Natural hair care comes with a load of challenges, a major one being tangles. Going on natural hair social media pages, you’re likely to come across questions on how to eliminate tangling. Many ladies are tempted to cut their hair or run back to relaxer because of this. Dealing with this issue is not as hard as it seems though.
Stretching
This is one of the best ways to keep tangles at bay. Natural hair (especially the coily textures) when left open begins to twirl around itself. The strands love to make friends. There’s nothing wrong with having ‘open’ styles, just monitor your hair to detect tangling as soon as it appears. Gentle, no-heat stretching methods such as two strand twists are amazing for this.
Leaving In Styles For Long
Protective styles are great, but having them for months on end gives room for your hair to tangle at the roots. Coily textures have less leeway with this. Know your hair’s limit for keeping styles and don’t exceed them.
Keep The Ends Tucked
Apart from the roots, tangles tend to form a lot at the ends of our strands. To counter this, keep the ends hydrated, moisturised and tucked away as much as possible. This also prevents split ends.
Drying Methods
How do you dry your hair after washing it? If you use a cotton towel, you’re inviting tangles. Use an old t-shirt instead. Also, don’t rub your hair back and forth. Squeeze and pat it dry gently.
Detangling
If you don’t fully detangle on wash day, the remaining shed strands will be caught up with other strands. Finger detangling is great but may not be thorough. Follow through with a wide toothed comb to remove any traces of shed hair that may have been left behind.
Night Routine
When going to bed, cover your hair with a satin scarf or bonnet. Using a satin pillow case is an added advantage. Tie your hair in a bun or pineapple. These steps minimize frizz, keep tangles away and your hair stays hydrated.
