I need help with my hair. Ashamed to go to hairdressers.

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I've been very ill for the past few weeks (pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombrosis) and and as a result have neglected my hair. I've been able to wash it but not comb and brush it so its very tatty and knotty.

Some of it has clumped together and looks as if a dread is starting to form. Its full of split ends and I just can't get a comb through it now. Oh and it's bum length and curly so a curl stretched out would make my hair reach between my bum and knees. Needs recolouring and bloody everything.

How do I get it back into some sort of reasonable condition and tangle free so I can go to the hairdressers without feeling so ashamed?

Just go to the hairdressers - it will be fine!

Failing that, I think you will need a friend who can patiently comb it through for you and get rid of the knots.

No need to feel ashamed.

Would a mobile hairdresser who can visit you be better for you?

Well for a start don't feel ashamed and don't worry about the hairdressers - tidying hair is kind of their job! If your usual hairdresser is difficult just go somewhere else but in my experience a lot of hairdressers love to make a difference and would be pleased to sort out your hair and see you leave a new person.

However my DD has long (although not as long as yours) curly hair and we find the best thing is after washing to slather on conditioner, Aussie or something else rich, leave for a while. She sits in the bath and plays but you could tie up and sit in front of TV or whatever. Then after at least 10 minutes comb or brush starting at the ends and gradually moving up as you free the tangles. Then rinse hair, towel dry, spray in leave in conditioner and brush/comb out again.

But this really will take ages as your hair is so long! I really would just go to hairdresser and say 'been ill, hair's a mess, please sort out'.

If you are in Suffolk I'll come and do it for you. I haven't had a decent matted bit to brush out for ages, and I love sorting a good tangle (I've just done a mess of wool/yarn this last week)

Lots of conditioner and start teasing out the ends with your fingers until you get a little bit you can brush from the ends down. When (not if) you hit a tangled bit and go back to using gentle fingers. Be prepared to pull out large numbers of hairs which would have come out a couple at a time without you noticing.

There's no need for embarrassment, when I was a nurse you'd get people arriving from home with tangled hair. You've been ill and had other things to do with your energy. As balancingfigure said - let a hairdresser know and I'm sure they'll be happy to help.

The previous posters are right and a prolonged session at home with a good conditioner and detangling comb may well do the trick.

Could you explain what you just wrote to a hairdresser over the phone? They must see all sorts and it's not that it's dirty, it's out of condition because you have been so ill. It's difficult keeping thick curly control at the best of times, they'll know that. Now you're a bit better you want to sort it out. So you might need a longer appointment than usual to tame it.

I had this! I got attacked and was in recovery for a very long time, same thing happened, it was utterly matted, also very long and curly/wavy. Best thing to do is use a bristle brush, NOT a detangling comb/proper hairbrush etc, it's much more fiddly that way, the bristles will grab a little bit of hair with each stroke and pull it apart easier, , quicker and hurts a lot less too. I did it dry and it took me a whole day (it really was matted not just tangly) but it was fine. I also found it easier to do dry for some reason.

Honestly try the bristle brush, works wonders. If not, then just explain to them, they wont care or mind or judge, they will have sorted this before, hope you're feeling better :)

For various reasons I've left my hair a few times without brushing for 2 weeks! The result was matted clumpy hair. I just got in the bath, blathered on tons of conditioner and started at the ends with my fingertips and worked upwards. It was painful and took about an hour each time, my hair is super thick and down my back so it's doable. Do what you can then go to hair dressers if need be :)

Definitely in bath with conditioner. Aussie great for the job and just work and work it in with fingers prizing it apart.

When thats done use some sort of detangling comb/ tangle brush.

Be prepared to use a good bottle of conditioner.

Unless you are gettin g loads cut off it will be much less painful doing it yourself.

Hope you are much better now.