All of a sudden, my natural hair LOVES To KNOT!! and its knotting at the ends, middle of my hair and everything. By the time I gently finger comb it and then wide tooth comb it I always have a ball of hair at the end which I have to snap off
Any suggestions on how to keep my hair from knotting?
Honey, prepare yourself now (especially mentally) for those knots because you're going to get 'em, probably no matter what you do to your hair (if it's naturally curly/coily), that is.
Curly hair (any curl pattern...especially smaller ones) loves to curl up onto itself and it often results in knots. I doubt if there's any way to avoid them. I've heard of all sorts of "remedies" but when it came down to it, sisters eventually let me know that it's a part of being natural and it's best to just accept it mentally and do what you can to avoid them.
It also happens with texlaxed hair, too, which I've heard from some sister who are texlaxed. I had no idea, initially.
I know I sound depressing, lol, sorry for that. I just want to be real with you because nary a person was real with me when I went natural. Knots are one of the constant struggles for me and for many of my natural friends.
Btw, like yours, mine would knot when left "out"...or even when allowed to get "fuzzy" (e.g. when the hair deviates from the braid or twist). I kept my hair braided or twisted to avoid this and had to keep redoing them to keep them fresh so that they wouldn't fuzz up - but eventually I grew tired of not being able to enjoy wearing my hair out.
Hang in there and just be prepared for those things mentally...because single strand knots are a recurring theme for naturals; I just want to tell it to you straight because no one did that for me.