My hair is very tangly - help!

[lmfbs]

My hair is almost waist length and has always been very tangly. It's velcro-y and regardless of how often I detangle, it seems to tangle again without moving it.

Clarifying doesn't seem to help, neither does trimming, S&Ding, oiling, moisturising or anything else. I swim in chlorine 5 days a week, but always heavily oil in coconut oil and soak it in fresh water first. I have some splits, but generally my hair is soft and in quite good condition. I have some bleach damage which is where the majority of the tangles are. I get wicked bad tangles at the nape of my neck too (where there's no bleach damage).

I wear my hair up, I've stopped brushing, I detangle carefully, I've even started using cones again to try to get extra slip.

I generally avoid protein as it makes my hair crunchy, and I'm thinking at the moment my only option is henna and henna glosses every few weeks.

Does anyone have any great ideas on what might be causing my tangles or what I can do to help?

[MeowScat]

It sounds like it's from chlorine and bleach damage. 5 days a week in the pool is alot, even with soaking and oiling beforehand. I get the same way from just one day a week in the pool.

Keep growing out the bleach (I know, it's takes FOREVER!) and definitely get a swimcap. I looked on Amazon and read the reviews on them and I'm still trying to decide which one to get. I'm thinking one of each...haha!

Keep presoaking and oiling. Maybe a swimmers shampoo and conditioner might help? I've also heard that rinsing with Club Soda after swimming helps rinse the chlorine out. I'm going to get some this week.

I'm now sleeping in a silky sleepcap instead of bunning it and that has helped the morning tangles tremendously.

:D

[lmfbs]

It sounds like it's from chlorine and bleach damage. 5 days a week in the pool is alot, even with soaking and oiling beforehand. I get the same way from just one day a week in the pool.

Keep growing out the bleach (I know, it's takes FOREVER!) and definitely get a swimcap. I looked on Amazon and read the reviews on them and I'm still trying to decide which one to get. I'm thinking one of each...haha!

Keep presoaking and oiling. Maybe a swimmers shampoo and conditioner might help? I've also heard that rinsing with Club Soda after swimming helps rinse the chlorine out. I'm going to get some this week.

I'm now sleeping in a silky sleepcap instead of bunning it and that has helped the morning tangles tremendously.

:D

I've tried all sorts of swimcaps and the amount of hair I lose in them is scary. Even silicone ones seem to really pull my hair. I think because I play underwater sports and spend lots of time swimming below the surface, any airbubbles in them cause massive issues. Maybe I need to test out some more.

I usually wear a braided bun in the pool to stop tangles, and always rinse right after. I've found swimmers shampoos and conditioners really drying, but maybe those + leave in would work?

[Roscata]

You should try a chelating shampoo to remove the chlorine build-up. I hear good things about Joico (http://joico.com/products/shampoo/kpak/kpak-chelatingshampoo), but I personally use Itely (http://www.amazon.com/Itely-Chelating-Treatment-Shampoo-10-14/dp/B003BKQY8I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339911247&sr=8-2&keywords=chelating+sulfate+free+shampoo).

I read that soaking your hair in fresh water before swimming can help more than oiling. You can read about it here: Hair Care for Swimmers? (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=51925&highlight=chlorine+swimming) and How to protect hair from chlorine and swimming pool chemicals? (http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=46694)

Good luck! :)

[lmfbs]

You should try a chelating shampoo to remove the chlorine build-up. I hear good things about Joico (http://joico.com/products/shampoo/kpak/kpak-chelatingshampoo), but I personally use Itely (http://www.amazon.com/Itely-Chelating-Treatment-Shampoo-10-14/dp/B003BKQY8I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339911247&sr=8-2&keywords=chelating+sulfate+free+shampoo).

I read that soaking your hair in fresh water before swimming can help more than oiling. You can read about it here: Hair Care for Swimmers? (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=51925&highlight=chlorine+swimming) and How to protect hair from chlorine and swimming pool chemicals? (http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=46694)

Good luck! :)


Thanks, I was thinking it could have something to do with mineral build up, which is why I use an ACV rinse every wash. Maybe I need something more.

I oil and soak in water (get it soaking wet, braid, let it sit for 15 - 20min, re-soak, then get in pool) - the oil seems to help with detangling after.

[Roscata]

Thanks, I was thinking it could have something to do with mineral build up, which is why I use an ACV rinse every wash. Maybe I need something more.

I oil and soak in water (get it soaking wet, braid, let it sit for 15 - 20min, re-soak, then get in pool) - the oil seems to help with detangling after.

You're welcome!

From the way you describe your tangle issue it definitely sounds like you need more than ACV.

[lmfbs]

You're welcome!

From the way you describe your tangle issue it definitely sounds like you need more than ACV.

I usually scalp wash with WO, ACV (helps with itchy scalp), condition the length, leave on for the rest of my shower, rinse then use a cone-free conditioner as a leave in. I also oil with coconut oil on damp hair.

I've just started using a cone-y conditioner (with cone-y diluted shampoo once a week). It adds slip in the shower, but doesn't seem to help with the tangles once it's dry.

[MeowScat]

I just recently left my conditioner in under a showercap and two knit hats overnight and it made my hair so soft! Maybe a good ole SMT would help too.

Chelating! Yes, that's the word...sorry for the brain-freeze.

Maybe two swim caps instead of one? Or plastic wrap underneath the swimcap?

[jeanniet]

ACV isn't a chelator, so in this instance it won't help. A chelating shampoo will work, but as you know, they're also very drying. I would suggest trying citric acid/vitamin C rinses to see if they do the trick. Citric acid will chelate any metals in the water, and vitamin C will take care of the chlorine. I would start with 1/4 tsp. citric acid and a pinch of ascorbic acid powder per gallon of water and then go from there. This is basically the recipe for miracle water, but you may need to make it a little stronger. Play around with it a little and see if it helps.

The miracle water thread: http://www.longhaircommunity.com/archive/showthread.php?t=51184

[Alvrodul]

I had a somewhat similar problem when I was living in a place with extremely hard water - my hair felt horrible, no matter what I did!
So to chelate I soaked my hair in a citric acid solution - I filled a bucket with water and added the citric acid to it, soaked my hair in it, and then sat with my soaked hair under a shower cap for a while. I rinsed off the solution, and followed up with a SMS before washing as usual.
My hair was much happier after this treatment!

[sazzie88]

I've tried all sorts of swimcaps and the amount of hair I lose in them is scary. Even silicone ones seem to really pull my hair. I think because I play underwater sports and spend lots of time swimming below the surface, any airbubbles in them cause massive issues. Maybe I need to test out some more.

I usually wear a braided bun in the pool to stop tangles, and always rinse right after. I've found swimmers shampoos and conditioners really drying, but maybe those + leave in would work?

I remember when I used swim hats regularly I would put some talc powder to reduce ripping.

[Tisiloves]

I would keep at it with the swim hats (the baby powder is very important), have you tried oiling after shampoo, but before conditioner? That certainly seems to impart a fair bit of slip to my hair.

[lmfbs]

I would keep at it with the swim hats (the baby powder is very important), have you tried oiling after shampoo, but before conditioner? That certainly seems to impart a fair bit of slip to my hair.

That sounds like a good idea. I'll try it next wash and see how I go, thanks.