Have you ever wondered why your hair tangles and what you could do to fix it?
It's no secret that maintaining long and beautiful hair requires good care. But, as we can all agree, one of the most frustrating things about having long hair (other than it taking forever to dry) is having to constantly deal with knots and tangles. Not only is it time-consuming but can also be quite painful and damaging.
If you can relate, then this blog post is for you. Read on for our best tips on how to detangle your hair and minimize knots.
Why does my hair tangle anyway?
There could be a few reasons why your hair is constantly tangling. Hair texture, frequency of brushing, exposure to wind, as well as the healthiness of the hair can all contribute to matting.
Your hair is more likely to tangle if:
- It is super thick and curly
- It is long and fine
- It is very dry and damaged
- You don't brush your hair throughout the day
- You sleep with your hair down
How To Minimize Tangling
Whether we like it or not (and we clearly don't), our hair as well as hair extensions will tangle, especially if you fit one of the above categories. While there isn’t a magic formula on how to get rid of tangles forever, there are some things you can do to minimize tangling and the damage that comes from detangling your hair.
1. Condition your hair and hair extensions
Never, ever skip on conditioner. Conditioning your hair after shampooing will restore moisture back into it, leaving it smoother and less likely to tangle.
Tip: apply a hydrating conditioner like our High Gloss Smoothing Conditioner first thing after washing your hair, and then proceed with washing your body, shaving, and singing in the shower before washing it out. This will give the conditioner extra time to soak into the hair longer, increasing its effects.
If you aren't a fan of conditioner, add a hair oil into your routine. Our Luminous Shine Oil can be applied on dry or damp hair to help dry, damaged hair.
2. Do a hair mask at least once a week
If you’re not the kind of girl who likes to spend time doing hair masks, it’s time to reconsider. Doing a hair mask once a week, even if it’s just for 30 minutes, will significantly improve the condition of your hair. Hair masks are quick, highly potent treatments that restore the hair with moisture and lost nutrients, leaving it silky, shiny, healthy, and less prone to tangling overall.
One of our all time favorite natural hair treatments is Pure Coconut Oil. Leave it in for 30 minutes before your shower or overnight, wash it out with shampoo and enjoy gloriously smooth and silky, hydrated hair.
3. Use a wide tooth comb
Although it may be tempting to use a brush because it's 'faster', using a wide tooth comb (or a special detangling brush) is a much better idea, especially when taking your hair's health into consideration. Not only will it remove the tangles more efficiently, but you will also protect your hair from tearing and damage. Start at the bottom of the knot, and patiently work your way up until it is combed out completely. If you're worried about keeping your hair extensions looking fresh and detangled, we'd recommend getting your hands on the Loop Hair Extension Brush; it glides through your hair seamlessly and detangles without any damage.
4. Use hot tools less
This might be quite a difficult challenge to overcome, but think about it. If you consistently blow-dry, straighten or curl your hair, just imagine how much heat your hair strands are exposed to! This inevitably leads to dry, dull hair that is prone to breakage, and as we already know, dry hair is more prone to tangling. If you can't live without your hot tools, we recommend to at least use your hot tools on a low to medium temperature setting, and to always use a heat protectant before styling.
4. Protect your hair while you sleep
Speaking of sleeping, did you know that hair can also get tangled while you sleep? This is due to the friction of your hair against the pillow when you toss and turn. To combat this, we recommend to loosely braid your hair and tie it with a scrunchie before sleeping, or tie your hair up in a loose bun.
6. Brush your hair consistently
If your hair is prone to tangling, it's probably not a good idea to let it down all day (especially in the wind) without brushing it. Brush your hair two to three times a day using a soft bristle brush, especially before a shower and before sleeping. If you tend to brush your hair after showering, make sure to use a detangling wet brush since the flexible bristles won't damage your hair or cause breakage.
Be gentle while brushing, ladies!
7. Rinse with cold water
We know, this one sounds a bit daunting, especially during those cold winter months. But after a hot shower, your hair cuticles are open, which leads to frizz and tangling while drying. Rinsing your hair with cold water before you hop out of the shower will help to seal the cuticles, close them up, ensure they dry smoothly, which prevents tangling. Try it next time...if you dare!
8. Choose the right products
Although there is a whole list of ingredients we recommend to avoid when choosing your hair products, alcohol is really the one that you want to avoid as it dries out your hair, making it more prone to tangling. Instead, go for natural, sulfate and alcohol-free products, or those specifically designed for tangled hair.
6. Hairstyle variety is key
When dealing with tangled hair, it's easy to just throw your hair into a ponytail and forget about it. If you've done any research at all, however, you know how damaging even a simple hair elastic can be to your hair. Tying your hair up in a ponytail constantly causes hair breakage and split ends, so it's always a good idea to try to style your hair differently regularly or to tie your hair in different spots on your head. You can also try cordless coil hair ties like the Invisibobble or gentle fabric scrunchies for your ponytails and buns.
On the other hand, we recommend braiding your hair, especially if your hair is long and tangles easily. We love braids simply for their sheer versatility. You can start the day off with a tight braid (say, a French or a fishtail braid) and go on with your day. Jump, dance, run, do whatever you want—the braid will normally stay, but even if it doesn't and it comes undone, you now have yourself a pretty, loose, messy braid as if you were going for that look all along.
The best part? No knots. No untangling and silently crying as the hairbrush pulls on your scalp once again. Because doing this every day can get old. Simply undo your braid at the end of the day, and gently brush through your tangle-free hair!
Helpful Detangling Tips
The setting
If you’re anything like us, detangling hair is a whole routine. So we’ve learned to make it something to look forward to instead of dreading it. Some tips:
- Take a deep breath
- Put your fave tunes on or a movie in the background
- Grab a glass your fave beverage
- Prop up an e-book and read while you detangle
This sounds silly, but if you distract yourself with some of your favorite activities, you will be a lot more patient, stress-free, and gentle when detangling your hair.
The method
- Always split your hair into manageable sections. We recommend splitting it into four parts—two top parts, and two bottom parts, and working with one section at a time.
- Always use your fingers first to gently detangle as much as you can from bottom to top. This is the most gentle method to reduce the size of the knot considerably.
- Then, follow by a wide tooth comb from the bottom up. You can also use a special detangling brush, but we recommend to only use ones where the bristles are flexible and soft.
- That’s it—once all the knots are detangled, you’re good to go!
Other Helpful Tips
- Don’t shower with tangles. Not only can this be painful and make the tangles worse, but detangling wet hair makes it much more prone to breakage.
- Tie your hair in a braid or a ponytail on windy days or when being active to avoid those pesky tangles.
- Use leave in conditioner if you feel your hair is still dry after the shower for extra moisture and smoothness.
Does your hair tangle easily? What are some things you do to prevent it, and how do you deal with knots? We'd love to hear your experience. Catch up with us at [email protected] or on Instagram at @luxyhair.
