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Recently I went camping for a week and half where I couldnt really wash or condition my curly coarse hair. I had to keep it in a pontail most of the days a til the point where it got extremely tangled and knotted in one part. When i got back from my trip the first thing i wanted to do was wash and condition my hair, this seemed to just make the tangle worse as it seemed more hair had been weaved into the tangle. The conditioner didnt loosen it up at all. The tangle takes up quite a big chunk of the back of my head, and its very noticable and painful due to the constant pulling. Does anybody have a possible remedy for this such as a detangling product or anything. I tried to comb and fingercomb through it for about an hour and got pretty much nowhere. I really dont know what to do, im open to any suggestion. Thank You. I also apologize for the spelling errors and such, im in quite a panic.
The more you pull at it and try to comb through it the tighter the tangle it is going to become.
I have seldom had something like that happen on a smaller scale, but I used lots of conditioner and massaged it into the knot when wet, and gently extricated each hair from the knot individually. This was hard once as I could not see that tangled portion of the hair, but patiently got it untangled.
You might even want to saturate the section with olive oil or some other kind of oil like coconut, and let it soak in good and then begin the extrication process. I know this all sounds very byzantine, but it would be worth it for such a large amount of hair as you say is tangled.
Be sure too that it is not a chunk of pine tree sap or something that is catching more hair with its stickiness causing the problem. The oil will help release that too if that is the case. If it is sap, peanut butter or mayonaisse or regular butter can help get that out before trying any kind of solvent like xylene or toluene, paint thinner or gasoline. (refer to disclaimer)
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT know what this would do to your hair quality!!!, but WD-40, contains lots of silicones and even some solvents, but as a LAST resort, it would probably take the tangle out too. I have gotten it in my own hair before by mistake, just a little with no ill results. DO NOT even attempt this if you are unsure in the least about any possible consequences that this suggested action might have on your hair quality!!! I hereby forego any liability as the result of your free actions from heretofore.
coarse curly hair can be pretty hard to untangle...especially if you wet it (since it will just curl up again)...i try to fingercomb my hair when it's dry/normal (although alot of my hairs are medium and fine =/ lol) i don't brush/comb my hair anymore (except fingercomb)--i'd rather leave it curly
There are detangling products out there, though I haven't used them.
I've heard of people brushing out dreadlocks, so I wouldn't be too worried about it!
the one product I use on clients' long hair is Redken's HEADSTRONG...just ignore the fact that Redken labels it a "conditioner" that it is intended to provide "volume for fine hair". All my clients with thick, coarse and extra long hair swear by it as a premier detangler...
an 8-ounce bottle retails for around $11US
my business (men's grooming) website
...by the NEW L'Oreal ViVE PRO Smooth-Intense Conditioner.
It used to be good but now they've mad a formula for THICK hair. It really
detangles hair very well and it's under $3.00 for those who cannot afford the more expensive products.
It has my vote, anyway.
Hi Al, I will try to help here. Applying oil (olive or jojoba) to the knot is a good way to start. Additionally you need to apply pressure to the knot. You can do this between the backs of your thumbnails with the knot in between. Don't be afraid to apply a strong crushing pressure to the knot between your nails. (Your nails are made of the same stuff as hair so there will be little or no damage to your hair.) The idea here is to soften and spread the knot out a bit. From ABOVE the knot feel around for the loosest hairs, at the edge of the knot, and slip them out one (or at most a few) hairs at a time. You may have to alternate between crushing the knot between your nails and slipping out the loosest hairs around the edges. This requires patience, but it should remedy your problem with a minimum loss of hair.
If this is too difficult for you, ask a friend for help. They can see what they are doing, but you can only feel what you are doing.
Absalom
Okay, get a bottle of conditioner (I especially like L'Oreal's NEW ViVE PRO Smooth-Intense for THICK hair), rinse your hair with plain water, squeeze out the water and add 1/2 the bottle or MORE(!) if you have to. IMPORTANT: there should be more conditioner than hair!
Now finger comb beginning at the ends and working your way up slowly toward the scalp. As you do this, it will be necessary to stop and remove the hair from your hands from time to time. Keep at it until ALL the tangles are gone.
Next, use a 'wet' wide tooth comb and repeat the proceedure above.
Finally, rinse well, but without moving your hair too much (or it may get tangled again.
Gently comb out your hair with the wide-tooth comb and then wrap up your hair in a large bath towel. The squeeze and wring the towel (with your hair inside the towel, of course) with all your strength. Leave it wrapped for 10-15 minutes.
Next apply something like a tablespoon's worth of Melting Gel throughout the hair and comb gently.
Make a tail and let it try that way. Your hair will be beautiful and tangle free.
Good Luck!