If your hair gets tangled easily, because it's thick, curly or because of the intense heat you use to style it, you may not know how to fix it. Tugging at the knots in an attempt to untie them will eventually irritate the scalp and end up with a good number of broken or damaged hair. Even seemingly impossible knots can be removed with patience and the help of the right techniques and tools.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Eliminate Nodes Daily
Step 1. Decide what time of day to do it
To prevent your hair from breaking or getting damaged you should undo the knots in the right situation. The first rule to follow is that you should never untangle your hair immediately after washing it. The substances contained in the shampoos deprive them of their natural protective oils, so they will be dry and could break easily, especially if you were to yank them trying to remove the knots. The second rule says that you should wait until they are dry if you intend to brush them, as water can weaken both the follicles and the hair, which can then tear or break easily. You should take care of the knots:
- Before shampooing, with completely wet hair.
- After using the shampoo and conditioner, so that the latter has started to rehydrate the hair that has been stripped of their oils during washing.
Step 2. Use the right tools
What you should definitely avoid is trying to untie the knots with a round brush. Long hair, already knotted, could get trapped in the bristles, so the situation could worsen further. Instead, use a flat brush to be able to slide it through your hair without the risk of it getting trapped in it. If you prefer to use the comb, it is best to do it on damp hair immediately after applying the conditioner.
Step 3. Start with the tips
The temptation to start from the roots to do faster could be strong, but the situation of the nodes could even get worse. That way you would simply push the knots towards the ends, instead of untying them, at the risk of making them even tighter and difficult to untangle or tangling with each other. The right thing to do is to start untangling the hair from the ends.
Step 4. Gradually ascend to the roots
Using a comb or a round brush, gradually work your way through the lengths. Do not jerk your hair or force the brush where it is knotted, otherwise you risk tearing or breaking it. Proceed gently and carefully, using your fingers to help you untie the most difficult knots.
Step 5. Use conditioner to untangle the worst knots
If you reach a point where you can't untie a knot without damaging your hair, you can get help from conditioner or a similar product. Any conditioner you normally use should be fine; distribute it directly on the knotted hair and try again to untie the knot. You can also use a moisturizing mask or a cream or spray product formulated specifically to detangle your hair. On the supermarket shelf reserved for shampoos and hair cosmetics you will surely find a suitable product.
Step 6. Make sure you have deleted all nodes
The daily work must end with a check: check that you have not left even a knot in your hair, otherwise it could expand and turn into a real tangle. This can take some time, so turn off the shower tap if necessary. In this way you will avoid wasting water unnecessarily and you will not risk having to rinse with the cold one because the hot one is finished.
Method 2 of 2: Untangle Very Tousled Hair
Step 1. Use different types of combs
When more than a knot it is a real tangle, things are a bit more complicated. Instead of trying to work your way through the knot by force or using the brush, you should use a more delicate and focused approach. The ideal would be to have several combs available that have a different density of the teeth, but a single one with wide teeth on one side and narrower teeth on the other may be sufficient.
Step 2. Apply a detangling product to your hair
If they are really very matted, divide them into several sections and spray the product only on the one you are actually going to comb, to prevent it from drying out and becoming less effective in the meantime. You can choose to apply conditioner or a moisturizing mask to damp hair, or spray a product formulated specifically to dissolve knots or a leave-in conditioner on dry hair. In any case, it is better to distribute it on the section to be combed a few moments before starting.
Gently massage the product into knotted hair using your fingers. Try to push it into the tangle instead of scrubbing, so as not to risk making the situation even worse
Step 3. Begin to untie the knots using the comb with less dense teeth
You will gradually move on to those with higher density as the tangle begins to loosen and you get closer to where it is densest. Also in this case you have to start from the tips and slowly go up towards the roots, otherwise you risk that the knots thicken and expand further.
Step 4. Grab the hair at the roots if you feel pain
Sometimes in the rush to get rid of the problem you may end up over-pulling and feeling pain. For this reason it can be helpful to grab the section you are working on, above where the knot is, to avoid pain as you pull it down.
Note that hairstyles that pull at the root can cause hair to fall out in the long run
Step 5. Switch to a comb with denser teeth
When you have freed the hair that could have been achieved with the wide-toothed comb, switch to another one with a higher density. Don't forget to proceed from the bottom up, moving from the less dense part of the knot towards the more consistent one. When you get to the center of the problem, switch to a very narrow-toothed comb.
Step 6. Use scissors if necessary
Warning, this does not mean that you should remove an entire strand of hair! If you think you've done your best, but just can't untangle the knot with the comb, reach into the center of the tangle with a pair of scissors and make a vertical cut. There is no need to go to the opposite end, in most cases it will be enough to cut part of the skein to be able to untangle it in a short time with the help of the comb and fingers.
Step 7. Comb the strand you have untangled
When you are finally able to get rid of the knot, run a flat brush or comb from the roots to the ends. Make sure there are no obstacles left before continuing with the next section.
Step 8. Advance section by section until you have eliminated all nodes
If there are other areas that need your attention, repeat the process. Don't underestimate the importance of doing one small section of hair at a time. Trying to eliminate all the knots at once, without a precise plan, will end up with a bad scalp and a highly frustrated state of mind. Reapply the product to untangle the knots as often as necessary to facilitate the operations.
Advice
- If you don't have a knot-untangling spray at home, you can create it in a few simple steps. Mix one part of conditioner with two parts of water in a spray bottle and use the result as described in the article.
- The best technique is to prevent knots from forming by combing or brushing your hair regularly. On windy days, or if you plan to exercise, it's best to gather, cover, or braid your hair to avoid the problem.
