Is this fixable? (Hair)

[daffodil1224]

Since lockdown I have really done the bear minimum in terms of self grooming. I suffer with depression and have felt low and just haven't been able to.

The result is my hair is now full of awful knots. I've tried to get it out. Used a full bottle of conditioner and sat for hours with a comb. Cut some out. I have about 20% less hair than before. But there are still huge knots and if I cut them I literally will have huge chunks missing.

Is there ANY way to get these out or am I going to have to cut half my hair? God I could weep (and yes I know people are dying but this still makes me feel sad)

www.wikihow.com/Untangle-Severely-Matted-Hair

Maybe try oil instead of conditioner. Don't give up - work slowly from the bottom. You can do this.

Thank you for the link. I googled this before posting and found something saying DONT use oil but then others saying do! But I suppose at this point it's worth a try.

My son's hairdresser swears by this stuff for badly tangled hair: amazon.co.uk/Original-Sprout-Miracle-Hair-Detangler/dp/B002B8BCA6/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=detangling+spray&qid=1586279794&sr=8-14]]

I can also vouch for this stuff, which is actually for dogs (I use it for my cocker, who has a cotton-wool coat that gets matted) but is also safe for human hair. I've used it on my own, and there are reviews
saying it has helped with people's matted hair.

amazon.co.uk/Animology-Knot-tangle-Spray-250ml/dp/B008EHVF0U/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=detangling+spray+dogs&qid=1586279870&sr=8-6]]

Argh - link fail! Sorry.

Original Sprout detangling spray

Animology tangle spray

Dont comb and dont start at the roots. Start on one side of your head I small sections. I normally do it with my head upside down but no idea if that helps. Use a tangle tease kind of brush if you can. If not a plastic prong hair brush. Just do really small sections. Keep brushing just a few cm at a time from the ends working up. Then once you've done one section, if it's long plait that bit and move onto the next bit.

Plaits are the best way to avoid knots going forward. But at least pull out the bobble and put it back in daily. If you cant manage much more then finger comb it and brush at least every three days. Plus trim your ends once you have de matted it.

I'm sorry your I this situation. I think doing a set minimum going forward is going to worth it versus this. Even a daily finger comb and three daily brush will stop it happening again.

I dont brush my hair except when I wash it as I have curly hair. Sometimes that's o certain a week but I always plait it every few days. Good luck

Also wash it first. Then add the conditioner or oil or both

My daughter gets massive matted knots as she won't brush her hair or let me until it's one big knot.

I find it best to use a tangle tamer brush start from the bottom and just work through. I use a comb to work bits out as well. I also find rolling hair a little bit between my fingers and spreading out knots as they become looser gives smaller sections to work on. I agree with pp to plait and separate sections you've done. It sometimes takes me four evenings with a couple of hours in each evening to get this done when it's got really bad. She has exceptionally thick curly hair.

I know people who have combed out full sets of long term dreadlocks so it's do able. I'm sorry you're depressed and hope you feel better soon. It can be debilitating and this isn't your fault.

Thank you all. When my kids are in bed I'm going to sit and spend the whole evening doing everything you have suggested and hope for the best.. honestly if I have to cut I will have a bob on one side and long on the other. Can't even bear the thought

Yes it’s doable. It will take time, patience and a fuck Ton of conditioner but it is doable. I have v curly hair that I did similar to when my MH was poor last year and it took several days but I did it (I also have a friend that combed out 5y old dreadlocks !). Oil made mine even worse, that could be because it was curly but personally I wouldn’t recommend it.

As PP says, do it bit by bit and plait off each section as you go, v small sections and start from the tips NOT the root And expect that it may take several hours over more then one evening

Good luck!

I have put it in two plaits anyway to prevent any more tangles. One side is fine the other is the one that is fucked. Dreading undoing it and starting this but if people can get actual dreadlocks out (how?!) I MUST be able to do this

I watched a video of some girl who had dreadlocks for like 12 years unpick them all. It can be done but you need to be patient. I wouldn't be cutting any more!

Naff (brand mane) Mane and Tail from Amazon.
Yes it's for horses (and dogs) but it is great for humans too.
MY ds2 has autism and one of his 'stims' is twizzling his hair into small tight dreadlocks right to the scalp...to the point that he sometimes gives himself bald patches (and he's 23 and his hair is thinning already so don't want to lose it!)

I douse his hair with it then with a comb start at the ends and work backwards. It really helps..it is a slow process tho.

Doing actual dreadlocks is just the same.. it takes a really long time but it IS doable.

Then wash, condition, plait it and jsut comb and replait once a day!

We somehow managed to lose all our hairbrushes for two weeks. I didn't look too hard thinking what's the harm, we're not going anywhere. My dd's hair turned into a knotted nest. Like pp's ds, she also has autism and stims by twizzling her hair! I really wasn't thinking! I covered her hair in deep conditioner and combed it through. It's easier to start at the bottom and work upwards. I cut a couple of knots in the end, but it's not noticeable. I'd been working on her hair for ages by that stage and dd was getting fed up so I just wanted to get it over with.