8 Best Infant and Baby Hair Styling Products in 2024

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Cantu Care for Kids Styling Custard

8 Best Infant and Baby Hair Styling Products in [year]

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Baby hair can be wild and untamed, and there’s nothing wrong with the natural look. If you’re after something that’s a little more tamed and styled, you’ll need to find a good styling product.

Now, there are thousands of products available and why can’t I just use the same as I use for my hair or my partner’s hair?

Well, you could, but the products that are specifically designed for babies are gentler and contain ingredients that protect both their delicate hair and skin.

We’re going to give you our top 8 products that are specifically designed for styling the hair of infants and babies. From gel to wax and back again, see if any catch your eye!

Short On Time? Here Are Our Top 3 Choices

	Title	Price	Prime	Buy
Top	Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	Fresh Monster Kids Hair Styling Gel		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	Snip-its Wacky Kids Hair Wax		Prime	Buy Now

Quick Guide for Choosing Hair Products for Babies and Infants

As all parents know, our children’s skin is so delicate and can be irritated by a number of everyday things including heat, bath soaps, laundry detergents, pet dander, dust mites, even certain fabrics.

So it’s no surprise that styling products are no different. This is why it’s so important to identify any ingredients that might cause irritation to your child.

Another thing that we as parents also need to be aware of is that a young baby’s skin is much thinner than ours and so can absorb chemicals that are present in styling products at a much higher rate than our own.

This is why it’s always best to avoid products with dyes and fragrances as they could lead to allergic reactions.

Ingredients

Any styling products that you decide to use on your baby should only contain ingredients that can be safely used on little ones. The chemicals that are contained in adult hair gels are far too harsh for a baby’s skin and could cause irritation.

Style

The type of hairstyle that you’re looking to achieve is very important when choosing hair styling products.

For example, hair products that are designed to tame frizzy curls while leaving them soft and manageable will not be great for holding up that mohawk.

Things to Consider

It’s always a good idea to test a little bit of any new product on the inside of your child’s wrist. If it causes any irritation then you know that it’s not a good option for use on their hair as it will likely cause the same irritation there too.

Best Infant and Baby Hair Styling Products

1. Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel 
2. Fresh Monster Kids Hair Styling Gel
3. Snip-its Wacky Kids Hair Wax
4. Little Roseberry Hair Gel 
5. Hip Peas Natural Hair Styling Balm
6. Original Sprout Natural Hair Gel
7. Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Styling Gel
8. Cantu Care for Kids Styling Custard

1. Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel 

This is a great product but is especially good if you have a child with sensitive skin. It contains no chemical irritants such as dyes, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde, or other preservatives.

It’s also fragrance-free and dermatological tested. It is also alcohol-free, sulfate-free, phosphate-free, and gluten-free. It causes no build up in either hair or scalp.

Pros

• Dermatologically tested
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Contains no chemical irritants

Cons

• Not suitable for all hair types
• Hold does not last long

2. Fresh Monster Kids Hair Styling Gel.

Another great product that is free from harmful chemicals and irritants. It is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, vegan friendly, and never tested on animals.

It can be used on damp or dry hair to get that perfect style you’re looking for. It also states that it has a flexible hold which means that it will not make hair stiff and crunchy.

Pros

• Chemical-free
• Vegan friendly
• Not tested on animals

Cons

• Does not hold any style
• Strong unpleasant odor
• Leaves a residue behind

3. Snip-its Wacky Kids Hair Wax

This product is great in that it does not leave hair stiff or slimy. It is naturally based made using renewable, plant-derived resources and contains no irritants or allergens making it perfect for using on little ones.

This product along with the entire range is made in the USA and is never tested on animals. 

The texture of this product is a paste rather than a gel which is easy to work with and has a great hold for the most part of the day. Yet can still be easily washed out at the end of the day.

Pros

• Made in the USA
• Does not leave hair stiff or slimy
• Easily washed out at the end of the day
• Good hold

Cons

• Can be difficult to work with
• Sticky

4. Little Roseberry Hair Gel 

This is just perfect for all children no matter what age and contains some great ingredients designed to look after delicate skin and hair.

It has a base of organic aloe vera juice and also contains witch hazel. It is also packed with vitamins which is unusual for any type of hair styling product. It is also 100% toxin-free, vegan friendly, and cruelty-free. 

Little Roseberry washes out in one wash and does not leave any build-up of residue in the hair. Parents also rave about its hold.

You will only need a small amount of this gel to hold a style in place and it comes in an easy to dispense bottle that also has a locking spout to avoid any spillage and mess.

There were a few issues brought to light by parents and these were that the hold was affected if the child was touching their hair a lot and that if you used too much product, the hair will look dirty.

Pros

• Great ingredients for looking after delicate hair and skin
• Easy to dispense spout
• Locking spout so no spillages
• 100% toxin-free
• Only a very small amount is needed

Cons

• If too much product is used it can make hair look stiff
• The hold is too light
• Quite pricey

5. Hip Peas Natural Hair Styling Balm

Hip Pea is not a gel but it’s a great multi-use styling product that can be used on boys or girl’s hair. It will hold little boy spikes or messy style and also is great for holding ponytails and braids in place for little girls.

It contains no artificial colors or fragrances.  Hip Pea is paraben, sulfate, petrochemical, and phthalate-free. It’s also not sticky and works more like a pomade, so it is easy to work with.

Pros

• Nice blueberry scent
• Easy to use
• Doesn’t make hair stiff
• Not sticky

Cons

• Doesn’t hold the style for very long
• On the expensive side

6. Original Sprout Natural Hair Gel

This product is dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic. It’s 100% vegan friendly and is made with no parabens, nanoparticles, gluten-free, and is free of any hormone disrupter ingredients.

It has a tropical scent that’s delicious and has a medium to light hold, which means hair does not go crunchy or stiff. These natural styling products do not hold as well as some of those that are laden with chemicals.

This is because it is the chemicals that give that stiff all-day hold, while the natural products give a softer hold that is perfect for little ones.

Pros

• Doesn’t leave hair greasy
• A little goes a long way
• Smells lovely
• Chemical-free
• Not sticky brushes out easily and leave no residue

Cons

• Doesn’t hold for very long
• Some issues with the product leaving a white flaky residue behind.

7. Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Styling Gel

This styling gel has two key elements. Firstly, it’s a great styling product for children and adults alike.

Secondly, it also has a unique blend of natural ingredients that have been proven to help repel lice. This is a fantastic plus as the kids return to school and lice season begins. 

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel is made from a  proprietary blend of organic rosemary, citronella, tea tree, and geranium oils which all help to prevent lice while still holding their style in place.

Pros

• Great scent
• Light hold so no stiffness

Cons

• Did not prevent lice
• Some reports of sensitivity to ingredients causing itchy scalp

8. Cantu Care for Kids Styling Custard

Cantu Care is a blend of 100% pure shea butter, coconut oil, and honey. It contains no harsh ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates, gluten, paraffin, PABA, or DEA.

It isn’t tested on animals and claims to hold styles perfectly. This has a creamy consistency a little bit like custard.

Pro

• Makes hair feel softer and healthier
• Lightweight
• Leaves no residue

Cons

• Has a really strong chemical scent
• Hold does not last very long

FAQs 

Is coconut oil good for baby hair?

Coconut oil is a fantastic treatment for cradle cap and is often recommended as such. It’s super easy to use and also smells divine.

• Apply the oil to the baby’s scalp and leave for 10-30 minutes
• Then gently comb or brush to remove any flakes that have come away from the skin
• Wash hair as normal

Is Johnson’s baby oil recommended for use on baby hair?

Johnson’s baby oil is recommended for the treatment of cradle cap in babies. It’s used in the same way as the coconut oil method above and also has the same results.

Can you use hair products on babies?

This comes down to personal opinion. Some parents do not use any hair products on their little ones even those that are specifically designed for use on babies.

They do not want to expose their children to chemicals that are contained within some products. There are other parents who only use products that are dermatologist recommended or are specifically for use on babies.

Other parents have children that are not little babies anymore and may have a full head of hair that is difficult to tame and they may have no choice but to use adult products in order to keep their little ones looking tidy.

Is hair gel safe for my baby?

The best advice that can be offered is to look for hair styling products that have a clean natural ingredient list. Avoid products that have an ingredient list full of dodgy chemicals.

A baby’s skin will absorb these chemicals and there is always the potential of it running down their face and getting in their eyes or them touching the product on their hair and ingesting it.

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How should I use styling products on my little one?

The best advice is to use any products on damp hair. Squeeze a very small amount onto your fingertips, then rub them together. This warms the product up and makes it easier to work with.

It also ensures even coverage throughout the hair and avoids clumping. Then style hair as you wish, you could dry the hair with a dryer to set the style if you wish.

I’m not happy using styling products on my little one. Is there another way to tame frizzy curls?

Although all the products we have recommended are safe to use on babies, we also understand that as a parent you may be a little cautious.

Here is a home remedy that you may be more comfortable using. Take a pea-sized amount of baby lotion and rub it between your fingertips, then twist each curl around your fingertips.

The baby lotion will help to soften and moisturize the hair while taming those frizzy curls. You may need to experiment with the amount of baby lotion you actually use to find what works best for your little one’s wild curls.

The Final Thought

There is a huge range of styling products specifically for infants and babies available to parents. Unfortunately, the only way to really find what meets your needs best is a little bit of trial and error.

Every child’s hair is different. Even siblings’ hair is not the same. My three daughters all have very different hair and what works in one does not necessarily work in the other.

Yes, read the reviews, read articles such as this, and take recommendations from other parents. 

Our favorite product is Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel as it is so good for sensitive skin, so if you have any doubts about your child’s skin then this would be the go-to styling product for us.

It’s dermatologically recommended and contains no harmful chemicals. The other products on our list are fab too and you would not go far wrong by trying one of them either!