Hair Tip # 29: Removing and Preventing Knots and Tangles

I have knots, big knots!

I have tangles I can't get out!

I have single strand knots!

HELP!!!

Single strand knots, dry ends and tangles are very common. Especially with curly hair. However, you can remove them without cutting/ripping them out. 

How to avoid and prevent single strand knots:
 

• Invest in a good deep conditioner. Deep condition your hair once a week and specifically focus on your ends.


• Be GENTLE on your ends! It is the oldest and most fragile part of your hair. It must be handled with care.


• Stretched styles are much better than curly styles because they help prevent tangles, and knots. Women who wear wash and go styles are more likely to have single strand knots.


• Stretched styles are styles that elongate your hair so that it is not in its curliest state. Examples are: twist outs, braid outs, curls sets, etc.


• Use a leave in conditioner with a lot of slip and use a denmen brush (or one like it) to brush through your hair after detangling with a wide toothed comb.


• Be sure to always remove shed hair from your combs and brushes. Likewise, make sure when you are detangling that you remove shed hair from each section. If not, shed hair can cause knots!

How to safely remove knots and tangles without cutting or ripping them out:

• When I come across a knots:

•  In the shower - Run the section under water until it is saturated. They apply a large amount of conditioner and work it out with your hands first. If that doesn’t work, try a wide toothed comb. If that doesn’t work use a denmen brush.


• Out of the shower - Wet the hair with a spray bottle. Apply a large amount of leave in conditioner and try to work it out.

 What is my experience with knots and tangles?

I have never had one so bad that I had to cut or rip it out. Most of the time, its shed hair causing the knot. With the right amount of conditioner with slip, I can work it out. Water makes our hair very pliable as well. So a lot of times, allowing the water to run through my hair in the shower, I can work out knots with my fingers!

<3



Looks Like A Blow-Out!

Blessings and love beauties!

I pray you have started your week well!

I decided to finally come and tell the part two of my fairy knots story.

As I had planned on that night, the next morning, I tied a scarf over my head and headed to the closest shops to get me some shears but guess what I also got?

A new paddle brush.

I grabbed it because I thought, it would help with detangling the strands and thus reduce the chances of single strand knots.

Alright so I get home and since my hair were in the braided roots twists I decided to work on my hair in these sections. I started by undoing each twist and then I searched out the strands with knots. What a job!! I had to strain my eyes and stand in front of the mirror! Anyway, after spending about one hour alone on the first twist, I decided to try and brush the next section with my new paddle...simply out of curiosity...So for the first time in eight months, I finally used a brush/comb on my hair...and I fell instantly in love with that brush! It smoothed my hair and detangled like nobody's business even on dry hair!! (well my hair had a lot of coconut oil in it so I'm guessing that helped with the dry hair detangling). So before searching out the knotted strands I brushed each section!

Hours, and I mean many hours later of standing and my back aching, I finally finished. I doubt I got every single knot, but I'd certainly done the most part. 

After all the brushing, my hair looked like the above picture.

I couldn't get over it. My hair felt so smooth and so detangled - dry! I'm telling you, this brush instantly became my absolutely favorite!

I loved the fro it gave me so much I couldn't help take pictures and I even decided compare it to about a year ago.

Here's the comparison :

I still can't get over just how much it looks like I used a blow dryer in the pictures - which I didn't and I'm not planning on using any time soon. It felt weird though, using a brush after sooo long but I certainly did not regret it. I believe it's time my hair gets reconciled to them.

Right now,  I am not using this brush anymore, but I still love it so, so much! I am also presently working to keep my hair knot free and grow healthy, strong hair!

But why, you ask, why am I not using this brush I love so much anymore?

I don't know if you can see in the picture, but the teeth are made of [very flexible] metal with plastic balls on their ends. 

The first time I used this brush on wet hair with conditioner, it worked like a dream! The second time, it did the same thing but the day after that wash day, I found the teeth were rusting (if you look at the picture well enough you'll notice the brown color of some of the teeth)! 

I was appalled! I realized it must be my hard water supply since I rinsed it with the water from the tap. I tried everything to clean it (ACV mainly) but I only managed to do it partially. I was so annoyed! I had under estimated just how hard the water supply here is and had never in a million years my great new comb would ever rust! 

Anyway, I did not want to take any chances on damaging my hair so I am not using it anymore. 

A few days later, I went shopping with my baby sister and I came across the brush again...I was about to pick it up but my baby sister told me to try another brand. After looking through their selection of brushed and combs and after asking the shop attendants for advice I finally decided to buy a brush that looked like a denman brush.

I tried this one today and I was terribly disappointed, the thing could barely move through my hair...Too many [rigid] teeth and hair that's too thick does not equal detangling. I was disappointed because I like the way the teeth of the brush are rubber, without any balls, resistant and a bit flexible. But no, it's not for me. I ended up finger detangling the rest of my hair. I tried one of my old wide tooth combs but no thank you...wide tooth combs are just not my thing, for real.


Stay tuned for my upcoming video about my 8 months without combs/brushes!

This is the conclusion of my knotty situation. I would like to get another great paddle brush some time soon though... 

Which combs/brushes do you recommend?

♥♥