To Comb or Not to Comb

There is so much information on how to care and maintain natural hair sometimes it can get a little confusing.  There are times that you should comb your hair as well as time that you should not.

For some reason, people are saying you should not comb your hair at all, like never.  This is so far from the truth.  You should comb your hair regularly. Natural hair can be combed as often as you like but when fully wet and saturated with a conditioner.   This also applies to those transitioning.    Sections hair, use a wide tooth comb, start in the back of head and move forward.  Detangling  hair gently from ends and work your way up for best result.  Keep a spray bottle handy to  keep hair moist. This eases the process and minimizes breakage.

How often you comb your depends on your hairstyle.  If you are wearing a protective style, you may comb or detangle your hair once a week or once every two weeks, for example.  Bottom line combing natural hair is necessary to properly care and maintain hair.  This is the only way to eliminated shredded hair and to avoid natural hair from matting and loc’ing.

Video: Detangling Natural Hair

Note:  If you do not comb hair regularly you may develop a tender scalp when you do comb.  To help massage the scalp with hands or massaging brush.

When Not to Comb

If you want to maximize your natural curl definition, combing is not necessary for styling.  This applies more for hair that is shorter in length or a wash n go style.  Fingerstyling, Shingling or Finger combing will suffice versus using atraditional comb and brush.   Read more on defining curls.

It is not necessary to comb natural hair every day if styled and set in hair style such as wash n go, twist out, braid out, two strand twist and etc.   But should be apart of your hair regimen and should never be done on dry natural hair.