Weaves are quite pricey and you don’t need anyone to remind you that, right? So, it becomes quite depressing when they begin to tangle barely a few weeks after you buy them. Everybody says not to get your weaves tangled but they aren’t exactly telling you how to keep your weave from tangling.
There are few things quite as frustrating as combing out knots, tangles, and clumps from your (very expensive!) weave. Oftentimes, wefts come loose during this process which ruins the weaves.
Lucky for you, our article is dedicated to people like you with such issues. We won’t only show you how to keep your weave from tangling, we will also show you how you can salvage any weave that has tangled no matter how bad the tangling situation.
But first, let’s answer the question…
Table of Contents
Why Do Weaves Tangle?
There are many reasons weaves tangle or mat and here are some of those reasons.
1. The Process of Manufacturing the Weave
If the manufacturers of the weave went through a painstaking process to make their weaves, of course, there would be a lower chance of the weave tangling than if the manufacturer was cheap to reduce cost.
Hair that is properly sourced should have all its cuticles present and traveling in the same direction. Once this condition is met, chances of tangling are already drastically reduced.
This is why raw hair and virgin hair are less prone to tangling than treated hair (e.g. colored hair).
So, if you’re buying any hair other than raw hair or virgin hair, you should already know what you’re up against. Click here to learn how to buy authentic virgin hair.
Since we source our weaves directly from the manufacturers, you can trust that they won’t tangle with proper care.
2. The Quality of the Hair
It’s always worth it buying quality hair. If you go cheap, there’s every probability that your hair is going to tangle sooner than later.
This is why we go through great pains to source all our weaves and wigs directly from the manufacturers in China. We get only the best weaves and wigs for our customers so they don’t have to deal with quality issues such as tangling, matting, and shedding. It’s important to us that you get value for your money.
Poor quality weaves tangle easily and even get damaged for all kinds of reasons including exposure to the elements. Our weaves, on the other hand, can withstand weather which is why we are very proud of them.
3. Care and Maintenance
This one is pretty commonsensical. If you don’t care for your hair correctly, it’s going to tangle. Shampooing correctly using the right products, as well as drying completely are two of the most important steps involved in caring for and maintaining wigs. You also need to nourish your weaves with the right oils and comb correctly.
For a full, comprehensive guide on caring for human hair and weaves, click here.
4. Certain Hair Products Cause Weaves to Tangle
Of course, hair products are important for nourishing and caring for your hair like we mentioned in the last point. However, not all hair products are good for weaves. Moreover, not all products should be used for all kinds of hair. For instance, you shouldn’t use the same hair products on virgin hair and raw hair.
Using low quality hair products on your weaves weighs your hair down and also dries the hair up, causing it to tangle.
Because of how pricey weaves are, it’s best not to do trial and error with hair products. If you’re not sure what to get, consult your stylist for recommendations. You often don’t recognise how much damage your preferred hair product is wreaking to your weave until it’s a bit late. So, as they say, better to err on the side of caution.
5. The Length of the Hair
Super long inches are indeed sexy but they bring with them their own problems. Fact is, the longer your weave is, the more likely it is to tangle. Now, if your super long weave is high quality, that is, the cuticles all align, you have better odds.
But if you buy a cheap, super long weave, the weave is already set up to tangle and tangle it will.
This is why you should only buy your super long weaves from us. We source directly from the manufacturer. So, we can guarantee you the best quality hairs every time. Click here to check them out now!
6. Damage
The longer you use your weave, the more it will deteriorate. It’s a very normal, expected process so don’t let that bother you. A good quality weave should put in between 6 months to one year of solid use if you do right by it.
Anyway, as time passes, the hair will begin to dry out. And one way you can tell that the weave is beginning to get damaged is that it’s beginning to tangle a lot. This tells you that the hair is dry and you might need to take the weave out for a revamp or for retirement.
How to Keep Your Weave from Tangling
We’ve seen all the factors that make your weaves susceptible to tangling and matting. Now, here are a few tips to keep your weaves from tangling.
1. Brush Your Hair Correctly
After installing your weave, you want to brush it even after the first few hours. It’s important to do this to keep the weave from tangling. But it’s not just about brushing, as the header says, it’s about brushing correctly.
By now you know that you can only brush your hair with a wide-toothed comb. If it’s raw hair you have, then you should go for a paddle brush.
Now, when brushing your hair, you should begin from the tips and then work your hair to the roots. Do this gradually and don’t brush too hard or you could loosen the weft causing the hair to shed. Doing this will also help you avoid split ends.
You should brush your hair, at least, twice a day to prevent tangling. Tangling begins with the formation of knots in the hair and regular combing will help loosen them before they make the hair tangle.
2. Use the Right Hair Products
Not all hair products are great for your weave. Just as sulfates and paraben are bad for your natural hair, they are also bad for your weave. Remember that your weaves are human hair. Sulfate and parabens would strip your hair of its natural oils causing it to become dry and increasing the possibility of tangling.
So, when in the market for products for your weaves, look for products that are sulfate- and paraben-free. Also, make sure you get products that are specific to virgin hair weaves or raw hair weaves as the case may be. You also want products that keep your hair moisturized.
One more thing, avoid products that contain alcohol. They are bad for your hair and could weaken the bond on lace closures and frontals causing shedding. Click here to learn all the different weave closures including closures and frontals.
3. Deep Condition Your Hair Regularly
Just like your natural hair, maintaining the perfect level of moisture for your human hair weaves is critical to its health. It’s also important to keeping your hair tangle-free.
The best way to keep your hair moisturized is to deep condition regularly. You should deep condition your hair every two weeks and let the deep conditioner sit in your hair for, at least, 30 minutes. If you’re regular with this, your hair will remain soft, silky, healthy, and shiny. And a well-moisturized hardly gets tangled.
4. Watch Your Night Routine
As you unconsciously move your head around at night, your hair is sure to tangle. This is why it is important to follow the right sleep routine.
First, never go to bed with your hair wet. When preparing for bed, braid your weave and then wrap it up using a satin scarf or you can also use a satin bonnet.
For better results, you can also use a satin pillowcase as well but if you can’t get that, a satin scarf or bonnet alone is just fine. The important thing is you want a satin barrier between your hair and your cotton pillowcase to reduce friction. This friction causes frizzes which eventually causes the hair to tangle.
5. Reduce the Use of Heat on Your Hair
Heat is not good for human hair, there’s no other way to put it. When you wash your hair, it’s always better to air dry rather than use a blow dryer. It’s also best to use non-heat methods when curling or straightening your hair to extend the shelf life of your weaves.
However, we understand that, sometimes, you just have to use heat. First off, try to reduce the number of times this occurs because heat sucks out moisture from human hair. So, the more you apply heat, the more you damage your hair, and the more it is susceptible to tangling.
Secondly, when using heat to dry your hair, make sure that the blow dryer is set to the lowest level of heat. If you’re styling, then apply a heat protectant first. This will reduce the impact of the hot tool on your hair.
How to Revive Dry, Tangled Hair
So far, we’ve looked at why weaves get tangled and what to do to prevent your hair from tangling. But what if your weave is already tangled, is all hope lost? Luckily, all is not lost. You can revive your weave even if it’s dry and tangled.
But there are some things to note. Doing a weave revamp for your dry, tangled hair will not restore it to perfection. This is why you must avoid this situation in the first place. Truth is, depending on how bad the tangling situation is, there’s only so much revamping the weave would do.
Also, if your hair is getting tangled constantly because it’s old, revamping the weave wouldn’t do much. It might be best to simply get rid of it. That said, let’s see how to restore your dry, tangled hair to good condition.
1. Brush the Weave
To detangle your weave, of course, you have to brush your weave first. To do this properly, section your hair first. You can’t detangle the entire head of hair at once. Remember, if you apply too much force to your combing, you could loosen the weft.
You can divide the hair into sections and detangle the hair one section at a time. As usual, begin combing from the tips and work your way up. Use your free hand to hold the hair some inches away from the section you’re combing. This way, you don’t tug too hard at the roots of the hair.
Please, comb only with a wide-toothed comb for virgin hair or a paddle brush for raw hair. You can also use fingers at certain points if the process calls for it.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Oftentimes, what causes tangling is a buildup of hair products and dirt. So, after detangling, you want to clarify the weave using ACV. Mix some ACV in water and soak the hair in the mixture for, at least, 45 minutes.
After getting rid of product buildup and dirt, use some clarifying shampoo (sulphate-free) to cleanse the weave even more. Simply swirl the weave in the water or run your fingers through the weave. Don’t rub the strands of the hair together or roughen the hair up as this could cause the hair to tangle all over the hair.
Once the hair has been properly cleansed, rinse the shampoo out.
3. Deep Condition
Now, apply some deep conditioner to your weave, beginning from the tips, working your way up to the roots. If the weave is still on your head, after applying the deep conditioner, you can wrap your hair in a plastic wrap. Then sit under a hooded dryer. The heat and deep conditioner working together would help open up closed cuticles.
Now, let the deep conditioner sit for as long as possible but for one hour, at least. After this, work a comb through the hair with the deep conditioner still in the hair. And then rinse off the conditioner afterward.
4. Air Dry
Once you’re done rinsing, allow your weave to air dry. Your hair must be completely dry before you begin styling it. Also, don’t forget to use a good quality sealant to seal the strands of your weave for a perfect finish. And then if you’re going to be using hot tools to style your hair, then use some heat protectant first.
5. Keep Your Weave from Tangling
Now that you’ve restored your weaves to good condition, follow the steps we described earlier in the article to keep your weaves from tangling again.
Hope We Helped You Straighten That Out?
We hope our article has been helpful in showing you how to keep your weave from tangling and how to revive your weave if it’s in bad condition. Don’t forget to check out our other articles for more amazing content on everything concerning human hair weaves and wigs.
While you’re at it, click here to get the best quality weaves using our Product Finder!
