Question about finger combing

[Leone]

Hi,
I am trying the finger combing after washing my hair. It seems that I end up pulling out a lot of hair because it sticks to my fingers when it is wet. Am I supposed to wait until it is dry?

The last two times I resorted to my old plastic comb, but I would really like to get this technique right.

Any suggestions?

[HintOfMint]

If you're feeling snapping and snagging, as if the hair is tearing, then maybe you don't have the right texture to fingercomb wet hair. If it's coming out easily, then it could just be shed hair that didn't come out during your wash.
You could try fingercombing dry for the sake of experimentation. I couldn't do it, but I'm wavy and mostly coarse, so it could work for you.

[BrightEyes7]

I tried finger combing for a bit. Didn't work for me.

But I found it worked better to wait until the hair was dry. It was a very strange thing for me because I was scared the my hair was going to dry into frizzy deadlock looking mess that I come out of the shower with. It wasn't that bad but I felt my hair was a lot frizzier with finger combing. I also have a different hair type than you.

I would definately second the notion to experiment with not combing until dry.

[manderly]

I finger comb when wet, but only because my hair is full of about a handful of conditioner and I'm a curly. I can't fingercomb without conditioner.

Either try waiting for your hair to dry or use a conditioner (if you aren't already) to give you more slip.

[virgo75]

I only finger comb while I'm in the shower and have conditioner in my hair.

I also found that using my fingers or a comb instead of a brush seems to pull out hair instead of detangle. I don't think a comb or my fingers 'give' the same way a brush does.

But others have more success with it I guess.

[2peasinapod]

Same here. I can't really do anything to my hair when it's wet without breaking it. I fingercomb sometimes, but I have to wait until it's dry. If I do it wet, it dries frizzy and stringy.

[Leone]

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

My hair got almost dry while I was waiting for responses and the finger combing became MUCH easier at that point!

I think I was apprehensive about it becoming so tangled it would stay that way. You know how it is when you try something new... old theories and ideas have to be done away with sometimes.

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks! Well, I'm not a dog, nor all that old either, but the principle is the same!

[akuamoonmaui]

I finger comb my hair in sections, pulling about an inch dia. of hair away from my head at a time. I tend to smooth the hair first, too by running my fingers and thumb down the length then "combing".

[GrowingGlory]

Be sure to rinse your conditioner out completely. Maybe a diluted vinegar rinse will remove sticky residue from your hair and facilitate damage free finger combing.

[AreWild]

I almost exclusively finger comb. I finger comb my dry hair right before washing to detangle and pull sheds. Then I do it in the shower while my hair is coated in conditioner. I'm careful to try and avoid tangling my hair while rinsing, and towel dry gently in the direction of growth. So far I've had good luck with this method and simply don't comb my hair at all when it's wet. Once it's dried I can finger comb as much as I want without causing damage. Obviously, make sure your hands and nails are in good shape. Dry skin and rough nails will snag hair.