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Well, yesterday I wore my hair in just a regular ol' ponytial. This is rare for me, --- I usually wear my hair in a braid, bun, or segmented ponytail. By sometime in the mid-afternoon, I noticed that there was a tangled area close to where my hair tie was. "No biggie", I told myself, "I'll brush it out tonight before going to bed"....
By the time I was ready to crash my head on the pillow, though, I was too tired to brush, --- so, I just took out the hairtie, then made a feeble attempt to finger-comb out the knot (emphasis on the word, "feeble")...
This morning I decided to do a conditioner-only hair wash today; but, everytime my fingers hit around the nape of my neck, they got snagged in a HUGE knot of hair, --- in spite of the fact that I slathered on TONS of conditioner! I'd say it took me15-20 minutes just to get my hair free from that nasty knot!!!
In hindsight, this is not the first time I've gotten tangles after wearing a regular old ponytail during the day. When my hair was at shoulder-blade length, this never used to happen. But, once my hair length made it past mid-back and longer, I gradually started using multiple hair ties down the ponytail length (AKA "segmented ponytail", like Absalom wears his hair). I don't wear my hair loose as often as I used to, either; but the nastiest of all hair knots seem to happen to me not on those days, but only when I wear just a plain ordinary ponytail... Anybody else with lower back - waist-length or longer hair have this problem?
Conversely, i NEVER get tangles, snarls, knots, etc. whenever I put my mane up in a bun, --- or even w/ a braid or segmented ponytail, that I recall. Hmmmm... I say it's that simple ponytail who's the guilty culprit here!
- Ken
Hi Ken,
That has also been my experience with regular ponytails - almost guaranteed tangles. I almost always wear a braid unless I'm just running out of the house for a quick errand in which case I'll either wear it loose or in a ponytail.
Yeah, the underlayer rubs on your clothing and picks up lint and does it's best to dreadlock. Especially bad if you have all length hairs (as we do), and the underlayer has accumulated damage from wear and tear.
The absolute worst for me is ponytailed when I am running errands and getting a bit sweaty...even fully down is better (well, I get the tangles elsewhere).
For me, bun is the way to go if there is going to be movement and rubbing.
I VERY rarely get serious tangles like that, but when I do it's usually from carelessness. Last time, I was in a hurry and decided not to comb it out before I put it up...big mistake. I had to ice my head with conditioner like a wedding cake to get that sucker out.
I guess it's the same concept as speeding tickets...you'll get there faster if you speed, but you're taking a chance on pissing yourself off, AND it takes more time than it would to do it right the first time.
Lol!! Good one, --- I can totally relate!!!
- Ken
Hi Ken:) Well I have to say I could have written this same letter!LOL.Normally for work I put my hair in a ponytail with one tie then pull it over the top of my head and place a ball cap over it which protects it great during my greuling workdays.However after work if I go out or on weekends I sometimes do what you just described and get miserable knots too usually right around the ponytailer spot.Since I don't bun or braid my hair I wind up doing the ball cap thing then to avoid getting into that mess or use multiple ties such as Absalom. I guess its the price you pay having extremely long hair but I'd never give it up:)) So Ken you are not the only one with this problem so hopefully my story makes you feel a bit more at ease.Have a great day!Mark
I hope I get as many tangles as those of you who are ahead of me in length, but I have found two products to commend, when it happens:
Sally's generic detangler
or Matrix Biolage Eneregizing Daily Leave-in
I only use them when the broad tooth comb in the shower after and with the conditioner failes to go through smoothly and catches a knot.
It does not seem to matter how I wear my hair, and it does not often happen, but I am a gardener, tie a bandana around my head, sweat, get dirty, but in public wear my hair in a bun fastened with a celtic clasp, or small diameter barbecue skewers, painted to match my s & p hair color, which I have cut to 6" inch length and use as hair sticks.
Cal
My hair is not nearly as long as your's so I wear the "simple" ponytail about half the time and a two segment ponytail the other times. I do notice more tangles with the simple as opposed to the multi, but I prefer the feel of the simple. Oh well, more to do.
Bruce
Hey Ken
What a bummer and I sure know where you are coming from. The longer the hair, the more tangles and knots. It's true! But things can get to be so impossible (my case a few months ago at terminal and beginning my yearly shedding period) that it was impossible for myself to keep under control...........thus my decision to only let my hair grow to waist level from now on.
OMG.........when I sought professional help, (the salon) it took forever. The hair at the nape of my neck was starting to dred itself! Can you imagine? No wonder I could no longer do it myself.
TONS of hair came out and I had all cut back to a few inches "above" waist level. And yet, despite the tons of hair on the floor I walked out with a fantastic head of long hair despite having lost length. It was STILL long and looked great! :-) The stylist knew his business perfectly.
And now? Sheer heaven as it is nearing waist level again and so easy now to work with. Oh well, two trims in 5 years. Not so bad.
But as in your case a lesson was well learned by myself. At night I segment my hair. But when it was out of control this had no effect at all.
I am sure your posting about this has sure hit "pay dirt" with those of us with the longest hair as we have gone through all kinds of stages to get to where we are now.
Great posting Ken
Justin~
Yes!! I have this exact problem as well. :(
It even started awhile back, I had to wear two cloth pony tail bands to prevent it from tangling. Now I wear either 3 or 4.
And if I do wear a regular ponytail, it's only if I'm sitting around doing absolutely nothing... lol. Otherwise, it's a big tangled mess!! I guess my hair has just enough wave to do that...