The Kit
Eighteen things worth having, and what each one is for. You don't need all of them: the essentials cover every style.
Each style in the free app lists what it needs before you start.
About the Buy links. Photos show the type of item, not the exact product. Buy one links go to Amazon.co.uk and are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Dad Hair Hero earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Dad Hair Hero earns from qualifying purchases.
Essential
Every style in the app uses at least one of these.
Wide-tooth comb
Detangling wet or dry hair from the ends up to the roots without snapping it. The starting point before any style.
- Avoid
- Do not drag it from root to tip on tangled hair. You will pull hair out and it will hurt. Always start at the ends, work out the knot, then move higher.
- When buying
- Teeth should be smooth with rounded tips. Run your fingertip along them to check. Wider gaps between teeth for thicker or curlier hair. Any wide-tooth comb you already own probably works; fine-tooth combs do not.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Clip-Back for Baby Wisps, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun, Bubble Ponytail, Twisted Bunches, Pull-Through Plait, Space Buns
Snag-free hair elastic
Securing ponytails, plaits, and bunches. Designed to release without pulling or breaking hair.
- Avoid
- Do not use standard rubber bands or office elastics. They grip the hair shaft and snap strands when you remove them.
- When buying
- Look for fabric-covered elastics sold specifically for hair. They come in packs. The right size wraps around a ponytail two or three times comfortably, not so tight it leaves a dent. Thin elastics for fine hair, thicker for thick hair.
- Used in
- Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun, Bubble Ponytail, Twisted Bunches, Pull-Through Plait, Space Buns
Soft-bristle brush
Smoothing and finishing hair that has already been detangled. Lays the surface hair flat and removes frizz at the end of styling.
- Avoid
- Do not use on wet hair or to work out tangles. The bristles tear rather than separate. Switch to a wide-tooth comb for that.
- When buying
- Look for natural or mixed bristles (boar bristle blends are widely available). Press the bristles against the back of your hand. Firm but not sharp is right. Purely synthetic bristles create static and leave the surface looking worse.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Half-Up, Half-Down, French Plait, Dutch Plait
Tail comb
Creating a clean, straight part through the hair. The pointed handle end draws the part line; the comb end smooths the separated sections.
- Avoid
- Not for detangling: the teeth are too fine and close together. Use the wide-tooth comb first, then switch to the tail comb only for making the part.
- When buying
- A simple plastic tail comb with a smooth, rounded pointed handle. Run the pointed end along the back of your hand. It should feel smooth, not sharp. Avoid any with a metal-tipped handle.
- Used in
- Two Even Bunches, Plaited Pigtails, Puffs, Twisted Bunches, Criss-Cross Bands, Space Buns
Bobby pin
Pinning loose strands or the perimeter of a bun flat against the head once an elastic is already holding the main structure in place.
- Avoid
- Not a substitute for an elastic: they are finishing tools only. Do not press them against the scalp; the closed end can scratch.
- When buying
- Buy wavy-edged bobby pins rather than smooth ones: the ridged surface grips the hair instead of sliding out. Match the colour to her hair so they are less visible. Buy in bulk; they disappear.
- Used in
- Top Knot, Sports Bun, Space Buns
Snap clip
Holding a small section of wisps, typically around the face, back away from the eyes on young children. Opens and closes with a single press.
- Avoid
- Not strong enough to hold a full section of hair. Do not use on hair too fine to grip. The clip will pop open immediately.
- When buying
- Smooth plastic snap clips sold specifically for toddlers. The interior should have no metal parts that touch the hair. Avoid anything with teeth or prongs that could catch fine baby hair.
- Used in
- Clip-Back for Baby Wisps
Detangling brush
Working through knots on dry or damp hair. The flexible cushioned base lets the pins give way around knots rather than ripping through them, faster and less painful than a comb on thick, wavy, or resistant hair.
- Avoid
- Not a finishing tool: the widely spaced pins leave the surface rough. Once the knots are out, follow with a soft-bristle brush if a smooth finish is needed.
- When buying
- Look for a brush with a flexible rubber-cushioned base and widely spaced ball-tipped pins. Press the bristles firmly against the back of your hand. They should deflect rather than stab. A rigid base means the brush cannot flex around knots and will pull instead of yield. If you already own a brush, press the base: if it bends under moderate hand pressure, it will work.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun
Detangler spray
Applied to knotted or dry hair before combing to reduce friction and help the comb glide. Most effective on sleep tangles and hair that dried without being combed.
- Avoid
- Not a substitute for correct combing technique: it softens resistance but does not replace working from the ends upward. A light mist across the length is enough; saturating the hair makes it go limp and harder to section.
- When buying
- A water-based leave-in conditioning spray: check the ingredients for alcohol, which dries the hair shaft, and avoid it. A fine-mist nozzle covers hair more evenly than a stream nozzle. If you already have a leave-in conditioner, diluting it with water in a spray bottle does the same job. Plain water alone has about half the effect and costs nothing.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Clip-Back for Baby Wisps, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun
Fine-mist water bottle
Lightly dampening dry hair before styling. Wavy and thick hair holds a shape better when slightly damp. It becomes more pliable and the surface lies flatter under an elastic.
- Avoid
- Do not soak the hair before securing it. Wet hair stretches under an elastic and can break at the crease point when it dries. A few light passes across the length is the right amount. The hair should feel cool to the touch, not wet.
- When buying
- Any fine-mist spray bottle works: the kind sold for houseplants is identical to a hair-specific one. The nozzle matters more than the bottle: a stream nozzle hits one spot rather than distributing evenly. Fill with plain water. If you do not have one, dampening your hands and running them through the hair achieves a similar result.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun, Bubble Ponytail, Puffs, Twisted Bunches, Criss-Cross Bands, Pull-Through Plait
Sectioning clip
Clamping a separated section of hair out of the way while you work on another part of the head. Needed for French and Dutch plaits, where hair is added from the sides in stages and the waiting sections would otherwise fall back in.
- Avoid
- Working clips only: remove all of them before the style is finished. The teeth leave a visible dent in the hair if left for more than a couple of minutes. Do not use as a finishing clip.
- When buying
- Duck-bill or alligator-style clips with serrated interior teeth: the teeth grip the section so it does not slip out mid-plait. Smooth-jawed clips cannot hold a section under any weight. Size matters: small clips only manage thin sections; use clips long enough to clamp the full width of the section you are holding. You need a minimum of two for most plait work.
- Used in
- Two Even Bunches, Plaited Pigtails, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Criss-Cross Bands, Pull-Through Plait
Leave-in conditioner
Makes curly and coily hair soft enough to detangle and style without pulling.
- Avoid
- Not a substitute for washing. A light mist and a small amount worked through with your fingers is plenty; too much leaves the hair greasy rather than soft.
- When buying
- Look for one labelled for curly or coily hair, in a spray or pump bottle so it is easy to apply evenly through sections. Any brand that does not weigh the hair down works.
- Used in
- Tangle-Free Brushing, Classic Ponytail, High Ponytail, Two Even Bunches, Half-Up, Half-Down, Three-Strand Plait, Plaited Pigtails, Top Knot, French Plait, Dutch Plait, Sports Bun, Bubble Ponytail, Puffs, Twisted Bunches, Criss-Cross Bands, Pull-Through Plait
Soft scrunchies or fabric bands
Hold puffs and bunches without snagging or creasing curls.
- Avoid
- Do not substitute a bare rubber band or anything with a metal seam. Both grip too hard and pull on the way out.
- When buying
- Fabric-covered, with no metal clasp. A pack of assorted sizes covers both a full gather and smaller bits like bubbles or bunches.
- Used in
- Puffs, Twisted Bunches, Criss-Cross Bands
Nice to have
Not needed for any style, but they make mornings easier.
Satin bonnet or pillowcase
Less friction overnight means fewer knots in the morning.
- Avoid
- Not a substitute for protecting a fresh style during the day. It's an overnight step on top of whatever style she's wearing, not instead of it.
- When buying
- Satin or silk, not cotton. A bonnet stays put better for an active sleeper; a pillowcase needs no routine at all, which suits a dad who'd rather not add a nightly step.
Small claw clip
Holds a finished section out of the way while you work on the next.
- Avoid
- Not for holding tension in a style long-term. Its teeth grip the surface hair rather than a clean section, so it can snag or crease if left clamped for more than a few minutes.
- When buying
- A small or medium size works best for a child's hair. A plastic one with a smooth, rounded clasp is easiest for small hands to help with.
Mirror
Set it in front of her so she can watch. Kids sit stiller when they can see what's happening.
Hair dryer
For after bath time. Use the low heat setting and finish with the cool shot.
Shampoo and conditioner set
Easier mornings start in the bath. Conditioner now means fewer knots tomorrow.
Hair towel
Wrap her hair after the bath. It soaks up water without the rubbing that causes knots.
The Kit is in the app too
Each style in Dad Hair Hero lists what it needs before you start, so nothing is missing at step three. Then:
- Her hair, not hair in general. Choose Straight, Wavy, Thick, Curly or Coily under "her hair today" and the steps and pictures change to the method for her hair.
- A check before every step. Each step ends with what it should look and feel like, so you know it is right before you move on.
- Fix It, mid-style. When something is not right, "Something's not right" opens the fix for it without leaving the step.
- The diary. Add a photo and a note when you finish, and see what you have done and what to try next.
Free, with six everyday styles and all eight techniques. No account, no ads, no tracking.
