Do You Need to Prep Your Child’s Hair Before Braiding?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I need to do anything to my child’s hair before braiding?” you’re already ahead of most parents.

The truth is, the prep depends entirely on your child’s hair type — and getting it right makes the entire braiding process so much easier.

After teaching over 250 parents at my workshops, I can tell you this with confidence:

“A little bit of extra time for the right prep can be the difference between a calm, smooth braid… and both of you wanting to give up halfway through.”

Let’s break it down simply, based on the textures I see most often in the studio.

For curly, coily, or mixed-texture hair: a little extra love goes a long way

If your child has curls, coils, or a mixed-texture hair, you’ll want to prepare the hair before you start the braid. Not because their hair is “harder” — it’s just more textured and might be a bit more tangled, and braiding it in its natural state can create tension you don’t want.

Here’s what I do in the studio:

1. Light mist of water
2. A layer of heat-protectant product
3. Gentle blow-dry to stretch and soften the curls
   

My goal isn’t to make the hair pin-straight. It’s simply to make sure I can run my fingers through the hair easily without catching.

That’s what makes the braid smooth, clean, and comfortable.

At home, you can also start with freshly washed damp hair. Start by detangling and then gentle blow dry to stretch and soften the curls.

All we want in the end is to easily run our fingers through the hair. That’s how we know it’s perfectly ready for comfortable braiding. 

A real workshop moment

I once had a mum bring in her daughter with beautiful tight curls. She said braiding at home always ended in tears. When I asked her how she prepped the hair, she said, “I didn’t.”

Once I showed her how to gently stretch the curls with a brush and blow dryer, everything changed.

The braid went in smoothly, her daughter didn’t flinch once, and the mum said, “I can’t believe I’ve been skipping this.”

Most parents simply don’t know what prep makes a difference.

For silky, glossy, or straight hair: keep it simple

Silky hair is a different story.

If your child’s hair is naturally straight, smooth and slippery, you usually don’t need any heat prep at all.

In fact — too much product makes silky hair harder to braid. It gets greasy, stringy, and loses grip.

All you need is:

• a gentle brush-through
• knots removed
• the hair clean and dry

That’s it. No oils. No creams. No detanglers that leave residue. Just a clean base so your sections stay neat.

A common mistake parents make

A lot of mums tell me, “I added oil so the braid would hold,” but silky hair + oil = braid slipping out by lunchtime. It’s not the technique — it’s the prep.

Once you understand the texture, everything gets easier.

How to tell if the hair is prepped enough

A good test is this:

• Can you run your fingers down the hair smoothly?
• Does your comb glide without snagging?
• When you separate a section, does it stay clean?
  

If yes — you’re ready to braid.

If no — brushing or light blow-drying is your friend.

Learn More: Your Guide to Easier, Smoother Braids

If braiding often feels harder than it should, the right prep can make a huge difference. Inside my online course for parents, I break down techniques in a simple, clear way so you can braid confidently at home — without overwhelm.