SINGLE STRAND KNOTS (semi rant please help)

[silenttullip]

I just trimmed last week, and I dc'ed with curljunkie h&b, washed with cv poo bar using the c&g technique, put in some ao gpb rinsed it out detangled with gvp the detangler and rinsed it out then I put in infusium and darcy's leave in then I oiled my scalp and twisted. My hair is growing fine BUT seems like it's getting thin closer to the roots and due to the knots it will tear. I don't want to perm, and I don't want to trim more. I'm thinking of letting a deva stylist cut it or doing monthly blow dry and flat iron to reduce knots and tangles. I have to get another style other than twists cause that may be the problem too. Any advice for prventing the knots and do all naturals have to cut knots 24/7 by that I mean a weekly basis? Ifso how am I supposed to retain length?

 

[foxee]

I have to get another style other than twists cause that may be the problem too.

Do you moisturize your ends? I'm a 4b natural and twists and braids (without extensions) cause a ton of single knots for me. Normally I wear my hair in cornrows and hide it under a half wig. About a month ago I decided to change things up and started wearing my hair in small braids under the wig, maybe 8 to 10 total. Big mistake! I cowash once a week. After detangling, my knots were crazy! I thought I would have to cut my hair. After a couple weeks of this, I switched back to cornrows and now moisturize my ends with Elasta QP Mango Butter once a day and it's made all the difference. The last time I detangled, my knot problem virtually disappeared.

 

[hothair]

I found BKT stopped my single strand knots. The other thing that helped was periodic use of heat.

 

[silenttullip]

Thank u soooooo much my thought seems to have been right. I moisturize with shea butter or mhc type 4 cream and seal with coconut oil. It works while the twists or braids are in but when its time to take them out and wash omg so I guess I may do what you said "cornrows"

Do you moisturize your ends? I'm a 4b natural and twists and braids (without extensions) cause a ton of single knots for me. Normally I wear my hair in cornrows and hide it under a half wig. About a month ago I decided to change things up and started wearing my hair in small braids under the wig, maybe 8 to 10 total. Big mistake! I cowash once a week. After detangling, my knots were crazy! I thought I would have to cut my hair. After a couple weeks of this, I switched back to cornrows and now moisturize my ends with Elasta QP Mango Butter once a day and it's made all the difference. The last time I detangled, my knot problem virtually disappeared.

 

[Sweet_Ambrosia]

I don’t think the twists themselves are causing the ssk’s it may be your take down method. Applying a water-based moisturizer or plain water+oil and/or conditioner on your hair (especially the ends) while it’s still twisted can help with the take down process, unraveling the twists while their super moist/lubricated will help eliminate/minimize any knots, when you start unraveling them make sure to start from the ends on up. Once all the twists are completely unraveled, you could braid your hair up in large sections then proceed to wash/detangle/deep condition as you normally would--just do so while your hair is braided up.

As long as I moisturize/seal my hair often, keep it semi-stretched , and comb/detangle at least once a week while my hair is soaking wet and drenched w/conditioner--ssk’s aren’t a major issue for me.

 

[katblack]

Hi mslittlelala,
It seems the key to avoiding an over abundance of knots is by being very gentle. I notice a lot of naturals like to detangle with the comb, or brush immadiately before assessing the goods. I believe finger combing should be done first on either wet or dry hair then the tools should be the second line of defense. Also try coating the strands with conditioners that have lots of slip, that way detangling is a breeze.
Also try out various low manipulation styles that do not require much manipulation.
Lastly do invest in a filter, sometimes it's as simple as your water being too hard.

 

[silenttullip]

yep ur right and thats with i did the cg method for washing is keeping it in big braids. I dc'ed before undoing the twists but I think u have a big point about leaving it twisted while the conditioner is in thanks so much

I don’t think the twists themselves are causing the ssk’s it may be your take down method. Applying a water-based moisturizer or plain water+oil and/or conditioner on your hair (especially the ends) while it’s still twisted can help with the take down process, unraveling the twists while their super moist/lubricated will help eliminate/minimize any knots, when you start unraveling them make sure to start from the ends on up. Once all the twists are completely unraveled, you could braid your hair up in large sections then proceed to wash/detangle/deep condition as you normally would--just do so while your hair is braided up.

As long as I moisturize/seal my hair often, keep it semi-stretched , and comb/detangle at least once a week while my hair is soaking wet and drenched w/conditioner--ssk’s aren’t a major issue for me.

 

[silenttullip]

I agree I have hard water, I've had my aquasana about 2 weeks so hopefully it'll improve. Also I never finger comb so that may be the key, I will start and thanks for your help

Hi mslittlelala,
It seems the key to avoiding an over abundance of knots is by being very gentle. I notice a lot of naturals like to detangle with the comb, or brush immadiately before assessing the goods. I believe finger combing should be done first on either wet or dry hair then the tools should be the second line of defense. Also try coating the strands with conditioners that have lots of slip, that way detangling is a breeze.
Also try out various low manipulation styles that do not require much manipulation.
Lastly do invest in a filter, sometimes it's as simple as your water being too hard.

 

[darlingdiva]

Hi mslittlelala,
It seems the key to avoiding an over abundance of knots is by being very gentle. I notice a lot of naturals like to detangle with the comb, or brush immadiately before assessing the goods. I believe finger combing should be done first on either wet or dry hair then the tools should be the second line of defense. Also try coating the strands with conditioners that have lots of slip, that way detangling is a breeze.
Also try out various low manipulation styles that do not require much manipulation.
Lastly do invest in a filter, sometimes it's as simple as your water being too hard.

@ the bolded: I agree 100%. When I used to immediately detangle with the comb after applying my leave-in & oil, there was more hair in the comb than I liked. I saw a decrease in the amount of hair in the comb once I started finger-combing first & using the comb second.

I also find it helpful to remove the majority of the tangles with my fingers instead of the comb, and, if I encounter a tangle while combing, I stop combing and remove the tangle with my fingers. Then I start combing my hair again.

Sweet_Ambrosia's suggestion about coating your twists or braids with moisturizer or conditioner + oil before you undo them is also great. I always do this when I undo my braids.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

I don’t think the twists themselves are causing the ssk’s it may be your take down method. Applying a water-based moisturizer or plain water+oil and/or conditioner on your hair (especially the ends) while it’s still twisted can help with the take down process, unraveling the twists while their super moist/lubricated will help eliminate/minimize any knots, when you start unraveling them make sure to start from the ends on up. Once all the twists are completely unraveled, you could braid your hair up in large sections then proceed to wash/detangle/deep condition as you normally would--just do so while your hair is braided up.

As long as I moisturize/seal my hair often, keep it semi-stretched , and comb/detangle at least once a week while my hair is soaking wet and drenched w/conditioner--ssk’s aren’t a major issue for me.

I'm gonna try this....I do twists regularly and I was sealing my ends regularly with leave in...but lately I have been rushing when taking down my twists and noticed some SSK for the first time in a while....But I will take more time to detangle more often....My hair was so soft at one point I didn't even have to detangle much, but I have gotten lazy, so I will do this more often....I did it the other day and noticed much less breakage (I know duh righterplexed!?!)