I think it’s safe to say that there’s nothing more frustrating than working with knotted, tangled hair.
As if making you pull your hair out isn’t sadistic enough, tangled hair can also cause hair loss naturally due to breakage and damaged, dry cuticles.
As someone with obnoxious coils and curls, I completely understand the uphill battle of combating matted, stubborn knots.
Luckily enough for you, through my trials and errors, I was able to create this list of easy ways on how to prevent your hair from tangling.
Even though knots and tangles are inevitable for everyone, there are still ways to minimize them. Read on to learn a few!
What Causes Tangled Hair?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve asked yourself this question more times than you can count.
You start your day with what you think is a killer hairstyle, but by the end of the day, it’s a tangled mess.
You’ve tried every product on the market, but nothing seems to work.
So why does this happen?
Not Brushing Your Hair Properly
One of the leading causes of tangled hair is not brushing your hair properly.
When you don’t brush your hair correctly, it can become matted and difficult to manage.
To avoid tangles and keep your hair healthy and manageable, follow these tips for proper brushing techniques.
- Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up.
- Use a wide-toothed comb or brush to gently detangle knots.
- Be patient and take your time; rushing will only make the problem worse.
- When you reach the top of your head, use gentle strokes to smooth down flyaways.
- Also, make sure to clean your hair brush every once in a while.
Overbrushing is also one of the causes of tangled hair.
When you overbrush your hair, you are causing damage to the cuticle, which is the outermost layer of the hair.
The cuticle is made up of overlapping cells that protect the inner layers of the hair shaft.
When these cells are damaged, they can no longer protect the inner layers, which leads to tangles and frizz.
One way to tell if you are overbrushing your hair is by looking at the bristles on your brush.
If they are bent or frayed, this is a sign that you are brushing too hard.
You should also be careful not to brush your hair when it is wet, as this can cause even more damage to the cuticle.
Using The Wrong Brush
The type of brush you use makes a big difference.
For example, if you have fine hair, you should use a brush with soft bristles so you don’t damage your scalp.
If you have thick hair, you should use a brush with firm bristles to get through all of the tangles.
One of the worst things you can do is use a comb on wet hair. This will only make the tangles worse and can cause breakage.
Always use a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush on wet hair to avoid damage.
Sleeping With Wet Hair
It’s no secret that not taking care of your hair can lead to some serious problems.
One of the worst things you can do to your hair is sleep with it wet.
This is one of the main causes of tangled hair.
When your hair is wet, it’s in a fragile state and more likely to break.
If you’re constantly sleeping with wet hair, you’re more likely to end up with damaged, dry, and brittle strands.
In addition to causing tangles, sleeping with wet hair can also lead to other issues like split ends and a dull appearance.
If you want healthy and strong hair, make sure to avoid sleeping with wet locks.
Lack of Moisture
For anyone with hair, tangles are a common nuisance.
But for those with naturally curly or coily hair, tangles can be a daily battle.
While there are many causes of tangled hair, one of the most common is lack of moisture.
When the hair is dry, it is more susceptible to tangles and breakage. This is because dry hair is brittle and weak.
The best way to combat this is to keep your hair moisturized.
This can be done by using products that add moisture to the hair, such as conditioners and leave-in treatments.
Heat Styling
If you’re one of those people who can’t go a day without heat styling your hair, you might want to reconsider.
Heat styling is one of the leading causes of tangled hair.
The high temperatures cause the hair shaft to swell and the cuticle to lift, which makes it more susceptible to tangling.
If you must heat style, be sure to use a protectant spray and use the lowest setting possible.
Also, avoid over-styling by giving your hair a break in between styles.
10 Easy Ways To Prevent Your Hair From Tangling
Are you tired of your hair being a tangled mess?
Do you feel like you’ve tried every product on the market, but nothing seems to work?
If you’re ready to find out how to prevent hair from tangling once and for all, follow the tips below.
Slow And Steady Wins The Race
Though tempting to speed through the detangling process, this can result in MORE tangling and breakage.
Taking the proper time to detangle and care for your hair is not only helpful but essential when it comes to stopping the wrath of your tangles.
This in combination with brushing or combing from the tips is sure to not only detangle but prevent further friction.
Brush Hair Frequently
While brushing is a great method for achieving style, it’s also simply beneficial when done daily.
Though it may seem trivial to you, brushing your hair gently is like a miniature massage.
Brushing your hair is not only relaxing but very helpful to your blood flow as it stimulates the scalp.
Wind Protection
Strong winds can be damaging in many ways, especially when it comes to tangling and matting.
When exposed to frequent wind, hair can easily lose moisture and overall strength.
Wind can often lead to breakage and result in flyaways, uneven tips, and the appearance of hair thinning.
Avoid Drying Chemicals
You should always want moisture for your hair, but you should especially rely on it when trying to prevent tangling.
Taking the time to read the ingredients you’re absorbing into your hair can be very insightful as many include harsh chemicals that do more harm than good.
Ingredients such as alcohol, mineral oil, silicones, and sulfates can dry out your hair and make it matted.
I highly recommend that you use gentle, natural products – like this Amazon’s best seller.
Seal The Deal
Adding hair oil (I got good results using this Morrocan Oil) or butter to your moisturized ends is an easy way to seal in moisture and prevent splitting.
No matter if your hair is straight or kinky and curly, dryness is often a primary factor when it comes to the consistent tangling of hair.
For this reason, making sure that moisture and nutrients penetrate and nourish could easily make or break the outcome of your hair routine.
Common oils and kinds of butter used for sealing moisture are avocado oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil.
Up-do’s For The Gym
Whether swimming or playing kickball, your hair should always be out of sight and out of mind when friction is involved.
Working out with your hair down is one of the easiest ways to harm your hair.
This is because the natural damage done by consistent moving pairs with the matted sweat and dirt from your workout.
I find that a braid, bun, or ponytail works best to combat this.
Leave-In Conditioner
While it should never replace your traditional post-shampoo conditioner, a leave-in conditioner can offer very promising results when added to your hair maintenance routine.
Leave-in conditioners, like this coconut-based conditioner, are great since they are light and weightless.
The detangling properties of leave-in conditioners are phenomenal and even useful for protection against heat.
Protect Your Hair At Night
It may be hard to tell how much you move in your sleep, but I can promise you that your hair moves a lot.
Tossing and turning throughout the night may seem harmless, but the friction affecting your hair packs a punch in the long run.
Drying your hair before bed and using a fabric scrunchie or satin scarf is an essential and cheap way to prevent mindless damage.
Invest In A Silk Pillowcase
I originally fell in love with silk pillowcases because they allowed me to wake up feeling fancy and frizz-less.
However, they’re also now my favorite weapon for combating nighttime tangling.
Due to cotton being more porous, it tends to absorb moisture from your hair while you rest- this also means it’s absorbing a significant amount of nutrients.
A slippery smooth silk pillow can easily prevent tangles and dehydration while also allowing you to wake up with the same nourished hair you went to bed with.
Trim! Trim! Trim!
Last but not least on how to prevent hair from tangling is hair trimming.
Yes, I know, getting your hair trimmed is annoying.
Especially if you’re anything like me and love a long, sassy look.
Regardless, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of a good hair trim.
It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch, and this is especially true for split and tangled ends.
When left untrimmed, split ends can easily cause breakage to your healthy hair as healthy strands tend to get caught in the slits and knots.
Conclusion – How To Prevent Your Hair From Tangling?
Tangled hair is bound to attack at some point (notoriously when least expected!).
Despite this, it’s important to remain calm and give your knotty hair the TLC that it’s most likely looking for.
This may mean adding a few more steps to your routine to prevent hair from tangling.
Even if it appears like a mangled monster, your hair is often just looking for nourishment and patience.
Do you suffer from hair thinning or visible hair loss? Check out this 3-second ritual that brings back long, luscious hair fast!
