The Low Down on those Pesky Single Strand Knots

So LET me tell you. Everyone has pet peeves with their hair. For me it's single strand knots. I HATE them but I get them so very frequently ALL THE TIME. It's borderline ridiculous. It doesn't matter if I trimmed my hair 2 days ago. Today I'll have them. They are always there. Taunting and haunting me constantly. And it's NEVER just a few of them. It seems as if they are on every strand. I just can't take the pressure!

Unfortunately single strand knots come with the territory of natural hair; specifically when you have tighter, coily-er and kinky-er hair textures. As the hair coils and curls upon it's self the hair, upon movement, tends to make commonly known as "fairy knots" or single strand knots. Why are they so poisonous to us naturals? The knotting creates a point of breakage. If the knot , while beginning to form, traps other strands within it, Not only can the strand with the knot break but the additional "caught up strands" will break as well. split-ends, breakage and lack of length retention are all likely to happen if you don't control those knots!

Although getting them may seem (and maybe are) inevitable, there are ways to help reduce the amount that you have.

1. Stretched styles/ Protective styles
You probably never heard of Single strand knots while you were relaxed. That's because they only frequent highly textured and curly hair. Wearing your hair in stretched and protective styles such as braids, braid outs, twists, and twist outs, and not wash-and-gos will help prevent the hair from curling upon it's self.


2. Shampoo hair in sections
If you decide to shampoo your hair make sure you separate your hair into sections using clips or twists/braids. Shampooing your hair in smaller sections oppose from your entire head allows your head to be less prone to tangles and matting which leads to fairy knots.


3. Oil Rinsing
Adding oil to your regimen will help prevent tangles and knots to your hair. The oil acts as a lubricant allowing your hair to be detangled much easier. The oil also works as an additional moisture agent to condition and add softness to your hair. There are different ways to oil rinse.

• You can do a Pre-poo treatment: where you wet your hair with water then add an ample amount of your favorite oil (I either use coconut or olive oil) leave it on for at least 20 mins and then add shampoo and rinse. Condition and style as you please.  
• Use the oil as a deep conditioner: After you shampoo or co-wash, saturate your hair with your favorite oil, cover your hair with a shower cap and wait for at least 45 min- 1hr and then rinse.

4. Keep hair well moisturized
Moisturized hair is less likely to knot. Use a leave-in or just good old quality H2O to make sure your hair is moisturized daily. Make sure to seal in the moisture in your hair (especially those ends!) with a oil or natural butter.


5. Defeat "Hand-in-Hair" Syndrome
This maybe my biggest problem. I always have my hands in my hair and that's a NO-NO! Although most times it's unconsciously, too much manipulation to your hair will cause the hair to curl upon it's self leading to knots. That's another reason protective styles are great. They help protect your hair from not only the elements but your own hands.


6. Careful Detangle
Make sure you are detangling your hair carefully. Perhaps you should start by finger detangling. It helps prevent harsh handling from tools by getting out large tangles and shed hairs before using a wide-tooth comb or denman brush. While finger detangling make sure you take special care to each strand. If there is a knot make sure you separate each strand out of the knot genitally. Then follow with a comb/brush.


7. Don't towel dry your hair
Stay away from towels especially cotton ones. Cotton towels with long fibers snag the hair. Try wringing out the water after washing your hair with your hands and then using a t-shirt or microfiber cloth to continue drying your hair.


8. Protect your hair while sleeping
Wear a silk scarf or bonnet to bed so your hair will have a smooth /friction-less surface to lay on. Using silk pillowcases will help as well. Wearing a cotton scarf or laying on cotton pillowcases will not only snag the hair but dry out the hair as well. Also remember to wear your hair in protective styles to bed, so your ends will be protected while you sleep.