Fact: wet hair is more fragile. Therefore, it is better to detangle when your hair is dry…
Wet your hair and put conditioner, wait 5 minutes. Then fill up the tub with warm soapy water and soak in it for a few minutes. Head back just float and relax. Then start manipulating the tangles, have them under the water while doing this. The tangles should gently fall out, slowly and gently untangle them.
Only brush when it's dry or only a little damp. It can be a little tangled, but rarely has many knots. And knots in my experience don't get worse while the hair dries, so it doesn't matter much if you detangle while it's wet or when it's dry.
Detangling is usually most effective on wet hair, especially for thick, curly or natural textures. Wet strands are more flexible and allow knots to glide out more easily. However, detangling dry hair can lead to breakage since dry strands are more brittle and prone to snapping.
If you have a lot of knots then start with a wide-toothed comb; this will remove bigger knots, then move onto using a smaller comb. Start at the ends and work your way up using gentle strokes to detangle knots. Starting at the roots and pulling downwards could make tangles worse.
In severe cases of matted hair, visible clumps and clusters are noticeable to others. Overall, the hair may appear more frizzy and have a disheveled or untamed appearance. If you notice these signs in your hair, it's essential to take action right away to prevent the mats from worsening and leading to further damage.
Softly working the affected areas with your hands can be incredibly beneficial for reducing muscle knots. A specific kind of massage therapy called myofascial release therapy relies on constant, deep, gentle pressure to help release the tension and break up some of those constricted tissues in localized areas.
A hair stylist can safely and gently detangle matted hair, while retaining as much length as possible.
If you find that your hair is often matted, you may have an issue with dryness. As we mentioned above, sebum is an oily substance that keeps hair moisturized. If you have a lot of sebum, your hair will stay hydrated, but if your scalp produces too much sebum, your hair can become overly dry and matted.
Detangling Wet Hair
The best way to attack a tangly mess on wash day is in the shower. Pick out a comb or brush that can go in the shower and get ready for some easy breezy detangling. Once you try this method, you will never wash your hair without a thorough detangling again.
The hair is irreversibly entangled to form plaits. The hair plaits get very hard over time as the keratin mass gets cemented together with dirt and exudates.
You might associate apple cider vinegar with salad dressing or lemon water, but this all-purpose ingredient is just the thing to loosen tangles and soften hair.
If you notice certain areas knotting up often, ask your doctor about stretches to loosen those muscles and lower the chances of more knots. Ice and heat. Most muscle pain responds well to alternating ice and heat. Use an ice pack on the spot for a short while, and then switch to a warm compress or heating pad.
Initiate the process of hand massaging by gently placing your fingers over the affected muscle knot. Use a firm, but not crushing, grip to apply steady pressure with slow, intentional strokes that follow the grain of the muscle fibers.
The muscles around the area will tighten up to prevent more injury. Knots are persistent and most will remain until the knotted area is broken up and the muscles contract. Limited range of motion, pain and tightness will persist until the muscles are loosened and circulation returns to the constricted area.
Saturate the entire matted clump with detangling spray. Use your fingers to disperse the product throughout the mass of hair as much as you can. Using your fingers, start to gently loosen up hair fibers. Apply hair oil to the hair for additional slip.
If you are struggling to detangle a bad knot, Cole recommends applying a moisturizing conditioner or mask to the problem area. From there, hold the knot between your fingers and, using an upwards motion, gently comb it through with a fine-tooth comb. "Once the knot is out, shampoo and mask again," he says.
Detangle with a Wide-Tooth Comb or Brush
Begin to detangle in small areas, working your way from the ends to the roots, not vice versa. If you find a particularly stubborn knot, hold your hair directly above the knot and comb it out to reduce stress on your scalp and avoid hurting yourself (or your child).
"Yes, pubic hair can get dirty or matted or collect bacteria," she says.
Hair knots are bound to happen if hair is lacking moisture. When two strands wrap around each other and the cuticle is open (dry), the strands are less likely to slip through and instead form a knot. The first step to tangle prevention is ensuring your toddler's hair is well moisturized.