Pooja Karkala
Movies and TV shows can be deceiving. They show women with long flowing tresses dancing and twirling in the wind without worrying about their hair getting horrendously tangled. Do your strands cuddle each other often? Are they unwilling to part ways? Have you broken numerous combs and brushes trying to get rid of knots and tangles? Well, here is a list of ways you can stop them from getting tangled up. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at what exactly causes hair tangling.
What Causes Hair Tangling?
1. Lack Of Hydration
When your hair lacks moisture, it leads to friction and tension in your hair, which then cause tangles. The outer layers of your hair shaft break, which results in a rough and damaged look. Lack of hydration can also deteriorate the condition of your hair.
2. Sleeping With Your Hair Down
Sleeping without braiding or tying your hair up can lead to some serious tangles. Another major no-no is going to bed with wet hair. Hair is most fragile when it is wet. It can get frizzy quickly and break easily. The tangles caused by lying down with damp hair are a nightmare as they are rigid and tough to remove.
3. Not Combing
Not brushing your hair daily is a major threat to your hair. Eventually, it will create kinks in your hair. With no combing, the oil or residue that is built up over time can disrupt the health of your hair.
4. Untrimmed Dry Ends
Going long periods without trimming your hair results in split ends and frizzy hair. Dry ends also tend to break easily. And once your hair splits, it cannot be repaired. It remains dry and causes tons of frizz in your hair. Dry, frizzy strands and split ends can tangle your hair easily.
5. Damaged Cuticles
Constantly heat styling or blow drying can make your hair shafts break and cause friction, resulting in knots. When your hair is damaged, its external layers get scraped off, leaving the inner layer (the cortex) exposed and unprotected. This accelerates the damage on your cuticles.
Tangles sound scary, don’t they? Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do that can prevent your pretty tresses from getting tangled. Keep reading to find out what you need to do.
How To Get Rid Of Tangles
1. Condition Your Hair
Merely shampooing your hair is not good enough. Always finish with a moisture-locking conditioner. This helps your brush slip through your hair without any obstacles. Conditioner smoothens your hair and softens dry strands effectively. It is best to let the product sit in your tresses for a couple of minutes before washing it off.
2. Use A Wide-Toothed Comb
It is best not to use a rat-tailed comb or a round brush on tangled hair. They can tear open the shafts and cause further damage. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb as it removes knots without pulling on your hair too much. Always start at the ends and work your way up to the roots.
3. Use Detangling Products
Products like detangling sprays, serums, and conditioners can undo knots effectively. They soften dry strands and eliminate interweaves. If a gigantic knot is troubling you, apply some detangling product on it and the area surrounding it. Massage your tresses and gently brush downwards through the knot. You may also use your fingers to separate the tangles.
4. Apply Hair Masks
Applying a hair mask once a week can improve your hair texture drastically. It hydrates and smoothens your dry cuticles, leaving your locks silky and soft. Some of the most effective ingredients that can transform your hair are yogurt, honey, and almond oil. Mix these ingredients, apply the paste on dry hair, and leave it on for 20 minutes. You will see a lot of difference in your hair texture within a few weeks. If masks are too time-consuming for you, you can add lemon juice to two cups of water and massage the solution onto your scalp. This will transform your hair within days.
5. Oil Your Hair Regularly
To give your hair a healthy dose of moisture, you need to oil it on a regular basis. Organic coconut oil is an excellent way to show some love to your locks. Massage some warm coconut oil over your parched tresses and watch the wonder unveil. This trick works great on all hair types. To get long-lasting results, you can mix coconut oil with jojoba and olive oils. This mixture can get rid of tangles effectively.
6. Rinse With Cold Water
This is a simple yet effective step. Rinse your locks with cold water at the end of your shower to close your cuticles and prevent any breakage. Doing so also keeps rough and dry strands at bay.
7. Avoid Using Heat Styling Tools
Heat styling tools like blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can take a toll on your delicate locks. It can dry out your hair, which then leads to tangling. To avoid this, use the tools on low to medium heat settings. You can further avoid damage by applying a heat protectant before heat styling your hair.
8. Go Easy With The Towel
Twisting and rubbing your hair with a terrycloth towel vigorously immediately after a shower can cause a great deal of hair fall and breakage. It also disturbs the structure of the cuticles, resulting in split ends and frizzy hair. Instead, gently squeeze your hair with a towel and let it air dry. Microfiber towels are the best options to get quality results.
9. Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
Just like your body needs rest, so do your sensitive tresses. Invest in a silk pillowcase as it does not cause friction and prevents your hair from getting tangled. Avoid cotton pillowcases as they are rough in texture and tend to dry out and break your hair.
10. Avoid Products Containing Alcohol
Although there is a wide range of products that claim to be natural, it is vital to look for the ones that are true to their claim – in terms of the presence of alcohol. Alcohol dries out your hair and ruins the texture of your cuticles, leading to tangling and breakage. Therefore, choose products that are free of sulfates and alcohol.
That’s how you can prevent your hair from getting tangled. But, wait a minute! You’re probably wondering how to fix your hair once it has already tangled up. Well, keep reading for some easy tips and tricks.
Tips To Fix Tangled Hair
- Always use your fingers to detach the knots before using a comb. This can reduce the size of the knots substantially and make detangling less painful.
- Section your hair before detangling it. This can make your work way more manageable.
- Trim your hair every three months to get rid of split ends.
- Brushing wet hair can result in hair fall. Instead, use your fingers to remove any knots and tangles right after you step out of the shower.
- Avoid using styling products that leave a residue as they will contribute in knotting your hair.
- Use a leave-in conditioner right after you wash your hair. Not only will this make your hair more manageable, but it will also reduce frizz and flyaways.
- Use natural homemade hair masks with ingredients like yogurt and honey to deep condition your hair every couple of weeks.
- Wear a scarf or a hat when stepping out to protect your hair from the sun, wind, dust, and pollutants.
- Oil your hair with a natural oil an hour before shampooing it.
Fixing Dry Tangles
Dry tangles are especially painful to get rid of. Apply a mousse or a serum to smoothen the dry cuticles before you start detangling it with a comb.
Fixing Tangles Caused By Styling Products
Using too much hairspray or hair gel can make your hair stiff and cause stubborn knots. To get rid of the stiffness and knots, use an oil to moisturize your tresses first. This also helps in softening the dry ends. Gently massage the oil onto the troubled area and brush through your locks.
Fixing Wet Tangles
When your hair is wet, apply a serum before detangling it with your fingers. This helps in keeping your locks soft and smooth.
Detangling your hair can be a painful endeavor. It doesn’t have to be anymore! Just follow these tips and watch your hair care regimen transform for the better. Let us know which tip helped you the most in the comments section below.
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