Beach Time and Bleach Time Can Damage Young Hair

Kids have joined adult consumers in spending time and money to avoid bad hair days.

Among other things, more of them are bleaching and coloring their hair at an earlier age--sometimes with unhappy results. Making a major change, such as going from a natural dark color to light blond, can be tough on your hair.

“It can damage the hair and it also can burn the scalp,” says hairdresser Jack King of Cowlicks Calabasas. A hair professional or parent, he says, should supervise all color changes.

Some kids are trying offbeat shades such as blue and purple. King suggests using temporary hair color sprays that can be brushed or washed out, rather than dyes. He points out that most schools with dress codes will not allow unusual hair colors.

“There are fun colors for kids who want to look punkier and different but it’s not permanent. It’s much kinder to the hair,” says King.

Even for non-dyed hair, by summer’s end, kids may find their hair has become dry, and sometimes green, from pool chlorine. Beauty supply stores carry shampoos to remove the green glow, and a conditioner can help make it softer.

To prevent sun damage to your hair, King suggests applying a light layer of the same sunscreen you put on your skin. Wearing a hat also protects your hair--as well as your face and scalp.

Another hair problem may await back at school--lice. UCLA pediatrician Heide Woo describes lice as tiny flesh-colored bugs that live on your scalp. What’s a sign that lice may be paying you a visit?

“Your head is very, very itchy,” says Woo.

If there is a lice outbreak at school, your parents can check your hair for the eggs, which stick to the strands and look like dandruff.

A special shampoo is required to remove lice. Sharing hats, combs and brushes spreads lice, Woo says. And throwing sweatshirts and jackets in a big heap lets lice jump aboard your clothes. So for healthy hair, you’ll want to avoid doing those things.

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Next month’s topic: Tips for a healthy school year.

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Kid Health runs the third Monday of the month. E-mail Emily Dwass at emilydwass@yahoo.com. Send art submissions to Kid Health, Health section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Include age, grade and school. Sorry, but submissions cannot be returned.