanding the chemistry of your child’s scalp is also very important for ensuring healthy hair throughout their lives.  A child’s sebum is the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands sitting right below their face and scalp.  It is the gland most responsible for cradle cap in newborns.  Further, the health of this gland contributes to acne and other skin conditions later in life.

It’s important to understand the degree of oiliness of your child’s scalp so that you can pick out the best kids hair products to keep the scalp healthy and balanced.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Testing the Sebum Production of your Child’s Scalp

In order to test the oil production of your child’s scalp, simply give the hair a good wash with a kid-friendly shampoo.  Next, wait a day and give their scalp a thorough inspection.  If it is greasy, they have an oily scalp.  Or, if it looks about the same, you child’s scalp is fairly balanced.  Finally, it is dry, you will notice flakes or dandruff.

A majority of children have an oily scalp and dry ends.  Most adults fall into this category as well, as the further the hair travels from the scalp, the less natural moisture available to it.  At early ages, organic and all natural products are the best recipe, avoiding harmful chemical and toxins.  As your child gets older, pick out a volumizing shampoo for use at the root near the scalp, with a hydrating conditioner from the mid strands of the hair to the ends.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Conclusion

Once you fully know the hair type of your child, you will be able to shop for the best kids hair products for them much more easily!  Further, you will also have a stronger grasp on which hairstyles to select for them early on, and recommend haircuts and hairstyles for them to pick for themselves later in life.

None of this information is a secret.  It’s basic science, and I’ve provided some very easy tests for you to use to determine the degree to which your child has the different hair types.  To further aid you, most kids hair products will clearly label which hair type their particular product is made for.  Finally, you will be most confident mixing and matching products across the various kids hair product categories to assemble the ideal system for their total hair care.

In closing, I’ll let you know that this information will also make you more educated and informed upon your next visit to the kids salon or beauty shop.  As they say, the best consumer is an educated consumer.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Book an Appointment

Thanks for checking out our blog!  To put this information to good use, drop in and give us a visit!  Call Today at (201) 653-5887 to Book an Appointment, or book an appointment on our website by clicking “Book an Appointment”.

The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child – Supplemental Links

Thanks for checking out our article, “The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of Your Child.”  As promised, be sure to check out these cool links from Madison Reed to better understand the major hair types:

All You Need to Know About Straight Hair Type

Wavy Hair – All You Need to Know about your hair type

All You Need to Know About Curly Hair Type

Coily Hair – All You Need to Know about your hair type

The post The Importance of Fully Knowing the Hair Type of your Child first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.

Starve a Flu and Feed a Cold ?

The old saying ” Starve a Flu and Feed a Cold ” may be only partially good advice…

With flu infections reaching their highest levels in over a decade, hospitals across America are packed to capacity this winter.  Follow these tips to keep you and your family as safe as possible!

The common cold and the flu actually share many symptoms, and it can be difficult or impossible to tell the difference based on symptoms alone!  Furthermore, medical tests can actually identify if you have the flu.

You should know that a cold and the flu are both the result of viruses; however, these viruses are very different.  Finally, both are contagious, however, the flu is far more capable of causing harm to the respiratory system of the patient than the common cold.

The Real Truth about Colds and the Flu

Nearly half of all common colds are caused by rhinoviruses, however, more than 200 different viruses can cause a cold.  Further, with an incubation period from one to seven days, colds can last seven to 10 days, or up to two weeks, depending on the viral strain.  Colds are considered mainly to be a mild respiratory illness.

Influenza (commonly called the flu) is a viral infection of the upper and / or lower respiratory system.  With a shorter incubation period of one to four days, the flu typically lasts five days to two weeks depending on the severity of the infection.  Also, the flu can become intense and potentially fatal in some individuals, so medical attention is paramount.

Sage Advice?  When it comes to nutrition, the old saying “feed a cold, starve the flu,” is not completely accurate, according to experts.  Consequently, this is because starving a fever by eating fewer calories may actually make it more difficult for your body to fight off the flu virus.

Simple Reminders:

DO:

-Stay home and rest

-Drink plenty of fluids

-Treat fever with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aches &

pains  with ibuprofen (Motrin)

-Wash your hands frequently

-Go to your doctor:

If you develop trouble breathing or have a severe sore throat.  Further, if you have a cough that produces green-colored mucus, experience chest pain, or develop a high and persistent fever – make a doctor appointment.  Moreover, do you suspect that you have the flu and are pregnant or over 50?  Or, so you have a weakened immune system for any reason, or have ongoing medical problems such as diabetes?  You are at a higher risk of developing complications due to the flu and should contact your physician.  If you have a child less than 2 years of age with flu-like symptoms, their doctors need to be notified and it may be worth making a visit to them!

DON’T:

-Go to work/school

-Rely on over – the – counter medicine alone

-Touch your face with your hands

To conclude, a cold or the flu is no laughing matter.   Take the preventive steps that you can.  Further, if you are unfortunate enough to come down with one, be smart.   Finally, be sure to get the medical help you need if your symptoms tell you so!

Book an Appointment

Thanks for checking out our article Starve a Flu and Feed a Cold !  Call Today at (201) 653-KUTS (5887) to Book an Appointment, or book an appointment on our website by clicking “Book an Appointment”.

Social Media

We have a very dynamic social media presence, and are always posting great photos and ideas.  Feel free to follow us on all our platforms!

YouTube Page – Do you like to watch videos about kids haircuts and first haircuts?  How about toys and video games?  Awesome!  What about videos about special haircut ceremonies like Mundan or Chudakarana?  If so, our YouTube channel is probably for you!  Furthermore – Click and subscribe to our channel to watch our great videos, and get special offers and deals as well!

Facebook Page – Facebook is the flagship social media page of Just 4 Kids Salon.  On it you will find lots of great photos, inspirational quotes, and invitations to special events we are having.  Finally – Just click the link and Like Us today!

Pinterest Page – Pinterest is the social platform we love to “glam it up” on!  Finally – check out our pins in various areas of the beauty and fashion world!

Twitter Page – We love to listen to our followers and like to provide timely updates to trending topics in pop culture.  Finally – Click our Twitter page and follow us now!

Google Plus Page – Google Plus is a great new social media platform!  It incorporates a social layer across various services such as Picasa photo storage and sharing!  Also – it integrates with GMail, Calendars and YouTube.  Be sure to follow us on it, and contribute to our content!

More Social Media

Linked In Page – Linked In is our professional page where we do a good bit of recruiting.  We are always looking for the best talent in the market, and our Linked In page shows some good insight into our company culture and provides other valuable information about who we are as an organization.  Link us today!

Instagram Page – Instagram is a great place to get interesting and local flair content from us!  It includes incredible local photography, highlighting the very best that Hoboken and our salon has to offer.  We like to provide interesting weather updates, and great photos of haircuts and birthday parties.  Finally, be sure to follow us on it!

Yelp! Page – Yelp! is the ultimate independent review site on the web.  We strive to maintain excellence in this area, and you can browse honest reviews of our business here.  Simply check us out and share your experience with us!

The post Starve a Flu and Feed a Cold first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.

When it’s cold outside , it’s a little harder to keep your child entertained – but who wants to take their children out to play in this brutally cold weather?!?!  Here are a few options to keep everyone happy and warm!

1)  Music and Books: Right in your living room, have a dance party with your child!  Music is the only activity that engages all parts of the brain. Children love to jump and imitate your dance moves!

Engage your inner performer by using your own imagination (using different voices) to animate the characters in your child’s book!

2)  Arts & Crafts:  Use stickers, chalk or washable markers to have your child’s inner Picasso shine! Getting creative is important for development, but, doesn’t have to be messy by avoiding crayons and paint.

3)  Sensory Bins:  Grab bins, bottles, containers or sealed plastic bags and fill them with objects around the house:  toys, uncooked pasta, balls, blocks, sea shells or anything that is of course, child-friendly.  The possibilities are numerous!  It’s a fun way to learn and appeals to a child’s senses.  And they can help your child in various skills:  fine motor, counting, matching and is visually stimulated.

4.)  Yoga:  For something a little more physical – pop in a Kids Yoga DVD or go to Youtube and make it a family affair – some basic yoga mats will do the trick!

5.)  Jump Rope:  Get that cardio up in a fun way!  Jumping rope is a favorite among kids and boxers in training alike!

The post Keeping Your Child Entertained on Cold Winter Days first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.

Fun Mathematics Reinforcement for your Child Through Educational Television Programs

Teaching children the importance of mathematics is critical to their development.  Furthermore, a math-savvy child can develop them into a highly productive member of society!  Finally, mathematics can be used in the real world for successfully managing important tasks such as:

1.) Balancing a check book

2.) Determining how many square feet of hardwood flooring you need

3.) Figuring out how many miles per gallon of gasoline your automobile uses.

Reinforcing your child’s knowledge of mathematics in a “fun” way is important.  Further, they will not only learn the skill, but possibly also  develop a genuine interest in it!  Check this out!  Finally, as a suggestion, the following children’s television programs can be used for this all-important reinforcement:

The Mathematics Shows to Watch

1.)  Peg and Cat:

Started in October, 2013, Math is showcased throughout Peg’s adventures with her cat.

 2) Team Umizoomi:

Kids are encouraged to develop, “Mighty Math Powers!” on Nickelodeon

3) Cyberchase:

Three kids saving Cyberspace; available on PBS and Netflix.

4) Schoolhouse Rock! – Math:

Short-animated episodes can be found throughout YouTube that actually aired Saturday

mornings from 1973 to 1985.

Also, check out the following useful educational websites for mathematics reinforcement:

• Mathgoodies
• What’s for Dinner
• NLCD Home Study Skills – Math

So give these programs and websites a try, and start the positive reinforcement of your child’s education and adventures in mathematics!  Further, your child will be better equipped to handle things later in life

Like what you’ve read so far?  Good!  Further, you can keep up with the Just 4 Kids Salon Blog: https:// just4kidssalon.com/blog –  We try to publish a new article every few weeks.  Check back with us soon for the next valuable thread!

Just 4 Kids Social Media and Mathematics

We have a very dynamic social media presence, and are always posting great photos and ideas.  Feel free to follow us on all our platforms!

YouTube Page – Do you like to watch videos about kids haircuts and first haircuts?  Further, what about toys and video games?  Awesome!  What about special haircut ceremonies like Mundan or Chudakarana?  It sounds like our YouTube channel is probably for you!  Finally – Click and subscribe to our channel to watch our great videos, and get special offers and deals as well!

Facebook Page – Facebook is the flagship social media page of Just 4 Kids Salon.  Furthermore, you will find lots of great photos, inspirational quotes, and invitations to special events we are having.  Finally – Just click the link and Like Us today!

Pinterest Page – Pinterest is the social platform we love to “glam it up” on!  Finally – check out our pins in various areas of the beauty and fashion world!

Twitter Page – We love to listen to our followers and like to provide timely updates to trending topics in pop culture.  Finally – Click our Twitter page and follow us now!

More Social Media

Google Plus Page – Google Plus is a great new social media platform incorporating a social layer across various services such as Picasa photo storage and sharing, as well as GMail, Calendars and YouTube.  Finally, be sure to follow us on it, and contribute to our content!

Linked In Page – Linked In is our professional page where we do a good bit of recruiting.  We are always looking for the best talent in the market, and our Linked In page shows some good insight into our company culture and provides other valuable information about who we are as an organization.  Link us today!

Instagram Page – Instagram is a great place to get interesting and local flair content from us, including incredible local photography, highlighting the very best that Hoboken and our salon has to offer. Also, we like to provide interesting weather updates, and great photos of haircuts and birthday parties.  Finally, be sure to follow us on it!

Yelp! Page – Yelp! is the ultimate independent review site on the web.  Further, we strive to maintain excellence in this area, and you can browse honest reviews of our business here.  Finally, check us out and share your experience with us!

The post Mathematics Reinforcement first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.

We continue our Just 4 Kids Salon’s blog series on fun ways to teach kids the educational value of completing common household chores.  Today we focus on doing the laundry!

Sorting clothes before and after washing is a great way to help young kids match items that are alike.  It also them learn how to classify items.

For example, have your child sort pants in one pile and T-shirts into another.   Another way is to ask your kid to sort clothes according to color or pattern.  Finally, your child can sort clothes based on sizes (small, medium and large), or even according to who owns them.

We hope you enjoyed today’s blog.  For more useful tips, inspiring quotes and kinds’ nutritional advice – Check out our Facebook Page.  To schedule an appointment for our great kids salon services or a kids birthday party package, click here to Book an Appointment today!

The post Teaching Kids Value in Doing Laundry first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.

Everyday Chores can be used as Educational Tools for Kids

Even the most mudane household chores such as laundry can teach your kid a lesson in counting and sorting while aiding in their motor development!

As the noted psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis once stated: “Toddlers learn best when they use all their senses. The more they see, feel, hear and touch objects, the better the lessons sink in.”

On the surface, household chores are boring.  However, what if we used some creativity in making them fun?  Wouldn’t your child be a little more likely to want to help out if there was something interesting in it for them?  Of course they would!  Also, it never hurts to reward good behavior by buying them a little gift to entice them to help out again in the future!  Maybe a nice new matchbox car or some time out for ice cream!  Parents!  Use these helpful hints to apply an educational perspective to everyday chores around the house:

EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR KIDS IN THE KITCHEN:

1) Shapes and Sizes:  Ask your child: “Do you think the flour will fit into the large bowl or do we need a smaller one?”

2) Sounds:  Discuss how a teakettle whistles when the water is boiling. Also, have fun with frequencies and sound waves by tapping a glass full of water!  Next, compare it to the noise it makes when the glass is empty or somewhere in between!

3) Counting:  Ask your child to help you set the table and ask how many glasses are needed so everyone has one

EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR KIDS IN THE BATHROOM:

1) Weights and Measures:  Use laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener (or even toilet bowl cleaner) as a way to teach your child to properly measure volumes in millilitres or fluid ounces.  Furthermore, this will give them a nice little mathematical background!

2) Timing is Everything: Your little one can learn about hours, minutes and seconds by timing washer and dryer cycles.  Consequently, this will teach them a valuable lesson on how to program the machinery.

3) Clothing Geometry:  Have your child help you with folding the laundry!  Check this out!  They can better understand shapes and number of folds required for particular pieces of clothing!

MORE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR KIDS TO COME:

Having fun yet?  Good!  Just wait until we follow up on educational tools for kids to use in the bedroom and in the garage!

Are you enjoying other articles on our blog?  Check out our other great articles here.

Parents!  New articles are always being written on our website within the field of hair care! So drop us a line and let us know if there is a topic you would like to see!  In conclusion, we’ll write about anything within the Children’s salon genre that you would like more information on!

Check out all of our fun and educational articles in the field of kids applied science as well

Book an Appointment

Thanks for checking out our article Everyday Chores as Educational Tools for Kids ! Call Today at (201) 653-KUTS (5887) to Book an Appointment, or book an appointment on our website by clicking “Book an Appointment”.

Social Media

We have a very dynamic social media presence and are always posting great photos and ideas.  Put simply, feel free to follow us on all our platforms!

YouTube Page – Do you like to watch videos about kids haircuts and first haircuts?  How about toys and video games?  Awesome!  What about videos about special haircut ceremonies like Mundan or Chudakarana?  If so, our YouTube channel is probably for you!  Furthermore – Click and subscribe to our channel to watch our great videos, and get special offers and deals as well!

Facebook Page – Facebook is the flagship social media page of Just 4 Kids Salon.  Further, you will find lots of great photos, inspirational quotes, and invitations to special events we are having.  Finally – Just click the link and Like Us today!

Pinterest Page – Pinterest is the social platform we love to “glam it up” on!  Finally – check out our pins in various areas of the beauty and fashion world!

Twitter Page – We love to listen to our followers and like to provide timely updates to trending topics in pop culture.  Finally – Click our Twitter page and follow us now!

Google Plus Page – Google Plus is a great new social media platform!  It incorporates a social layer across various services such as Picasa photo storage and sharing!  Also – it integrates with GMail, Calendars and YouTube.  Be sure to follow us on it, and contribute to our content!

More Social Media

Linked In Page – Linked In is our professional page where we do a good bit of recruiting.  We are always looking for the best talent in the market, and our Linked In page shows some good insight into our company culture and provides other valuable information about who we are as an organization.  Finally, link us today!

Instagram Page – Instagram is a great place to get interesting and local flair content from us!  Also, it includes incredible local photography, highlighting the very best that Hoboken and our salon has to offer.  Furthermore, we like to provide interesting weather updates, and great photos of haircuts and birthday parties.  Finally, be sure to follow us on it!

Yelp! Page – Yelp! is the ultimate independent review site on the web.  We strive to maintain excellence in this area, and you can browse honest reviews of our business here.  Simply check us out and share your experience with us!

The post Everyday Chores can be used as Educational Tools for Kids first appeared on Children Salon, Kids Birthday Party and Lice Treatment.