No, it's not an old picture. I took this pic tonight (Friday Dec. 5, 2008) and no I haven't permanently straightened my hair. I only flat-ironed with my maxiglide.But let me admit, I've wanted long natural hair for a long time. I'm finally getting there. My hair is almost arm-pit length when stretched but it's also terribly difficult to untangle. I wash and throughly untangle my hair then put it in plaits but it is always VERY tangled when I loosen the plaits in the morning. Even when I plait my hair nightly they are tangled in the morning. It's really stressing me out and taking up wayy too much of my time. I'm even afraid of doing puff because of the untangling that would follow.
Clearly I don't know how to plait properly since nobody I've met so far can relate to my tangled experience. As a result, I'm now seriously considering locks. I'm THINKING about getting my hair plaited to start in another few weeks then interlocking like the video below afterwards. If I make it to month 6 and still like the locks I'll keep them, if not - I'll attempt to loosen the plaits.
Advice?
Suggestions?
Still Keeping It Kinky.
You are having some serious tangles girlie. Have you ever shampooed hair while IN plaits? It does make detangling for me much better and you have far more hair so it may work for you too. I am not the best plaiter either. Are you smoothing your hair as you work down? Do you have it already detangled and moisturized? Good luck sis!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the advice. I've washed in plaits maybe twice but felt like my sca;p was still dirty. Maybe it was all in my head. I'll try washing in plaits again though since it's been a really long time since I tried that.
ReplyDeleteMika suggested a detangler so I'll be getting it very soon. I'm hoping this flat iron lasts a really long time... especially since I ripped a lot of hair out in frustration while coming out with a fine-tooth comb. Oh well - won't live in regret.
Sorry you're having a rough time with it. I am so not the person to ask for advice, though. I just ranted about it on a hair care forum the other day. But how about visiting one of the hair care forums? Is your texture like mine? There's one specifically for this texture called cnappymenow. Just do a google search for it and it should find it. Hopefully you'll find something there you haven't tried yet, or a way to tweak.
ReplyDeleteThanks still Nikki. I didn't know about that. Will be googling soon.
ReplyDeleteDo you get single strand knots? I have tons of them and I was thinking of blow drying my hair to stop the ends from knotting up. If I cant get them under control I will never be able to retain length because my ends are always breaking off. I love the picture and your hair looks very healthy.
ReplyDeleteHi Linay,
ReplyDeleteI'm actually a little worried about having over-straightened. (Oh the things I do when I'm in a bad mood.)
I don't have too many single knots. I usually trim every few months to avoid them. Maybe you could try the baggy method for keeping moisture so that the ends stop breaking. If it's the knots, you probably just need to do a trim.
i think you would look hot with locs.
ReplyDeleteand since your texture is already prone to tangling, it would not be hard for you the locs to start.
in terms of detangling though, i do all protective styles (mainly box braids) which keeps my hair from tangling when i take them out.
after i pull my braids out, i slather them with elasta qp, and ONLY THEN do i comb through them... and i NEVER use a fine tooth (i did that before, and lost a lot of hair.)
after i comb through, i wash it. i never scrub my hair in an up-down motion when i'm in the shower. i let the warm water run through my hair, and i don't disrupt that flow when i'm rubbing my scalp. also, i try not to use shampoo that leaves my hair squeaky clean, because then it's more prone to tangling.
when i'm ready to braid again, i part the portion of my hair that i'm going to do, then slather it with elasta qp. i only use a smaller comb when i have the individual piece of hair that i'm going to braid. and i always detangle it with my fingers first.
*phew
i only learned all that from my horrible mistakes... including back in april when i lost 3 inches from combing a dirty, tangled afro with a fine tooth comb. now i take EXTRA care.
but i must say, girl, your hair always looks super healthy to me. and i can see that it's gotten thicker and longer lately, so don't despair.
natural hair is high maintenance. that's just the way it is...
Hi Kinky Lady --
ReplyDeleteI dont remember if you do this, but maybe massaging the scalp with a light oil and detangling the hair with a detangler or conditioner BEFORE you shampoo (with braids in, roots loosely secured)will reduce your tangling, and you can still get at the scalp to cleanse. If you are cowashing it is likely that your scalp will not feel clean, which is why I usually massage my scalp with oils beforehand to loosen up the dirt and shed skin... I would leave in a thick conditioner, detangle in sections and braid it (smoothing it out as creative lady said) - but to keep the root a little loose. when i wash I focus on the scalp and squeeze the shampoo/conditioner thru the length.
As for locks, if you want to try your hand at them, i would go with braiding and palmrolling -- interlocking would be hard to take down if you decide not to go with locs after all -- that would be more stress too.. imagine knitting or crocheting a row or two of some pattern, and then having to take each stitch out in the same pattern that you put them in.. I dont know anyone who was been able to take down interlocked braids.. maybe twists, but not braids..
I think the detangling problem can be resolved- it may take some trial and error on products, but that can be remedied. Try to do an overnite treatment with your coconut oil and some conditioner, then detangle while your hair has that in..
Hopefully that helps out..
Lina40
I don't know if you do this, but try washing your hair in sections. For example, part your hair into four or six sections and either twist them or put them into mini puffs (I usually have six twists in my hair). After you do this, wash each section from the back to the front. If you are using the six twists method, smooth and retwist the section once you have finished applying the shampoo/conditioner/washing the section. You should be fine if you do this.
ReplyDeleteI have serious tangle issues and I'm nowhere near your length either. I'm shoulder length and I am seriously considering locs. I'm doing research and weighing out the pros and cons, but I'm waiting til next year and until I'm 100% sure. Right now, I'm only 95%.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the problem is but my "regimen" if you will is super simple. I detangle my hair and my clients hair prior to shampooing with a K-cutter comb and water from a mist spray bottle. Then in most cases I shampoo with a clarifying shampoo, then a moisturizing shampoo followed by a moisturizing conditioner. In some cases I comb the conditioner through with a K-cutter, most often I don't. The next step is determined by the style I'm planning to achieve. I don't know what the problem is but I wish I could help. I never under any circumstances shampoo in plaits and I never shampoo without pre-detangling. If you are removing all of the split ends and avoiding single and double strand knots I just don't know what's happening. Are your ends well moisturized? Sorry, wish I could offer more.
ReplyDeleteAww I am sorry about your tangling woes! I have little to no trouble with tangles I am not sure if it is because of my technique or my texture, but you are in luck because I am actually working on a section in my fotki on tangles/detangling cause a friend of mine needed some tips, so as soon as its done you can check it out. Everyone has given really good tips so far, what I can add is sometimes i find that if my hair starts to tangle a bit more than normal it is usually time for a trim, maybe u can try that?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anyone has suggested it but you could braid it with conditioner mostly in your hair and rinse it afterward. The conditioner will give your hair great slip so you can easily plait it! HTH!
ReplyDeletehey i haven't read through the other comments so i don't know if anyone has given you this advice but anywho...
ReplyDeletei have really nappy hair, like i think there should be another level for my hair, lol so the only way i can pick out (hair isnt long enough to comb yet) is when its wet or when i stretch it out. to stretch it out i braid it at night in 4 big cornrows or about 8 plats. i moisturize it with a thick leave in like cantu or garnier fructis. and i also grease it (even though i've seen that you shouldnt, it works well for me)... so maybe try one of those leave ins.
i've also hard the soft sheen carson's sta sof fro products is pretty good as well for detangling
hope this helps
btw i added you as a friend on fotki... love your styles =]
oh and in the morning when you take out the plats try putting a moisturizer or a leave in before you comb it out again...
ReplyDeleteand if you do decide to lock up i think it'll go well with you
so good luck with your decision
Well of course I moisturize and oil my hair everyday. I think my hair would hate me and run away (fall out) if I stopped doing that. lol.
ReplyDelete