Detangling Support Thread

[Priska]

I don't understand why I haven't realised to mix honey and oil together before. I mixed both with a good market conditioner this evening and that worked with tangles so good. Better than just oil, I'd say. Maybe this is not absolutely the best one (probably aloe vera would be, or it should be a big part of a diy detangler), but you get this pretty cheaply from most of the markets.

I guess I've thought before that I can't combine a humectant and oil, because oil is so hard to get out of hair and I lose all the effects of honey if I wash it away with shampoo. But now I've learned that the upper part of my hair doesn't need conditioner and that helps a bit already, and oil is not hard to rinse away anymore to me. Maybe because I rinse it so long time while I brush my tangles open under running water.

[Kelp]

So I finally discovered the magic of wide-toothed combs for detangling!

I think I decided I didn't like them earlier in my hair journey because I wasn't using cones, which caused my hair to be extremely frizzy and prone to tangles. Using a wide-toothed comb back then didn't feel good at all so I would use a wooden brush.

I picked it back up again tonight because I'm desperate to ease a shed I'm going through, and there were maybe two shed hairs in the tines by the time I was done as opposed to a whole hairbrush full I would get with the wooden brush. It was so gentle on my hair and got out every tangle! I'm going to try to use it exclusively this week to see how it continues to work, but I think I found a game-changer.

I also felt very pretty and dainty using it

[gghh]

I don't understand why I haven't realised to mix honey and oil together before. I mixed both with a good market conditioner this evening and that worked with tangles so good. Better than just oil, I'd say. Maybe this is not absolutely the best one (probably aloe vera would be, or it should be a big part of a diy detangler), but you get this pretty cheaply from most of the markets.

I guess I've thought before that I can't combine a humectant and oil, because oil is so hard to get out of hair and I lose all the effects of honey if I wash it away with shampoo. But now I've learned that the upper part of my hair doesn't need conditioner and that helps a bit already, and oil is not hard to rinse away anymore to me. Maybe because I rinse it so long time while I brush my tangles open under running water.

Was scrolling through before bed when i found this thread. As a classic length curly, may i live here :3? But no I was wondering that maybe the oil and honey combined so well because conditioner was a part of the recipe? I want to try this on days where the tangles are particularly tough.

[ETJ CURLS]

I've found what works for me is:

1. Mindset shift. I stopped trying to "detangle" my hair when it's curly years ago. I focus on deshedding instead. I will get everything throughly combed through in the shower and then just leave it be until the next week. The curls clump together, and I could spend hours upon hours unclumping them. As long as the shed hair is gone so it doesn't mat up or dread, I'm happy.

2. I detangle BEFORE I shampoo. This step has made such a huge difference in my routine. I tend to have a fair bit of product on my hair before washday, from what I added last time, plus anything I incorporated over week, and all that generally gives my hair nice slip when it's time to comb through it. If I find I don't have enough slip, I'll liberally add a cheap conditioner to my hair.

3. Using a long-tooth comb. I personally use the "wright comb" available on the revair website. It's aces at getting tangles out, and does so well, I could run a fine tooth comb or wet brush through afterward and encounter no tangles.

4. If I feel the tangles are excessive due to a particular style I've done (such as a wash and go - I don't have too many issues with braids or twists) I will go in and separate out the hair first while lightly finger combing.

5. When detangling in the shower, with water pouring over my hair, I start from the roots. This releases the shed hair trapped there, and then I gently work it down. If it gets stuck, then I'll go from the bottom up, but this method is SO much more gentle on my ends, and very quick once you've got the technique down.

Those are my five main tips for detangling when my hair is curly. When it's straight I just comb it everyday with a little serum and don't leave it loose too much and it's fine.

[lapis_lazuli]

I've found what works for me is:

1. Mindset shift. I stopped trying to "detangle" my hair when it's curly years ago. I focus on deshedding instead. I will get everything throughly combed through in the shower and then just leave it be until the next week. The curls clump together, and I could spend hours upon hours unclumping them. As long as the shed hair is gone so it doesn't mat up or dread, I'm happy.

This is such a great way to put it! I think I unconsciously do the same. I let my hair "clump" together as much as it wants as long as it doesn't form a knot, and then it's usually sheds at the centre of it

[Priska]

Was scrolling through before bed when i found this thread. As a classic length curly, may i live here :3? But no I was wondering that maybe the oil and honey combined so well because conditioner was a part of the recipe? I want to try this on days where the tangles are particularly tough.

Maybe your point about conditioner is right. Funny but I had totally forgotten that treatment... I make so many different experiments all the time. Must try with GOOD honey some time again (the cheapest honeys don't work well with me).

But now I still am happy how using plenty of cornstarch helps me solve nightmarish tangles in a reasonable time with dry hair. (I know, I shouldn't let that happen and oh how I wish this was the last time...)

[gghh]

Keeping my hair braided actually reduces tangles for me better than putting my hair in a bun does imo. And I like to finger detangle with oil before washing it and it gets the job done very nicely. I agree with what ETJ Curls is saying about it mostly just being sheds to get out. I did start using a wide tooth comb as a last step to make sure the hair lays in a uniform way and i really do think it helps with tangles for the rest of the week.

[sarana]

I've been wondering if detangling really bad matts would be easiest in a mermaid bath with tons of conditioner in the water. Like having the hair float freely in conditioner water and then go in with a comb or fingers. Might work for dreadlock removal? But the key would be to have the hair not just wet but freely floating.

[longmane]

I've found what works for me is:

1. Mindset shift. I stopped trying to "detangle" my hair when it's curly years ago. I focus on deshedding instead. I will get everything throughly combed through in the shower and then just leave it be until the next week. The curls clump together, and I could spend hours upon hours unclumping them. As long as the shed hair is gone so it doesn't mat up or dread, I'm happy.

2. I detangle BEFORE I shampoo. This step has made such a huge difference in my routine. I tend to have a fair bit of product on my hair before washday, from what I added last time, plus anything I incorporated over week, and all that generally gives my hair nice slip when it's time to comb through it. If I find I don't have enough slip, I'll liberally add a cheap conditioner to my hair.

3. Using a long-tooth comb. I personally use the "wright comb" available on the revair website. It's aces at getting tangles out, and does so well, I could run a fine tooth comb or wet brush through afterward and encounter no tangles.

4. If I feel the tangles are excessive due to a particular style I've done (such as a wash and go - I don't have too many issues with braids or twists) I will go in and separate out the hair first while lightly finger combing.

5. When detangling in the shower, with water pouring over my hair, I start from the roots. This releases the shed hair trapped there, and then I gently work it down. If it gets stuck, then I'll go from the bottom up, but this method is SO much more gentle on my ends, and very quick once you've got the technique down.

Those are my five main tips for detangling when my hair is curly. When it's straight I just comb it everyday with a little serum and don't leave it loose too much and it's fine.

Really great tips!
I also start from the detangling from the roots. Never had issues because of that. The tangles get worse if I start from the tips.

[longmane]

1) I only detangle my hair before i am about to shampoo it
2) I start the detangling process with dry hair. I gently part my hair (No hair tools) into small sections with olive oil on my hands.
3) i apply tons of olive oil while lightly finger detangling and removing shed hair
4) I soak my hair in the shower with water then apply I apply conditioner. I then start detangling sections using a wide-tooth comb from roots to tips
5) I shampoo after I am done detangling with the wide tooth comb