How to Detangle Curly Hair With Minimal Hair Loss

Tangle Teezer

So whether you are transitioning from a relaxer to natural, have thick, curly or long hair you’re probably a good candidate for TANGLED hair. If you have one of these hair types or just tangley (I just made that up) hair how do you detangle with minimal hair loss?

It goes without saying the longer or curlier your hair, the more complex will be your tangles conversely with shorter and straight hair tangles are less of an issue.

You’ve been there, your hair is wet or maybe it’s dry, either way, you have a comb in hand you go into a section of hair and pull down………..nope!! It’s not going through!! It doesn’t budge, there is no way the comb is going down to the ends. “I got this”. You, apply a little more pressure the next thing you hear “SNAP, CRACKLE, POP”!!

Oh, well you keep going and 10 minutes or so later you have fully detangled hair. And on your bathroom counter, there are long hairs, shorts hair and they used to be on your head.

Hair becoming tangled can happen to the best of us, no matter how you try to avoid it. So how do we minimize these mini-disasters and more importantly eliminate breakage and retain hair length?

Hair Structure

The structure of hair is part of the reason why hair becomes tangled. A hair strand has cuticle layers that lay like tiles on a roof. When cuticles are raised they get caught against each other forming a “tangle” or “knot”. When the cuticle is closed or the hair strand is covered with an emollient (conditioner) the strand is smooth and there is less possibility of friction and tangles.

Single Strand Knots

It’s probably a good time to mention single strand knots or fairy knots………Yes, I know super annoying!! What are they? Single strand knots are the tiny knots that form on a hair strand. Unfortunately once formed they are virtually impossible to unravel. The only way to get rid of them is to cut them out with hair cutting shears.  Small knots will form into larger knots when they get attached to other hair strands. Utilizing the methods in the next few paragraphs will go some way to preventing the pesky knots.

The Coily, Curly, And Longhaired

For those with coily, curly or long hair, there are a number of contributory factors as to why your hair gets tangled. It could be one of them or maybe all. Let’s see:

Hair that has shed, getting caught in between other hairs, two or three shed hairs together will knot together.

Not using quality conditioners and using shampoos that are harsh that contain sulfates. Hair that has no slip when manipulated will get tangled.

Brushing hair with sharp bristles or edges and combing with teeth that are tightly spaced means there’s no room for curls to pass through without getting caught. This will result in breakage or split ends.

The way you shampoo and condition your hair if you use a scrubbing motion this will cause hair strands to clump together when wet.  Ensure separation of hair before it dries to avoid tangles.

The Transitioner

The transitioner has a unique set of issues when it comes to detangling:

You’ve finally taken the plunge and decided to go natural. But the idea of chopping all your precious locks off is just too terrifying to even utter. Instead, you’ve embraced the slow (and steady) approach of transitioning out of your relaxed hair.

It’s true that the easiest way to manage your different hair textures is by trying to make them all look similar, either by using a certain style (braids, curlers) or by straightening.

Now, even though you knew all along you were going to be working with straight and curly hair. But things are a little different curly, wavy and straight hair all coming out of your scalp?

You’ve become the guardian of multiple textures and have to manage all of them through shampooing, detangling and moisturizing. What are you to do?

How To Shampoo And Condition To Avoid Tangles

Prep before shampooing is key for a successful washday. Detangling your hair in the shower can take a long time and be a recipe for disaster.

Using a spray bottle with water (to imitate the sprinkle effect that your shower would have), to avoid tangling from the shower, spray your hair until it’s damp. Use your fingers to gently pull your hair apart and gently remove any tangles.

Section your hair according to its various textures (for those of us that have multiple textures), or use 4 to 6 sections.

Feel free to apply a thin layer of your favorite conditioner or some Nourishing Hair Creme as a “pre-poo” (treatment before shampoo).

Head into your shower and shampoo concentrating on your scalp, gently scrunch the length of hair being careful not to be too harsh. Use a conditioner or deep conditioning treatment and then pat your hair dry with a t-shirt instead of a towel.

Follow the process up with the Nourishing Hair Crème in order to retain moisture and fully detangle. Seal with an oil or butter to keep hair moisturized for days then style accordingly.

Best Practices

There are a few things that you can do that are conventional best practices. Because we want to avoid looking forlornly at the huge ball of hair in your hand knowing that used to be on your head.

Sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase or wearing a bonnet will reduce hair breakage and split ends, and prevent friction of the cuticle layer.

Drying hair with a cotton t-shirt or a fabric that absorbs water and does not rub against the hair shaft. Pat hair dry and do not tussle as this will cause matting. Allowing hair to air dry will also help.

When is the best time to detangle when hair is wet or dry? Which is the best method, there are advocates for both methods. Whichever method you use be gentle and avoid detangling when you are in a rush.

When hair is wet it is more vulnerable to breakage conversely when hair is overly dry it may also be subject to breakage. We believe the best option is somewhere in the middle so it’s not completely wet and it’s not dry. Something in the middle works best for most curly hair types when the hair is moisturized it has some flexibility.

We know about the off days when your not in the mood to tackle your hair. But even on the off days doing the bare minimum is necessary!!. Not doing anything at all, will mean your hair will become dry, curl-up on itself and become matted. Doing something is better than nothing!!

Keep your hands out!!. Sometimes we absentmindedly play in our hair, damaging the cuticles and contributing to knots and tangles.

Detangling Tools

To finger detangle or not that is the question? Finger detangling is simply detangling your hair with your fingers instead of a styling tool e.g. comb or brush. The benefit, being your hair is less likely to break from the bristles of a brush or the edges of a comb.  However, finger detangling is a lengthy time-consuming process, especially if your hair is long or you have a lot of hair.

The tangle teezer, a hairbrush with a unique bristle configuration. The bristles are short and flex with the tangle without damaging hair. Beloved by some the tangle teezer does make working through tangles easier. When using the teezer be gentle and take your time to avoid breakage. At the end of the day, it’s a tool that has bristles.

Luxju Crème, A Product Suited For All Hair Types And Curl Patterns

If you’re a fan of keeping things minimal, effortless and simple, our Nourishing Hair Creme will probably revolutionize your “wash day”. It’s a catchall in the sense that it behaves exactly like a detangling butter, but also as a go-to moisturizer.

Continued use of our Nourishing Hair Crème will help to detangle, used after conditioning tangled hair becomes less of an issue.

When transitioning in order to manage your multiple textures, moisture is essential; our crème has the perfect balance of natural oils and shea butter that will quickly help your hair retain its own natural moisture.

Apply the creme at night for moisturized and refreshed hair every day.

Do you have any detangling tips? Why not share them in the comments or tag us on Instagram or Facebook @luxjuhair