The Dad SystemHaircare

Decision maps

Hair decisions,
mapped.

Six quick flowcharts for the moments that make you second-guess. Tap your answers, get one clear next step. Or print the set for the bathroom wall.

Download the PDF

A map, not a diagnosis.

These flowcharts turn the guide into quick next steps. They don’t replace a clinician. Anything that worries you, or doesn’t get better, is a reason to call the pediatrician.

Decision map

Pool, sweat or a wet head?

What to do with their hair after practice, the playground or the pool.

See the whole map
Q1

What just happened?

  • Light sweat · scalp feels fine
    Blot it and let it breathe.Blot the hairline, take off a damp headband, let the roots dry. Refresh only the section that needs it. No shampoo, no full detangle, no extra product.The after-activity branches
  • Heavy sweat · roots are soaked
    Q2

    Is the scalp dirty, coated or itchy?

    • Yes
      Wash tonight. Dry before bed.Shampoo for the dirt and residue, then condition. Rinse well and plan drying time. Perfume, oil or dry shampoo only hide it.The wash-day steps
    • No, just wet
      Rinse, condition, dry.A rinse-and-condition usually suits dry coily hair better than another shampoo. Squeeze, don’t rub. Get the roots dry before they sleep.The after-activity branches
  • Pool, lake or the beach
    Run the pool-day reset.Fresh-water rinse right away, braids stay in. Squeeze with a microfiber towel, then a clarifying or swimmer’s shampoo and a deep conditioner at home. Dry fully before bed. Never rubbing alcohol.The pool-day reset
  • Itching, sores or bumps showed up
    Stop the style. Get it looked at.Take down pulling styles and pause new products. Itching, sores or unusual loss that sticks around is not sweat or dryness by default. Book the pediatrician.Notice → act → get help

Decision map

Something’s off with the scalp.

Start with what is urgent, then narrow down who can actually help.

See the whole map
Q1

Any trouble breathing, facial swelling, a chemical in the eye or a serious burn?

  • Yes
    Get emergency help now.Call 911 or go to the ER. Do not try a home remedy or a wash-day experiment first.
  • No
    Q2

    Spreading painful redness, fever, pus, or a tender swollen scalp?

    • Yes
      Get it assessed today.Call the pediatrician or urgent care today. This needs a clinician, not another product.When it’s urgent
    • No
      Q3

      What are you seeing?

      • Pain, bumps or raised skin after styling
        Loosen or take the style down.Do it today. Don’t wait for it to “settle.” A skilled stylist can adjust the technique; if bumps or soreness last, see a clinician.Notice → act → get help
      • Itch, flakes or scratching at night that won’t quit
        Pause new products. Book the pediatrician.Stop the last thing you added and don’t keep layering oil. Persistent itch or scale needs a pediatrician or dermatologist to say what it is.What to bring to the appointment
      • A bald patch, broken hairs or thinning edges
        Less tension. Early appointment.Don’t hide the area under a tighter style or share combs. A dermatologist needs to tell infection, inflammation and traction apart.Notice → act → get help
      • Tangles and frayed ends, scalp is fine
        It’s handling, not the scalp.Look at how you detangle, the style and the takedown. A textured-hair professional can help with trimming or bad matting.Morning, night & takedown

Decision map

Is this style too tight?

Check this after every install, and again the next morning.

See the whole map
Q1

Any wincing, headache, bumps or sore spots at the base?

  • Yes
    Take it down or loosen it today.Pain is the signal, not the price of a neat style. Redo it bigger and looser.Notice → act → get help
  • No
    Q2

    Is the skin at the roots tented, shiny or pulled up?

    • Yes
      Loosen the sections that pull.Release the tightest parts first, usually the edges and nape. Next install, use fewer and larger sections.The practice ladder
    • No
      Q3

      Do the same edges or ponytail spot take the tension every week?

      • Yes
        Rotate the stress points.Move the part, change the anchor, alternate puffs with loose twists. The edges need weeks off.Low-tension finishes
      • No
        Q4

        Did they ask to stop or say it hurts during the session?

        • Yes
          “Pause” means pause.Hands off, then let them choose: finish later, go bigger, or call it done. Trust is the whole routine.The Thairapy ritual
        • No
          Comfortable. Keep it.Check the hairline again tomorrow morning and take it down on schedule.Morning, night & takedown

Decision map

Should we use heat?

A decision before a temperature. The answer is often “not yet.”

See the whole map
Q1

How old are they?

  • Toddler (1–3)
    Keep it no-heat.For toddlers this system stays with simple no-heat styles: twists, plaits, puffs. Stretch with a loose twist or plait and let it air dry.No-heat finishes
  • Older child, teen or adult
    Q2

    Any breaking, a sore scalp, or chemical history you’re unsure of?

    • Yes
      Postpone the heat.Sort out the breakage or the scalp first, and get the chemical history clear. Heat on fragile or processed hair is where damage starts.Why the decision comes first
    • No
      Q3

      Can they sit still safely and tell you “stop”?

      • Yes
        Occasional heat, done carefully.Clean, conditioned hair. A heat protectant made for that tool. Lowest effective setting, no repeated passes. Stop at burning, smoke or pain.The occasional heat route
      • Not really
        Not today.If they can’t stay put or speak up, the appliance waits. Choose a stretched no-heat style.No-heat finishes

Decision map

Thinking about a relaxer or chemical service?

Get the name of the service, the history and the stop rule straight before anyone books.

See the whole map
Q1

Who is it for?

  • A toddler
    Not part of the toddler routine.This system doesn’t recommend elective chemical straightening for toddlers and won’t invent a “safe age.” Stay with natural care.Where we draw the line
  • An older child or teen
    Q2

    Do you know the exact service, like relaxer, texturizer, keratin or color?

    • Not yet
      Name the service first.Relaxer, texturizer, smoothing and color are different chemicals with different risks. Find out exactly what’s being offered before deciding.Name the service precisely
    • Yes
      Q3

      Any sores, irritation or a recent chemical service on the scalp?

      • Yes
        Wait, and get it assessed.Nothing gets processed over irritated or injured skin. Let it heal and ask a clinician if it’s not clearing.Scalp: notice → act
      • No
        Run the consult checklist.Tell them the full history, have the scalp assessed, ask for the product and its warnings, no overlapping, and agree on the stop rule: burning means stop.Before any chemical service
  • Me / an adult
    Q4

    Do you know the exact service, like relaxer, texturizer, keratin or color?

    • Not yet
      Name the service first.Relaxer, texturizer, smoothing and color are different chemicals with different risks. Find out exactly what’s being offered before deciding.Name the service precisely
    • Yes
      Q5

      Any sores, irritation or a recent chemical service on the scalp?

      • Yes
        Wait, and get it assessed.Nothing gets processed over irritated or injured skin. Let it heal and ask a clinician if it’s not clearing.Scalp: notice → act
      • No
        Run the consult checklist.Tell them the full history, have the scalp assessed, ask for the product and its warnings, no overlapping, and agree on the stop rule: burning means stop.Before any chemical service

Decision map

LOC or LCO?

How their hair acts after wash day tells you which order to use: liquid, oil and cream.

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Q1

After wash day, how does their hair act?A feel test, not a lab result. Skip the glass-of-water float test; it measures surface oil, not porosity.

  • Soaks up water fast, dries fast, frizzes easily
    Higher porosity → LOC.Liquid (water + leave-in), then Oil (jojoba or JBCO) to seal, then Cream to finish. Hair that drinks fast loses moisture fast, so seal it.The daily spray bottle
  • Water beads up, slow to soak in, products sit on top
    Low porosity → LCO.Liquid, then Cream, then a light Oil. Use less product, and a warm cap while you deep condition helps it soak in.The daily spray bottle
  • Somewhere in between
    Start with LCO, lightly.Start with LCO and small amounts. Watch the next day: dry and crunchy means more liquid; greasy or coated means less oil.The useful science