How to Avoid Tangled Hair

Shampoo your roots only. When you shampoo, start at the root, and work your way to the middle of your hair, avoiding the ends altogether. Instead of scrunching your hair into a bun and lathering all of your hair with your shampoo, leave the ends of your hair down, and work your shampoo through your hair, massaging your scalp as you do so. The shampoo will run down your hair to the tips, so you don't need to apply shampoo to the ends directly.^[3]

• Shampooing can be extremely drying. If you are prone to dry hair, shampoo only once every other day, or even once per week.
• If you put shampoo directly on the ends, it can dry your hair out, leading to more tangles.

Condition the ends of your hair. Whether or not you shampoo the ends of your hair, you ought to condition them. Use a traditional rinse conditioner or a leave-in conditioner. Starting at the middle of the hair shaft, work conditioner down the hair shaft, avoiding the roots. This will keep the ends of your hair soft and pliable, while avoiding excess oil at the root.^[4]

• One of the most common causes of tangles is dryness. Keeping your hair moisturized and healthy will cut down on tangles.

Trim your hair regularly. Aim to get a trim every 6-8 weeks. Regular trims will stave off split ends and breakage, which can lead to knots and tangles. If you notice split ends in between trims, you can even perform a quick trim yourself, or increase the frequency of your hair appointments. Split ends are usually caused by dry, damaged hair, so if you notice a recurrence of split ends, trim more often.^[5]

• If you do trim your hair yourself, instead of a licensed cosmetologist, avoid cutting extreme lengths, layers, and cutting straight across. Instead, cut in small sections, holding your scissors at a slight angle to keep the ends even.

Enlist the help of hair oil. Like conditioner, hair oil can be used to smooth and moisten hair ends. You typically want to avoid using hair oil at the root, but can use a gentle hair oil from mid-shaft down.^[6]

• Not all oils are created equal. Although coconut and olive oil can be great for hair treatments, they are not ideal for everyday use, as they can weigh hair down. Opt for a thinner oil, such as argan, when searching for an everyday hair oil.
• Less is more where hair oils are concerned. Use only one or two drops, rub the drops between your hands, and comb your hands through the ends of your hair. Your hair should not feel stringy or damp following the application of hair oil. If it does, you have used too much oil, or the oil is too thick.

Use a detangler, when necessary. Sometimes, tangles will prevail despite your best efforts. In these cases, a detangler can help soften and loosen hair to make brushing through existing tangles and avoiding additional tangles easy. Even with a detangler, however, be careful to use a wide-toothed comb rather than a brush or fine-toothed comb.

• When purchasing a detangler, pay close attention to the ingredients. The ingredients should be moisturizing (think oils), rather than drying. If a detangler has alcohol or other drying agents in it, it may do more harm than good.
• If you do not have a detangling spray, mix ⅓ cup of filtered water, ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of oil. Using a spray bottle, spray this mixture onto your hair and comb through as usual.^[7]

Blow-dry your hair straight down. While placing your blow dryer underneath your hair and blowing up may give you added volume, it will also create a mass of tangles. Instead, blow dry your hair using a round brush or stiff-bristled brush, and pass the dryer along your hair shaft in smooth, long strokes.

• Using a dryer too often can result in breakage. Avoid drying when you are able, and refrain from holding the dryer closer than 4-6 inches.

Tie braids or buns with a nylon band. Hair ties can contribute to breakage. Small rubber bands are particularly harmful, though thread-wrapped bands can also lead to breakage via the hair tie’s seam. To avoid breakage, use a nylon band whenever possible.

• You can purchase nylon bands from your local supermarket or beauty store. Look online as well. You can make your own using an old pair of tights. To make your own, simply cut your tights into 1-inch strips width-wise.
• Nylon bands will stretch out faster and easier than rubber bands, so expect to get only 2-3 months’ use out of each one. Because they don’t last as long, cutting up old, unused nylons is the more economical option.

Braid or tie your hair up before hitting the pillows. One of the easiest ways to tangle hair is to sleep on loose hair. Avoid going to sleep with loose hair, instead opting for a braid or loose bun. This will keep your hair strong and contained, and turning your head throughout the night will not result in knots.^[8]

• Use nylon hair ties during the night, especially, as you will likely experience some tossing and turning. Rubber bands can dig into the hair during this time, causing breakage overnight.
• All sleep styles should be done loosely. A tight ponytail, bun, or braid will tug on hair and risk breakage. A loose french braid or loose, low bun are the safest options.

Avoid sleeping with wet hair. If possible, do not go to sleep with wet hair. When hair is wet, it is far more prone to damage. Tossing and turning while your hair is drying can create frizz, rather than a smooth hair shaft, which leads to tangles. If you must sleep on wet hair, be sure to comb with a wide-toothed comb, and place in a braid or bun first.^[9]

• If you prefer showering at night, try to do so at least an hour before going to bed. On days when this is not possible, you can use a hair dryer on its lowest setting. If you do this, be sure to brush your hair before getting into bed.

Use a silk pillowcase. Cotton, polyester, and similar fibers can make hair more prone to tangling. This is largely due to the nature of the cloth; these fibers are usually somewhat rough in texture, which can catch hair strands, and cause knots or damaged shafts. Instead, use silk pillowcases so hair can move freely, without catching or knotting.^[10]

• This does require a bit of an investment, as silk pillowcases are not cheap. Be careful when choosing your pillowcase. Search for 100% silk, and avoid satin and other synthetic fibers.

Apply a conditioning treatment overnight. Conditioning treatments are best left on overnight, and rinsed off in the morning. Apply a treatment before bed. Wear a shower cap or lay a towel on your pillow to avoid staining. Leaving the conditioner on overnight with ensure your hair shaft soaks up as much of the moisture as possible, while keeping your hair strands slick and smooth, allowing them to slide against each other freely.^[11]

• Oil treatments are best for dry, coarse hair. Use treatments with argan, olive, or coconut oil for thick, dry hair. Keratin treatments can be supplemented using oils.
• Fine, thin hair is best helped by lighter ingredients, such as keratin. If your hair is fine or thin, oil might weigh your hair down and should be avoided.