Protect Your Hair at Night
1.
Wrap your hair, if it's relaxed, to keep the strands straight while you sleep.
2.
Twist or braid your hair at night, if your hair is natural, to stop the tight curls from turning into knots and tangles.
3.
Tie a silk or satin scarf around your head or wear a silk or satin bonnet to keep your hair in place.
Detangle Your Hair Once a Week
1.
Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and rinse until it’s clean. Moisturizing shampoo is a good choice for both relaxed and natural African-American hair. It restores oil that is removed when you wash your hair.
2.
Apply a generous amount of moisturizing conditioner to your wet hair. Choose a conditioner with detangling properties, if possible. Moisturizing conditioner is essential when you’re detangling your hair because the moisture helps loosen the tangles.
3.
Separate your hair into six sections so you can detangle small amounts of hair. If you attempt to work with larger sections, you may miss some knots and tangles. Work with one section at a time and pin the others out of the way if you need to.
4.
Comb through each section of your hair using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb while the conditioner is still in your hair. Start at the ends of your hair and work your way up to the roots. Loosen any tangles gently, being careful not to pull or break your hair.
5.
Rinse the conditioner out of your hair and style your hair as usual.
Apply additional protein conditioner to relaxed hair for added strength and resistance to tangles.
Never comb natural hair when it’s dry because combing can pull your hair out.
