How to Detangle Curly Hair Properly | Detangling 101Could you be causing unnecessary breakage and damage by improperly detangling your curly hair? This detangling 101 video will show you different ways to detangle safely without damage. Before we dive into the various ways you can safely detangle, let’s cover the incorrect ways to detangle that could be causing damage. ❌ Incorrect Detangling Methods
Harmful Effects of Improper Detangling
Detangling Method 1: Wet Pre-Shampoo Method
TreLuxe Soothe & Restore Aloe Vera Curl Primer Pros:
Cons:
Detangling Method 2: Dry Pre-Shampoo Oil Method
Briogeo Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil Pros:
Cons:
Detangling Method 3: Post-Wash Conditioner Method
Texture ID Low Porosity Vitamin Conditioner Pros:
Cons:
Detangling Before StylingI don’t recommend waiting to do all of your detangling after you’ve rinsed out your conditioner and towel-dried your hair. This will definitely cause unnecessary breakage. It’s best to ensure all tangles are out while you still have conditioner in, then rinse. To prevent tangles from forming again after washing, run your fingers through to lift hair off scalp. Then wrap or plop your hair in a flat-weave hair towel or T-shirt, not a bath towel. Avoid wrapping the hair tightly. If you do happen to get more tangles after you’ve towel-dried, you can apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream and finger detangle. You can use a brush here if knots are not bad but be gentle. Safe Brushes for Curly HairWhile I don’t recommend using a brush to detangle, I love using brushes to distribute product, smooth frizz, and style my curls. When choosing a brush, ensure it’s flexible and not too dense. Avoid brushes with little plastic beads at the tips of the bristles if you want to use it to detangle. A lot of dense styling brushes such as the Denman Brush or the Bounce Curl EdgeLift Brush are not meant for detangling. Here are brushes that can be used to detangle, distribute product, or style:
Detangling on Refresh Days (Non-Wash Days)Detangling on refresh days is not ideal because you’re likely to cause breakage when your hair is just damp and has product in. It’s normal to have some tangles and loose hairs stuck in your curls on refresh days. Many people will wait until wash day to detangle. This is something that you get used to in time. If your tangles are extreme on refresh days, then you’re likely not properly protecting your curls overnight and not being mindful of friction against your curls throughout the day. It’s best to just wash your hair if you have bad tangles in addition to product buildup. If your hair does not have buildup and you have tangles but you wish to refresh, try removing them dry with a bit of oil or the Curlsmith Shake & Shine Refreshing Mist, then refresh. Another method would be to mist your hair with water, wet your hands, then apply a leave in or curl cream and gently detangle, then refresh.
For more help with refreshing very tangly hair, watch this video. Which detangling method do you plan to try? I use both the dry pre-shampoo oil and the wet pre-shampoo detangler options depending on how my hair feels prior to washing. Comment/reply and let me know what questions you have about detangling and breakage. Stay tuned for next week’s video which is all about low porosity hair and/or dry, brittle hair. |
Helping you better understand your naturally curly hair through easy-to-follow tutorials, science-based haircare tips, and problem-solving.
If your hair feels brittle, stiff, and dry, this routine for coarse-textured or gray curly hair will moisturize and define your curls. If you’re someone who has finer-textured hair but is still dealing with dryness and frizz, I’ll offer you some tips and tricks as well. Step 1: Detangle before shampoo One of the biggest issues with coarse-textured hair is it is inflexible. Inflexible hair is tangly and stiff. When we shampoo on hair that it is tangled, it only makes the tangles more matted...
Prime Big Deal days is back, and I’ve rounded up the best deals on curly haircare, beauty, fashion, and more! The sale is going on 2 days only, Oct 8-9, 2024. I will be updated this list throughout the sale. Prices are subject to change. I am an Amazon Associates partner, so I earn commission when shopping through my links in exchange for helping you discover the products. Full disclosure here. Join me Live Tuesday at 11:30am EDT I will be live-streaming to YouTube and Instagram at 11:30am...
10 Hacks for Volume & Fullness in Thin Curly Hair I have low-density curly hair that easily gets flat and weighed down. These 10 hacks have doubled my volume AND fullness. I’m also using a lot of affordable, drugstore products. Reminder:There’s only so much you can do for volume in thin curly hair, and we can’t compare our hair to someone with thick curly hair. These tips can enhance volume and fullness if that’s the look you’re going for. Stop using mild shampoos and co-washes Gentle “curly...