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How to Deal With Winter Tangles

How to Deal With Winter Tangles

Ahhh, the winter season. You’ve got everything to look forward to—from festive lights and hot drinks to chunky knits—and then there’s…tangled hair.

That’s right, it’s not just you. We all seem to deal with our fair share of knots as the weather gets colder.

But why exactly does our hair become more knotty at this time of the year? Let’s find out.

What Causes Winter Tangles?

Hair, like skin, can naturally dry out when winter rolls around. This is because winter air tends to be colder and drier, which sucks the moisture out of your locks. And, sadly, staying inside and blasting the heat won’t really help either. It only speeds up the process of your hair drying out.

When your hair is dry, the surface becomes rougher; your hair cuticles are open and are no longer laying flat, which causes friction in your hair. When your hair strands can’t easily slide past one another, they become entangled—literally tying themselves up into knots.

Then there’s our winter wardrobe. Coats, scarves, and hats all add friction by rubbing against our hair. If you don’t know what’s causing your winter tangles, snuggling up in winter clothes may just be the culprit.

On top of all that, some hair types are more prone to knots. Long and fine hair tangle easily, while curly and wavy hair naturally retains less moisture (which leads to more knots).

But this winter is going to be different. Why? Because you’re going to find out from the hair experts how to keep those cold-weather tangles at bay. Like right now.

Knot This Winter

Here are all the things you can do to stop your winter knots and tangles from taking over.

1.    Use a Conditioner

Always condition your hair after you’ve shampooed it in the shower. When you shampoo your hair you’re cleansing it, which can strip away some of its moisture.

That’s when you bring in the conditioner. Conditioner is like a moisturizer for your hair. It replenishes some of your hair’s moisture, helping to flatten those cuticles and smooth out your strands.

2.    Use a Leave-in Conditioner

Once your hair is washed and you’ve rinsed all the conditioner out, it’s a good idea to use a leave-in conditioner, especially in the winter.

A leave-in conditioner isn’t the same as a normal conditioner. A normal conditioner is designed to be rinsed out as it can build up in your hair and leave it looking greasy. Leave-in conditioners have a different formula type, meaning that your hair won’t be left heavy and greasy, but instead glossy and gorgeous.

After you apply your leave-in conditioner, you can then comb or brush out your hair, which should actually be a lot easier with the help of this product. Then you can style your hair as usual!

3.    Detangle, Detangle, Detangle

Just using any old hair brush won’t do for stubborn knots. It’s best to use a brush that was made for your hair type.

So, if you’ve got thick and curly hair, you’ll want the best detangling brush for thick and curly hair . If you’ve got long and fine hair, you’ll need the best brush for long and fine hair . You get the picture.

4.    Tie up Your Hair When Heading Out

As we found out above, coats, scarves, and hats are all guilty of contributing to our hair tangles. But we can’t stop wearing our winter clothing — it’s cold! 

The best way to get around this is to tie up your hair or braid it, as this stops it from matting up as you walk or move in your coat.

If you prefer to style your hair with it down, there’s a little hack you can do. Try braiding just the underneath section of your hair. This is the part that’s the most prone to tangles, as it comes in direct contact with coats and scarves.

5.    Don’t go to Bed with Wet Hair

Make sure that your hair is dry before going to sleep. When your hair is wet, it’s more vulnerable and prone to breakage. Hair breakage leads to split ends, dryness, and, eventually, tangles. 

Cuticles also come into play here. The cuticles are raised when your hair is damp, creating more friction between not only the hair strands but also the pillow. As you move about in your sleep, your damp hair will be more likely to weave itself into knots.

6.    Brush Through Knots

Done all of the above and your tangles still crampin’ your style? Reach for a comb. Combing is one way to resolve a build-up of knots if and when they do appear. But this doesn't apply to all hair types.

People with straight hair are typically fine to brush their hair in between washes. But curly, coiled, and even some wavy hair types are best to leave the brushing to just before and after washing.

That’s because these hair types typically have less moisture than straight hair, so are more likely to frizz up when brushed.

Knot-free All Year-round

Tired of spending hours trying to untangle your never-ending knots? Sounds like you need a Wet Brush.

Our IntelliFlex® bristles can achieve 45% less breakage than a traditional styling brush, even when tackling winter tangles. Shop our range of brushes and combs designed to glide effortlessly through all types of hair today.

 

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