It seems like the second we touch our children’s hair they say “ouch!” . One of the things that can reduce the pain and frustration of detangling is the right tools and the right process. In Wash Day, we use a series of visual steps to explain the detangling process. In this short post, I’ll expand on them with some nuance that isn’t possible in a picture book.
It’s all about the PREP
Before we wash our hair, we should take time to undo the style. In the book, we start by misting the hair with water and undoing the existing style with a detangling brush but you can use your fingers too. We want to avoid big tangles by gently preparing the hair first. This isn’t the time to rake the brush or comb through the hair – it’s when you make sure that the hair is mostly separate from the style it so that it can be properly cleaned and there are no tangles at the end of the hair.
Move product downwards
On TV, we often see people rub the hair in a circular motion but this creates tangles. Think about how a thin necklace gets tangled if you put it in a ball…. now multiply this by 1 million to imagine what’s happening in hair when you rub it all in a circle. Instead, add the shampoo to the scalp and then move it down the hair so you’re keeping the strands down and not wrapping them into themselves. With the conditioning phase, you do the same thing but you start at the ends then push the conditioner up the hair. This reduces the tangles.
Finger Detangle as you go
Whenever you encounter a knot in the washing process, use your fingers to slowly separate the knots. Don’t save tangles for later. Address them as you find them so they don’t get out of control.
Use detangling tools with conditioner
While finger detangling can be done on any state of hair. You should only use tools when the hair is wet and there is some product on the strands. This supports the tool (comb, brush) and helps it to glide through the tangles and remove knots. You can use the detangling brush during the Shampoo or Conditioning phase but since conditioner is the last step before rinsing, I like to do it here. This ensures that I have less tangles when you rinse out the product.
Work in a downward direction
Try to keep moving your hands down the hair from the root to the tip throughout the entire process. You can make small circular finger motions on the scalp for relaxation but the rest of the hair should always be a downward motion.
Take your time!
Set the mood with your washing process. Make sure that there are fun things to do while washing the hair so that you can take your time and go slowly. Don’t plan to wash your hair if you don’t have time to properly detangle. When you find a knot, slow down. Add some conditioner, rub it with your fingertips and gently loosen the hair.
Detangling is easily the most important step in the hair washing process – especially for curly hair. Always add a moisturizing product to freshly washed hair to keep it hydrated and reduce tangling.
Wash Day is a book written for 3-5 year olds who have curly hair and want to better understand the hair washing process. It includes a visual hairstyle library that encourages Autonomy. Wash Day is available on Amazon in digital editions and in a Board Book edition via this website.
