Frynd1

When I was younger, kids use to tease me because of my thick, wavy hair. I began straightening it when I was in the 10th grade and although it made a great difference, it got old because of how time consuming it was. It took me an hour each morning of harsh blow-drying and ironing. When I was 18, I finally just got it permed and stopped fighting the waves and I have never been happier. I actually get stopped in the streets now and am asked how I got such beautiful, long, thick curly hair. I recommend it to anyone with tough-to-work with waves because straightening them on it's own is damaging. Although perming is bad, you aren't constantly using a hot iron or pulling on matted tangles.

However, if your daughter wants to continue having her hair straight, you can do the opposite of perming - go to a salon and ask to get it chemically straightend. I have done that before and it works wonders. Her hair won't be tough to work with anymore and it will suddenly feel silky and straight - for up to 5 months. It costs as much as a perm does.

To answer your main question though, you should be brushing her hair while it's wet. People say it can be damaging, but you should be okay as long as you use a wide-toothed comb. No bristle brushes. John Freeda has a great hair product line for frizy thick hair too. I would brush it out, blow-dry it straight then go over it with a straightener. If anything, it should get her the look she wants, damaging or not. I still recommend just getting it chemically done at the salon though - she'd love it