No matter your hair type or length, we know the struggle well. That knotty hat (pun intended) readily plays lots of mischief with you.
Woke up? That bird’s nest back on the neck nape can easily make you ‘shriek’ in pain and others with laughter. Is breakfast ready? Your appetite is lost, anticipating you’re not going to get the style you fantasized about last night. Likewise, you often miss many crucial daily tasks and fun since brushing your hair is never quick and easy with those pesky tangles. From the painful feelings of brushing with impatience to adopting an extreme level of haircare routine, those tangles literally can swing you into an entirely unknown world.
In such a scenario, learning to keep your hair from tangling at the nape of your neck is a pain. But, hopefully, it’s never too late. If you’re willing to make a slight movement in your hair care routine, the products you use, and some easy-to-follow tips and tricks, you can make a big difference in how you style and manage your hair. Learn why you encounter nape hair tangles and what you can do, which you’ve never done before, to get rid of those tangles.
What does Get Knotted Mean?
Visualizing the time when you tie your shoelaces up will help you clearly understand the concept.
When two or more strands of your hair wrap around each other and become intertwined, they form a hair knot. Once those strands are stuck, the knot becomes more prominent and harder to unwrap.
Hair knotting isn’t specific to healthy strands. The strands shed as part of the natural healthy hair cycle also cause knots to form. For your hair to maintain its health and texture, these free-falling, shed strands must escape from your hair frequently. But the scalp doesn’t lie flat with curly, textured, or damaged hair, causing these free strands to wrap around other strands and form more knots.
As one way leads to other ways, one strand and knot leads to many others.
Till now, the reasons for having knot tangles all around your hair length are obvious. You’re so lucky if you aren’t having those but one area most ladies experience entanglements often is the nape of the neck. This should lead us to address:
Why Does My Hair Tangle So Easily at the Nape of My Neck?
The first apparent reason lies within this area’s too much exposure to hair. Many strands cover this area, and neck movements often cause your hair to rub against the neck nape and get misplaced. Even if you have straight hair, this friction likely tangles hair up there. Let’s now look at some of the reasons that might surprise you.
- You have used too much hairspray or gel. Okay, overusing doesn’t sometimes create trouble – the problem starts when you just forget or sabotage washing your hair out when you don’t have to show your hairstyle off.
- You have often been washing your hair with hot water. A little warmth, especially on a cold winter day, is enjoyable. But try to limit washing your hair each time you bathe. The excess heat sensitizes your scalp, making hair strands break easily. And you know what happens next!
- You have been using no conditioner at all. Or, if you are using any, it’s something that leaves too much residue, making it difficult for your strands to return to their natural alignment.
- Your hair often remains dry. That doesn’t mean you should keep it water-wet constantly; it’s instead about staying moisturized. Matted tresses occur when the hair doesn’t have enough moisture.
So, does all that mean you should skip your favorite shampoo or conditioner or wash your hair daily to keep it moisturized and smooth? Nope. You simply need to set a mindful hair care regime and stick to it for some time. We’ll help you fix that routine and other tips and tricks that can prevent your hair from tangling at the nape of your neck.
Also Read: How to Dry Your Hair When Camping?
Learn How to Get Knots Out of Hair in The First Place
Time for the main show – some dos and don’ts on how you can stop those pesky entanglements and consistently achieve natural, head-turning hairstyles.
Also, this guide is created with the ‘how you can achieve a great, single hair day’ point in mind. Interestingly, the sequence of the guide directly translates to the things you should adapt or avoid while designing your own regular custom hair care routine.
Avoid Wearing Collars that Rub on the Nape of Your Hair
You must follow this tip before touching your hair to untangle it. Resting on the back of your neck, nape hair is the lowest – slightly above your hair edges – part of your hair.
That nape hair will likely rub any clothes having that above-than-shoulder coverage. We understand this step will cause you to miss your favorite dresses. If you can’t, the only solution we found is to keep your hair tied with a single-knot pony. This will keep your hair aligned, making the collar less likely to interfere.
Pick Up Your Hair Mask
Doing a hair mask at least once a week is the best step toward eliminating tangles on the nape of the neck. Perhaps the most exciting thing about hair masks is that they’re quick and easy and make your hair feel smooth and silky in minutes.
Leave the mask for 10-15 minutes before showering or bed. Then, try out this Arvazallia Hair Mask, which contains high argan oil, leaving your hair soft, silky, and shinier. Known for its instant hair transformation ability, the mask improves hair’s elasticity and manageability, helping remove tangles quickly and without damaging your hair.
Use Cold Water to Rinse
Yep, my friend. We are afraid. If you’re committed to removing nape tangles, you’ll have to do whatever it takes. You’ll need to rinse your hair with cold water after you shower.
Compared to hot water, cold water works best in sealing off hair cuticles and locking in moisture. This extra grip prevents hair from frizz, flyaways, and breakage. Additionally, by closing the cuticles off, cold water rinsing helps prevent your hair from becoming greasy or overly dried.
Also Read: Best Hair Dryers According to Your Hair Type
Condition Your Entire Head of Hair and Hair Extensions
Once you’re done with post-mask shampooing, conditioning will take the untangling process to the next level. A conditioner does a superb job of coating your hair with a moisturizer sealant and thus prevents the formation of knots throughout the day.
Conditioning should not only be limited to your nape hair. Instead, it must be done how you wash your hair with shampoo – from roots to ends. Already have been conditioning for months, but still no results? You might need to replace the product. For desirable, instant results, try out this Dove Ultra Intensive Repair Conditioner which repairs and protects hair in 30 seconds. From the bottle, you need to squeeze ONLY HALF of your usual dose (yes, that’s enough) and massage this conditioner as usual in wet hair.
Leave-in Conditioners
Like massaging conditioners, leave-in conditioners also do a great job of detangling hair on the nape of the neIn addition, these conditioners protect hair from damage and help detangle the strands by providing extra moisture. Though these conditioners benefit nearly every hair type — natural or color-treated, curly or straight – they may be helpful for dry, damaged, or curly hair.
Nothing beats AS I AM Leave-in Tangle Releaser for quick, impressive results. This detangling leave-in conditioner moisturizes, promotes shine, helps strengthen hair, and repairs damaged areas. Plus, the conditioner contains a high concentration of coconut oil, shea butter, And Royal Jelly, helping release tangles faster and providing hair with natural, healthful nutrients.
Dry Your Hair
Sadly, if you want to ‘remove’ existing tangles, traditional drying methods – using a hair dryer, heating iron, or towel-rubbing – won’t work. But luckily, they can be beneficial in ‘preventing’ those tangles.
If you want to use a dryer or iron for styling only, don’t do it with wet hair. Instead, do so while your hair is at least 90% dry. Keep it on the lowest heating or the relaxed setting while holding it at least 1ft away from the hair. This is the only hack you can prevent hair breakage and tangle.
But what will take hair to that 90% drying? You have two options: Let your hair dry naturally, or dry it using paper towels.
Are you running short on time? The latter one is the best option. This 180-piece Hair Drying Disposable Towel is the best option if you want spa and salon-quality smoothness and absorption. Tear-resistant and highly absorbent, these towels are safer, more hygienic, and don’t retain odors.
Reconsider Your Comb/Brush
The type of comb/brush and how you’re using it may directly translate to getting entanglements.
Always use a wide-toothed comb or a special detangling brush, no matter your hair type. A narrow-toothed comb or a conventional brush has high friction while moving through hair, causing it to get damaged, break, and tangled.
Now, even if you’ve handed over the recommended comb/brush, using it when your hair is wet or even slightly damp will do nothing but cause breakage and tangles. Let it paper towel-dry at least 90% and then comb it.
Brush Your Hair Regularly
Well, regular brushing, no matter what others say, is okay if done correctly using a special detangling brush. But if you want much more than light detangling nape hair, this Original Detangler Wet Brush can help.
Unlike ordinary brushes, this Wet Brush contains ultra-soft IntelliFlex bristles, allowing it to gently glide through the hair and untangle even the toughest knots. Suitable for all hair types, including coarse or curly ones, this brush OFFERS A PAIN-FREE BRUSHING EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS PROTECTS YOUR HAIR FROM SPLIT ENDS AND BREAKAGE.
Don’t Miss the Hair Spray
Time for the gorgeous styles! Hair sprays not only help achieve those styles but can also help detangle the existing knots and prevent further ones.
Start a light layer of the spray at the roots and work your way down to the ends. Avoid direct spraying onto your scalp, or you could end up with a sticky residue. Also, Just make sure not to overdo it! If you want to add extra volume to your style, applying some mousse or gel beforehand can help. Using too much hairspray will take longer to dry and make it more challenging to take off your hair later.
Pro tip:
When styling, ensure you comb through your hair regularly, so there is no buildup between each strand of hair.
The quality of the hairspray used also makes a big difference. A little bit of research can save you time and money. So we did some and brought out this Detangling Priming Spray that detangles and Leaves hair smooth, soft, and radiant. This product also cuts blow-drying time and protects against thermal and environmental damage.
Seal It Using a Carrier Oil
Along with tangles-preventing products, carrier oils can also serve your hair in many ways. Among hundreds of options available, olive oil and coconut oil are considered best for an overall hair care regimen.
With their high oily consistencies, both oils seal hair’s natural texture, making it easy to manage and style. In addition, being rich in hair-friendly nutrients, these oils nourish hair profoundly and leave it smooth and shiny all day long.
Protect Hair from Tangling While Sleeping
You can do nothing about the annoying morning tangles while sleeping. But following a few pre-sleeping steps can make you wake up with tangle-free tresses every morning.
- Wash, condition, and dry your hair out before bedtime.
- Never forget to brush or comb your hair before bed.
- Loosely braid your hair and tie it up with a soft scrunchy. This VAGA Scrunchy Set can make things a lot more comfortable. Each scrunchy in this set is made of soft and durable fabric, ensuring breakage of both your hair and the scrunchy itself. The collection contains six colors – pick your favorite one each day of the week!
So Let’s Conclude How to Stop Hair from Tangling at the Nape of the Neck
Nothing will help detangle that pesky hair on the nape of the neck if you’re not clear about your mindset. This means you must figure out whether you’re just ‘interested’ or ‘committed’ to get rid of those tangles. If you’re just interested, you’ll give up soon. But if you’re committed, you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.
So, the bottom line is: stick with the guidelines mentioned above and an “I’m committed” mindset, and you’ll soon thank yourself and us!