The Complete Guide To Detangling Natural Hair

Tangle-free hair is important for maintaining healthy curls and coils but the process of actually detangling natural hair can be a little tedious and confusing, especially if you are not sure how to do it properly. It either takes too long or you don't get your desired results. 

Well don't worry curl friend, we're here to save you the hassle and frustration. In this article, we're spilling all our detangling secrets and giving you the ultimate guide to detangling your natural hair.

Benefits Of Detangling Natural Hair 

Natural hair is known for its curls and coils because it grows out in a spiral shape. This means your hair has a tendency to curl and fold back into itself, increasing the formation of knots and tangles. If left unattended, these knots and tangles can cause significant damage and breakage to the hair.  So, making sure your hair is properly detangled is very crucial to help reduce breakage and improve the overall smoothness of the hair. 

Detangling your natural hair can also prevent frizz, making it much easier to style and moisturise. These wonderful benefits also apply to afro-textured hair extensions, If you want your hair extensions to remain smooth and last long, it is important to detangle them often.

@curlyproverbz

It is best to detangle your natural hair when it is wet. This is because water helps to lubricate and hydrate your strands, making it easier for your comb or brush to glide through each section of hair. Detangling your hair when it is wet also reduces breakage and saves you the pain and discomfort that can come from combing dry hair. Your hair does not have to be completely wet unless you are washing it, all you need to do is make sure it is damp enough before you detangle.

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Mistakes To Avoid When Detangling Natural Hair

Avoid Detangling In Large Sections

To minimise breakage and get the best out of your detangling sessions, avoid working in large sections. Instead of trying to comb your hair all at once and causing a lot of pain and damage, divide the hair into small sections to allow thorough detangling of every part of the head.

Never Start From Your Roots

One of the biggest detangling mistakes people make when it comes to natural hair is starting from the roots. This is never a good idea because the tangles and knots that are further down the hair shaft will get in the way as you try to comb the hair, causing pain and breakage. Instead, start from the ends of your hair and work your way up to the roots, gently loosening any tangles and knots as you go.

Avoid Using The Wrong Tools

For a pain-free detangling experience, avoid using fine tooth combs and brushes with tightly packed bristles. Those kinds of tools are not designed with natural hair in mind so they will not only struggle to glide through your strands but will cause breakage and a lot of discomfort. Opt for wide tooth combs, paddle brushes or our detangling brush which is made to easily glide through thick curls and coils.

Do Not Overdo It

Detangling your hair is important but as with most things in life, it is important to avoid going overboard. You do not have to detangle your hair every day as that would be way too much manipulation of your strands. You only have to detangle your natural hair on wash days or before styling.

Only Detangle Your Hair In The Right Mood

This may seem like an unnecessary tip but trust us, it will save you a lot of breakage. If you are angry, frustrated, or in a rush, it is extremely important to avoid detangling your hair. Why? Because you will not be as gentle and thorough as you need to be and your hair may suffer the consequences. You don't want to yank and pull at your strands in frustration and end up causing breakage.

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How To Detangle Your Natural Hair

Now let's get to why you're here—the step-by-step guide on properly detangling your curls.

• Divide the hair into 4-8 sections and use a hair tie or clip to secure each section. 

• Next, spray the hair with a little bit of warm water. Then apply a conditioner or leave-in conditioner with slip to help soften your strands. If this is a wash day detangling session, apply the rinse-out conditioner after shampooing your hair. However, if you are simply trying to style your hair, go for a leave-in conditioner.

• Ensure the conditioner coats every section of the hair from roots to ends.

• Working one section at a time, use your finger to gently comb through the hair from ends to roots. Try to check for knots and tangles along the hair shaft that need to be loosened. 

• After finger detangling, follow up with our detangling brush and comb the hair thoroughly.

• After detangling each section, secure the hair with the hair clip or put it in loose twists. 

• Finally, rinse off the conditioner or style the hair as desired.