4A Naturals - Combing Hair

[Vinyl]

This might seem like a silly question, but. I'm seventeen years old and moving out in a few months, and I honestly don't know how to comb my 4B hair. I never really learned how to do it. I usually try, but I have a sensitive scalp and it generally hurts too much to get the comb through. I don't really have any natural AA friends that I can ask, so... here I am.

So what are some things you use to soften the hair/comb it out? How do I part it? Simple things like that would be really helpful... Usually my Mom combs my hair out and I figure it's time to learn since no one will be able to do it for me once I move out.

 

[naturalgurl]

I feel your pain! First of all, I keep my hair very moisturized. Secondly I comb from the ends up. If you comb from the roots, the ends will tangle. That's just how it goes. So try combing the ends and slowly work your way up. YOu'll be amazed how easy it detangles. Also keep it well conditioned. I use natural yogurt w/egg whites for a protein DC and honey with EVOO for moisturizing. Just be patient and when I part my hair, I begin the part and then sort of use my fingers to seperate the longer hair so they won't tangle. It'll be ok lil sista'!

 

[mahoganee]

Hey Dreamer. I detangle my hair really well while I'm in the shower and my hair is drenched with conditioner and I use a leave in conditioner afterwords. If I need to comb my hair while it's dry I'll either spray a liquid conditioner on it or I'll put a moisturizing conditioner, lightly, on my hair and then comb it out starting at the ends.

 

[JustKiya]

That's so sweet that your mom is still helping you with your hair.

I have fine, very curly hair. The ends tangle up more than the roots do, and my hair is softer/straighter under water.

I ONLY comb on damp hair, and I start from the ends (my hair is long enough to make this easier!)

First, I part my whole head into four - two in front of my ears, two behind, the crossroads at my crown. I split each section in half (and I'm usually doing this with conditioner in my hair to make it as easy as possible), and I grab the section in my hand, so that it make a little 'puff' and the top part is sticking out. I start with a wide tooth comb, and gently, gently, comb through my ends - if the comb gets stuck, I pull it out, repostion it closer to the END of my hair (further away from my hand) and keep combing until I can comb though the whole puff. This process actually makes the puff about twice as long (danngone shrinkage!). Once I've got the ends done REALLY well, I comb from root to end, still stopping if the comb gets stuck, and repositioning closer to the end.
Once that whole section is combed, I twist it (if I have conditioner in, but if I'm detangling on damp hair prior to airdrying, I'll put it in a braid), and move on to the next section.

It takes me about 15-20 minutes to do that to my whole head. My grip on the puff prevent me from hurting my scalp, because I'm not yanking on the full root - AND - I'm not combing that hard. If you have to comb that hard, you need to either move closer to the end and detangle more, or you need more moisture/slip in your hair.

I suck at parting - a 4 way mirror is the ONLY way I can ever get a straight part, so I'll be hanging around to see what other people say on this one, too....

 

[ladylibra]

That's so sweet that your mom is still helping you with your hair.

i know right? my mom just sprang it on me when i started 5th grade: "oh guess what, i won't be doing your hair anymore... good luck!"

the other ladies already said what i was gonna say. i finger-part which doesn't make for nice crisp lines... but then again i don't care enough to rig up mirrors and twist my arms up. i wish i had someone else to make my parts for me though...

 

[~~HoneyComb~~]

These ladies have made some good points . I still do my daughter's hair and she's 19 years old . All I can stress is the fact that you must always comb your hair when it is wet or a least spray a little water on it when it's well moisturized. Have you ever used a denman brush? It has been a lifesaver for my hair and my both my daughter's hair. Using while your hair is wet or damp makes the brush slide through soooo easily. I have a picture of it in my album.

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I for one only comb when my hair is wet. Damp just isn't good enough, it needs to be sopping wet. I only really comb my hair once every 2 weeks and try not to manipulate the hair too much to keep it from breaking. It's working for me so far Now that my hair is getting longer it is hard to finger comb it, so I often get tempted to pick up a comb and...well, comb. I start at the ends and comb moving upward towards the root with a good leave-in that gives good slip. I even go as far as wetting the comb and saturating it with product so I can keep as many hairs as possible on my head. HTH!

 

[Nola Darling]

It helps to only comb when wet. And the comb will glide through your hair better when you use a good moisturising conditioner. I like Pantene R&N but use whatever you feel is best.

 

[Fanscie]

I section my hair into 8 sections and only detangle in the shower under the running water with my hair loaded with conditioner. Then and only then can I comb my hair out of the shower.

 

[Vinyl]

Thanks! That must be what I'm doing wrong - I've been combing my hair dry with conditioner on it. What do you ladies do to keep the hair tangling back up after it's dry?

 

[Ms Lala]

I detangle my hair in the shower while it has cholesterol conditioner in it. I like Lekiar and Hollywood beauty brands of cholesterol. I love cholesterol, it really allows the comb to go through my hair easily w/o breakage. IF I hit a knot w/the comb I don't yank the comb through I stop and detangle it w/my finger then comb through. It doesn't take long. I use a large wide tooth comb for detangling. AFter I get out of the shower I usually comb again after I towel dry and add my leave in. If I need to comb my hair prior to my next wash I make sure my hair is damp w/detangler or leave in. Otherwise I will yank my hair out and break it. Combing dry hair is definitely a no-no for me!

 

[ladylibra]

Thanks! That must be what I'm doing wrong - I've been combing my hair dry with conditioner on it. What do you ladies do to keep the hair tangling back up after it's dry?

normally i wash and go, or my hair is in a tangly puff by the time i wash and detangle. so i hop in the shower, wash, and soak my hair with V05 conditioner. then i let it sit for a little while i wash up, shave, etc. then i turn off the water, hop out and grab a big ponytail holder. i gently start sectioning off my hair starting from the back... i just use my fingers, i don't even bother trying to make straight parts. i put the bulk of my hair in the ponytail holder and start gently detangling the back of my hair. when that section is completely detangled, i put it in a big braid to keep it from tangling up/shrinking up and then start on a new section.

generally i do 5 sections - back, crown, left temple, right temple, and front. when i detangle the front i also make my part at this time and then stick it in a braid. afterwards i hop back in the shower and rinse my hair while still in braids, squeezing the conditioner out as i rinse. then i get out of the shower and apply leave-in to each section (undo one braid at a time, add leave-in) and style however, or you can leave your hair in the braids to dry (keeps your hair from shrinking up a lot while drying).

HTH and HHG