So I may have to BC sooner than I thought....

[lilshama86]

So I washed my hair this morning and realized that there are 3-4 matted pieces in my hair. It's not severe but I can't really get it out with a comb or brush and I've tried using a bunch of oil and conditioner. Its mostly where my natural hair and relaxed hair meets. I've been transitioning since Aug so I have a few inches to work with but I wanted to hold out a little longer. I live in Southwest VA so there isn't a black salon within 100 miles. Do you all think I should end my transition or try to salvage my hair. I'm afraid that the matting will only get worse if I continue.

FYI
I am a 4a with thin hair
I have a Sally's, Walmart, and a Target near for supplies

Any suggestions are more than welcome

 

[msa]

If you're very patient you could try and pick through the tangles. That's what I do when I have them. You'll probably still lose some hair though but I'd try to get through them before I cut them.

What caused the matting/tangles in the first place? I don't see why you can't continue your transition if you figure that out. Do you wet bun without detangling? Do you keep your hair stretched out (via drying in braids/twists)? Do you detangle your hair often? Are you keeping the line of demarcation strong? Are you allowing your relaxed hair to tangle up since you know you're going to cut it off eventually?

All those things could be causing unnecessary tangles/matting.

 

[BrooklynSouth]

So I washed my hair this morning and realized that there are 3-4 matted pieces in my hair. It's not severe but I can't really get it out with a comb or brush and I've tried using a bunch of oil and conditioner. Its mostly where my natural hair and relaxed hair meets. I've been transitioning since Aug so I have a few inches to work with but I wanted to hold out a little longer. I live in Southwest VA so there isn't a black salon within 100 miles. Do you all think I should end my transition or try to salvage my hair. I'm afraid that the matting will only get worse if I continue.

FYI
I am a 4a with thin hair
I have a Sally's, Walmart, and a Target near for supplies

Any suggestions are more than welcome

Looks as though you did what you could with oils and conditioners. I had a few bad tangling/knot sessions last year, did the oil/con soak which helped me loosen the hair as far down as I could then I had to cut it off.
I continue to transition without the BC. I don't think at this time I'll ever do a BC as I constantly scissor away a few inches once in a while.

 

[lilshama86]

If you're very patient you could try and pick through the tangles. That's what I do when I have them. You'll probably still lose some hair though but I'd try to get through them before I cut them.

What caused the matting/tangles in the first place? I don't see why you can't continue your transition if you figure that out. Do you wet bun without detangling? Do you keep your hair stretched out (via drying in braids/twists)? Do you detangle your hair often? Are you keeping the line of demarcation strong? Are you allowing your relaxed hair to tangle up since you know you're going to cut it off eventually?

All those things could be causing unnecessary tangles/matting.

I usually try to keep my hair in bantu knots... When I detangle I feel like I'm losing a ton of hair in the process... I worry that I'm ripping my hair out at times... I don't really take care of my relaxed hair like I should so I'm sure its not strong at all... I guess what I really want to know is "will my tangles/matting decrease if I BC?"

 

[msa]

I usually try to keep my hair in bantu knots... When I detangle I feel like I'm losing a ton of hair in the process... I worry that I'm ripping my hair out at times... I don't really take care of my relaxed hair like I should so I'm sure its not strong at all... I guess what I really want to know is "will my tangles/matting decrease if I BC?"

They'll decrease if they are the result of the two textures not working well with one another.

When you detangle are you losing shed hair or is your hair breaking? Human hair sheds 50-100 strands a day on average so if that's what you're losing, then it's fine.

Are you gentle when you detangle? Go from tip to root, small sections, and make sure you're using something to lubricate the strands and make it easier like an oil or slippy conditioner. Make sure you keep up with your detangling becasue shed hair getting caught in your coils causes tangles and knots like you wouldn't believe.

You said you usually do bantu knots. Maybe you should try plaiting your hair while it's wet (medium sections, like 15 braids) so that it dries as stretched as possible. Then style on dry hair.

 

[lilshama86]

They'll decrease if they are the result of the two textures not working well with one another.

When you detangle are you losing shed hair or is your hair breaking? Human hair sheds 50-100 strands a day on average so if that's what you're losing, then it's fine.

Are you gentle when you detangle? Go from tip to root, small sections, and make sure you're using something to lubricate the strands and make it easier like an oil or slippy conditioner. Make sure you keep up with your detangling becasue shed hair getting caught in your coils causes tangles and knots like you wouldn't believe.

You said you usually do bantu knots. Maybe you should try plaiting your hair while it's wet (medium sections, like 15 braids) so that it dries as stretched as possible. Then style on dry hair.

I get both breakage and shed hairs... I haven't seen any breakage from the natural parts of my hair though... Yeah I'm sure its the shed hairs causing the tangles... I finger comb first thoroughly then I use a wide tooth comb from root to tip... I guess I haven't been doing a good job at the crown area because thats where my mats are.... i think that solves it

Thanks for the advice!

 

[msa]

I get both breakage and shed hairs... I haven't seen any breakage from the natural parts of my hair though... Yeah I'm sure its the shed hairs causing the tangles... I finger comb first thoroughly then I use a wide tooth comb from root to tip... I guess I haven't been doing a good job at the crown area because thats where my mats are.... i think that solves it

Thanks for the advice!

No problem. I know for me I have to follow with a regular comb or a fine tooth every once in a while just to make sure it's all out. You may want to try that.

 

[dynamic1]

Search for Sela's/selah? tangle buster routine. It saved me on many occasion during my lengthy transition. It involves the use of baking soda mixed in your conditioner...saturate the matted sections and detangle gently.

Good luck.

 

[dynamic1]

I found it.......................

Selah's Tangle Buster Routine
1) Section hair down center w/fingers or comb.
2) Gently and thoroughly saturate each section.
3) Before-hand, you will take a plastic pitcher that holds say 2 q. of water.
Pour in about 1/8 c.-1/4 c. of vinegar or so (cv or white). I just eyeball amt. Then pour in ALOT of conditioner. I use a cheapie or something I won't buy again for this stage. My hair is a few inches past my shoulders so I dump in about 1/2 c. or so.
Add about 3 tbsp. of light oil - Amla, coconut etc. I also put in about 2 tbsp of Elasta Recovery, but that's optional. Fill w/water, stir with hand.
4) Pour SLOWLY over each section, holding palm of other hand under hair to catch liquid against hair. Don't rub or manipulate hair now! Loosely pin up each section for about 3 min.
5) Take down. Gently finger comb as much as you can. Rinse about 3/4 of mixture out. Don't overrinse.
6) Shampoo only ONCE. Massage scalp moving hair as little as possible. Don't rub and manipulate hair length. Gently squeeze length, milking shampoo down it. I do this for about 60 - 90 seconds each side. Your hair will be clean, so don't worry about short time frame. Shampooing too long & multiple times causes tangles. Gently rinse each section.
7) Now apply your good conditioner liberally. Again, pin up hair. Let sit for about 3 min.
8) Take hair down. Gently finger comb. Only at this point should you comb hair. I use a seamless wide tooth comb from Sally's by Cricket ($1.99). Seamless ones are a must. Gently rinse, cool water.
9) Do another vinegar mixture, now just minus the conditioner. Again, use the coolest water you can stand to close those cuticles. Do NOT rinse out.
10) When towel drying, do not run. Gently pat/squeeze dry. That's it!

* Optional - adding essential oils on the front end mixture, or back end vinegar rinse. *