Ask Karen - April 2007

November 24, 2003
Ongoing Issues With Saving Hair From Long Term Knots & Matting?

Question

Dear Karen,

I greatly appreciate your previous recommendations.

Illness has kept me from making much progress. Nothing (olive oil, Phyto or other products) is working very well.

Might baby oil work to help detangle?

I've saved small amounts but there's a lot to go.

Might there be a way to cut part of the hair to save the rest? My three feet long hair is matted up very high on the head.

Thanks

Mary

Answer

Dear Mary,

I am sorry to hear of your ongoing illness.

Unfortunately baby oil is so heavy, that is may actually make the hair more matted. I have had many people tell me that baby oil is so thick that it makes tangle hair much worse.

Of course it is always worth a shot for you to try since at this point what have you got to lose in trying? I would just caution that you only use a tiny bit to test if there is any benefit to utilizing the oil.

While cutting your hair may help with the tangling on top of your hair, at this point only a hairdresser can help determine your options at this point. It may be possible to help save some of the length but if your hair is matted high up on your head it is hard to know without seeing your head what the options might be. Only a professional hairdresser can really help at this point with providing cutting options.

I would suggest that you try and locate a hairdresser who has experience with major knots and detangling. A hairdresser with this type of history might actually have some tricks that they could utilize to help you save part of your hair.

I am sorry I don't have a better answer.

Best wishes,

Karen

November 14, 2003
Saving Hair From Long Term Knots & Matting?

Question

Dear Karen,

I have very long hair (approximately 3 feet of hair). While I was sick recently I tied the hair up for a week. When I let it down it was severely matted.

What can I do to save it?

Mary

Answer

Dear Mary,

I am very sorry to hear of your current long hair challenges with tangles and matting.

Unfortunately there is only so much you can do.

Once hair becomes matted past a certain point it may require cutting. I have had several people write me with similar problems over the years and while they have tried a wide range of techniques to save their hair, unfortunately none were able to "save" their hair. One women with knee length hair let her hair go for 3 days and it was so matted that 3 hairstylists could not save it.

With that said, if you are willing to invest the time to try and save your hair there is no reason why you shouldn't give it a shot. Especially since you have worked so hard to grow your hair out.

I just want you to be aware of the challenges you face so you understand your odds going into the "save your hair" operation.

What you can do is to get a very smooth wide tooth comb or pick. The smoother the better and the wider the teeth the better. Get a detangling products that contains a high level of silicone. Aveda Curessence spray in detangling conditioner is one option.

Or you can get the Phytodefrisant or Phyto 9 creams which contains a high amount of hair friendly oils that soften, defrizz and detangle.

It works best to keep your hair bone dry until the tangles are out. Once hair is wet, it is almost impossible to detangle.

If possible, get someone to help you. Work in very small areas of your hair.

Saturate a section of hair close to the ends with either a detangling spray or cream and working from the ends use the pick and/or wide tooth comb and slowly comb the matted area out.

It could take some time to get all the matted sections out. If you get to an area that will not untangle, move to the adjacent area and work there.

It's possible that working on the adjacent hair will help loosen an adjacent section. You can also use a rat tail comb end to help lift and separate sections.

Remember to be very patient, work slowly and start from the bottom and work to the top.

Once you have a section detangled, clip if to the side and start the next area. Also, start detangling in the area that is least matted so that you can loosen the other areas.

If you find that the a detangling spray is too light, try applying a heavier cream like a Phyto 9 that contains Macadamia nut oil (very moisturizing) and it will help to soften the matted sections.

Again, I am so sorry to hear about your hair matting issues. Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Best wishes,

Karen

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