TOO MANY single strand knots!!

[Spongebob]

Do you cut them out?

What happens if you leave them. They are so up in my strands that cutting them means cutting 3 inches off

 

[overtherainbow]

I always cut them out because they weaken the strand and cause breakage. I should note though that I never seen one that was more than an inch or so from the end. I've given up on trying to catch every single one and now I just work to prevent them by dentangling properly and keeping my hair stretched when it's wet. Whenever I see a lot of ssks, it means that either A) I'm over due for a trim or B) I did a wash and go

 

[Prettymetty]

I used to cut them out every time I washed my hair. It was bad. I had multi strand knots I stopped getting them once I started keeping my hair stretched

 

[faithVA]

Spongebob[/USER];19556055]Do you cut them out?

What happens if you leave them. They are so up in my strands that cutting them means cutting 3 inches off

If you have a lot, first you want to figure out what you are doing that is causing them. You may not be able to eliminate them but if they are abundant then somethings going on and you want to figure that out.

Instead of trimming all at once, you may want to start with an 1/2" to 1" trim and then do a search and destroy to try to get the higher ones. If you trim 3" without understanding what is causing them, you will end up with the same problem and trim all of your progress away.

Do you need protein?
Are you washing with your hair loose?
Are you doing WNGs?
Are you detangling with a denman or some other type of tool?
Are you using heat too often?

 

[Dilettante]

I think porosity issues/raised cuticles can cause these. I've been noticing fewer of them since switching back to ph balanced and smoothing products like Kinky Curly Knot Today. I always ended up cutting mine out in the past, but I've learned that there's no point doing that if I can't keep new knots from forming.

 

[loulou82]

I cut any that I notice and try to prevent new ones from forming by keeping my ends lubricated and stretched.

 

[Fenaxa]

I leave them alone. I have a lot in my nape area especially and I was momentarily thinking of cutting but they really don't bother me enough to hack off a few inches to rid my hair of them. I still retain length and I don't have any problems SSK related.
I think with SSKs, you should cut them out if they really bother you, otherwise, try to keep your hair stretched and moisturized to minimize the amount of them.

 

[kim]

I've been having this problem also . While most of them are towards the ends of my hair , I have noticed some that were mid shaft . I cut them as soon as I find them. I've noticed that's my cuticles seem to be raised and my ends always looks split even after I cut them.

 

[oneastrocurlie]

I cut them. For me they come from having coily hair and letting it be out, like just freely hanging. #1 reason wash and go's are a no no for me.

 

[grownwomanaz]

I used to get them alot. Like mentioned up thread, porosity issues and dryness I believe are major contributing factors. The more moisturized my hair is the less single strand knots I get.

 

[krissyhair]

I get more when my hair is dry. If I try to use the blowdryer or don't use enough leave-in I get more.

 

[MayaNatural]

I normally get a lot when I'm due for a trim, every 6 months. I moisturize and seal my ends nightly and roll my ends with satin covered rollers. It keeps my ends smooth and keeps SSK at bay.

 

[DigitalRain]

I aint gon lie I ignore mine. I will never be without knots. I can lessen them by stretching but with my super kinky hair I'll never be rid of them while I'm natural and I've accepted it and moved on.

 

[Bozcurls]

I leave them be. Honestly, as long as I'm retaining length I refuse to stress over ssks and tolerable breakage.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using LHCF

 

[beautyaddict1913]

I haven't had a relaxer in 5 years and since getting rid of my relaxed ends I haven't been able to avoid ssk's. I do henna, protein treatments, and tea rinses. I shampoo with sulfate free products with my hair in twists. I stopped using denmans and tangle teasers a couple of years ago. I keep my hair moisturized and sealed and I mainly wear twist outs. The ssk's bother me and they are usually on the very ends of my strands. I trim them weekly and I retain length as well. Like the other ladies said, I have accepted them as inevitable.

 

[Ogoma]

I pay them no mind. I don't look for them and have rarely seen them. I am sure they are there, I just have no interest in discovering them. Ignorance is very blissful. It helps they don't seem to be impacting my hair health.