I love long hair, but I can't grow it past my shoulders because it gets so tangled and I get so frustrated that I chop it off. I use conditioner, I don't use harsh shampoos or products in my hair, and my hair feels very soft- why is it tangling so much? Is there something I can do to keep it from getting all "rats-nest" on me? Seriously, when I have long hair an hour after fixing it it looks like I've been out in the wind all day after wrestling all my boys on the floor; I.am.not.exaggerating.
For a few years now I've kept it short and loved it, but now I'm seeing women all over the place with long, silky, beautiful hair and I am jealous! How do they get their hair to stay sleek without having to brush it every ten minutes??????
Please give me some options before I go crazy and chop it off again!
Thank you for all the awesome advice! I ended up cutting my hair quite short and discovered afterward that the crazy cowlicks all of my boys have at the base of their heads---they get them from me! Mystery solved! I guess I'll always have to be jealous of long, smooth hair because cowlicks always win:/
I couldn't grow long hair either until I found some good advice about how to take care of it.
http://www.longlocks.com/how-to-grow-long-hair.htm
Try Moroccan Oil. You can buy it in salons. Just run a small amount through wet hair. I have long thick hair and its what I use. Don't be tempted by the cheap drug store knockoffs. They don't work and look greasy.
I have below the waist hair, touching by bottom. I've always had long hair.
Some of it is nothing more than the texture of your hair, which you can't control as much because it's genetic. I have baby fine hair personally.
The more "goop" and stuff I put in my hair the worse it is to manage. I keep it very basic. I use a shampoo and conditioner from Trader Joes. I only use about a pinky nail worth of conditioner for my entire head of hair, putting more on the ends then on the scalp. I braid my hair to sleep to keep it from getting too matted. I always comb my hair out wet, after my shower, starting at the bottom and working my way up.
The kind of brush makes a difference too. I have one that is a mixture of plastic bristles and soft bristles.
If it's windy or I'm going to be very active I make sure I put it up otherwise it will turn into a rats nest no matter how hard I try to keep it otherwise.
Some days I do need to brush it more than once, other days I can get away with only after my shower and maybe before bed before I braid it.
The less I mess with it the better it behaves and looks.
When I had my hair that long I had to use leave in conditioner. I would put my hair in a ponytail and use the leave in conditioner on the hair hanging from the pony. I would also make sure to brush from tip to root in small sections daily. I also used defining creme on the ends to keep them from getting tangled up. Braids and buns on windy days are VERY helpful.
my hair is very fine and tangles SOOOOO easily. it's just past my shoulders now, but was down to my hips for most of my life.
because it's so fine, using a ton of conditioner just weighed it down. i had some luck with detanglers, but i didn't like the way they made my hair feel.
what i did was to use a very wide-toothed comb that was gentle on the tangles. when i was a teenager i used a brush, and hoo baby! the split ends!
i also resorted to the boring but useful device of keeping it up in a barrette or braided most of the time. it wasn't gorgeous, but it kept it from making me crazy so that i COULD let it flow magnificently when i wanted it to.
khairete
S.
We just got a detangler spray for our girls. It's magic. It not only helps to detangle, but it keeps the hair smoother through the day. You should try one.
I have long, fine hair (and I live in the humid south). I keep it cut in long layers. This really helps with the tangles. Also, damaged hair tangles a lot worse. If you are keen on long hair, cut off all the damaged hair, and start anew. Then keep it trimmed up every 2 months or so. It's really important to still get long hair cut often.
Another thing is to use a hair spray with SPF. This keeps hair, esp in the summer, from getting so damaged.
I also have pretty good luck with beer rinses about once a week. It makes hair soft and shiny.
Hope this helps!
I think they do keep it brushed. I know I don't brush my hair but once in the morning. I use mousse in it and fluff it a bit. Then I don't touch it the rest of the day.
Try some Aphogee Gloss Therapy. I used to use it for shine but it also helps with tangles. A dime size dollop rubbed between my hands then spread throughout the hair makes it a bit more manageable.
Don't blow dry. If you wash it at night, braid it loosely so that it's not tangling up in the night. Consider a silky material for your pillow. You might also want to skip the in the shower conditioner and use a leave-in when you style instead. My mom likes Infusium. I also tend to keep my hair in layers and octopus clips are my friend.
My daughter has long fine hair with a bit of a curl/frizz to it. I find that it tangles like crazy if I don't trim it often. That and lots of GOOD conditioner. If you spend a little more on conditioner, it can make a world of difference.
Also, I read that you should never shampoo your hair by piling it on top of your head. It causes tangles. Instead, just work the shampoo through downwards.
Layers is the answer. Much easier to take care of.
Hair detangler you use when hair is wet.
Use conditioner in the shower.
When you get out of shower, use a wide tooth comb to comb through.
Let dry.
Part way through drying you can spray on Paul Mitchell anti-frizz serum then dry w/a blow dryer & a paddle brush to straighten.
Then use a flat iron.
A lot of work but....it helps quite a bit.
I have the same problem. But, mine is also curly on the underneath layers so they just aren't going to stay straight.
Personally, I cut my hair. That is when I know its time is when it starts to snarl. I also brush my hair at least 3 or 4 times a day. I keep a brush in the kitchen and in the car so that I have one when I need it. If I do this, I can wear mine almost to my bra strap.
