Gently detangle - Goodbye to hair knots – LAO Care

Having knots in your hair can be very unpleasant and it's often annoying to get rid of them: not always having the time to do it, the pain when using a comb or brush and above all not knowing how to go about it ... But how can we solve this problem without damaging our already sensitive hair? LAO has looked into the issue of tangled hair and reveals tips based on your hair type to help you undo knots in the gentlest way.

First of all, why do we have knots in our hair?

We usually become aware of our knots when we wake up or after shampooing, sometimes after a hectic day... Indeed, factors such as friction, wind or intense activity can encourage the appearance of knots.

Certain hair types are more likely to get tangles on a daily basis:
Dry hair, for example, is more affected by this problem: it will rub against each other and become tangled more easily than normal or oily hair. ⁽¹⁾ Because sebum, this oily substance produced by our body, particularly in the sebaceous glands of the scalp, coats our hair and allows it to "slide" between the others. ⁽²⁾
Additionally, the outer layer of our hair, the cuticles, can be slightly open and easily snag and therefore tangle, damaged hair is also prone to this phenomenon. ⁽³⁾
We will return to techniques for detangling knots while respecting the hair and being gentle.

How to detangle curly hair?

To avoid damaging your curly hair, you can detangle it dry before washing it, using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb, but this can be a long and unpleasant process.

Instead, we recommend gently detangling them when they are wet, even in the shower directly after a rich treatment such as conditioner or a mask, which makes it easier to comb or brush through.

Depending on your preferences, don't hesitate to try out several hairdressing accessories, bristle brushes, combs, etc., to determine which one best suits your routine. It's possible to combine several.

How to detangle straight hair?

For straight hair, detangling is slightly different. This type of hair can be more prone to breakage during or after showering, so it's best to detangle it beforehand when it's dry and therefore less fragile.
To limit breakage, be careful to detangle your hair from the bottom up: you need to solve this knot problem in stages, comb a small area at the bottom of your hair and gradually detangle it, working your way up to the top of your head.

If you have some tangles left after showering, you can gently work them out without forcing them once they have dried slightly, preferably after applying a product such as a treatment, oil or other.

What can you do to prevent hair knots?

To prevent knots there are some techniques and tips, LAO reveals some of them to you:

Brush your hair daily to move the sebum down your lengths
Avoid frequent heat sources which can dry out and weaken your hair
Do not rub your hair too much when shampooing and concentrate on the roots and not the lengths
Apply care and preferably use strong oil care products like LAO Care Nourishing Shampoo
Sleeping with a nightcap, braids, or other accessories that limit the movement of your hair, especially if you move around a lot
Choose accessories made of cotton, satin or silk such as cushions, scrunchies, etc.

In conclusion, take care of yourself and your hair to limit knots and do not force when detangling, there are several ways to go about it gently!