Detangling; the do's and dont's

 

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We have all been there, whether you've just finished taking out your protective style, or you want to switch up your look. Detangling is an unavoidable step in your pursuit of manageable hair.

For every new natural, it can seem like hell getting rid of those tangles, knots, and dead hair. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. With a few tips and the right tools, detangling your hair will become an enjoyable venture.

Let's get into the dos and don'ts of detangling:

DO'S 👍👍

• Start with moisturized hair; The hair is more elastic and easy to manipulate. We are talking damp, not dripping wet hair.
• Work in sections. Smaller sections are more effective because you get to detangle difficult-to-reach parts of your hair. It makes the process less daunting, as opposed to detangling your whole head of hair. You can use larger sections if your hair isn't overly tangled.
• Use products that provide slip; this ensures the strands are lubricated and separate easily. There are several products that can be used. They include:

1.  Hair detangler- These are specially formulated to coat the hair strands with a polymer/oil that acidifies them. The hair's surface tightens up resulting in the smoothening of the scales of the hair cuticle. This goes a long way in ensuring the comb glides through your strands. It also imparts a positive electric charge on the hair surface, preventing static that can worsen tangles. 1 For more on hair detanglers, click here.
2. Conditioner- Whether it's leave-in or your regular conditioner, it softens your hair making detangling that much easier
3. Oils- You can choose from a wide variety of oils. They seal in the moisture in hair which goes a long way in providing slip.
4. Fenugreek water - Due to its high mucilage content, it provides the necessary slip for a comb or your fingers to glide through.
5. Rice water- Has conditioning properties that soften hair strands and makes them easy to detangle.
6. Aloe vera juice- Helps close the cuticle which makes detangling easier.

• Detangle using your fingers first- It is gentle and reduces hair breakage. You can tease knots loose as opposed to the harsh tug of combs.
• Follow with a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush- A wide-toothed comb has teeth far enough to get through tangles, and long enough to get through thick hair. You can use a detangling brush on finger-detangled hair.
• Start from the ends as you go down to the roots. This leads to less breakage and more length retention.
• Braid detangled sections when done- This helps you separate finished sections from pending ones, and also prevents tangles from reforming.
• Ensure the hair remains moisturised- Spritz water to your hair when it dries out to enhance slip and reduce breakage.
• Be gentle and patient- Detangling takes time, and sure enough patience. Pick a date where you can give your strands all the attention they need as you detangle. Pop in a movie, Netflix and chill, whatever it takes to make the process more enjoyable. Your strands will thank you for your TLC.

DONTS👎👎

• Detangling dry hair.
• Using a fine-toothed comb
• Starting from the roots moving towards the ends
• Detangling your whole head of hair without sections.
• Tugging on knots and tangles.
• Leaving hair open after detangling.

I hope this helps, and, for a quick and easy reminder, a resource from my reference on this piece:

https://lovingkinkycurls.com/how-to-detangle-4c-hair

Read, comment, and share. I appreciate your feedback. Till next time💙💚💛💜💗.