Dear Ouidad:
“Ok, so I know that detangling is a must to help keep my hair from matting together and being a tangled mess. However, whenever I do detangle, I wind up with a fluffed out mess that won’t coil back up. What am I doing wrong? I only detangle when I have a head full of conditioner. I use my fingers and a comb, sometimes my Denman, but not often.Any suggestions? It makes me not want to detangle, but I know that’s a bad idea.” -CurlTalk user PrettyLady24Ouidad:
You are absolutely doing the right thing by detangling your curls with conditioner and your fingers, but I would not recommend using a brush on curly or coily hair under any circumstances to prevent frizz. In my experience the most challenging aspect of curly hair is detangling it, and it is crucial to use tools that will slide through your curls without the ripping or tugging. I would recommend giving our Double Detangler a try if you haven’t already. It’s unique in that it has double rows of teeth to eliminate difficult knots and prevent your curls from springing back and re-tangling. Coat your wet hair in conditioner and then separate your hair into sections, gently detangle each section using a comb or your fingers on difficult knots.
After you detangle and rinse out your conditioner, you may find that your curls or coils have elongated or lost their shape. The products and techniques you use to apply them will help to reactivate your curls and give them the hold and definition you’re looking for.
After Detangling
Recommended Products
- Start with a repairing styling primer or leave-in to seal in moisture and smooth frizz
- Follow this with a moisturizing styling product that will provide soft hold and definition like the Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel
- Apply your products using the Rake & Shake technique
- Gently blot your hair with a towel to remove excess moisture