Redheaded...Shea, jojoba, coconut and baby oils are for the most part "too light" to be affective. They coat the hair without penetrating, or conditioning it and just run off and don't seem to make much difference IMO. They also seem to attract lint. The "all natural" products are often no different than anything else except for price. Read the ingrediants. Red: its an unproven "old wives tale" that braiding and styling her hair encourages growth, and it does seem to work! Now weather the growth would have started without the styling is questionable; we typically start the pony-tail, braids, plaits, before age 2. Be aware that once you start, its something you'll be doing from now on! Hair grows unevenly and after it starts its hard to afro it again. Please don't cut the girls AA hair. We are slow growers...cutting is done in adulthood.
My Mom started pressing and / or perming my hair before 1st grade, and it never damaged me...I don't think. Believe me you'll be doing the straightening thing long before middle school...peer pressure will insist on it!
and once you do it you will be simply amazed at the ease and beauty of it all....MissyM