When it comes to detangling, it can be a tedious process for many naturals. Between breakage and strain, some naturals may seek other alternatives that can help to ease the detangling process. Finger detangling is just one alternative that can do a lot of good for your hair. While it is a more time-consuming process, the benefits definitely last. In this article, we will go into more detail on the benefits of finger detangling natural hair, as well as how to finger detangle your strands.
Here are the benefits of finger detangling natural hair:
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1) Finger detangling is much more gentle on your strands
Since finger detangling involves nothing but your fingers, you are easily able to feel exactly where the tangles are in your hair and separate them directly. By doing so helps to lessen tension on your strands and prevent unnecessary pulling and tugging. This is especially beneficial for textured hair types as curly, kinky, and coily hair types are more fragile in nature and prone to breakage. Combs and other detangling tools can cause strands that may have not been tangled initially, to get caught up in the mix. This can lead to strain on otherwise healthy strands.
The benefits of finger detangling natural hair are not just limited to being gentler on your strands. Finger detangling can be better for your scalp as well. Too much tension and stress on your scalp can lead to soreness, breakage, and even thinning. All in all, finger detangling is a gentle process that can definitely pay off in the long run.
2) Can help to prevent breakage
Due to the fact that finger detangling is more gentle on your strands, this can in turn help to prevent breakage throughout your hair. For one, finger detangling allows you to feel for the bigger knots and tangles and separate those first. With the bigger knots and tangles separated, this will make it easier for the rest of the tangles to loosen and thus help to prevent snags.
To add to this, finger detangling can help to prevent excess breakage that is often caused by and seen with the use of combs. Sometimes, as we comb through our hair, strands that may have not been tangled to begin with can get caught in your comb and potentially snap and break off. Strands that are tangled are already in a weakened state. If you are not gentle or don’t apply some type of conditioning product to help loosen the tangles, your comb can tear through them, causing breakage.
3) May be better for the ends of your hair
If you rush through the detangling process and don’t use any type of detangling product or try to first finger detangle, it can cause breakage anywhere throughout your strands from the roots to the ends. The ends of your hair are prone to breakage, as they are the oldest parts of your hair. The friction from the constant rubbing against your clothing can accelerate dryness on your ends as well.
Another one of the benefits of finger detangling natural hair, is that it can be better for your ends. When you comb or tear through tangles causing them to break off, this can result in mid-shaft splits and / or split ends. Taking your time by being patient when finger detangling can help to preserve your ends as you are not ripping through them like you might with a comb.
How to finger detangle your natural hair:
- Section your hair in twos, fours, sixes, etc. – whichever number of sections you typically part to style your hair. This will further simplify the detangling process.
- Spritz the section thoroughly with water and then apply a conditioning or detangling product to help loosen the tangles.
- Next, feel throughout the section for any big knots or tangles.
- Start to gently separate the bigger tangles first with your fingertips.
- Work your way up from the ends up to your roots.
- Finish up with a gentle finger comb if desired to make sure the section is thoroughly detangled.
While finger detangling can be a gentler process on your strands, everyone’s hair is different. Some naturals may find that they do better with a comb, while others may prefer to finger detangle. Go with whichever method works best for you!
