SINGLE STRAND KNOTS ARE THE DEVIL! anyone texturize their ends???

[kurlybella]

i had a feeling that they were doing a number on my hair.

since i got my hair colored -- i also posted more pics in my blog today so you can see them there -- i also wanted to go ahead and get a good trim cause i really need one.

for the last couple of months my ends have been knotting like crazy. and knotting = cutting them out!

i keep my hair washed once a week, am gentle with my twists, moisturized with butters and s curl and do everything i can to avoid these dang things but it ain't working!!

i pressed my hair out tonight to make my trim easier at the salon and compared my picture that i took of my hair color to my pic from last summer and i'll be durn if my hair is not a bit shorter!!!! ughhhhhhhhhh!!!

because of that + the trim, i've not made any real progress in growth and will actually consider this a set back in growth (i also posted pictures of this in my blog).

anyway, i wanted to know if any of you natural ladies had thought about or had actually texturized only your ends to combat these dang knots?!

 

[clarity2008]

I'm texturized and I still have those knots....

 

[Carrie A]

I think that might only create a line of demarcation and weaken the ends. They may end up breaking off anyway. When I'm consistent with castor oil and end baggying at night, knots are reduced quite a bit. I try not to let the single strand knots worry me too much...it's multi strand knots that cause me set backs.

 

[kurlybella]

thanks ladies. i'm hoping after my trim today that i will be able to get a handle on them. i need to find a solution for this cause it is driving me INSANE!

 

[calmsensual1]

I was watching a video on youtube of a girl on youtube and she said that she keeps her hair moisturized in order to avoid those knots. So maybe you just need more moisture?

Also, have you tried a aloe vera+glycerin+water mix?
Im texlaxed but that does wonders for my hair in the detangling and keeping it soft and feeling moisturized department.

 

[Faith]

I tried to texturize my ends in December and it didn't take/work out. Not sure what to do still about the knots. All I can think is to continue keeping the ends moist and if possible flatiron or keep it braided. It tends to tangle when left on its own..if you are wearing it loose a lot maybe cut that down.

 

[msa]

SSK's are just a part of having highly textured hair. But, you can reduce them. Do you keep your hair lubricated? Do you keep your ends stretched?

I use castor oil all over my hair, but especially the ends, so that they kind of "slip" past each other due to the lubrication from the castor oil. My hair also stays moisturized, but the lubrication is most important.

I've learned that keeping my hair stretched is the best way to avoid knots. Letting it dry up into a shrunken fro/puff allows the ends to curl on themselves and then when I go to detangle I create the knots as the hair stretches out and the loops tighten up. I don't know if that makes sense.

Anyway, lubrication and stretching. That's what works for me.