Really bad hair tangle - how to handle?

[KBecks]

My son has a section of hair on the back of his head that is tangled and matted. The area isn't huge, maybe it's 1/4" of area that I would be cutting down if it's right to cut it.

He has a haircut next week. He says it hurts if I touch it.

So, should I go ahead and cut that part out? I don't know if there are any other solutions. His hair is about 2-3" long and he's overdue for a haircut. I have been bad and don't comb his hair daily, he has always seemed to look cute with his hair just as it is.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Demeter9]

Mane and Tail detangler might help. You spray it liberally.

[KBecks]

Is that a product for children? Where do I find it? Places like Target?

[aja-belly]

for bad tangles i glob in conditioner (any kind) and brush it out slowly (from bottom moving up) and then rinse/wash it out.

if he's getting a haircut next week anyways i don't see why not to cut it.

[beautyful]

Originally Posted by aja-belly

for bad tangles i glob in conditioner (any kind) and brush it out slowly (from bottom moving up) and then rinse/wash it out.

My hair tangles/mats very easily, and this is the best method I've found thus far. (Well, one that doesn't involve scissors and a really awkward style for a couple of months.)

[Jane]

You can try just conditioning it and rinsing it and conditioning and rinsing it - no soap or shampoo. Depending on how tangled, that might work without a comb.

Also, you could try combining methods - if you cut off an inch, it might untangle so much better with those crispy ends cut off.

[cycle]

Mane & Tale is not for children specifically, I use it on my own hair that mattes and tangles terribly. You can use conditioner and let it sit, really glob it in and rub it then comb with the conditioner still in it. Start combing from the ends, don't start at the scalp or center of the matte.

[onlyzombiecat]

If he is getting a haircut next week I would just cut it off. Quick and painless is the way to go IMO.

I have used the conditioner method and sprays and it was still a hurtful time consuming process for my dd even for smaller tangles. She has a very sensitive head.

[DoomaYula]

My dd gets tangles. I use some kind of hair serum -- I think any kind will work -- and that helps. I rub it in my palms and then all over her head, then comb. While she stares at herself in the mirror and blows kisses at herself

[mata]

I put olive oil on the knot, and brush it with this brush, which I swear by:

http://www.magiccabin.com/magiccabin/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1004&pgc=608&cmvalue=MC D|0|Normal%20Search%20Result|P1

Note there are baby and children's brushes-I use the children's-it's the only brush my 7 yo tanglemonster will tolerate. It breaks up the knot hair by hair without hurting her. The only drawback is that I have to get new brushes every 3 months!

[mamalisa]

Originally Posted by YumaDoula

My dd gets tangles. I use some kind of hair serum -- I think any kind will work -- and that helps. I rub it in my palms and then all over her head, then comb. While she stares at herself in the mirror and blows kisses at herself

My dd has really fine hair, but tons of it. When she wakes up from a 20 minute nap it's a huge rats nest. Overnight is awful. I use Frizz Ease hair serum on it after we wash her hair. It really helps keep the tangles from forming.

[wwinorth]

My dd has really fine hair, but tons of it. When she wakes up from a 20 minute nap it's a huge rats nest. Overnight is awful. I use Frizz Ease hair serum on it after we wash her hair. It really helps keep the tangles from forming.

I could seriously kiss you right now!!!! *smooch* :

[EVC]

Places like Safeway sell spray on detangers specifically for children. They work well on dd's hair which can get VERY tangeld sometimes.

[Smokering]

Yep, the 'globs of conditioner' idea is the best I've used. It doesn't even need to be specifically detangling--just any kind of condish will work. (You can even use mayonnaise, but it'd leave your son with kinda greasy hair for a while...).

After a childhood of horrible, hairbrush-gets-caught-and-can't-be-removed, nape-of-the-neck tangles, I have decided that if my daughters have long hair they WILL learn from an early age how to plait it for bed. It's made the hugest difference to my very tangly hair--it can't get into too much mischief if it's plaited, no matter how much I toss and turn! Satin pillowcases are good too for preventing tanglage.

[grumpybear]

DS was born with tons of hair and used to get all matted and tangled up all the time. We used olive oil to detangle it.

[kathirynne]

My daughter and I both have long, fine, tangle-prone hair. Aloe vera gel and rosewater are our two stand bys.