Why use a wide-tooth comb?

[jeanniet]

For me, using a fine-toothed comb results in a lot of pulling and discomfort because my hair tangles so easily--I have a mix of hair from fine to coarse, and the fine hairs tend to wrap around the others. Even a regular wide-toothed comb doesn't work that well. I prefer combs with teeth spaced about 1/2" apart. I do have to go over my hair more to make sure all the tangles are out, but it's much more comfortable doing it this way. If your hair doesn't tangle as easily, then a finer-toothed comb might work perfectly. It's really all about what you prefer.

[UP Lisa]

I can't seem to use ANY comb. I have very tangly hair, and no matter how I comb, I just end up breaking off hairs. Also, for me, it has never seemed to work to start at the bottom and go up.

[DarkAlice]

try a tangle teezer instead of a wide-tooth, works better for my thick tangly fine hair

[heidi w.]

I can't seem to use ANY comb. I have very tangly hair, and no matter how I comb, I just end up breaking off hairs. Also, for me, it has never seemed to work to start at the bottom and go up.

So, what do you do?

how bottom do you begin? you may need to begin at the bottom AND simultaneously work in smaller, thinner sections of hair for detangling. I also couldn't use a comb at first because I didn't realize that I needed wider spaced teeth, wider than an average wide-toothed comb. Until I tried that kind of comb, it just never occurred to me to find an even wider-toothed comb.

heidi w.

[UP Lisa]

I have a tangle teezer. I think it works okay on my hair when wet, but dry it is breaking hairs for sure.

I have never tried an extra wide toothed come, I guess. I have a Mason Pearson comb with wide teeth that does not work for me. I have tried starting at the very bottom, Maybe I have not used a thin enough section of hair, but I don't know if that would help. I have the kind of hair that you can comb through a hundred times, and it just tangles right back up. Spider web hair. Hard to separate into sections for braiding, since it wants to stick together.

[heidi w.]

I have a tangle teezer. I think it works okay on my hair when wet, but dry it is breaking hairs for sure.

I have never tried an extra wide toothed come, I guess. I have a Mason Pearson comb with wide teeth that does not work for me. I have tried starting at the very bottom, Maybe I have not used a thin enough section of hair, but I don't know if that would help. I have the kind of hair that you can comb through a hundred times, and it just tangles right back up. Spider web hair. Hard to separate into sections for braiding, since it wants to stick together.

Do you wear your hair up often? My hair tangles mercilessly, and unless I wear it up, I can count on a rat's nest of tangles. I wear my hair up every single day, all day long until I go to bed. From when I rise, to when I go to bed, it's up.

heidi w.

[UP Lisa]

Oh, yes! It is generally always up. It's only down when I am letting it dry. It is braided at night. I learned a long time ago that I do not have the kind of hair that can be worn down unless I am someplace with no wind, and wearing a silk or satin shirt!

Do you wear your hair up often? My hair tangles mercilessly, and unless I wear it up, I can count on a rat's nest of tangles. I wear my hair up every single day, all day long until I go to bed. From when I rise, to when I go to bed, it's up.

heidi w.

[SwordWomanRiona]

I can't seem to use ANY comb. I have very tangly hair, and no matter how I comb, I just end up breaking off hairs. Also, for me, it has never seemed to work to start at the bottom and go up.

Same here. I bought a wooden wide-tooth comb not long ago, because of all the good things I'd been hearing here, but combs don't work for me. My hair's so fine I break off hairs. I can only use my fingers to detangle.

I only use a comb (I have a couple, the wooden wide-tooth one and a plastic one, which is rather wide-toothed too) to pull my scalp hair up in a ponytail/bun. For my length I can only use (apart from my fingers) a very soft brush, of the kind made for babies.

[Madora]

I have a tangle teezer. I think it works okay on my hair when wet, but dry it is breaking hairs for sure.

I have never tried an extra wide toothed come, I guess. I have a Mason Pearson comb with wide teeth that does not work for me. I have tried starting at the very bottom, Maybe I have not used a thin enough section of hair, but I don't know if that would help. I have the kind of hair that you can comb through a hundred times, and it just tangles right back up. Spider web hair. Hard to separate into sections for braiding, since it wants to stick together.

UP Lisa, perhaps there is product buildup on your strands and that is why they tangle so badly. Clarifying then conditioning might help.

Also, for the sake of your hair, don't use a TT on it when it is wet. Hair is at its weakest when wet.

To successfully use a wide tooth comb, it might help you to finger comb your hair first, then use the wide tooth comb. Take small, THIN (pencil sized) sections of hair and comb from the ends up the strands, little by little, until you reach the roots. It is much easier to isolate any tangles by working in small sections rather than larger sections.

Once all the hair has been detangled, part your hair from nape to forehead so that it is in two sections.

Grab each section with your hands, then gently put the section behind each shoulder and let them drop down your back. If you toss/throw/fling your hair over your head, then it only tangles again.

[ktani]

I can't figure out why everyone says to use a wide-tooth comb, specifically?

I could see preferring wide-tooth to fine-tooth if you like the way it promotes defined "clumps" of hair for curly or wavy hair. However, I can't think of a reason why it make any difference as far as damage goes.

Also, just to make sure I am not confusing the term, is a "wide-tooth" comb a comb where the actual teeth are wide, or the teeth are spaced widely apart? Or both?

I do not use a comb or brush and finger comb my hair while it is still damp. My hair does not tangle with catnip use or mineral oil/baby oil use but it can snag - never severely though.

I finger comb from the bottom up and sometimes from the top down. Because my hair is in excellent condition it makes little difference.

I wear my hair down most of the time (still not timmed in over 7 months and it is past my waist pulled down) and I get no tangles at all using both catnip treatments after shampooing or using the baby oil instead, after shampooing.

I get no tangles right after shampooing either. I separate my hair gently in the shower before shampooing with my hair all forward, and I do flip it when applying catnip to it. I flip it all forward when rinsing out a treatment and rinsing out shampoo but with shampoo only, it is all forward and is rinsed out that way only. The shower water helps when I am separating my hair gently, avoid any tangling.

With the baby oil, right after shampooing and towel squeezing out extra moisture, I oil my inner fingers first before "detangling" to get the oil applied evenly. If I encounter a snag, I gently separate the hair.

When my hair is dry, I gently separate the length, as if to braid it and that is what I do in the morning before I put it up to wash my face and at night before I put it up to shower, and in between if needed. Before stepping into the shower, my hair is spearated and put up, so I can shave my legs and underarms with it out of the way.

ETA: My hair is fine/medium, wavy and thin (less folicles), and virgin (other than catnip). There is more than one way to detangle hair well and not damage hair in the process. I credit catnip for the condition of my hair and the baby oil amazingly is a close second so far, in preserving that. I have no split ends and minimal breakage (mechanical only) when I get careless in how I treat my hair.

ETA:2 My top hair I do finger comb gently when it is dry and during the day in a straight motion. It never snags, even when it is windy except the very odd time. My hair is all one length.

ETA:3 When I "detangle" my length right after shampooing, treated or not, I use 4 fingers in a fluttering motion, and stop if there is resistance to gently separate any snag.