Tips by celebrity hairstylist Tipi Shorter
Many people see the picture-perfect finished product of a flowing and voluminous head of curly hair and have zero knowledge of the struggle it took to get there. All curlistas know that it's all fun and games until you try to run your fingers through the strands and find yourself quite literally stuck. That's the heart-sinking feeling that comes with tangled tresses. It's a mixed bag of emotions as you wonder how you got there and how the heck you're going to get the knots out of your hair. So what's the cure? It turns out a little bit of patience and the right products will go a long way when it comes to detangling your curls.
Celebrity hairstylist Tippi Shorter, who has worked on the manes of Serena Williams, Kelly Rowland, and Alicia Keys, says the best time to detangle your curly hair is when it's wet. Hair is the easiest to manipulate in this state, given it is coupled with the right products. "I use a large brush with flexible bristles designed to detangle," Shorter says. "You want to start at the ends to detangle and work your way up until you have a clear path from scalp to ends. If you come across a large knot/tangle, I like to gently pull it apart after I have loaded the leave-in conditioner on that spot. Once you're able to get your fingers through it, detangle as usual."
It's important not to rush the process either. Take your time as you gently make your way through the strands as not to cause any damage or undue breakage. To make life a whole lot easier, opt for detangling in small sections as opposed to tackling your whole head at once. After you've managed to rid a portion of all the knots, twist or braid it to ensure it doesn't get tangled all over again. Repeat this process until each section is complete.
And there you have it! What seems like a daunting grooming task can be simplified with a little help from water, conditioner, and some extra TLC.
Article first published on: https://www.allure.com/story/how-to-detangle-curly-hair