Got your ringlets in a knot and dreading the rescue operation? We've all been there. Detangling your hair can literally be a hair-pulling process. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Windy weather, friction from hats and natural wear and tear make knotted hair inevitable – but the breakage when you try to unravel it doesn't have to be.
With patience and the right products, you can kiss tangled hair goodbye. No damage or drama – just silky-smooth, knot-free strands. Read on to find out how.
Step 1. Invest in a Detangler Brush or Wide-Toothed Comb
Detangling knotted hair may be a pain, but it's a crucial part of any haircare routine. It helps get rid of impurities such as product build-up while distributing healthy oils from roots to ends. Combing your hair 1-2 times a day, ensures the ultimate hair hygiene, keeps your strands from breaking off and prevents the formation of more knots. So if you’ve been skipping this step? It’s time to get up close and personal with a wide-tooth comb or detangler brush.
In case you’re unfamiliar, a wide-toothed comb is a type of comb with large spacing between the teeth. A detangler brush – like the Coco & Eve Leaf Detangler – is a brush with soft, thin, and flexible bristles specifically designed to separate tangled, clumped-together strands. Both are suitable for all hair types, minimising split ends and breakages. So make sure you have one – or both – in your haircare kit.
Step 2. Consider Your Hair Type
Brushing curly hair when it’s dry is a big no. Don’t wait until your hair is bone dry to coax your hair into submission – moisture will make the detangling process much easier. Trust us. However, care does need to be taken with wet strands as they're more vulnerable. Your best bet? To detangle damp – but not dripping – hair gently with the help of moisturising products and your trusty comb or brush.
Fresh out-of-the-shower hair is flexible and can withstand a brush. But make sure you avoid pulling too hard or using the wrong type of styling tools as this can cause the hair to stretch too far and break.
To take care of tangles, keep spray bottles filled with water handy to spritz onto each section before working through it. This will help keep your luscious locks damp, slippery and well-hydrated while you detangle.
But for the rest, it’s best to brush your hair while it’s dry because it’s much stronger and less prone to damage!
Step 3. From Ends to Root
Technique! Technique! Technique! Before you even think about running that detangler brush or wide-toothed comb through your hair, remember to go in the right direction. Brushing from root to tip when detangling knotty hair is a giant no-no and possibly the biggest mistake everyone makes.
Work your way up! The ends-to-root brushing technique reduces unwanted pulling and damage. Gradually make your way up your strands with your comb or brush and gently detangle. When you start at the root, you collect all the knots on the hair ends, forcing you to brush through knotty hair which means one thing and one thing only. Breakage.
Step 5. Use a Nourishing Hair Mask
Another essential part of the detangling process is a hair mask. Just as face masks seal in moisture and soften your face, hair masks work wonders for your hair. A type of deep conditioning treatment that nourishes and hydrates thirsty locks, a hair mask will lessen the frizz, reduce breakage, and replenish strands with nutrients.
If you’re prone to regular tangles, our Like A Virgin Hair Mask will be your BFF – replenishing your hair follicle from the inside out. Tangled hair may be a sign of dryness and this treatment contains AcquaSeal® Coconut and Shea Butter that can hydrate and strengthen strands at the same time. Use one to three times a week for stronger, less knotty hair.
Apply the mask on shower-fresh strands then leave it in for 5 to 10 minutes or overnight to soak in the nutrients. For a super-even application and maximum smoothness, run through with the Coco & Eve Tangle Tamer. Gnarly tangles can get knotted!
Step 6. Prevent tangles while you sleep
One cause for tangled hair could be from tossing and turning while you sleep. There are two ways you can work around this unwelcomed morning surprise. First, by investing in silk bonnet or pillowcase. By being friction-free and soft, silk reduces tangles by allowing the hair to glide easily across its smooth, snag-free surface. Alternatively, loosely braiding your hair right before bed can help minimise tangles while you sleep as well!
For more beauty tips and salon-ready hair tricks, check out our blog!
Written By: Pip Jarvis
Edited by: Iris
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