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Guys,
I have found many single hairs tied in a knot, a small knot on a single hair, I'm not talking about tangles, not two or three hairs tied together, I'm talking about a single hair! (pretty much like the image).
Cannot undo them so I cut them over the knot. I think I have not read about it anywhere, I wanted to know why that happens and how to prevent it!.
Thx
Restav.-
Fairy knots happen. Annoying, but there it is. :( As long as they are near the ends, I just snip them out...if I happen to be at home, a pin can open them up if they aren't too tight.
Thanks Trolleypup,
I always found them near the end, I wasn't able to open them up, it's always tight :P
I'm gonna keep snipping them out!
R.-
Yeah, i get that alot too, id say there unpreventable and nothin to worry about...i wonder how it happens though..
Hi,
I have exactly the same problem, so I know what it feels like. Sometimes it gets really annoying and even frustrating, but it seems to be the way things have to be for long hairs...
I also know that there's almost no information on the internet about this topic, but at least I found this picture which shows that these knots are not a myth.
I think they are relicts of already detangled "normal" tangles, but I'm not sure. You can't prevent all of them, but maybe you can reduce the amount by always starting to detangle your ends first and then making slowly your way to the top-layers. But I know you already follow this advice. Knots seem to appear more easily when your ends are dry, so you shouldn't let them dry out, for example by applying shampoo only on your top-layers, using less shampoo or by using a conditioner (which as far as I remeber you already do). But I know by my own experience that they occour anyway, I find a few/a lot of them every day although I already follow these hints more or less (except the usage of a conditioner).
So here is what I do against them (it's very similar to what Trollypup already said): I know it sounds stupid, but I always carry a needele with me to remove knots that are not too tight, but hairs often break during this process. You have to be very patient, careful and concentrated, don't try to do it in a hurry. If they're too tight, the best thing seems to be just to cut them off above the knot, like Trollypup (and Bill in his "On being a longhair" article) already said. The problem is that I don't always wear a pair of scissors with me, so sometimes I have to break the hair with my finger-nails just above the not because I know that I won't find it again later. Sometimes it's better to detangle your hair when it is wet or while standing under the shower, I'm now sure, but I think it's less damaging to your hair and it makes detangling alot easier (and maybe prevents these knots...? Atleast it feels like that.). But you have to be very gently, otherwise your hair might break (use only your fingers or a wide tooth comb while your hair is wet). But I have to point out that I have very curly hair, so not everything might apply for your hair, too.
Many people who evened their hair out also say that afterwards less tangles occure which would also mean that less of these knots occure. I havn't tried out that yet and hope not to do so since I prefer the more natural look and since I'm going to grow it down my back/terminal length.
Good Luck
Regards, Herb2992
P.S.: Don't worry too much about them. I also have to learn that. It seems to be a "must-have" for long hairs. At least they're only single hairs. ;) :)
Heh! I always carry my split end scissors, but not a needle.
The other reason to cut these, if they are tight is the hair is usually damaged from being bent so tightly in the knot, and whether it is visible or not, likely that point will split or break in the near future anyway.
Hey Herb!,
I can't believe you found a picture, I tried to take a picture of myself but the camera wasn't able to focus the hair right :P
I think I'll the advice, it's a "must-have" for longhaired
Thx
R.-
the condition is known as Trichorrhexis nodosa (knotted hair) a dry brittle condition including formation of nodular swellings along the hair shaft. Conditioning may help the condition but I think it is genetic. It was actually featured on CSI or NCIS episode this week-it helped identify the perp. otherwise I would never have heard about it either.
I get those too sometimes. I always trim them off so the knots don't cause tangles. I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Mouse
I get knots in single hairs in my beard which happens
to be curly. I have to cut those strands just above
the knot. I think this only happens to curly hair. I
have never heard of this in straight hair. Click on
my avatar and you will see that my beard is curly.
I don't think it is possible to prevent all of these
type of single hair knots. You can probably reduce
the number of them you get by treating your hair
gently. Curly hair is fragile, so use a wide tooth
comb. It is best to comb curly hair when it is wet,
which is the opposite of what you do with straight
hair.
Scott