Tangles, knots and frizz – oh the frustration! If your hair is prone to tangles, you’re probably used to waking up with a rat’s nest or stepping out of the shower to a head full of snarled strands. When your brush just won’t budge, there are a few things you can do to loosen those knots and prevent them from ever happening again:
- Use the right equipment. Your natural-bristled paddle brush may be good for a quick mid-day touchup, but when it comes to tackling a mountain of tangles, a sturdy, wide-tooth comb is what you really need.
- Condition. If you typically step out of the shower with a head full of knots, don’t skip the conditioner. If your hair is fine or oily, try doing things backwards – apply conditioner to the ends, then shampoo to get rid of any remaining residue. For exceptionally dry, damaged hair or hair that can handle a heavier product, a leave-in conditioner can double as detangler.
- Damp, not wet. Trying to comb a tangly mess when your hair is sopping wet will lead to unnecessary damage and breakage. Wait ‘til your hair dries a bit before digging in to those tangles — or if it’s dry, spritz lightly with a spray bottle filled with water until damp.
- Work in sections. The task of detangling an entire head of hair may seem daunting, but dividing it into smaller sections makes the work easier and go more quickly. Use hair clips or bands to keep sections separated.
- Start from the bottom up. It’s tempting to approach tangles from the top down, but there’s a much better way. Start from the bottom of your hair and comb through tangles in small sections (as mentioned above) to avoid simply moving the knots further down your strands.
- Use a spray or serum. Need a little extra help along the way? A detangling spray, hair serum or even a few drops of argan oil can help loosen knots by lubricating strands and smoothing tangle-causing frizz.
- Tie it up. If your hair is prone to nighttime tangles, avoid waking up to a rat’s nest by braiding or twisting it after detangling and brushing. Be sure to use a “no-damage” hair band — steer clear of hair ties with metal parts which could snarl and cause you to start the detangling process all over again!