[maxkinzie]

We've always done fairly well keeping DD's hair combed out, so we are now having our first experience with significant matting (well, to me anyway)

How does anyone work them out? Have literally spent hours so far...

Went to Sally's, who have been very helpful in the past, but the girl working there was useless...(after making me go there to get any answer about products) grrrr

So, how do ya do it?

thanks,
max

[MB80sgirl]

I would try a leave in conditioner/detangler. Also you could try braiding her hair.

[Wisdom]

How old is she? What is the length of her hair?

[maxkinzie]

She's 3 1/2 :-0 (how'd that happen?!?!)
Hair is maybe 6 inches long, but the mat-type stuff is kind of by her ears.
We usually have it braided/twisted to avoid such problems, but had it in one big puff for a ballet recital. Then we both got bad colds and I left the big puff in a couple days. Even tho the ends were secured it matted up somehow.
I've tried many detangler (Johnson's actually seemed to help the most so far)
Have spent HOURS trying to work them out, both DD and I about ready to just cut it, maybe...
thanks for any help

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by maxkinzie

She's 3 1/2 :-0 (how'd that happen?!?!)
Hair is maybe 6 inches long, but the mat-type stuff is kind of by her ears.
We usually have it braided/twisted to avoid such problems, but had it in one big puff for a ballet recital. Then we both got bad colds and I left the big puff in a couple days. Even tho the ends were secured it matted up somehow.
I've tried many detangler (Johnson's actually seemed to help the most so far)
Have spent HOURS trying to work them out, both DD and I about ready to just cut it, maybe...
thanks for any help

I use african pride and spray on braid conditioner when I'm combing out knots. The spray on braid conditioner (in white bottle with gold lettering) wets and conditions the hair. The African Pride (white jar with brown lettering) is a thick conditioner sort of similar to vaseline. It smells good and makes it easier to comb. These two products work great for my daughters & foster daughters.

[BeckyS]

If she likes the tub, try sitting her in there with lots of toys & load her hair up with a conditioner with lots of slip. Pantene conditioner for black hair works well, or some of the Suaves (a marvelous one to order is honey hemp from Oyin). Go slowly with a comb with wide spacing and use clips to keep the rest of the hair out of the way if she has lots of hair. Use lots and lots of conditioner. Start at the bottom & work out the tangles up to the scalp. Once you have a small to medium sectioned combed thru, twist it together & move on to another section. Take breaks if you both get frustrated. I stopped doing puffs long ago - even though they are super cute - because of the tangle factor. I would also use the shower to rinse her off after, as there will be a lot of the conditioner in the water and it could aggravate sensitive areas.

[Wisdom]

I'd use some type of a conditioner to soften the hair and then as BeckyS said use a comb widely spaced to work out the tangles. But don't use a comb with too large of spaces or it won't work through the matting. Also, when you do the puffs it's best to braid each puff at night and secure the ends before going to bed to prevent matting. You should be able to get the matting out without having to cut it. Keep us posted.