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Original poster

matted hair help

34 replies

BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 17:31

All summer in chlorinated pool, then I had accident (minor) at pool and spent two days in hospital. Result is the biggest clump of matted hair and I have googled, done everything.

Washed it, argan oil, tangle teased it. not one jot of difference.

Has this happened to anyone else? Should I just go and see a hairdresser and can they even do anything?

Please help, I want to cry, only just got it back to long.

Ends and front are fine, it was where I was lying in bed.

OP posts:
DeletionMessage · 15/09/2019 17:37

That happened after only 2days?! Poor you! I would let a hairdresser deal with it as at least if it can't be saved, they can cut it instead and the issue is solved.

LemonWaterDuck · 15/09/2019 17:39

I would smother it in the richest conditioner you have and then slowly pull it apart with your fingers. Or get someone else to do it. You have to sort of spread it out as much as you can and then pull in different directions until you can feel a spot that is loosening up. You might be only be able to pull one strand of hair at a time but it will come apart eventually.

LemonWaterDuck · 15/09/2019 17:40

Don't use a brush or comb on it anymore. You could make it worse and cause more breakage.

Beechview · 15/09/2019 17:40

Try some coconut oil. A lot of it.
Can you get someone else to brush your hair at the back?
Do a little bit at a time.

Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 17:44

Thank you both. Deletion I am convinced it was because there was chlorine in my hair. Sad

So lemonyou think it can be saved. I'll have to go to hairdresser I think as I've tried that. It doesn't help that I can't see the back of my head. Currently ting covered in olive oil. Nothing seems to work. Doesn't help that all weekend I have been sleeping on it. (In a bun)

I am embarrassed.

OP posts:
Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 17:47

I think I can't leave it any longer and just hope the hairdresser has seen it before and knows what to do.

It's like a lump of hair, all round the back. Yuk.

OP posts:
Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 17:48

Thanks Beechview, ok lemon, I think you're right.

I HATE going to the hairdresser.

OP posts:
ElloBrian · 15/09/2019 17:48

You need to use your hands and spend a lot of time pulling it apart. Sometimes it will tear but you’ll get a better result than if you use a brush / comb / etc.

hotcrossbun4321 · 15/09/2019 17:48

It can be done - wet hair, tonnes of slippery conditioner, then starting from the bottom of the clump work upwards towards the roots very slowly

LemonWaterDuck · 15/09/2019 17:49

Don't be embarrassed. I deal with matts quite a lot and it while it can be time consuming to deal with 95% of them come apart eventually. It will seem like lots of hair is coming out and your scalp will be probably sore but I'm sure it can be saved.

ElloBrian · 15/09/2019 17:49

Tip your head upside down and work your fingers through from the roots. Then when you reach a blockage isolate it from the rest of your hair and pull it apart gradually.

Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 17:54

Thank you.

I literally can't tear anything apart! I'll try again tomorrow for a bit, then hairdresser.

I've had tangled hair in the past, nothing like this, not ever.

OP posts:
DeletionMessage · 15/09/2019 17:54

Oh OP please don't be embarrassed! Your hairdresser will have sympathy. Chlorine can wreck hair. Get it sorted and look forward Thanks

gubbsywubbsy · 15/09/2019 17:58

Can't you cut it off?

Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 18:00

Thanks deletion and elobrian Flowers

I'm sure it was the chlorine, every day with DD. My hair always felt sticky.

OP posts:
Original poster
BillieEilish · 15/09/2019 18:02

gubby it's the whole back of my head. ie I would have no hair left, this is why I am sitting in a cold sweat!

OP posts:
Pinkypurple35 · 15/09/2019 19:06

The chlorine will definitely have contributed. I’m currently swimming 4 times a week and my hair is very dried out and crispy on the ends from the pool (after having life long oily hair).
I suggest absolutely smothering the Matt in cheap conditioner (maybe cling film it to heat it up) and slowly trying to prise it apart.

dontgobaconmyheart · 15/09/2019 20:45

only came to suggest pulling it apart very slow from the bottom up OP but i see you've tried that and it's not getting you anywhere. You poor thing; it sounds awful, all you need after a hospital stay!

Get to the hairdresser and see what they can do, or get a friend to have a crack at it, or a mobile hairdresser perhaps. There really isn't anything to be embarrassed over, no normal person ( or hairdresser) is going to do anything other than want to get it fixed for you, you've had some bad luck is all!

enjoyingscience · 15/09/2019 20:50

I’m not sure you’d be able to do it yourself if it’s on the back of your head tbh. My DS has longish blonde hair, and it gets incredibly dry after lots of swimming. If he doesn’t keep on top of it he get pretty impressive dreadlocks very quickly. There’s no way he could sort the back on his own - it needs someone who can see it to sort it out!

A hairdresser won’t mind - let them know you’ve been in hospital and tried everything yourself.

oldenoughtobehavebetter · 15/09/2019 20:57

See if you can phone round & get a mobile hairdresser to come to your house then you can have it done in comfort/watching tv

gubbsywubbsy · 15/09/2019 20:59

Eek .. hope you get it sorted!

KatyS36 · 15/09/2019 21:19

I've got one of these out of my daughters hair after she has been ill in bed for several weeks (all fine now). It took a lot of time, echo all the advice above, but it can be done. Good luck Katy xx

Soola · 15/09/2019 21:25

My daughter had dreadlocks and managed to ‘undo’ them by sitting of an evening and using her fingers, one of my crochet hooks and a wide toothed comb along with a children’s tangle spray.

Original poster
BillieEilish · 16/09/2019 16:43

Thankyou everyone, you are all so helpful and kind.

Today it is worse, more bits are tangling and I have an apt tomorrow at the hairdresser at 10am. I can't help thinking the olive oil wasn't such a good idea, but I am not washing my hair again.

I am dreading that they want to cut it all off.

I live in Spain, so no mobile hairdressers sadly. Also being in Spain is why I don't like going and am nervous in the hairdressers.

But you have all given me hope that they could sort it.

Thanks again everyone! I'll let you know what happens in case it helps anyone else one day.

OP posts:
enjoyingscience · 16/09/2019 17:23

Good luck tomorrow! I hope they manage to sort it.