Detangling | Hair | Tangles

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Styling Products:
      Nearly all of us use some type of styling product on our hair in getting the look we
want. The important thing to remember is to use products that aren't going to cause as
many problems as they "fix". Check the ingredient lists of your styling gels, mousses
and sprays to be sure they don't contain alcohol. Alcohol is used in making these
products to help them dry faster, but what it does for the product it will also do to your
hair. This will only worsen the tangling problem.
      Instead of using a styling product after your hair is mostly dry, try applying it
before you begin towel-drying the hair. Make sure it is alcohol-free still, but apply it
while your hair is wet and work it through the hair. You can then gently towel-dry your
hair and turban it as described above. You'll find you get more even coverage, and a
smoother-looking and shinier finished style.
      While on the subject of styling products and preventing tangles, I have to mention
anti-frizz serums. For those of you with curly hair or frequent problems with tangling,
these products are wonderful. They must be applied to wet hair to work their best and
get the most even coverage and should be worked through the hair from the scalp to
the ends. Anti-frizz serums are designed to coat the hair shaft, smooth the cuticle
and seal it. They are great for preventing the roughing of the cuticle that happens
during blow-drying, and will help your hair look its very best.

Detangling Your Environment:
      We all know about of many of the situations that can cause tangles, but sometimes
solutions don't come readily to mind. For instance, when my own hair was long, my
biggest problem was getting tangles and knots while driving in my car with the sunroof
or windows open. My solution to this was simple: I kept a snag-safe elastic band in my
car (on the gear shift) and before I started the car I would pull my hair back into a
ponytail at the nape of my neck and tuck the tail down the back of my shirt or jacket.
Then, when I arrived at my destination, I removed the ponytail elastic, ran a brush
through my hair and I was ready to go. For some of you, this solution will also work,
but if your long hair is curled as a part of styling it, pulling it into a ponytail would
defeat the purpose. For these problems, I recommend a quick visit to the beauty
supply store and pick up a few hair nets. The hair nets will hold the style in place while
you're in transit, and at the worst-case scenario, when you arrive you simply remove the
net and fluff the style back up with your fingers.
      Another problem area for tangled hair is the bedroom. Even a little tossing and
turning during the night can cause headaches in the morning for some people. When
your hair gets buffeted against the threads of your pillow it does as much roughing up
of the cuticle as driving with the top down. A sleeping cap is always one way to avoid
this problem, but if you prefer to look good while you sleep, try using a silk or satin
pillowcase. They're infinitely more comfortable and won't mistreat your hair the way
other fabrics will.

      Finally, a place that is typically very hard on the hair is the beach. The salty sea
air and wind can really turn your hair into a rat's nest. A good solution to prevent the
tangles as well as the damage of the salt air and sun is to apply your favorite rinse
through conditioner to your hair and leave it there. Not only will it keep your hair
tangle and damage free, but the heat of the sun will help the conditioner penetrate
the hair and you end up with hair that's had an all-day heated conditioning treatment.
Just make sure that if you're in and out of the ocean to rinse your hair with fresh water
(not seawater) and reapply the conditioner.

Unknotting Tangled Hair:
      Sometimes, despite our best efforts, tangles happen, and I want you to know how
to deal with them when they do. In situations where it doesn't matter - at home at the
end of a long day - use a detangling spray and a wide-toothed comb and gently work
out the tangles. Comb them out from the ends of the hair and work your way up.
Trying to work in the other direction tends to simply create knots, even with the best
detangling solutions. If you do hit a snag, apply more detangling spray and massage
the snag gently, then try to work it out by combing from the center of the snag
downward. This usually helps to loosen the knotted strands and remove the tangle.
      However, if you're in a situation where detangling spray is unavailable, or would
be inappropriate to apply, use a natural-bristle brush and work your way from the ends
of the hair upward to brush out the tangles. In this case, if you hit a snag, lay the
snagged hair over the back of one hand and brush it gently with the brush, aiming for
the bottom of the snag and brushing downward and moving the brush centimeter by
centimeter upward along the hair strands. A little patience and perseverance can
prevent unnecessary damage to your hair.

Great hair takes work, and even though in these days of hectic schedules time is at a
premium, you'll never regret the few extra moments you spend the first time someone
says "Your hair looks fantastic."

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