Wondering when your baby’s hair texture will change? Let’s start at the beginning. During your first trimester, the foetus begins to develop fuzz on the scalp and eyebrows. Around the fourth month, lanugo (foetus fur) begins to cover the body.  The hair follicles of dark haired babies begin to produce pigment. It is thought that by the sixth month in the womb, the hair follicles and oil glands on the foetus are fully formed. It is not uncommon for hair to be present on the back and shoulders at this stage of the development of the foetus. The colour of this hair is not likely to be the same in later life.

The colour of your baby’s hair is determined by eumelanin. A small amount of eumelanin means your baby will have blonde hair. The more eumelanin, the darker your baby’s hair will be. A parent gives their child the genes for making eumelanin. The levels of eumelanin increase with age, which is why many babies hair colour gets darker as they get older.

The amount and colour of hair a baby is born with is different for each baby. Some babies are born with a full head of dark hair, while others are born completely bald. The majority of babies are born with a soft, downy, light coloured covering of hair. This hair begins to fall out in the first few months of the baby’s life. New hair will begin to grow which will normally be much fuller than the newborn fuzz. This new hair will be more like the texture and colour that your child’s
hair will eventually look like. Of course, this is not guaranteed, but is usually the case. Some babies are born with no hair at all, you should not be alarmed because it is not uncommon.

During the first six months of your baby’s life you will notice the hair texture changing fairly frequently. Your baby’s loose, fine curls may be replaced by tighter, coarser ringlets. Your baby could be born with dark hair and after it falls out and grows again, it might be red or blonde. Many people believe that cutting hair will make it grow back thicker and faster – this is a myth. So before you decide to shave your baby’s head in the hope that a full mane will grow back, remember that there is no truth in this. When we have our hair cut, it does appear to look fuller, but this is only appearance. It does not grow back thicker.

There will not be too much in the line of hair-care in your baby’s first year. You do not need to shampoo a baby’s hair everyday. Only shampoo as you need to. It is recommended that you use a baby shampoo as they do not contain as many sulfates as adult shampoos do. You need to be gentle when shampooing your baby’s hair, because the soft spot on top of your baby’s head is very sensitive. Some 4 and 5 year olds still find this spot sensitive. You should avoid putting any pressure on this area. The easiest way to wash an infant’s hair is probably while giving them a bath. Many babies and toddlers hate to have their hair washed. Try to make it a special time for them, a bonding time with mommy or daddy.