7 Tips to Get Rid of Knotty and Tangled Hair That Even Rapunzel Wasn’t Aware Of

Women spend almost an hour a day focusing on hair care, which makes up roughly 2 full weeks of hair-fixing time over a year! With hundreds of thousands of strands on your head, trying to brush your hair and getting it ready for the day can take quite a lot of time — especially when you run into unruly knots. While detangling can be such a chore to undo, there are ways we can prevent tangles and ease them out of our hair.

We at Bright Side have found some ways to de-stress your tresses, so you can run your fingers straight through your hair from root to tip!

1. Comb your hair in segments.

Detangling hair can be quite a chore and even painful. When dealing with knots, it is best to work in sections. Similar to haircutting, divide your hair into smaller clumps before running your comb or brush through it. If your hair is deeply tangled, try using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb so that it doesn’t hurt too much.

2. Brush your hair from bottom to top.

The most common way to brush your hair is from the root to the tip — but when dealing with tangles, it is better to begin near the tips to remove the knots and work your way upward. Start at the tips of your hair, where tangles are most frequently present, and then move on to the mid-section of your hair. Holding your hair in one hand, while brushing your hair with the other hand, helps prevent any pain and makes it easier to undo frizzy knots. Once the tangles are removed, you can continue with the root-to-the-tip brush strokes.

3. Massage your shampoo in.

When using shampoo, it is best to focus only on your scalp. Use the tips of your fingers to rub in the shampoo, while gently massaging your scalp. Avoid directly applying shampoo on the middle and ends of your hair since shampoos strip the oil from your hair and scalp, which makes hair prone to drying out. As you continue to lather and rinse, the shampoo will spread to the remaining parts of your hair anyway. For best results, use all-natural and sulfate-free shampoo.

4. Dry your hair gently.

Hair is vulnerable and prone to breakage when it’s wet. Vigorously rubbing your hair and wrapping it tightly in a towel can actually add to the formation of more tangles. It is best to lightly squeeze and pat your hair dry with a towel, and then let it dry naturally or with the help of a fan.

5. Avoid wet hair brushing.

Because your hair is weakest when it’s wet, it is recommended to avoid running your comb through it right after your showers. When you comb wet hair, chances are that your hair might break, eventually causing knots in various areas. Instead, you can gently run your fingers through your hair to smooth it out and remove any tangles.

6. Moisturize and condition regularly.

Shampoos and hair treatments tend to dry our hair out, which makes it more prone to tangles. In order to reverse this, nourishing your hair with healthy oils is essential for keeping tangles at bay. Conditioning doesn’t necessarily mean applying liberal amounts of store-bought conditioner. There are many more natural and healthier substitutes to your typical conditioner like hair serums, coconut oil, avocado oil, and hair masks.

7. Sleep on low-friction fabrics.

Believe it or not, the type of pillows you sleep on can actually be the cause of the knots you have in your hair when you wake up. Friction-causing materials like polyester and cotton can leave your hair dry and tangled. To avoid this, you can lightly tie back or braid your hair before sleeping, or you can consider using a silk pillowcase.

Bonus

Keep your hair up when you’re on the move.

It is important to remember that excessive movement and wind can also contribute to tangles. So if you plan to ride around in your car with the windows down or if you’re in the mood for some physical activity, keep your hair tied up. If you have long hair, it is better to keep it up in a bun, rather than a low ponytail, which is still prone to ending up in knots.

Do you use one or more of these tips in your daily hair care routine? Are there any other tips or tricks that keep your tangles at bay?