Combing Dry Curly Hair?

[BerrySara]

So I really am trying hard to minimize breakage.
I now only do somewhat loose buns during the day and for sleeping at nights.
I don't ever add heat anymore. I don't even use shampoo, I co wash.

But when its time to shower, I do add some oil (usually argon oil) to my hair and I comb my 3b/3c curly hair (I'm transition so part curly, part straight) just so I get all the lose hairs out before i get in the shower.

If i dont do it, then i lose a lot of hair in the shower which ends up clogging the tub but also its quite uncomfortable to see all that hair go down the drain.

am I not suppose to comb my hair dry? How do I minimize shedding or breakage? Do i just wait until I get in the shower and then comb it with conditioner in? Idk how to deal with all the hairs that I lose in the shower.

Also, would wearing my hair DAILY in a loose bun be bad for it? am I causing unnecessary breakage but wearing same/similar hairstyle every day?

I really appreciate you guys for sharing your wisdom! I have so much to learn still!

[lapushka]

I have "only" wavy hair, and I weekly wash & weekly detangle. That means that I dry detangle (with a Tangle Teezer) before a wash. I do this to save my drain (I do have a drain stopper, but still, whatever helps). Then I wash, and then put my hair in a towel. When my hair comes out the (microfiber) towel after 30-45 min. I detangle again with a "wet detangler" (aka Wet Brush dupe). And then I leave it alone for a week, bar finger detangling once in a while.


But when its time to shower, I do add some oil (usually argon oil) to my hair and I comb my 3b/3c curly hair (I'm transition so part curly, part straight) just so I get all the lose hairs out before i get in the shower.

If i dont do it, then i lose a lot of hair in the shower which ends up clogging the tub but also its quite uncomfortable to see all that hair go down the drain.

am I not suppose to comb my hair dry? How do I minimize shedding or breakage? Do i just wait until I get in the shower and then comb it with conditioner in? Idk how to deal with all the hairs that I lose in the shower.

Also, would wearing my hair DAILY in a loose bun be bad for it? am I causing unnecessary breakage but wearing same/similar hairstyle every day?

I really appreciate you guys for sharing your wisdom! I have so much to learn still!

This lady dry detangles before a wash too, but she puts some conditioner on her hair, to add some slip to the hair, so it's easier. I'll link a few of her detangling sessions for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmXwx1d5MJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMxM3LAXMek

[Simsy]

Honestly, the curly rule of “don’t brush your hair dry” is more of a guideline. I can’t brush mine in the shower, it just tangles again and I would probably lose twice as much hair in the process. I detangle mine before I get in the shower using a wide tooth comb (I love this thing) and a tangle teaser for the last little bits. This works for me. I’m also a oil abuser and my hair is happier for it.

We minimise breakage by being gentle and listening when our hair tells us it’s not happy. If your hair is happy with the current routine then awesome, you have succeeded in minimising breakage.

As for the hairstyles, my hair spends 5 days a week braided in a bun. That’s Sunday night to Saturday morning, when it’s pulled out, detangled and washed. My hair doesn’t like being handled so this works. If your hair isn’t objecting or breaking when in daily buns, then don’t worry about it. It’s working.

Not everything will work for you. Not everything will work the same on you as it does on others. The trick is finding the stuff that does work well for you. Since you seem to have a good system in place at the moment, I would say you are fine and your hair is content.

[JennGalt]

I'm a mixture of 3s and I cannot detangle in the shower. Even finger detangling. It only leads to frustration, breakage, and more tangling.

Like you, I detangle oiled, dry hair only. My hair loves oil and can handle quite a bit compared to most other people's hair, especially in winter. The amount of oil I use might cause some serious shedding or greasiness for other people, especially considering I oil my scalp too. But it works for me, and keeps my curls from devolving into a dry, brittle, frizzy, tangly, unmanageable mess. Heck, my curls and wurls practically detangle themselves once they've had their daily dose of oil (and perhaps a little aloe). And that's my point in telling you this: you'll have to figure out what works best for YOU. If only detangling oiled, dry hair is what works for you, then keep doing that regardless of what anyone else says or does.

Some people see breakage or shedding from wearing their hair the same way every day. Sometimes even the hairbands with no metal clasps can cause breakage. Others wear the same hairstyle day after day and see little or no damage from it. It varies from person to person, so again: if what you're doing is working for you, keep doing it. If you start seeing breakage where your hair tie sits or shedding someplace your bun tugs at, then it's time to change things up.

[lapushka]

I'm a mixture of 3s and I cannot detangle in the shower. Even finger detangling. It only leads to frustration, breakage, and more tangling.

What if you wash, put it in a towel, take the hair out after about 30 min. (I toweldry for that long, sometimes even longer (45 min.)) and *then* detangle. It's what I do. It's different on damp hair and you can still get your texture back, by scrunching it back up. But at least then it's detangled and you don't lose texture!

[enting]

I'd say it's a good idea to invest in some sort of hair trapper for the shower drain whether you comb in the shower or not. You can empty that into the trash, but at least it's not all going down the pipes.

It's important to do what you feel your hair needs.

I prefer to detangle in the shower, but I do also detangle when dry. My hair is fine with gentle detangling when dry, usually with some oil. If my hair is dry and also not moisturized enough, combing when dry can be damaging to it, but I have to listen to my hair. If things aren't sliding, I either need to wait until I wash it or I need to go and get some oil to put in it. If I persist it trying to comb without enough slip I will break it.

I personally can't tell if the same hairstyle every day causes damage for me. I used to do the exact same loosely pinned messy bun every single day and didn't see much damage from it. You'll have to see how your hair responds. You can play it safe and change it up every day or so, or you can try keeping the same style every day. It's taking a risk, but if you find that it doesn't bother your hair, that's valuable information to have.

[LadyCelestina]

What if you wash, put it in a towel, take the hair out after about 30 min. (I toweldry for that long, sometimes even longer (45 min.)) and *then* detangle. It's what I do. It's different on damp hair and you can still get your texture back, by scrunching it back up. But at least then it's detangled and you don't lose texture!

This is generally not a great idea for curly hair, though... imo.

There's even less slip that way - combing or brushing while just damp is a big part of why heatless straightening methods on curls are still somewhat damaging.

[JennGalt]

Agreed. Wet or damp curls like to tie themselves around everything. I have to make sure the cuticle is closed (which I can only determine when it's dry) and add something to seal it and add slip, or I'm just going to have more tangles. Plus my hair will tie itself to a comb or fingers and stretch, which will cause damage and later breakage. Needless to say, I manipulate my hair as little as possible when it's wet. Not sure if that's a problem specific to me or a curly hair problem.

I appreciate the suggestion though, Lapushka :)

[lapushka]

Hmm, odd, I have no issues with it. :shrug: But YMMV, and you have to do what's best for *you*. :flower:

[chomsky]

If you're not experiencing any excessive snapping (you'll hear it) or snagging, then detangle any way that suits you. Wearing your hair in the same place will probably not cause damage, but it depends on how you secure your bun. A hair band will break hair quicker than a stick (for example). Maybe try some plaits (braids) to switch it up a bit.

I comb wet and full of conditioner, my hair is straighter when its wet and its easier to comb out the shed hairs. Once my hair is dry/damp, my curls are set/in the process of setting and separating with a comb will cause breakage, no matter how moisturised my hair is (and it's *very* moisturised and hydrated). Dry combing also ruins curls patterns if you want to wear your hair down and curly. There's no way around this, it's the nature of curls. When they're dry brushed, they get separated, this ruins definition. Hence the "Curlies Brush Your Hair" thread.

The way I look at it, shedding looks excessive in the shower because you're seeing it come out all at once, and massaging while cleansing loosens already about to drop hairs. And some have experienced more shedding with CO washing. So, I would worry about that, as long as there's no snapping or snagging (as I mentioned earlier) or alarming shedding (like handfuls upon handfuls).

:blossom:

[LadyCelestina]

Hmm, odd, I have no issues with it. :shrug: But YMMV, and you have to do what's best for *you*. :flower:


Sometimes, there's a huge jump between what different textures can get away with.

DBF has solidly 3a hair when CG styled. It can be brushed out with no snags, in smooth strokes, and settles into soft waves with minimal frizz.

Me, 3a/3b, cannot brush unless perfectly fingerdetangled before and even then it snags sometimes. Looks like Hagrid.

[BerrySara]

Wow, you guys are so awesome - thank you all so much for the replies!

Makes me feel better that I am not completely lost here.



This lady dry detangles before a wash too, but she puts some conditioner on her hair, to add some slip to the hair, so it's easier. I'll link a few of her detangling sessions for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmXwx1d5MJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMxM3LAXMek

Thank you Lapushka for linking those videos, I am going to try that next time to see if it feels better than using a bit of oil. Although, I am also thinking the tiny amount of oil I add to my end is probably not enough.


Honestly, the curly rule of “don’t brush your hair dry” is more of a guideline. I can’t brush mine in the shower, it just tangles again and I would probably lose twice as much hair in the process. I detangle mine before I get in the shower using a wide tooth comb (I love this thing) and a tangle teaser for the last little bits. This works for me. I’m also a oil abuser and my hair is happier for it.

We minimise breakage by being gentle and listening when our hair tells us it’s not happy. If your hair is happy with the current routine then awesome, you have succeeded in minimising breakage.


Thank you Simsy, makes me feel less alone in this as I too feel like I tend to lose more hair if I detangle in the shower. I really am starting to think that perhaps i am not adding enough oil to my hair before I detangle. I usually only add to my ends and it never feels like its had enough. I have yet to find my threshold of too much oil, so perhaps I really need to keep adding more especially since my hair seems to be able to handle a lot of it the times when I do give it an overall oil treatment. I also definitely need to be more gentle I think.


I'm a mixture of 3s and I cannot detangle in the shower. Even finger detangling. It only leads to frustration, breakage, and more tangling.

Like you, I detangle oiled, dry hair only. My hair loves oil and can handle quite a bit compared to most other people's hair, especially in winter. The amount of oil I use might cause some serious shedding or greasiness for other people, especially considering I oil my scalp too. But it works for me, and keeps my curls from devolving into a dry, brittle, frizzy, tangly, unmanageable mess. Heck, my curls and wurls practically detangle themselves once they've had their daily dose of oil (and perhaps a little aloe). And that's my point in telling you this: you'll have to figure out what works best for YOU. If only detangling oiled, dry hair is what works for you, then keep doing that regardless of what anyone else says or does.


This! I feel like I can relate to this so much! I definitely think I need to experiment with adding more oil! It just seems to get completely absorbed and disappears. I have been using argon oil and it might be "too light" for my hair. I am considering trying coconut oil or castor oil for a more dense oil.


I'd say it's a good idea to invest in some sort of hair trapper for the shower drain whether you comb in the shower or not. You can empty that into the trash, but at least it's not all going down the pipes.

It's important to do what you feel your hair needs.

I prefer to detangle in the shower, but I do also detangle when dry. My hair is fine with gentle detangling when dry, usually with some oil. If my hair is dry and also not moisturized enough, combing when dry can be damaging to it, but I have to listen to my hair. If things aren't sliding, I either need to wait until I wash it or I need to go and get some oil to put in it. If I persist it trying to comb without enough slip I will break it.

I personally can't tell if the same hairstyle every day causes damage for me. I used to do the exact same loosely pinned messy bun every single day and didn't see much damage from it. You'll have to see how your hair responds. You can play it safe and change it up every day or so, or you can try keeping the same style every day. It's taking a risk, but if you find that it doesn't bother your hair, that's valuable information to have.

That's a good idea, I need to get myself a hair trapper. I honestly didnt have this problem when my hair was straight (from relaxers) but I think its because straight hair sheds its loose hair more easily whereas curly hair seems to trap the loose hairs until it finally gets brushed. Well also with my straight hair I used to brush it far more often and not just before a shower.

I totally get what you are saying about listening to my hair. I dont do a good enough job of that. I just assume well the process should always work despite knowing some days my hair feels drier than other days.


If you're not experiencing any excessive snapping (you'll hear it) or snagging, then detangle any way that suits you. Wearing your hair in the same place will probably not cause damage, but it depends on how you secure your bun. A hair band will break hair quicker than a stick (for example). Maybe try some plaits (braids) to switch it up a bit.

I comb wet and full of conditioner, my hair is straighter when its wet and its easier to comb out the shed hairs. Once my hair is dry/damp, my curls are set/in the process of setting and separating with a comb will cause breakage, no matter how moisturised my hair is (and it's *very* moisturised and hydrated). Dry combing also ruins curls patterns if you want to wear your hair down and curly. There's no way around this, it's the nature of curls. When they're dry brushed, they get separated, this ruins definition. Hence the "Curlies Brush Your Hair" thread.

The way I look at it, shedding looks excessive in the shower because you're seeing it come out all at once, and massaging while cleansing loosens already about to drop hairs. And some have experienced more shedding with CO washing. So, I would worry about that, as long as there's no snapping or snagging (as I mentioned earlier) or alarming shedding (like handfuls upon handfuls).

:blossom:

Thank you chomsky. I do hear the snagging when I brush it dry. Idk if its excessive but its painful lol. I think I really need to listen to that as a sign that its too dry to comb. I am getting the sense I need to add more conditioner or oil to add slide before I start combing my hair.

I also agree that I couldnt really brush my hair when damp. It would seriously just turn my hair into a frizzy mess with fly always every where. Once the curl pattern breaks apart, it just doesn't dry right. Even if it is very moisturized.

It totally makes sense about why the shedding in the shower looks so scary. Its like it was all trapped in my hair and its all coming out at once. Also, its good to know that the shedding I do see right now shouldnt be alarming as its definitely not coming out in handfuls.


Sometimes, there's a huge jump between what different textures can get away with.

DBF has solidly 3a hair when CG styled. It can be brushed out with no snags, in smooth strokes, and settles into soft waves with minimal frizz.

Me, 3a/3b, cannot brush unless perfectly fingerdetangled before and even then it snags sometimes. Looks like Hagrid.

LadyCelestina, the Hagrid reference made me laugh out loud! Thats me alright when I brush out my hair. Which is why I only do it in the privacy of my bathroom, with the door locked, right before I get in the shower. Dont need to be caught looking like Hagrid lol.

I am going to try to fingerdetangle my hair before I start combing it, to see if that will help.


Seriously, thank you all so much for replying! It made me feel a lot better and it gave me ideas to try things a little differently. I am going to experiment with adding both conditioner to my dry hair before combing it as well as trying to add a lot more oil and even try a more dense oil. Im also going to try to fingerdetangle it before running my comb through it.

Also with regards to wearing my hair in the same bun everyday, I feel a little better about that. I just dont know how else to wear it at the moment with my transitioning hair besides a bun. My hair isnt very long so braids (as of yesterday its more of a bob) and sticks arent really much of an option. I do use ties that are similiar to scrunchies. Not as fluffly, but its a wide band that feels like stocking really. It specifically was advertised as very gentle to your hair. Also, I am braid at home (which I do) but I dont feel like I can go out with braided hair. I feel like a 9 year version of me since my hair is so short now. Its hard to get used to.

Also, I went a little crazy this weekend and got so fed up that I cut my own hair...I mean like at least 4-5 inches off and its was NOT done well lol. I just got so fed up with the crazy difference in texture (part curly, part straight), that I gave myself a bob cut. But of course its totally uneven and now I have to book an appointment with a curly hair specialist or stylist. I have always hated getting my hair cut by a stylist because when I had curly hair, it was ALWAYS a traumatic experience. I never knew about hair stylists who specialize in curls. Hopefully someone can salvage whatever I got going on.

At least I only have less than a 3 inches of straight ends left on my top portions and less than 1 inch of straight hair left on the neck pieces of hair (some are nothing but curly now!).

Hopefully next year this time I am nothing but curly and at a manageable length :D

[lapushka]

Thank you Lapushka for linking those videos, I am going to try that next time to see if it feels better than using a bit of oil. Although, I am also thinking the tiny amount of oil I add to my end is probably not enough.

She just posted a deep conditioning DIY on her channel. :)

[chomsky]

Thank you chomsky. I do hear the snagging when I brush it dry. Idk if its excessive but its painful lol. I think I really need to listen to that as a sign that its too dry to comb. I am getting the sense I need to add more conditioner or oil to add slide before I start combing my hair.

I also agree that I couldnt really brush my hair when damp. It would seriously just turn my hair into a frizzy mess with fly always every where. Once the curl pattern breaks apart, it just doesn't dry right. Even if it is very moisturized.

It totally makes sense about why the shedding in the shower looks so scary. Its like it was all trapped in my hair and its all coming out at once. Also, its good to know that the shedding I do see right now shouldnt be alarming as its definitely not coming out in handfuls.

Yeah, definitely take it as a sign that your hair needs to be a bit product-y, haha. Curly hair likes to hug itself, for some it is 100x worse dry, the curls just love each other too much to let go without a fight. :lol:

Since you've still got some straight ends, I would find what works for you *now* in this moment, because the minute those ends go, you'll have to relearn everything all over again. Trust me, been there done that. The products I used to use when I had two textures going on are completely different to now. Dry-combing was also the best, now I'm the opposite! Your hair will have very different needs since it'll be "one" texture (as if curly hair is ever just one), but it'll be healthy and act differently to how it is now.

Glad I put your mind at ease with the shower shed, I used to freak out too, haha. ;)

[AceOfCurls]

Hello, I have never heard of dry combing curly hair. Sounds like what nightmares are made of. :p

I have to detangle my hair in the shower with lots of conditioner. Then after I condition my hair, I do a cold rinse and add product while still in the shower. When I get out of the shower, I wrap my hair in a silk blouse. I let it dry in the the silk blouse for about 30 minutes then let it air dry until fully dry and boom beautiful curls. I don't brush my hair (the last time my hair was brushed, was back in 97'. My mom couldn't get through my hair and threw the brush down and told me to start doing my own hair.)

I have a hair trap but I also buy dollar store drain cleaner which works great. I tend to shed a lot but I also have a lot of hair so it doesn't worry me.

I've never worn my hair in a bun. I don't like them and I don't find them attractive. My 3b waist hair is very healthy and beautiful (went from shoulder length hair to almost hip now without once having to bun so do what feels right). Plus who am I to deny the world the beauty of my curls. XD :P

Good luck on your natural hair journey!

[spirals]

I have tangly 3a stretched spirals. I use a very wide toothed comb after washing it but it will still be tangled at the end of the day. I can use a tangle teaser type brush to detangle it but I absolutely have to use silicone spray or oil to minimize the damage. I cannot brush or comb it out without one of those.