how to prevent straight hair from getting tangled/knotty

[chocnvino]

DD is 11 and has longish hair. won't have it cut so short hair is a no no. she has complex SN and sensory issues and dislikes having hair brushed.

I have afro type curls (no idea how I gave birth to a sleek haired child) and follow the curly method and don't understand straight hair.

Are there ways to minimise the knotting? We use a tangle teezer to brush it DD's hair is greasy so we don't use conditioner (mistake? should I?). but her hair seems to get so tangled up at night and during the day as well. No idea what to do and how to minimise it.

Does plaiting the hair at night or so help?

Any other ideas.I wondered if a good trim might help. DD's ends haven't had a trim for a while and aren't in the best of shape.

Definitely get a trim, I would wash and condition hair, maybe even use a leave in conditioner as this can help stop hair getting knotty. But getting hair cut shorter would help with the brushing, even mid length to shoulders should enable your child to brush it alone, I know as this is what we’ve done and it’s working.

I have straight silky hair and so do my kids, I use shampoo and conditioner and a regular old hairbrush. I find conditioner vital to keep it from knotting, comb it through with a wide tooth comb. Keeping the ends good helps, if you can possibly get ger to submit to a trim it really helps with management. Then blow dry it on a medium setting till completely dry, it really helps prevent tangling. I got a powerful hairdryer so it doesn't take long to do the kids and only go to bed with it totally dry. They barely brush it but it looks good.

Also unlike with curly hair you can literally put your head upside down and dry, styling isn't complicated with straight hair.

My dd has hair like that - thick and very straight. A loose plait for night time helps a lot (not too tight, as then it’s not comfy to lie on). Brushing the bottom few cm, then a few above that, then a few above that until you’ve done all of it helps as well.

She uses spray conditioner on the ends every morning, but that might make it greasier for your dd. My dd washes her hair once a week and uses a lot of conditioner, finger combs it when it’s slimy with conditioner, rinses it, then wraps it immediately when she gets out in a towel. Then it’s quite easy to brush after about ten minutes.

As a teen I slept in a loose plait but now I can't bear the way it pulls.

Using conditioner will help with the knots.

Make sure you are rinsing the shampoo and conditioner out really thoroughly as this will help stop it going as greasy.

A trim will help too. If it’s in poor condition then it will tangle more easily.

Plaits will help.

If her hair is thick then the tangle teaser might not be reaching through properly so you could try brushing with the tangle teaser then another brush afterwards. If you don’t get all the knots out it can end up really tangled.

I use Kerastase Cement Thermique after washing my hair and it never knots. Without it the underneath is awful by the end of the day.

Avoid conditioner at her scalp and concentrate on the ends. Also, less conditioner than you would use in curly hair.

Plaiting helps my daughter's hair as well as a detangling spray.

Yes to plaiting overnight; although this may take a little getting used to if your DD has sensory issues, it's probably preferable to brushing the knots out in the morning.

My DD is an active sleeper so ends up with very matted hair if I forget to plait it!

thanks all - lots of ideas!

Definitely plait or plaits over night

It sounds like she needs more moisture in the lengths of her hair. Hair can become knotted because it is dry. Mine is waist length and terrible for knotting up. I tend to sleep with it plaited, or it ends up in a big bush lol.
Also, for the greasiness, try a sulphate free shampoo. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is in most shampoos. It's like a detergent, and strips the oils from your hair to give it that "clean" feeling, and your scalp just compensates by releasing more sebum.
I would also recommend avoiding silicone in conditioners, it can make your hair feel greasy.

I haven't tried it myself but I've heard that a silk pillowcase can help to reduce tangling over night.

Definitely plait overnight - I always do this for my DSD and nieces (whether the hair is wet or not). I also do a loose French plait in mine if I've washed my hair at night. So much easier to brush in the morning.

I plait my hair for bed now it's a certain length. When it was a bit shorter it didn't really knot up, but just past my shoulders it's a nightmare otherwise.