How to Detangle Curly Hair

Most curlies don’t brush their hair every day, much less detangle it. But detangling hair is an important part of hair care and it should be a part of every hair regimen. Here are some tips on how to detangle curly hair.

When Should I Detangle?

The frequency at which you should detangle your curls varies from texture to texture. Even within texture, it varies on your specific hair type. I am a 2A and I detangle my hair every other day in the shower. I rarely detangle my hair when it’s dry. A good rule of thumb is to detangle your hair on wash days.

So when should you wash? This depends on many things, such as what sort of climate you live in or how oily your scalp gets. In general, you should wash your hair at least once a week. That being said, you should also detangle your curls at least once a week.

How Should I Detangle?

Again, your detangling method depends on your texture and hair type. I detangle my hair using a little bit of conditioner and my fingers. It’s easy, simple and effective. Most curlies will agree that your fingers are the best tool you can use when detangling. Some general tips when it comes to detangling:

• Detangle your hair when it’s wet or damp.
• Use a dollop of conditioner to aid with the detangling process.
• Use the pressure of the shower had to help push knots out and smooth out your curls.
• Use a wide tooth comb or your fingers to comb through knots.
• Begin combing at the bottom and work your way up.
• Detangle damp hair by spraying leave-in conditioner or detangling spray.
• If you decide to detangle dry hair, use oil to lubricate your curls and prevent breakage.

What Products Should I Use?

Leave-in conditioners and cream based conditioners are your best friends when it comes to detangling. Detangling your hair without them can cause breakage and lead to damaged hair. Here are some of the best products and tools for detangling:

• Kinky-Curly Knot Today: Type 3s will love this leave-in conditioner. Smooth it over your hair, comb out the knots and let your hair soak up the moisture.
• Curly Hair Solutions Slip Detangler: This detangler is perfect for ladies who just colored their hair, but great for your natural hair as well. It acts as both a leave-in conditioner and a detangler, so you don’t have to worry about rinsing out the conditioner once you’ve detangled.
• Denman D3 Brush: This brush kills two birds with one stone. It acts as a great styling brush if you use a blow dryer or diffuser and it detangles curls too. Because the teeth are closer together than a wide tooth comb, be sure to use a generous amount of conditioner in order to lubricate your curls and prevent breakage.
• Shower Comb: Convenient, affordable and perfect for curls. Hanging this comb on the shower head will remind you to detangle your curls on shower days.

Remember, if detangling hurts you, it’s probably hurting your curls. Be gentle and your curls will thank you!

What tools or products do you use to detangle your curls?