by
Editorial
by Kara, pictured above
I haven’t combed my hair in almost two years and my hair is the longest it has ever been. If someone had told me two years ago I’d do this, I would gasped and fully expected my hair to be loced by now. But two years has gone by without a comb passing through my hair and my loose natural hair is thriving.
A couple of years ago I was inspired by YouTuber Summyr1988 who was following the Curly Girl Method. For those of you that are not familiar, in short the Curly Girl Method was created by a hair stylist called Lorraine Massey who believes that using styling tools, sulphate shampoos and silicone conditioners are not beneficial for the curly girl and her delicate tresses. I was mesmerised by the health and curl definition that Summyr1988 had achieved with her hair, so of course I had to try this method for myself. I didn’t actually know it at the time but I was already following steps to the method. I had already eliminated sulphate shampoos and conditioners with silicones from my normal regimen as I found those ingredients did not work for me.
So how does a natural hair sister with 4a/b type hair not comb her hair in two years and not have a matted birds nest living on her head? These are the rules I follow;
Detangling My detangling process has been a huge contributor in length retention, I traded my wide tooth comb for lots of gentle finger detangling action! Using my fingers has decreased unnecessary breakage, as I always used to notice short broken hairs on the back of my shirt or in the bath. If you have fine hair like me, it may be useful to try this. Using this method I have found that I am able to retain the length of my hair. Using styling tools can apply a lot of undue force and friction to the hair causing the strands to become weak and fragile.
Detangling Conditioner I have found the perfect detangling conditioner for me is thick, creamy and smooth when applied to my hair. Giovanni Smooth As Silk is like a dream as it is just the right consistency and sinks right into my strands, offering enough slip so my fingers can glide through nice and easy. Finding the right detangling conditioner is a must if you want to begin finger detangling. Look for conditioners that suit your hair and aren’t too expensive to buy….you are just going to end up washing it out anyway!
Stretched Styling To decrease the likelihood of tangling I like to keep my hair in stretched styles the majority of the time. After finger detangling my hair in sections I put it into loose twists so as not to allow the hair to become tangled. My hair will stay like this until I am ready to moisturise after washing. I then sometimes wear my hair in medium sized plaits or twists and leave it in for the week, styling the plaits and twists as the days pass.
The only disadvantage with not using a comb is not be able to achieve that super smooth sleek finish, but to be honest I was never that kind of girl….I quite like the messy distressed look. I am still learning how to style my hair without a comb after many years of using one and I am slowly getting there.
Will I go back to using a comb? I am not sure, I have had urges too especially as I want to flat iron my hair soon. I do love the curl definition that I am achieving by just using my fingers as the curls clump together better. I think for now the comb and I are on a break until further notice.
Kara is a London-based health professional who teaches individuals with physical and mental health disabilities how to live independently. She is also an active natural hair vlogger. You can find her on YouTube at NaturalCurliesTV and Instagram @NaturalCurlies
98 Responses
My hair has been natural for 18 months.It is fine and thin. When I try not to use a comb to detangle, my hair will loc. I feel bad when I see the amount of hair that sheds. Please advise!!
Hello !
I recently gave birth and i have to say that since then i literally stopped looking after my hair (bein a stay ay home mum and doing it most of the time alone and travelling a lot) and now its been 2 momths i didn’t get to wash my hair or detangle them… I have a nest on my head..theyre super dupa dry and broken. Not sure how i can manage to detangle them. Do you have any recommandations for me ? Would you advise me to cut them … ( which i did 4/5 months ago hoping it would be easier to look after)?
I m so desperate and sad because of my hair condition.
Please heelp … Much needed !
Peace
4a/3c
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You are a Curly 3c. You are going to have to find products that moisturize and define. But you are definitely not a “4” anything.
You can use a plastic afro pick, the kind they used in the 70s with thick, smooth, long rounded teeth with wide gaps between them once in awhile, with your hair sopped in detangler, being as careful as you were with your fingers. Never force it and be gentle. People shred their fine hair bushing, combing, curling, blowing, hotcombing, straightening, recurling, and coloring it, wondering why it gets shorter and shorter despite all of the expensive products and trims they get. Poor hair gets worked to death. In contrast, dreadlocked hair (bound in mats, never sheds, never combed) seldom breaks and will grow to many times our body height if left alone.
Do you use any leave in conditioner after rinsing out the conditioner?
I have found much success through finger detangling. I have fine 3c/4a hair; and since I have short hair…every little bit of breakage could stunt my growth path. I think that as Black women we become a bit too obsessed with getting every single knot out…like you don’t have to detangle your hair daily. Don’t get me wrong, if you have a big old knot, you’re going to have to do something about it. But every single fairy knot/single strand knot does not to be addressed.
Based on my experience of being natural for 24 years(my whole life lol), and using a variety of techniques…my hair has flourished the most when I would just leave it alone. I’ve had the most growth from protective styling, and 2nd place is when I would maintain a real low-manipulation hairstyle. For example, if I have a wash and go…I would put it in ponytails when I go to sleep or 2 big twists. When I prepare for bed, I’m not trying to detangle every single knot…I just finger detangle enough for me to twist my hair.
damn I need to commit to this. your hair is bomb.com
The process one chooses for hair is a trade-off. You trade less time with a tool for less damage with your hands. I have type 3b/c hair with some coils the size of the tip of a pencil. Combing it out creates a mane of frizz. I take your point that finger combing in a hair salon could be problematic as the time and cost have to make sense. But perhaps this too could be made an option. If a client wants this time consuming process then cost for it appropriately. However as a DIY option this is the best way to clump for definition. For a heat process a comb makes sense because the hair will need to be uncoiled and straightened, but for curls finger combing is the way to go.
I am a type 3b/c natural. and finger combing has definitely worked wonders on my hair. My curls clump beautifully and it while it may take longer to get it fully detangled I would much rather spend the time doing it. Once a big bush of curls reach your shoulders detangling will take longer regardless of what method you use. I would rather use the one that will give me the best results. I used to think that I had to use a comb. The first few times I used my fingers I was hesitant. To my surprise it can be done and the hair actually stays detangled much better since it will clump into its own little sections. I LOVE IT
You wont know your true curl type until you have a little more length because as your hair grows longer the weight makes the curl looser (: then you can google images curl pattern charts and compare (you may have a mixture of 2 or 3 types) im a 3b witb patches of 3c
This is so true- great comment
My hair is a bit longer now and its still very frizzy but it has a lot of curls. Im noticing as a gain some length my hair appears looser. I want to say that Im a 4a or 3c (My hair on top is EXTREMELY loose… I hate it) but my hair is so frizzy and undefined that I think I might be 4c….. Can you help me please?
‘All natural is nonsense’ what? Combs are natural instruments to use, just as much as fingers are.
It’s just some peoples hair will be more damaged with a comb than with a finger. If anything, you’re really saying ‘gentle hair care is nonsense’ which is utter crap.
Your method of hair care is just as valid as this persons. But everyone has different needs, so we alter our care to that.
I use combs, but I prefer to use fingers as much as possible. I used to chemically straighten my hair and it was much curlier and frizzy then, than now where it’s smooth and often straight or in soft ringlets. This goes against what one would assume, against common logic. And as such, I think just as common logic would say combs are the best detangling option, for many it may not be the case.
Sorry to rant at you, but another possibility is the combs are ripping out and snapping hair, thus causing them to further get entangled, which the fingers; a more gentle method, avoids doing. So in you, it solves the problem faster, and in others, it exacerbates it.
Can someone please help me find my hair type? If you do I’ll be forever grateful!! This is my hair air dried with no product. My hair is very shiny, soft and very easy to comb through. And if you know a better place that I can ask this question please tell me! Thank you!
No. I think it would take far too long to properly detangle your hair. Like hours long and I just don’t have that kind of time. I have been on the other side of when finger detangling does not work and trying to give a haircut to clients whose hair has to be detangled for an obscene amount of time before it can even be cut. What normally takes 20mins is now an hour or more. Type 4 hair 2 hours easy as I am type four as well. And is still going to be more thorough with a comb. Note: my hair is just as long as the woman pictures less a few inches in 3.5yrs of growth because I cut it for shape and layers, bangs and all. Combs have their place for detangling weekly to biweekly, that is all. #naturalhairnonsense
Combing=haircut for type 4 hair.
I have 4 B/C hair and I just started using this technique about 3 months ago. My concern was that by finger detangling, I was not going to be able to get all the tangles out. But, it works like a charm. It is really worth trying.
I’ve been finger detangling for nearly two months and I have 4b/4c hair. In the first month I literally saw a one inch growth. It does work! Ive seen a lot less breakage and more definition too. My hair was seriously breaking and I realise that it was the combs snapping the knots(the ends) out meaning I hadnt retained more than an inch since may. My hairs high porosity and weak meaning it snaps easily.
I beg anyone going on a healthy hair journey to try this! Please! It really does work. I’m just below collar bone length aiming for bra strap by the end of next year now that I know my hair does grow!
I wish salons tried this. I have a super sensitive head and feel if they used their fingers they’d be more gentle rather than ripping out roots just to get some knots out (I actually don’t get a lot of knots by my hair wraps around itself and if they try to comb from the very top down they *will* create knots).
I’m aiming to make a more disability, racially friendly/flexible salon, this is a big consideration I’ll hold now.
Good to hear. I sincerely hope you get your dream. It’ll benefit everyone.
Some salons do! I went to the Hair Rules salon in NYC and it was probably the best salon experience I ever had; the woman who washed my hair detangled it with her fingers. I think she might have used a very light combing on the ends a little but that was it. She still managed to get my hair very detangled very quickly – I thought it was gonna be a bird’s nest when she blow-dried it out but it was very detangled! The secret, as she told me, was in the conditioner; she used gobs of it. I’ve done the same thing since getting my hair done there and really a good conditioner with lots of slip does the trick.
I am SO happy to see that someone with my hair texture did this and saw results. I’m absolutely terrible with charting growth. But I will definitely give this a try and start taking my hair seriously. I have high porosity hair 4c hair which is not easy to maintain without some sort of guidance.
OMG I’ve been trying to have hair like yours for so many years now and I still can’t find the thing that will help me achieve the long hair I want!!! Tell me….. What kind of shampoo and conditioning you use because I need to try!!!!! I really want long hair but I guess everyone wants it right but not all of us gets it
She is more of a 3c/4a like me she is on the looser side I’m not suprised she was able to grow her hair long without a comb in two years with a good regime and diet . Now if she was 4b /4c then I’ll be suprised .
Exactly what I was thinking. This curly hair texture isn’t usually hard to grow.
I’m 4c and I stopped using combs about three months ago. My hair has not been better than it is now. I also find that it gets less tangled between washes and does not break as much – I see almost no broken hairs when shower washing, or doing a second detangle after the shower wash as I add in oils.
because of eliminating the sulfates and silicone though, your texture really comes through better. I’m on a water only hair wash method [using only my fingers to detangle] and I’m 4b4c, my hair has the most definition ever… you’d think I had gel in it.
How do you remove oils and butters build-up with just water??
You don’t. That’s why shampoos exist, hair needs to be clarified.
Yet somehow, she’s avoiding a greasy mess? Hmmm. I’m baffled on that one.
I think she’s a 4a/4b. I’m 4a/4b and that’s what my hair looks like wet and when it’s first drying; hers looks like that dry because there’s so much of it that it weighs the curl pattern down.
Cool.. I have very neat dreadlocks and my hair has never been as healthy as it is now.
I wash my hair every week and I use creamy leave in conditioners with oil and silk protein but no silicones followed by fantasia extra dry hair formula which is a watery leave in conditioner with aloe and all sorts of extracts. ( this keeps my hair moist while styling … the key to styling tightly curled hair).
I then smooth my locks with a wet look hair gel that is humidity resistant as my hair style has to last a week.
I actually stay away from dreadlock products because I find them too heavy and greasy and they don’t hold my hair. I used to hate the way my hair used to be dripping in oil after leaving the dreadlock hair dresser.
I think we should be able to touch our hair without grease coming off on hour hands.
I honest think that the fact that black people’s hair grows long when they don’t touch it means we are not meant to comb our hair.
I hate when people ask me if I comb my hair inorder to make a joke. They are just stupid.
I have even seen curly hair people with bigger curls that don’t comb their hair.
Just think about it. Do people in the jungles of Africa comb their hair.
We have to go back to Africa to learn how to style our hair.
We have been brainwashed too much via slavery and white people .
Curly /Afro hair and straight hair are completely different and require different treatments.
Your hair is beautiful’
We are not meant to have smooth sleek hair.
God made our hair dry. We need to learn to deal with it.
I think a lot of black people put excessive products in their hair because they think it will somehow make their hair more like other races. It is stupid.
I don’t believe our hair is supposed to be greasy. However a lot of us still do. I could remember slapping in the grease like there is no tomorrow.
I think because of slavery in the western world, black people forgot how to handle their hair.
I think we are gradually beginning to regain that knowledge.
I hope there comes a day when most black women will start wearing their natural hair and stop weaving and relaxing and trying to look like other races.
Straight hair isn’t better. It is just different. We have been brainwashed into thinking it is better by slavery.
I’m 3c/4a and I don’t comb my hair i detangle with my fingers and a brush . I only comb if I can’t get a knot out .
See, I actually did this for about two years as well, simply because I didn’t feel like buying a comb. I can’t say whether or not it made a difference in my hair, but it did take a really long time to do. This year, I’m less afraid of my hair texture, and I’ve started using combs again- regular small teethed two sided combs at that- and stopped pre-pooing with conditioner. Its just messy and unneccessary. Combs and water do a better job at detangling in a much shorter amount of time. If the rest of your hair regimen is on point, the comb should slide through easily, no tugging so no comb damage here!
You have truly amazing hair and I think your twists look stunning. They’re cool and beautiful – a much better ‘hair statement’ than fussy, prissy, damaged straightened hair. Way chic!
I will try this. I’m about a 4b in the crown and c everywhere else. And you can see damage on my ends from the pic. I’m very interested to see how long and healthy I can get my hair with two textures. All I have to do is change my cleansing products as suggested. Right now my hair almost requires finger detangling anyway. So I guess half the battle is already won.
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How do you deal with hair meshing together without using a comb?? I find my hair tangling so much more than it used to lately.
They can’t and if the day ever comes when a blow dry or straightening or even hair cut is desired, stand by for the longest most broken hair detailing session of your life. It’s is unwise to strictly finger detangle any type of hair. Detangling and parting is really the only time a comb is needed and should happen (detangling) every couple of weeks on average when conditioning. All that unreleased shed hair gives the illusion of thicker hair.
I have strictly followed the curly girl method after reading Lorraine Massey’s book. I never have tangled or meshed hair and I haven’t used a comb in 20 months. In order for the hair not to tangle ypu must find a conditioner with great “slip” which allows the fingers to easily glide though the hair. The book will teach you how to do this. There are also many bloggers who follow the book method (mahoganycurls) is one, who show you visually how to gently finger detangle. As for stylist who are trained in the curly girl method Lorraine Massey has Deva salons across the country or you can Google Deva stylists and there is a link that you type in a zip code and see every salon in an area near you that have stylists who are Deva trained which means they will handle ypur hair with their hands and use curly friendly products or allow you to bring ypur own products and they do not complain about the time of a detangling session.
Thanks but I’m 4b/c type and see that Mahogany Curls and the woman in this article is apparently 4a/b. That appears to be a great difference to help with this method. I’m also in the UK so don’t have access to the Deva salons unfortunately. Sigh. I also notice that hair colouring (dyes) can cause more tangle-prone tresses.
Wow! 2 years eh.. Amazing! Good job indeed. I love your hair. Keep it up. 🙂
Hello,
I was wondering how often do you detangle your hair? And do you have any everyday regimen that you do? any leave-in conditioner or daily moisturizer? Thanks much.
Ok. I have been a professional for over 9 yrs and I’ve seen and done it ALL. In my opinion, avoiding a comb is great if you are tender headed, which I am but it’s not the best option for curly hair. I find it extremely hard to believe that this method reduces breakage in a healthy way. Once you do decide to comb your hair, there will be so much loose hair as if you have detangled locs, which I have before. Why don’t you just loc your hair? That’s exactly what you are doing unconsciously. If it works for you, by all means continue but I would charge you an arm and a leg to help detangle that project! #nothereforthat
Sorry about the errors…my “auto correct” feature hates me. Feel free to delete the first one….
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I have been needing to see someone else finger-detangle as thoroughly as you have. I have a question though. I have half heartedly, semi-attempted finger-detangling and would like to really learn to do it well. The problem I run into is: if I go more than a day or two without combing my hair out, my roots start to become matted. Then, by day 3, my scalp is itching like crazy from the oil getting trapped in the matted parts ( which can extend from the roots anywhere from 1-1.5 inches down the strands).
How do you finger-detangle the roots of your hair?!?…and especially at the crown of your head (where my hair is the thickest)???
Ummm…I guess if I were to give my hair type at the moment it looks like 2B on my left side, 3B/4A on my right side. Then from front to back, it is fairly thick at the front, crazy “love my Blackness” thick in the middle and at the crown, and thin and 3B “wrap your finger and make a curl” curly in the back. I have a lot of hair but, its fine and fragile. I think I can master the thinner areas, but I am really trying to figure out how to take good care of my thick middle. Help!
I’m not the author, and my hair doesn’t seem to be very much like yours, but I can tell you what I do for my looser sections of hair (my roots like to mat up there too). If your roots start matting and your scalp starts clowning after day 3, I’d try to detangle then wash or cowash every 3 days if I were you. Alternatively, if your hair and schedule can’t tolerate frequent washing, you might try doing what I do for my hair after workouts (I can’t wash every 3 days either lol). I lightly detangle and massage my scalp for 10 minutes with 2 oz of ACV (diluted 1:1 with tap water) and 5-10 drops of tea tree oil. As I massage, I periodically move my fingers down the length of my hair in an attempt to spread out my sebum. This banishes the itchies and dries up excess oil for me.
As for the mats, make sure you detangle in sections down to the root during every session, and when you encounter them, start at the bottom of the mat. Slide your index finger into the heart of the mat, and position it underneath the mat so that you’re touching your scalp. Very gently wiggle it back and forth to loosen up your strands. Go in the directions with the most give, and stop immediately when you feel resistance. Make sure your hair is super lubricated before you try this–I use oil because conditioner makes my hair shrink too much for this to work. You should eventually get multiple knots/tangles that you can work through one by one, instead of one tangled mass of frustration and pain. I really hope this made sense and it helps!
May I ask what oil do you use?
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I have been needing to see someone else finger detangle as thoroughly as you have. I have a question though. I have half heatedly/semi-attempted finger-detangling and would like to really learn to of it well. The problem I run into is: if I go more than a day or two without combing my hair out, my roots start to become matted and then, by day 3, my scalp is itching like crazy from the oil getting trapped in the matted parts ( which can extend from the roots anywhere from 1-1.5 inches down the strands. How do you finger detangle the roots of your hair…and especially at the crown of your head (where my hair is the thickest). Ummm…I guess if I were to give my hair type at the moment it looks like 2B on my left side, 3B/4A on my right side. Then from front to back it if fairly thick at the front, crazy “love my Blackness” tip hick in the middle and at the crown, and thin and 3B “wrap your finger and make a curl” curly in the back. I have a lot of hair but, it it fine and fragile. I think I can master the thinner areas, but I am really trying to figure out how to take good care of my thick middle.
wooowwww…..your hair is GORGEOUS!!!!!! I have norwegian blonde hair that curls and waves and frizzes with no rhyme or reason. I wish I had a technique like you do to create such beautiful tresses. You are such a beautiful lady!!!
Kara: How long did it take you to grow your hair out to its current length?
I’m new to the natural hair gang and have been without any chemicals for only 4 months. In the past 2 months, I also stopped using tools on my hair and have noticed a dramatic difference in the health and length of my hair. My hair is just touching my shoulders. My hair responds so much better with just oils (I use jojoba and coconut oil from Trader Joes) and shea butter deep conditioner. I keep it in twists and oil in regularly, no less than twice a week. I’ve noticed that since I’ve kept my hair in twists, is much easier to manage and not really tangled or matted at all.
Kara, your hair is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Every single head of hair is different. I tried this for a while and found that in the end, my best friend was the Denman brush. If my hair is not combed through it breaks easily. Same with washing. If I don’t wash my hair twice a week it is prone to breakage. Co-washing is a no-go as well.
I use a Hercules Sagemann seamless jumbo rake & it doesn’t break my hair at all.Love it!. I tried a Denman & even made modifications with teeth & rows but in the end, it was like using a John Deer lawnmower or a weed whacker on my fine soft hair !!
I comb my hair twice a month at the moment, on my wash days (although I’m the type to forget exactly how much time has lapsed between washes and I can easily end up combing once a month :p )
I like the idea of reducing breakage, and I love that some of us are able to manage it this way, but although my texture is similar, I just feel that this wouldn’t work for me.
My hair is extremely thick, and my strands are mostly coarse/medium, and are only fine on the edges. I’ve found that when I don’t detangle thoroughly, my hair retains a LOT of shed hair, which causes tangles that then need to be cut away.
I currently use a Denman D9 hair brush (with the wider spaced nylon teeth) to detangle my hair as it is the only tool that is able to thoroughly and gently remove all of the shed hair.
Even wide tooth combs aren’t as good, as they tangle in my hair and often pull the ends too hard causing breakage. In short, I like my brush, it doesn’t have seams, there’s nothing to snag or rip my hair, and it has a rubber base that allows the teeth to flex. That stops it from yanking out hairs that get caught.
I’m happy brushing once or twice a month and I have to say that styling without a comb is definitely nice – although I do use one for parting my hair when necessary.
Thank you! Your comment was very helpful. I just placed an order for my Denman D9 hair brush through Amazon for only $12. I know you said that you don’t like to use wide tooth combs but I’d like to share an awesome hair tool I learned about from the late youtuber, Longhairdon’tcare. It’s the 5660 Hercules SageMann seamless comb. I thank God for this comb. First, I spritz my hair with water, section off hair with banana clips, add detangler, then finger detangle each section before getting in shower. While in the shower I use the 5660 Hercules SageMann seamless comb with the water running on my hair after cleaning the section. Once out the shower and after I add my leave-in I use my Denman ( a knock off I bought from Sally’s) to smooth my strands before twisting and I must say I have never had as much hair in my shower, sink and/or brush as she showed in the finger detangling video above. This method works very well for me as my hair is growing nicely, thank God. I’m excited and look forward to my new Denman as this is the method of choice for me.
Tresemee Naturals conditioners are SO amazing for finger detangling. I’ve tried the Curl hydration,Silk and Smooth,Aloe Vera and Avocado! These will save a lot of your strands..I used them to detangle during my pre-poo.
Sounds great but in theory this will take too long… and wots wrong with putting a comb through that last bit gently? This is a bit over the top…
also this texture is very soft and straight so growing fast wasn’t gonna be a problem!
I’m inclined to agree with you in part at least Donna. I need to see this work on a 4b-c head (with the problem of hair meshing addressed fully – or at least mentioned!) to be fully satisfied this is a workable method for all 4 hair types. Sadly I suspect it isn’t really. 🙁
My hair is mostly “4B/C”, and it shrinks about 80-85% of its length when left to its own devices. I haven’t regularly used a comb in over a year, and even then, I was using a wide toothed one about once a month. Once I ditched the comb, I went from only retaining about 1/4 an inch of hair every month (I’m factoring in trimming/dusting), to retaining 1/2 in every month, sometimes 3/4 in. I avoid serious meshing and tangles by not wearing my hair “out” very often, but even when I made the mistake of trying a wash and go regimen a couple weeks ago (and had to trim off more than an inch all around because of knots!), I was able to get through that mess with just my fingers. When I’m not trying to be adventurous and switch up my regimen, loose twists like the ones in the picture below are my go to. With my hair twisted and pulled straight, I’m a bit past collarbone length, and with it out completely, I’m 2 inches away from APL.
I’m not saying finger detangling can work for everyone, because time is certainly a factor for everybody; it takes me anywhere from 2-4 hours to fully detangle my hair. However, I don’t think this technique should be dismissed because of arbitrary hair typing. My “4B/C” sections are actually easier to finger detangle than my “4A” or “3B/C” sections because they don’t form crazy knots while stretched like my looser sections can. In the end, just so what works for you and your hair.
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I usually finger detangle as much as I can and then use a really large detangling come afterwards. I do all the same stuff as her with the water spritzing and putting in the conditioner to detangle. Only thing is I use leave in conditioner and do not rinse it out as my final style regimen.
Her hair is gorgeous!
I really like my hair detangled throughout, so i comb it almost every 2 days and its a breeze,well i do get broken hairs mostly if my hair is not well moisturised, to avoid that i need to spray a bit of water before combing. But i would rather have my hair the way i enjoy it, combed and detangled, no finger combing doesn’t cut it for me. I am still glad for the author that she found a useful solution.
I’ve been finger detangling for the last 2 years and I see much less unnecessary shedding. It’s definitely worth trying
I normally section my hair off, prepoo with olive oil for about 30 minutes then gently finger detangle. However, after conditioning my hair I would gently detangle again with a wide tooth comb for the last time before styling. My hair is detangled once a month and that is on my wash day. My type 4 hair is growing healthily and retaining as much length as my current regime allows. I am quite happy with my progress. Thanks for the article.
I haven’t combed my hair in two years either! *Whew* You’re not the only one, lol. My hair has retained so much length just from finger combing/detangling. Yes, sometimes it does stink when you want your hair to feel super smooth for certain styles and the only tools that can really give you that result is a comb or maybe a brush–but overall, I don’t regret doing away with them. Using my fingers as styling tools has also taught me a very, very important lesson throughout my natural hair journey: being PATIENT! Because finger detangling requires a lot of it.
Thank you for your honesty and also your tips! Your hair is gorg by the way!
That’s awesome and your hair is beautiful! This is not for me though, I refuse to pretend I live in the Middle Ages when in fact I live in the technology age. Combs were designed to make our lives easier, and that’s what I’m here for. Convenience.
If you’re ID’ing yourself as a child of technology by the use of a comb, then you’re far older than the Middle Ages, technologically speaking :-).
Perhaps these will help explain what I mean:
http://www.theoriginof.com/combs.html
http://www.originsoftheafrocomb.co.uk/combs/index.html
https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:0313331456&gws_rd=ssl Click on the book title, then click the rightward arrow in the upper right until you get to p. 86. Drop down to the last paragraph on that page and read from there.
Computers once took up the size of a room, that fact does not negate that we are further along in technology. Yes, fingers were once our first combs, but we have come further in technology and have created more convenience for ourselves. My point stands the same and really I could care less about who agrees with me. I don’t have days to detangle hair. It’s quite simple. As I said Kara has beautiful hair, but this method is not for me.
Detangling with tools or the use of your hand requires you to literally listen to your hair. If you hear what I call the “Snap, Crackle, and Pop” then something in your detangling method is not working. This is such a great article and really raises awareness.
Dry hair can further cause harm to your hair when detangling! Go to Curlyhairschool.com for our FREE online course that helps you to get moisturized hair
Or click this link http://curlyhairschool.com/freegoodies/
Detangling with tools or the use of your hand requires you to literally listen to your hair. If you hear what I call the “Snap, Crackle, and Pop” then something in your detangling method is not working. This is such a great article and really raises awareness.
Dry hair can further cause harm to your hair when detangling! Go to Curlhairschoo.com for our FREE online course that helps you to get moisturized hair
Or click this link http://curlyhairschool.com/freegoodies/
Thank you Kimika, I will check out your site
I was doing the finger detangling thing but I found that I pulled my hair much more than when I used a comb. Maybe I was doing it wrong?? After reading this I think I will give it another try.
No comb here either . . . three years and counting.
Great article, thanks Kara and BGLH for posting! My natural 4a/4b hair hates combing so i sometimes finger detangle to protect my hair from unnecessary breakage and problems. For me, finger detangling is more gentle, quicker, less stressful, more enjoyable and with better curl definition and less breakage than combing. I had occasionally questioned if my natural hair needed to be combed at all due to the problems i experienced with combing but never let go of it due to fear that my hair would tangle and matt up but due to this article, I’m encouraged to stop combing my hair and embrace finger detangling instead.
I comb detangle once a week at the moment. I guess the longer I transition the less frequently I will use my wide tooth comb. But I am retaining length with my once a week method right now so I’m happy
I wished that this method would work for me but unfortunately it doesn`t 🙁
I just use a wide tooth comb on wash day and after my deep conditioning a denman brush before I twist my hair.
I mostly finger detangle. I only use a comb for styling. First I deep condition or prepoo my hair. Then I rinse the conditioner or prepoo out and finger detangle my hair in sections under running water either in the shower or in the kitchen sink. Doing it after the deep condition and under running water is key for me. Finger detangling this way takes about 30-45 minutes, much less time than using a comb with conditioner in my hair. I also find that I have less tangles, knots and split ends. My hair is also retaining more length.
Thank you! I don’t really have to comb my type 4 hair either. Usually just use my fingers 🙂 I do brush tho, when I pull it back, does that count? Lol
I had about 6 months in 2012 where I only finger combed and overall it went well. I wish i could do it again but since having a baby there is no time for delicate time consuming finger detangling. I am lucky if i have 15 minutes to do my whole wash routine 🙁
I think I have been waiting for someone to say this for me to go forward with it. I have 4a, 3c, 3b and I think 4b hair at the crown. My hair is dense with fine strands so small I can barely see them. I just bought ACV to try it on my hair. I am 1.6 years natural and enjoy my hair so much more now that I: stop using curl defining products and achieve curl with Shea butter; don’t wash every week but maybe once a month, don’t comb everyday and don’t waste my money doing what my hair knows to do on its own. I love it now. It still takes a whole day to style but it is worth it. I hope this ACV rinse does what I’ve read about and now thanks to you, i think i may go ahead and leave combs alone, possibly for good. Your hair is beautiful and thank you for your advice. Very excited to see my crazy hair, not combed, at the 2 year mark. It has flourished so far!
My hair is mostly small (about straw-sized, maybe) spirals and S-waves, with the occasional sharpie-sized S-wave and almost straight strand scattered through the front. I started a wet style regimen based on the Curly Girl method on 9/7/2013 (That day was memorable for other, unrelated reasons, which is why I remember :-/).
Had I known how much hair I’d lose in those first 2-3 weeks, I might not have done it. But I gave myself 3 months, come hell or high water, to master the method. For me, learning to properly finger detangle was crucial.
I survived those 3 months, thank the Lord :-). I not only retained more hair than I ripped out, I actually gained length. And my technique vastly improved. So did the overall condition of my hair.
My hair retains moisture better, has gotten longer, and is easier to detangle now. I know about how much hair I’m going to see in the bottom of my strainer that I bought as a hair-catcher, and It’s usually the same amount every time—and very little for me. I don’t see myself picking up a comb to put through my hair again in the forseeable future.
Omg me too! I HATED the Curly Girl Method at first and almost quit within the first two weeks. Now I’ve been CG for a few months now but actually started doing the method by the book for the last few weeks an my hair couldn’t be happier 🙂
Love your hair! I like the messy look also.
I’m almost to the no combing stage, but every so often I need a comb or brush. I’m 4a and my hair when not stretched a bit is ear length. If I blow dry it then the back section is a little past my collar bone.
I think I will try this for a year and see how it goes once I take my braids out.
I haven’t combed my hair in 7 years, hah! And the reason for me was that I could never get a comb to go through my hair no matter how small I made the sections or how much conditioner/detangler I used. My hair is just too coarse and thick for it.
I recently just learned the benefits of stretched styling for my hair and that definitely has helped me retain length and avoid breakage. But for those days that I want to wear a fro and embrace my shrinkage, I make sure to use glycerine and flax seed gel. Keeps things moisturized and easy to detangle later 🙂
By accident I have only used combs lately for when I deep condition (every 2 months). I spray my hair, apply the deep condition, then apply coconut oil. After that I gently rake my rat tail comb through small sections (I comb from root to tip as to eliminate creating more tangles by going from tip to root). With the rat tail comb it smooths the hair, distributes the products, and it captures any fairy knots (this last time I only had 3). With this process I actually lose LESS hair than when I finger detangle during regular co wash/ cleansing sessions. I think I finger detangle wrong LOL but for me, for now, the comb once every 2 months is working for me
I’m glad this worked for you. You have such beautiful hair. But with all due respect I think length can simply be retained with good management (which you obviously have). Combs or no combs, good management is key to length retention IMO.
Now I would be impressed if you told me you had 4c hair and never used a comb. My hair ranges from four A through C. The 4c a sections of the longest smoothest, less likely to tangle, forms ringlets as soon as water or conditioner touches it and can easily be combed with my fingers. Using a comb never affected it’s length as it never tangled. The 4c is an entirely different story.
There’s a girl on youtube, bootyfurl who does this as well
I have 4c hair and rarely use a comb as in pretty much never. My sister thought I was crazy but my hair is already longer than I ever could get it when I had a relaxer. I’m still at the early stages of being natural (collarbone length) but I love it. Less hair lost. I usually detangle when it’s wet or damp. If I have to detangle dry for whatever reason I just take my time with it. It can be done for sure.
I’d have to disagree also. I have thick, dense, 4c hair and only use a comb when getting my hair cornrowed. I simply “finger detangle” to remove any single strand knots.
I think “detangling” is over rated actually. As long as your hair is stretched (to prevent tangling when shrunken) and free of any knots, what’s its really matter if you can’t run a comb through it? Being able to run a comb through your hair doesn’t equate to your hair not having the ability to knot up.
Agreed! I haven’t used a comb on my own in ages. But I wonder if anyone has advice for what to say when visiting a stylist? Stylists LOVE to rake combs through my hair. I see a stylist every 4-8 weeks for a deep treatment and professional blowdry. How can I politely ask for a no comb method when at the salon?
I haven’t combed my hair since I started wearing it natural (about 18 months ago).
I did try, but found that I would finish one part (the ends), then by the time i’d moved up and finished detangling the section, the ends were tangled again! Thus, I was combing the same sections over and over. So now I don’t bother! As it doesn’t actually “detangle” my hair.
my hair is very similar to yours and i hope soon when im older and i can just finger detangle and occasionally use the comb since my hair rarely gets tangled. the problem im having is that my mom still has full control over my hair; she trims it quite often (every 3-4 weeks) harshly combs it and sometimes doesnt like certain products i suggest like plain water because it means my hair isnt as “soft and manageable”. i find that this is the same problems with a lot of black moms who are still stuck in their ways.
Not combing was the best thing that ever happened to my 4b hair. At first, I thought the idea was crazy. My hair is the thickest and my curls are tight, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I wanted the length, I would have to sacrifice the combs. My usual bra strap length hair is now touching my butt and has increased in volume which means more work for me but its worth it because thats what I like. Is finger detangling fun? No. I Absolutely hate it. Is it time consuming? Hell, yes. It literally takes me a week, but I do it little by little and style my hair in a random way until I get it all done. If you want the length, its worth it. If you “aint got time for that” then stick with the comb but you might not ever get to see your true hair potential if you have tight, fragile curls like me and use combs often.
I can’t agree more!!!!
Agreed on everything you’ve said. Our length and texture sounds quite similar and my finger detangling sessions can also take up to a week. Glad to know that I’m not alone on that– Lol.