We get it— brushing your hair out is a pain. Waking up in the morning with bedhead is aggravating enough, but to detangle your hair is another beast entirely. As tempting as it might be to tear through your hair with a cheap brush or comb, it’s not good for your hair at all. Tearing out knots leaves you with an aching scalp and clumps of hair in your comb. Brushing out tangled hair without the right technique is painful, and it can result in hair damage. Instead of brute-forcing your way through knots, follow these five techniques on detangling. Your hair will thank you!
What Causes Knots in Hair?
Tangles typically occur in two different ways: lack of proper grooming and dryness. Neglecting to regularly brush your hair will lead to a buildup of tangles and knots, especially if you have longer hair. Tangled short hair happens just as often in those with dry, damaged hair. When your hair is dry and damaged, the scales on the hair shafts open up. This blocks other hair cuticles and forms knots. Knots can occur in other ways, too. Here are some more factors that can cause messy hair:
- Split ends
- Sleeping with your hair down
- Excessive heat styling
- Massaging hair too hard in the shower
- Harsh hair care products
- Dehydration
It should also be noted some hair types are more prone to tangling. Curly hair, textured hair, and even fine hair tends to tangle more easily.
How to Get Rid of Tangled Hair
There are many different ways to have healthier, smoother hair. Read on for our top recommendations on the best ways to detangle hair.
1. Start With Your Fingers
One of the best tips we can offer when it comes to detangling is to be gentle! Hair is fragile. Yank or pull too hard and you risk damaging or losing your hair. Start your hair care routine off on the right foot by starting small. Using your fingers, gently part the tangles in your hair. Remember to start from the bottom and work your way up to prevent hair breakage from pulling. It’s okay if you can’t get all the tangles out with your fingers. The idea of finger detangling is simply to part what tangles you can to make the rest of the process easier. You can go in with a brush and detangle after this first step.
2. Brush With Tangle-Friendly Tools
It’s important to make sure you’re brushing your hair with the right products. Look for detangling hair products like paddles brushes, wide-toothed combs, and especially wet brushes. These are a godsend for tangled hair. Unlike a normal brush, they come with flexible, plastic bristles that are designed to move with the hair. A normal brush has many bristles all packed together, but a wet brush has much more space in-between each bristle to help the hair glide through the brush.
They’re usually meant to be used after washing your hair, as the name implies, but they work just as well on dry hair. Wet brushes don’t just detangle, either. The bristles also stimulate blood flow in your scalp and spread natural oils in your hair. If you’re sick of scalp pain from brushing, the best wet brush will offer a much gentler experience.
3. Apply Oils
If your hair suffers from dryness, applying oils can help prevent tangling. Certain oils like olive oil are also effective detangles for thick, curly hair because they loosen curls and smoothen texture. Coconut oil is another popular pick. It’s super moisturizing, and gentle on hair and the scalp. Jojoba oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, and mineral oil can also be used to detangle hair.
4. Sleep With a Silk Pillowcase
Some of the worst tangles come from tossing and turning all night in your sleep. Using a silk pillowcase helps keep your hair smooth and moisturized overnight, preventing frizz and tangles. Silk is a smooth and frictionless fabric that allows your hair to glide over it without getting caught or tangled up. It’s also been found to be good for your skin!
5. Use Conditioner and Detangler
The best way to detangle hair is by recruiting the help of conditioner and detangler. When choosing which products to use, look for ingredients like glycerin, vegetable oils, shea butter, and mineral oil. These ingredients all help coat hair strands and make it easy for you to effortlessly detangle your hair without pulling. Try to find a product with the right balance of moisture and a lightweight formula.
When it comes to a general detangler for all hair types, the best conditioner for tangled hair is the Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner. It’s lightweight, easy on fine hair, and offers protection from UV rays and heat styling. Looking for the detangler for matted hair? Try Kenra’s Platinum Pearl Detangler. This spray is highly praised for its pearlescent, lightweight formula. It works with all hair types and adds moisture and slip for easy detangling.
Now that you’re armed with five new ways to battle a bad hair day, it’s time to ready your arsenal with the best hair detanglers. For high quality hair products delivered fast, shop at Ninth Avenue today!
