How to detangle relaxed hair

[mamaore]

I have searched but I can't seem to find information on how best to detangle realxed or textlaxed hair especially a few weeks post relaxer.

I am currently detangling on wash days after shampooing; however I am not sure if this is the best time to detangle? Especially since I wash once in 3 weeks( been in PS styles recently) and I tend to have a lot of shed hair.

I am thinking of trying detangling with a detangling conditoner applied on dry hair before I shampoo on wash days?? I would appreciate any thots or suggestions. Should I be doimng something different? How do you ladies detangle?

 

[blessedandlucky]

i detangle on wash days after i condition. i've tried doing it in the shower under running water as many others do but that doesn't work for me. instead, i deep condition, rinse and apply my leave-ins (paul mitchell the conditioner leave in + jane carter nourish and shine) and detangle with a wide tooth comb. hope that is helpful. i'm sure others will chime in.

 

[amwcah]

I always detangle before I wash to minimize tangles later. For really tangled hair, I apply conditioner and detangle with my fingers. Also, when I am over 8 weeks post relaxer; I wash my hair in loose braids to minimize tangles as well. Since I have discovered Roux Porosity Control Corrector & Conditioner and Mendex, my detangling time has decreased significantly.

 

[sunnieb]

I always lightly detangle my relaxed hair only (don't comb dry newgrowth!) with a wide toothed comb before washing.

When I get over 8-10 weeks post, I detangle as usual before washing. After washing, I add Mane 'n Tail detangler and that melts all the tangles so I can then apply my regular leave-ins.

 

[Prayin4FullWL2012]

I use Queen Helen Cholestrol. Frist I co-wash with it! Because I already have one diluted for co-washes. Then while I do my biz in the shower I leave it it. When I get out I leave a little bit in. Then I unbraid my 2 weeks old braids. Start from the bottom and work my way to the top, but I do this braid by braid, or one at a time. If it's not working or my hair is drying too fast, then I'll put more but this time straight out the bottle not the co-wash one, and while it's in there leave it fr a little. Give time to work. Then you should be good bread. HTH

 

[theLovelyStyle]

Hmm Im 8 weeks post today. I just finished a DC and a rollerset. I usually detangle each section that I am rolling up. Im still trying to find that perfect leave-in or moisturizing detangler that works well with a rollerset. Today I just used hot 6 oil.

 

[afjhnsn]

I always detangle before I wash to minimize tangles later. For really tangled hair, I apply conditioner and detangle with my fingers. Also, when I am over 8 weeks post relaxer; I wash my hair in loose braids to minimize tangles as well. Since I have discovered Roux Porosity Control Corrector & Conditioner and Mendex, my detangling time has decreased significantly.

Cosign@ bolded. I just detangled in the shower and that stuff is A-MAZING.

 

[divachyk]

OP, when I joined last year I had similar questions and got a variety of different responses which left me just as confused on what to do. I found that trial and error is the best way to figure out what your hair likes. I'm not trying to sound like the voice of reason but majority detangle while in the shower (or at least that was the consensus when I inquired last year) but I find that I get better results (less breakage) if I detangle after I air dry. I then take my time to properly detangle without rushing to get done detangling before the hot water runs out. Plus my hair is very fragile while wet so dry detangling is better for me.

My regi goes something like, finger detangle, poo (Hair One), aphogee 2 min, Roux PC, DC (AOWC), apply leave-ins (Giovanni Direct SAS), air dry, detangle, seal (avocado oil). I use the tangle teezer for detangling. This tool is really awesome.

I've tried detangling at every step imagineable but dry detangling works best. You might have to test out various methods to see what your hair likes best.

 

[SleekyHair]

I detangle my hair after towel drying. I do it in sections, similar to the way one would flat iron their hair.

 

[~NanCeBoTwin~]

OP, when I joined last year I had similar questions and got a variety of different responses which left me just as confused on what to do. I found that trial and error is the best way to figure out what your hair likes. I'm not trying to sound like the voice of reason but majority detangle while in the shower (or at least that was the consensus when I inquired last year) but I find that I get better results (less breakage) if I detangle after I air dry. I then take my time to properly detangle without rushing to get done detangling before the hot water runs out. Plus my hair is very fragile while wet so dry detangling is better for me.

My regi goes something like, finger detangle, poo (Hair One), aphogee 2 min, Roux PC, DC (AOWC), apply leave-ins (Giovanni Direct SAS), air dry, detangle, seal (avocado oil). I use the tangle teezer for detangling. This tool is really awesome.

I've tried detangling at every step imagineable but dry detangling works best. You might have to test out various methods to see what your hair likes best.

Divachyk is exactly right. Trial and error would be your best bet. I detangle using the shower method, that is what works best for me. Especially once I hit 10-12 weeks post, this becomes the only time a comb touches my hair between wash days, however, I don't go more than 1-2 weeks with out washing. PS'ing for 3 weeks or more I'd think I'd probably have to try a new detangling method.

Good Luck on your journey!

 

[mamaore]

Thanks Ladies, you have been very helpful.

I actually have Roux Pc, but I never used it as a detangler; I also have the Qhemet detangling Ghee from my natural days, but I wasn't sure I could use it effectively with relaxed hair.

My hair is in a bun this week. I'll definitely give dry detangling a try on my next wash day. Thanks again Ladies

 

[MissNina]

For me, I try to LIGHTLY detangle on dry hair the day before I wash/condition.

On wash day, I proceed as normal, but DC with Silicon Mix for about 15-30 mins. I rinse it out, apply HE LTR or PM the Detangler (I get better results w/ Design Essentials moisturizing condish, however) and comb any major knots or tangles under running water. I towel dry, apply Mane and Tail Detangler leave in and go through it litle by little.


I mean literally I take an hour to properly detangle when im like 2.5 months post or more. I always add condish to my hair with it parted down the middle, applying down the length and smoothing/melting together as I go. This helps a LOT.

 

[Nix08]

I would detangle in the shower with lots of conditioner then got a hair catcher and was amazed at the amount of hair in it. I then started to detangle after my hair started to air dry....now I still do that but I use my fingers and the hair loss is minimal...I'm very pleased

 

[divachyk]

Have revised detangling method to minimize breakage:
1. Apply evco and pre-detangle before washing.
2. Shampoo, apply DC with relaxer method.
3. Steam DC, lightly detangle before rinsing DC.
4. Rinse out DC, apply leave-ins to sopping wet hair
I still have to detangle a tad bit after applying leave-in but not much.

 

[divachyk]

Bump -- I'm a tangler and have revised my method time and time again, hence the reason I have multiple entries in this thread. I'm always looking for ways to combat tangling.

My 2012 method for detangling includes more finger detangling and less combing.

I finger detangle on dry hair
Shampoo
*If it's a bad tangles kind of day, I'll apply some conditioner and wet detangle with my hair sense bone bomb. If my hair is having a great tangle free day, I'll skip wet detangling and move straight to applying my DC.*
Apply DC / Steam
Air dry
Finger detangle while air drying
I'll break out the comb if my hair is tangled more than my fingers care to pick through, otherwise, I finger comb and call it a day.

Ladies, what's your updated 2012 detangling regi?

 

[Nix08]

I would detangle in the shower with lots of conditioner then got a hair catcher and was amazed at the amount of hair in it. I then started to detangle after my hair started to air dry....now I still do that but I use my fingers and the hair loss is minimal...I'm very pleased

Still holds true for me today At 7 weeks post I run my rake comb through my ng only to stretch it but otherwise it's all fingers

 

[divachyk]

Nix08, wish I could be 100% fingers like you. I'm not there yet.

 

[TheNDofUO]

Currently I detangle every wash day (2x weekly) when my hair is damp but not wet with conditioner in. If I'm wearing my hair striaght then again when dry. If not I leave my hair to the mercy of my fingers till next wash day

 

[ellyndee]

What has worked great so far is HS 14 in 1 and Shea Moisture Treatment Mask. After rinsing in shower, hair was like noodles slapped in butter...delish! No tangles even though there was no rhyme or reason to how I put in on my hair.

 

[afroette]

hmm how do I stop knots?? They usually appear at the nape. My hair otherwise doesn't tangle--not much to tangle. I use a comb with wide teeth, often avoiding my new growth, because I'm too afraid I'll strip out my always-shedding hair.

 

[mamaore]

divachyk, my detangling technique is better but not perfect yet. I have to detangle my dry hair before I add water to it. It makes my ash day sooo much easier. Mane & Tail is my go to product now for dry hair detangling. I spray it liberally to my hair and wait for 10-15 minutes, then I comb lightly with my bone comb.

I then finger dteangle to remove shed hair while airdrying or rolling my hair. So far so good.

 

[JJamiah]

I use my Magic Star Comb and it is Amazing. I still use my Tangle Teezer in partnership with the MSC. It is a great combo

I also detangle before washing it, and part it down the middle so it can wash easy.

 

[divachyk]

hmm how do I stop knots?? They usually appear at the nape. My hair otherwise doesn't tangle--not much to tangle. I use a comb with wide teeth, often avoiding my new growth, because I'm too afraid I'll strip out my always-shedding hair.

afroette, make sure the nape is properly detangled before washing and then be gentle with that area during your wash session. This should help minimize the tangles. The more you agitate the hair with the scrubbing motion, the more you are at risk for tangles.

 

[Ms. Tiki]

I detangle in the shower with condish in my hair. I have to use a seamless comb bc my hair acts a fool when I try to detangle with my fingers. I get a lot of breakage from finger detangling

 

[divachyk]

I detangle in the shower with condish in my hair. I have to use a seamless comb bc my hair acts a fool when I try to detangle with my fingers. I get a lot of breakage from finger detangling

Ms. Tiki, I use to get a ton of breakage with finger combing but my technique is getting better. I still get some but it is not as much. I just take my time and separate the strands as if I'm seperating string cheese if that makes any sense. Nix08, how do you finger detangle?

 

[girl85]

I use a plastic afro pic by Conair. They come 2 in a pack from Wal-Mart. I start from the ends of my hair and work my way up to the roots.

 

[sunnieb]

divachyk - my original answer is still the same today.

 

[Nix08]

@Ms. Tiki, I use to get a ton of breakage with finger combing but my technique is getting better. I still get some but it is not as much. I just take my time and separate the strands as if I'm seperating string cheese if that makes any sense. @Nix08, how do you finger detangle?

divachyk
It may sound unbelievable but I don't detangle before or in the shower. I do keep my hair straight as I wet and apply product though. Once out of the shower I apply my leave in's and a touch of oil. As my hair is drying it seemingly detangles on it's own. The ends obviously dry first and I run my fingers through them and they are detangled. (if there are any tangles I use my two hands gently pull apart the strands usually it's one strand that's gotten tangled and once you free that one the tangle is free - there are not many of these incidients). As my hair continues to dry further up the strands I am able to run my fingers through that section of hair...if my hair is too wet and I try this, it catches and there is breakage....if I let it dry completely without touching it then again it causes breakage. It's a simple process and allows me to do whatever else I need to do (expect polish my nails) while my hair is drying. I hope that helps...If you try it and it works for you it will save many strands I recommend for anyone who looks to try this to begin on freshly relaxed hair to get the hang of it, it does become ever so slightly more challenging as you are weeks post.

 

[divachyk]

You have that good hair @Nix08 I kid, I kid for those who want to e-jump me. I know we all have good hair. I wish my hair detangled itself. Only in my dreams.

 

[afroette]

Even though I finger combed and combed my hair after washing last night, I still had knots and hair stuck together this morning. Le sigh.