Finger combing is a simple way to protect those precious locks. Compared to brushing and combing, it's a far gentler method for working through knots, without the tugging and tearing that damages strands.
Besides the fact that it's overkill, it can actually cause your hair to shed. Each time we brush or comb, we pull hairs away from their follicles. Using your fingers afterward can cause the hairs to actually fall out before the follicles get a chance to secure their strands again.
If You Have Curly Hair, Use Your Fingers or a Paddle Brush While Your Hair is Wet. If you have a curly or wavy hair, Fugate says your hands are your best tools. "Most girls who have curly hair should put their hands on their scalp and then rake their fingers through," he says.
Less breakage per session, fingers can untangle stubborn knots a lot more effectively than a comb. 1. Hair gets more tangled over time if you only use fingers. Fingers can only untangle so much and after you're done some strands will remain wrapped around each other.
The same advice applies to using combs: be gentle and, if your hair is long, hold your hair in your hands and comb the ends out first. Whether you are using a brush or a comb, start from the bottom, then brush in sections, working up towards your scalp.
Weekly, on freshly shampooed hair. Apply conditioner to sectioned, soaking wet hair. Finger detangle first to get out major tangles. Follow up with a detangle brush for natural hair, starting with the ends of your hair, making your way up to the roots.
Finger combing is a very beneficial way of detangling natural hair that consists of using solely your fingers to remove shed hair and tangles from your natural hair as opposed to using combs and/or brushes.
Finger waving is a method of moulding the hair into S-shaped movements with the hands, fingers and comb. It is also called water waving or setting.
"I don't recommend it because it can cause more tangles and oil buildup," he explains. To add to his response, when you do not comb your locks, your hair dries in odd shapes (a not cute one, BTW) and may look buhaghag and frizzy.
Sometimes the frizz that appears after you brush your hair is due to too much static, and not your hair texture. Boar bristle brushes are the best option if you're looking to reduce the amount of static produced, but you can also try spritzing in hairspray to the base of your brush.
Using brushes is typically faster than using combs. Brushes have a ton of spikes called bristles, which can remove tangles on bigger portions of your head than a comb. Brushes are also good at spreading your natural hair oils throughout your hair.
You should never brush your hair while it is wet. Wet hair is susceptible to breakage, and regularly brushing it while it is wet can do some real damage. Use a wide-tooth comb in the shower to distribute conditioner evenly and help remove tangles.
Brushing your hair anywhere besides a bathroom
While brushing your hair is totally permissible in a bathroom, even a public one, it's not OK to take this task outside. No matter how careful you are, loose hair is bound to get everywhere.
“Swishing, lightly stroking, and flicking your hair isn't going to do any damage,” Kingsley assures me. “However, if your hands are dirty or oily, they can transfer grime onto your hair and scalp. Twirling can be damaging as it can tangle hairs — and if done roughly, can snap them and even pull them out.
In general, detangling once or twice a week will work best for all textures.” Corney adds that detangling natural hair dry is a definite no no. “Combing hair dry compromises the elasticity, which refers to the hair's ability to stretch and bounce back without breaking,” she explains.
When you brush and loosen your hair, strands definitely come out on your brush, but when you don't brush your hair, the natural hair you lose everyday will buildup and come out in the shower drain. Don't be alarmed, it's normal to lose 50-100 strands a day.
Raking (running your fingers through your hair) while applying products – Raking is needed in the shower to remove tangles. But outside the shower, don't run the product through your hair using fingers. This will ruin your curl pattern and prevent clump formation.
Is it better to detangle your hair wet or dry? The best way to detangle natural hair is while it is wet. The wetter your hair, the better your conditioning product can absorb into your hair shaft, making it easier to slip your fingers or comb through any hair knot in its way.
If it's wash day or the first time you're detangling in a week then expect to lose way more than 50-100 hairs in a week and this is completely normal. However, if you detangle regularly there won't be an accumulation of hair shedding.
“Whatever you do, do not brush your hair when it's wet because that's when it's at its weakest and becomes vulnerable to breakage (leading to flyaways), split ends and damage,” advises Rob. “Even worse you can actually pull hair from the roots that way.
When your hair is wet, it's more fragile and prone to breakage, says Jasmine Burnside, a hairstylist in New York City. "Going to bed with wet or damp hair will most likely lead to more friction on the strands, ultimately leading to potential damage." That's why she says it's something that she advises against.
Wet hair is much weaker than dry hair, so treat it carefully. One of the worst things you can do is tug a brush through it, forcing tangles apart, Wasser says. Instead, try brushing your hair before hopping in the shower to work out knots and air out the roots, James says.