We all know the feeling of combing your hair up into a sleek ponytail and having it ruined by tiny, pesky, frizzy baby hairs. It’s not a good look. Not only does it look messy, but if you have enough of them you can get that wiry, Albert Einstein hairstyle happening – not cute.
Baby hairs are basically inevitable (unless you’ve won the baby hair genetic lottery), but there are many ways to deal with them both in the long term and short term – like when you’re about to go out and only have a couple minutes to tame them into your slick ponytail. There’s also a few methods you can try to help prevent causing more in the future.
We’re going to take a look at all of this, but first, let’s figure out exactly what baby hairs are and what causes them.
What are baby hairs?
Baby hairs are found on your forehead, outlining your hairline. They’re generally quite short and stick out awkwardly, making it hard to tame them into the rest of your hair.
There are two types of baby hair; frizzy, straight baby hairs and curly ones – both of which can be equally annoying.
Genetics determine if you’re going to have lots of baby hairs or only a few but usually everyone has a noticeable amount of these flyaways – so don’t stress too much about your baby hairs, they’re totally normal!
Baby hairs aren’t just aesthetically problematic, they can actually cause pimples on your hairline! These tiny hairs can trap moisture and oils on the skin’s surface, making you breakout.
This doesn’t happen to everyone, but if you’ve noticed pimples forming along your hairline then this could be why and it might be time to consider removing them – but we’ll get to that later. Let’s figure out exactly what causes baby hairs in the first place.
What causes baby hairs?
As mentioned above, genetics play a big factor in the type of hair you have and if you’re prone to having more baby hairs. Those of us with darker hair will have more noticeable baby hairs.
In saying that, though, there are a few things you might be doing in your everyday routine that are sabotaging your hair.
- Brushing – If you’re dragging your brush through your tangles like there’s no tomorrow and noticing fall-out or breakage, you might need to grab a comb with wider gaps between the teeth or even a tangle teaser. The more hairs that break, the more baby hairs can (and will) form.
- Tight ponytails – Now we know you love a sleek pony as much as the next diva, but if it’s too tight it can cause hair breakage which leads to baby hairs. Try leaving your hair out more or using a scrunchie to be a bit gentler on your locks.
- Weak hair – Been heavy on the blow-drying lately? Or gone a little overboard with the heat styling? Weak, damaged hair is brittle and prone to breakage. Take a break from the tools and instead build your hair’s strength up again to avoid extra baby hairs.
- Hats – Avoiding tight hats and caps will reduce their rubbing against your hairline and creating more baby hairs, go for headwear that’s a little looser if you can.
Can I get rid of my baby hairs?
The short answer is yes, but here’s how to get rid of your baby hairs on a more permanent, long-term basis:
- Laser hair treatment – This sounds extreme but, for some people, baby hairs are the bane of their existence – if so, then this is the solution for you. Get those baby hairs burnt off down to the follicle for a semi-permanent result.
- Hair removal creams – There are some excellent facial hair removal creams on the market that will offer a quick and easy result. Just be careful you don’t take off too much hair and be sure to patch test the cream on your skin beforehand for negative reactions.
- Electrolysis – This will work for all hair colours and types, an electric charge will be applied to the hair shaft to destroy the follicle and root.
Don’t try to shave or wax your hairs, just trust us on this one. There’s too much room for error and your baby hairs will grow back in thicker, darker and more unruly than ever before.
How to tame baby hairs quickly and easily
If you’re looking for a solution that’s a little less permanent and a little more time-effective than the ones above, here’s some great ways you can quickly tame your pesky baby hairs:
- Clear mascara – Every makeup lover should have some clear mascara in their arsenal. Simply brush it over your baby hairs and back into your hairline to stick them down. Don’t overdo it though or it will look too slick and wet.
- Toothbrush and hairspray/gel – This is the same kind of idea but on a budget scale. Grab an old or spare toothbrush (make sure it’s clean!) and spray some hairspray or put some gel onto the bristles. Then use the same method above to stick those babies down.
- Hair dryer – This one is quick and easy for less stubborn baby hairs, simply blowdry them back towards your hairline and then flat against your heat on the highest heat setting for a few seconds.
- Coconut oil – What can’t coconut oil do? This is a two-pronged approach to help with the frizziness at the root of your baby hair issue. You can massage it into your scalp and roots overnight to improve the health of your hair but you can also use it to slick back and weigh down your baby hairs if you?re in a hurry.
And if all else fails, just rock the messy look with a cute bun or relaxed pony – you can’t beat your baby hairs everyday so why not enjoy them every now and then?
Conclusion
Baby hairs are unavoidable, but if you’re not too keen on them then there’s plenty of ways to tame those fly-aways. Whether it’s a more permanent solution like laser hair removal, or a quick fix with your toothbrush and a dab of hair gel, there’s a quick and easy remedy out there that will be your hair’s saviour.
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