My hair is matted,Please help me.

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This is what happened...I had a few weeks that I didn't bother combing nor maintaining my hair(nor to this day)...Probably due to depression (I don't know, I rather not blame depression for every little thing in my life)
But anyway....So whenever I took a shower, etc..I never combed my hair after (I would gather it all *without* doing anything and put it in a ponytail)Lo and behold, my hair got all tangled and knotted and now even extremely matted in some places,I am not too excited to fix it, but I know I soon have to,I don't want to cut it (It's meant to be shoulder length slightly curly hair) and If there is anyone out there who has had this happen to them,and You have any ideas to how to *fix* it,what the best detangler/dematter(?) might be, let me know on here.Thankyou.
I am so depressed, it's not even funny...but that's beside the point..
Thankyou in advance.
Sincerely,
Becky.

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

The best thing I can think of that might work is to try a silicone based "anti-frizz serum" - lots of that should be much more slick than a regular conditioner/detangler - so yeah, that plus a wide toothed comb, starting at the ends + lots of patience.

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Matting is pretty much impossible to fix.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, not that 'frizz-eaze' brand one? I once used that on my curly hair like years ago just to give my hair some balance(not because it was tangled and matted) and the thing was so oily and greasy and icky (from what I remembered)It was merely horrifying.What brand were You refering to?

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Mellisa, I think You are right on that part, but I still have hope *LOL*

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

As repulsive as it may sound, you might want to try heavily oiling your hair (I used mayo on mine once, after having to not wash it for a week due to hiking in the woods). Then I started from the base, with a flexible comb, and just slowly started working out the knots. I did end-up pulling out some of the matted areas that I couldn't get de-tangled, but it was better than having to cut off everything. Also, your arms will get tired during this process - it might be good to enlist a friend or two to help out (oh, and wear latex gloves, unless you want your hands getting really slick).

On another note, and I am sorry to sound like a mother here, but get yourself into a doc. and get put on some antidepressants. And look into therapy, too. While I can understand (and identify) with moping around, there might be some chemical imbalance that is triggering the emotional funk.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:54 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck off.

[n.b. I am being funny]

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 26 January 2003 05:55 (twenty-two years ago)

They're all pretty much the same I think - though that particular brand may be a little bit sticky. The "oily and greasy" part is why I suggested it. It may feel gross, but should be easier to untangle - I mean, if anything is going to work that is. I guess there are those spray on detanglers as well, especially the kids ones (kids tangle their hair a lot, don't they?). A few shampoo lathers should get most of that goop off afterward. Hope you find something short of the scissors anyway. Good luck!

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

mslaura,I think You have a good point there,Although repulsive, I might just have to pour on the grossest,greasiest thing (as long as it isnt that friz-eaze stuff) and try to save my hair,On the other hand, I can't go to a doctor,because I honeslty don't believe in them, and it doesn't make sense to make a depressed person,take a drug like prozac or anything else thus turning them into a zombie (I have no problem for extremely mentally ill people taking those zombie turing drugs,because obviously a catatonic or severely schizoid person can't be helped with anything but drugs)But not me....I mean the only thing keeping me from being happy is my fiancee coming home to me to marry me *sniff* But Your suggestion was apreciated.Thanks *hugs*

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you guys think a beauty salon might be able to help my hair?Is there such a thing where a beauty salon untangles a persons hair for a fee ? Man, I think this is going too far....

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Becky, I think you honestly have two choices: Enjoy your new dreads, or cut them off. Unless your hair is not truly matted, it is unsalvageable.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Becky, it is repulsive, not getting around that. You could try olive oil, but you really want something that is not going to be running down your face/back unless you enjoy that sensation (and don't mind the cleaning-up). The mayo, being thicker, will stay in place a bit longer, though you will still have some drippage. (And if you have pets they'll be inordinately attracted to your head.) You might try calling around to some beauty salons, as you've suggested - I've no idea if they'd be willing to take on your case or not - but they might be willing to take a look at things and advise on whether it can be corrected.

About the depression - I didn't realize, based on your original post, that there was a reason for the moping - if it's not a long-term thing, then avoiding the antidepressants makes more sense. (Though Prozac doesn't turn everyone into Zombies - and some of the others have minimal external effect, but internally they take the edge off of things and make coping easier.) Anyway, I'd still suggest the counseling, or at least some good self-help books - learning strategies for coping with painful situations can be a good self-preservation move.

So hang in there, and the best of luck with your hair *smile*

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Kim, that friz-eaze stuff is very sticky...that's one of the reasons why it really grossed me out that one time,I don't even know if they still sell that product..I think I got it for my winter frizz in early 1993......But like,it was no nasty.Does that company make stuff for tangled/ matted hair too?

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.dailyepiphany.net/images/gallery/sloth.jpg

― ron (ron), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Dreads.lol.
perish the thought!
----------------------
mslaura,I don't know what it was about that sticky friz-eaze stuff that grossed me out so much (it was a very strange and rare consistency) I am however very anxious to try just about anything,and I am not hesitant on any other product,You guys are very fast and quick on the advice *that's what makes this site so great*

― becky lucas (becky_lucas), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you guys think a beauty salon might be able to help my hair?Is there such a thing where a beauty salon untangles a persons hair for a fee ? Man, I think this is going too far....

Try asking if they've ever undone dreadlocks. For what it's worth, my hair tangles and mats painfully if I leave it loose for too long. (Usually I braid it when I sleep or if I know I won't be able to wash it for a while.) When that happens I take a fine-toothed comb and a lot of detangling spray (leave-in conditioner) and work at the edges of the individual snarl. It still hurts (from pulling), and a lot of my hair tends to break off (one lock near my face seems never to grow out). Afterwards you might want to go to a salon, to have a professional cut your hair into an attractive style.

In the meantime, you say you don't want to blame everything on depression, but you might want to think about why you're not taking care of your hair after you've washed it (wet hair is especially fragile, and if it has any tendency to curl the likelihood of matting escalates).

― j.lu (j.lu), Sunday, 26 January 2003 06:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Use a kid detangling/leave-in conditioner spray

― ducklingmonster, Sunday, 26 January 2003 08:39 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

hey i ironed my hair like everyday at one point and now my hair is lie all frizy and stuff how do i fix it !! FAST!! HELP!!

― Chantele, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.cityguidemagazine.com/theaterart/hairspray.jpg

― :|, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

My hair is matted,Please help me.

Don't worry, the black bars at the top and bottom of your screen are normal.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Ironing yr hair every day will wreck it, thats the unfortunate truth. The ironed bits'll be damaged and probably need to be cut off...

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

And if you just put it on and wear it for a while, it'll usually iron itself out.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

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