4 Hours to Detangle Hair? How do u cut time

virtuenow

Well-Known Member
Hi, you guys may remember the thread that discussed a 4 hour detangling session...I responded that I actually do take 4 hours to dry finger detangle regularly. Some were appalled, some astonished. But I was hoping to get some tips from those who replied and others who said you detangle in only an hour or less. How in the world do you do this. What is your technique and tools (and please your hair type- kinky/curly/relaxed or natural)?

By the way, I just bought a new tool! The tangle teezer brush-- and I think it may be a blessing to the biggest nightmare of my natural hair journey. Detangling sessions; I hope to cut down about 75% on time here.
 
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NaturalBeauty<3

New Member
^ ...OR a regular cheapie condish

i detangle with water, vo5, n my fingers. in the shower, tho...imma cowasher. if I straighten...ive still detangled in the shower, n braid to keep away the tangles. *shrug*

ETA: 3c/4a
 

virtuenow

Well-Known Member
I think if you try the kimmaytube leave-in, it should cut the detangling time down some. HTH!

Should I do this before or after I wash? Saturate the hair or just a light covering??

I have a pre-poo recipe that I just started using --similar recipe to her leav-in (posted by Nasdaq diva on lhcf as a pre-poo). It has aloe vera juice and natural oils (castor/jojoba)...I may squeeze in a little trader joes nourish spa and some honey or something... I'm using this to juice my hair right now also (a version w/less of the aloe vera juice- which is more close to the leave-in you mention):grin:
 

naturalmanenyc

Well-Known Member
I detangle on damp/wet hair filled with conditioner. I start at the ends and work my way up to the roots and then braids/clip that section out of the way.

The only time I detangle on dry hair is after taking out weave/braids to avoid matting of the shed hairs.

I found the techniques here: The Rules

Her youtube is here: YouTube - Starting the Process
 

SimJam

Well-Known Member
I detangle first with finger on oil saturated hair,then I add a cheapie condish and go through with my showr comb then denman - do this every 2 weeks, inbetween I skip the denman.

takes me abt 1 hour and that includes twisting into abt 20 or so twists
 

ms.blue

Well-Known Member
By the title I thought this was another kimmaytube thread.

*the tangle tezzer looks like it can eliminate the amount of time it would take to detangle anyone's hair.
 

adnolej

New Member
I put evoo on my hair covered by a shower cap the night before (or at least 20 minutes before washing) then get in the shower, section into 4, then apply conditioner, rewetting for more slip as needed. I'm APL and it takes me an hour max to detangle. The key is the conditioner (right now I'm using Elucence, I prefer "thicker" not watery conditioners for detangling).

Btw, it takes an hour when I finger detangle first followed by wide tooth comb, then denman, if I skip the finger combing, it takes like 20 minutes unless I have some serious tangles

HTH
 

Ms Lala

Well-Known Member
Hi, you guys may remember the thread that discussed a 4 hour detangling session...I responded that I actually do take 4 hours to dry finger detangle regularly. Some were appalled, some astonished. But I was hoping to get some tips from those who replied and others who said you detangle in only an hour or less. How in the world do you do this. What is your technique and tools (and please your hair type- kinky/curly/relaxed or natural)?

By the way, I just bought a new tool! The tangle teezer brush-- and I think it may be a blessing to the biggest nightmare of my natural hair journey. Detangling sessions; I hope to cut down about 75% on time here.

How you wash and dry your hair may play a big part in this, but then again every texture is different too. I'm 4a/b mix . I keep my hair sectioned through out my entire washing and conditioning process and it has saved me alot of time and breakage at the end. I detangle while my hair is slightly damp, then I may comb through again as I am styling if needed. I finger comb if my hair is loose during the week to prevent tangles from forming. I honestly think Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier has helped as well. Since I started using it as my regular moisturizer I find my hair much easier to manage on wash day. I have a vid on my youtube of my wash routine and I discuss how I detangle. I haven't shown myself actually combing my hair, I figured that might be boring.
 

Lita

Well-Known Member
I detangle with fingers/water mist or coco tree detangle ghee..Wide tooth comb/tt..

The water really helps..





Happy Hair Growing!
 

naturalmanenyc

Well-Known Member
This moisturizing prepoo (from -Chicoro at [email protected]) works very well for me to detangle. I have used it a few times now, including once after not washing my braid & curl style for two weeks. It detangled like a dream. I use aloe vera juice and jojoba oil (now in a spray bottle) then go over my hair with coconut oil (also in a spray bottle).

My leave in is a similar mix with Aussie Moist as a base. I dilute the leave in with water to use as a daily moisturizer. I'm not sure if it makes a difference but the leave in spray did work better for me using bottled water instead of our tap water. I don't own PH strips or anything so I did not test the mixtures to see the difference.

Should I do this before or after I wash? Saturate the hair or just a light covering??

I have a pre-poo recipe that I just started using --similar recipe to her leav-in (posted by Nasdaq diva on lhcf as a pre-poo). It has aloe vera juice and natural oils (castor/jojoba)...I may squeeze in a little trader joes nourish spa and some honey or something... I'm using this to juice my hair right now also (a version w/less of the aloe vera juice- which is more close to the leave-in you mention):grin:
 

Nonie

Well-Known Member
I guess I'm not the right person to answer since I chicken out in braids/twists most of the time, but when I was wearing my hair out (granted it wasn't as long as yours OP), I just don't remember needing to detangle. I just never let my hair tangle in the first place. If wearing it out, I comb it out every day with enough S Curl to provide slip. At night I braided it to keep my strands stretched and parallel. I washed it in braids which I undid and combed through and then rebraided during shampooing, during conditioning, and during the final ACV rinse. Then I don't undo my hair until it dries in those braids. But not once in that process were there tangles to remove. :confused:

There was one time in 2008 when I had to detangle. That was after I went to bed without plaiting my hair. I paid for it big time. I don't believe I timed it, but it was a waste of time I had managed to avoid all my life by always plaiting my hair at night.
 

choctaw

New Member
Last night I used kt to detangle dry hair before making 10 twists for a chunky fro. Tonight I used 60% rosewater/distilled water, 39% moisturizers (cfcg, infusium 23, s curl) and 2 tablespoons olde jamaica black castor oil. Sprayed hair, section, spray section, finger detangle, make 5 celie braids and done in 15 minutes.
 

lolascurls

New Member
I am currently transitioning and I've learnt now:

1) To spritz my hair with something like VO5 and water or Aloevera juice (neat or diluted with water) and leave that to sit for 5 mins.
2) Use your fingers to part your hair into 4 to 6 sections, apply some oil to the scalp and braid or twist them away.
3) In the sections, spray some more moisturizing spritz and gently finger detangle from the ends, middle and then the roots.
4) Finally, you can re-braid and prepare for your washing. I tend to them pre-poo with protein conditioner or some oil like EVCO/Vatika.

HTHs! ♥

I tend to finger detangle now only! Here's a youtube link by a lady who does her daughter's lovely heads of hair pre-wash! YouTube - Detangling Children's Natural 4b 4c Hair - Pre-wash
 
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Nayna

Unbothered
Like a lot of the other posters I put conditioner on my hair first and finger or comb detangle like that. I then braid or twist those sections and shampoo like that. Then I add more conditioner and go through each braid with a detangling brush or comb and braid it back up. There are usually 6 to 8 braids. I rinse like that. Add leave ins and let it air dry.
 

virtuenow

Well-Known Member
I guess I'm not the right person to answer since I chicken out in braids/twists most of the time, but when I was wearing my hair out (granted it wasn't as long as yours OP), I just don't remember needing to detangle. I just never let my hair tangle in the first place. If wearing it out, I comb it out every day with enough S Curl to provide slip. At night I braided it to keep my strands stretched and parallel. I washed it in braids which I undid and combed through and then rebraided during shampooing, during conditioning, and during the final ACV rinse. Then I don't undo my hair until it dries in those braids. But not once in that process were there tangles to remove. :confused:

There was one time in 2008 when I had to detangle. That was after I went to bed without plaiting my hair. I paid for it big time. I don't believe I timed it, but it was a waste of time I had managed to avoid all my life by always plaiting my hair at night.

Thanks everyone for your suggesstions; looks like a similar trend is to detangle on wet hair-- I'm gonna give it another go w/my new hair tool.

Nonie, you said you have no tangles in the process. I guess "shed" hair would be the more proper term. I'm really looking to deshed my hair. I usually wear my hair loose (like in the picture or twistouts). My hair is very tightly coiled/kinked, so it naturally tangles around itself. Similar to a curly headed person who would call this "clumping". What I'm really looking to do is remove shed hairs! I like taht you can remove them daily w/no problem. Good tip on the scurl. I just concocted my very own "juice" for the first time (aloe vera/jojoba/castor oil).

I detangle on damp/wet hair filled with conditioner. I start at the ends and work my way up to the roots and then braids/clip that section out of the way.

The only time I detangle on dry hair is after taking out weave/braids to avoid matting of the shed hairs.

I found the techniques here: The Rules

Her youtube is here: YouTube - Starting the Process

Very good tips here, thanks. Terri's site and "the rules" was one of the first times I saw such a descriptive and unique (in my opinoin) way to detanlge. Will check out the vid
 

Irresistible

New Member
There are only 3 ways I comb my hair, in sections working up from the nape-3c-now TBL- my hair tangles and re tangles again after detangling :ohwell: its work but still does not take four hours

1 while wet with conditioner, after applying it on dry hair section by section working up from the nape with a Kcutter ( I do this pre co wash)

2 after rinsing out the conditioner, applying Coconut oil and conditioner , section by section working up from the nape with a kcutter

3 in between co-washing with lots of Coconut oil on dry hair section by section from the nape up with a Kcutter
 
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Irresistible

New Member
I guess I'm not the right person to answer since I chicken out in braids/twists most of the time, but when I was wearing my hair out (granted it wasn't as long as yours OP), I just don't remember needing to detangle. I just never let my hair tangle in the first place. If wearing it out, I comb it out every day with enough S Curl to provide slip. At night I braided it to keep my strands stretched and parallel. I washed it in braids which I undid and combed through and then rebraided during shampooing, during conditioning, and during the final ACV rinse. Then I don't undo my hair until it dries in those braids. But not once in that process were there tangles to remove. :confused:

There was one time in 2008 when I had to detangle. That was after I went to bed without plaiting my hair. I paid for it big time. I don't believe I timed it, but it was a waste of time I had managed to avoid all my life by always plaiting my hair at night.
I fully agree that according to what you do with your hair will determine that amount of tangling. I always PAY for loose hair :wallbash:
 

Irresistible

New Member
come to think of it

I think I am going to add something to my regimen. I am going to try the cowashing in twisted sections or braids. Then I might be able to get out of my daughter taking over doing my hair -she did it once last week since I hired her-she was not playing and I had to put my whole body into holding my head up. She worked out combing out my hair well, but she was raking through it with her fingers along with the Kcutter like I had the strongest neck in the world :look:-I felt like doing a 'pay back' move on her from when I did her hair and turning into 'noodle neck' . But then I saw flashes of my hair twisting around that Kcutter :eek2: so, I behaved :lol: But she complained I had too much hair and it was too long *I was shocked*-and her hair is just a thick and to bra strap. plus I have to pay her .....lol

I never had to do the sectioning, but I might have to try that now
 

aa9746

New Member
How you wash and dry your hair may play a big part in this, but then again every texture is different too. I'm 4a/b mix . I keep my hair sectioned through out my entire washing and conditioning process and it has saved me alot of time and breakage at the end. I detangle while my hair is slightly damp, then I may comb through again as I am styling if needed. I finger comb if my hair is loose during the week to prevent tangles from forming. I honestly think Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier has helped as well. Since I started using it as my regular moisturizer I find my hair much easier to manage on wash day. I have a vid on my youtube of my wash routine and I discuss how I detangle. I haven't shown myself actually combing my hair, I figured that might be boring.[/QUOTE]

It could be informational. I started fingercombing after watching Sera's youtube video of her detangling hair. It was very to helpful for me.
 

mzteaze

Pilates and Yoga Kinda Gal
I use plain water and a mix of castor oil/argan oil or Vatika on my two strand twists. It seems the more moisturized my hair stays, the less it needs detangling.
 

naijamerican

Well-Known Member
How you wash and dry your hair may play a big part in this, but then again every texture is different too. I'm 4a/b mix . I keep my hair sectioned through out my entire washing and conditioning process and it has saved me alot of time and breakage at the end. I detangle while my hair is slightly damp, then I may comb through again as I am styling if needed. I finger comb if my hair is loose during the week to prevent tangles from forming. I honestly think Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier has helped as well. Since I started using it as my regular moisturizer I find my hair much easier to manage on wash day. I have a vid on my youtube of my wash routine and I discuss how I detangle. I haven't shown myself actually combing my hair, I figured that might be boring.

Totally off topic but you are my new hair shero!!! Your hair is fabulous - I want my twists to look like yours when they grow up! :yep: :yep:
 

malibu4590

Well-Known Member
I wash and DC in twists. Once it's all rinsed out, I squeeze out the excess water, take one twist out at a time (about 16 total, four on each quadrant) and detangle with a wide tooth comb, add leave in, re-twist then move on to the next until my entire head is done. I'm 3c/4a.
 

afrikurl

Active Member
I am 4a/4b natural with thick strands. I like nonie never give my hair the chance to tangl.e In fact detangling is merely the process of removing shed hair. I keep my hair moisturized with Jheri curl juice and sealed with castor oil all week. On wash day I unravel the twists from the bottom then I separate the sections with my hands to remove any shed hair. After I take out about 10-15 twists, I braid that section. (this takes about 30 mins)Usually I have 6-8 sections. I wash in those braids, then unravel one at a time, gently applying conditioner in a downward motion. this removes a little more shed hair, then I take my wide toothed comb or paddle brush. This removes the rest of the hair from that section. I promptly braid that conditioner soaked section right back up. (about 15-20 mins) That's the end of detangling! I DC in those braids, rinse in those braids, and air dry in those braids. If I want to style my hair wet, I unravel one braid at a time and retwist it into 10-15 twists.
 

make_me_over

Well-Known Member
I recently found the key to dangling my hair. It used to take me over an hour to detangle (and that wasn't even a thorough detangle, but I just couldn't do it). Then when I started to detangle with condish and that cut it down to about a half hour. Now that I've discovered oil rinsing the time that it takes me to detangle has been cut down to 15 minutes. That's crazy, just adding that one step after shampooing and before conditioning has changed my hair's life.:grin: I know dramatic, but true!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Don't sleep on oil-rinses!<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

ETA: My hair is 4 something and very prone to tangles
 
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Kiki0130

New Member
Thank you for posting the oil rinsing thread. Life and time saver.

I was already pre-pooing with olive oil overnight (or at least an hour
before shampooing) and I was getting better results than when I pre-
pooed with conditioner (or conditioner/olive oil) but I was still taking
2.5 to 3 hours to detangle. I wanted to be careful because pre-LHCF
I was ripping through those 4a/b tangles wet or dry and my hair wasn't
happy :nono:

When I added the one extra step in the oil rinsing process, detangling
and removing shed hairs became so easy plus my hair feels softer.

Been doing it for over a month and I'm so glad someone bumped that
thread. It's pretty old but it's a goodie ~
 

darlingdiva

Well-Known Member
I've cut my detangling time to under an hour---I'm so happy!!!:grin::grin::grin:

The number one factor that has helped me to cut my detangling time is keeping my hair stretched as much as possible. I wash and condition my hair in braids.

Also, I now detangle with Tresemme Naturals and sunflower oil on dry hair. I don't detangle with watery conditioners anymore because they cause my hair to shrink, which leads to tangles and those blasted single-strand knots. After I apply the conditioner and oil to my hair, I :

1. finger detangle
2. detangle with a paddle brush
3. do one comb-through with my Magic Star Jumbo Rake

I also detangle with AOWC before I do my steam treatments (the steam treatments may be helping to reduce the tangles because of the increased moisture.). At this point my hair isn't tangled because it has been washed in braids, but I detangle it again so that I don't have to detangle after the hair-washing process is over.
 

Nonie

Well-Known Member
Nonie, you said you have no tangles in the process. I guess "shed" hair would be the more proper term. I'm really looking to deshed my hair. I usually wear my hair loose (like in the picture or twistouts). My hair is very tightly coiled/kinked, so it naturally tangles around itself. Similar to a curly headed person who would call this "clumping". What I'm really looking to do is remove shed hairs! I like taht you can remove them daily w/no problem. Good tip on the scurl. I just concocted my very own "juice" for the first time (aloe vera/jojoba/castor oil).

Right now I'm in twists so when I fingercomb a twist at a time as shown in this clip, the shed hair just slides out as I stroke my hair from base to ends. So it's not something I even give thought to as it happens just as a BTW. When I'm wearing my hair out--usually in a shrunken afro--I believe the shed hair comes out when I comb it to style or to put in braids at night. In other words, I do not spend time removing shed hair. I don't even find myself thinking about it. It takes about 5-10 minutes to style my hair in the AM (from taking out my braids and putting it into a puff) and about the same time to plait it in the evening and put on a baggy.

Finger-combing my whole head would take me a long time, I guess, but when wearing my hair out, I usually use a comb. I only finger-comb when wearing braids or twists and then I only work on one section at a time...and the reason for that is when in braid and twists, my hair is woven in a way that a comb would cause havoc since it has no eyes to see what it's doing. When my hair is out, because I take care not to let it tangle, I can run a comb (pick) through it with no worries as shown in this clip. I was in the middle of conditioning in that clip. I will usually rebraid that combed out section and comb out another. Once all have been combed through, I put my head under the spray of a shower head and while head is under water I undo a braid and comb through then rebraid back. Each time, I am rebraiding to ensure my strands do not get a chance to curl around each other. I then let my hair dry in the braid. This was that section airdried and w/o products. Now I would not comb it again until I had sprayed it with S Curl to get it soft and slippery again. I also make sure to stretch out my strands with one hand when combing, kinda like the comb chase method, only this is a finger chase method. :giggle:
 
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