Why Is My Hair Knotty After Washing?

It can be disheartening when your hair turns into a mess of knots after washing it. You may wonder, "How did this happen?" There are several reasons why, and we will cover all of them in this article. That way, you'll be able to avoid them in the future.

Your Hair is Dry

One of the main reasons why your hair may be knotty after washing is that it is dry. Moisturized, supple strands glide past other strands with ease. But when the hair is dehydrated, individual strands easily become intertwined with neighboring strands, creating knots. Add to that the stripping effect of most shampoos, and you've got a recipe for disaster. Unless you take action to replenish the moisture in your hair, it will always be knotty after washing. 

Fix it: If you suspect that dryness is the reason why your hair is knotty after washing, first switch to a sulfate-free shampoo. Then follow that up with a deep conditioner formulated with penetrating oils and humectants to draw moisture into your hair. Afterward, apply a leave-in conditioner all over your hair and comb it through for even distribution. Completing these steps on a regular basis will dramatically improve the quality of your hair. Soon, you'll find that your hair tangles much less after washing. 

Your Ends Are Split

When your ends are split, the ends are frayed and super prone to tangles. And, to make matters worse, adding shampoo to your hair and massaging it around further encourages tangling. 

Fix it: Contrary to popular belief, the only way to get rid of split ends is to cut them off. So, to keep the knots at bay, we encourage you to trim your ends. The sooner you do, the sooner you can end frustrating after-wash detangling sessions. After you get your ends trimmed, make sure that you get periodic trims every 6 to 12 weeks to keep your hair knot-free. 

Your Hair Is Over Processed

Over-processed hair is known to be damaged and dry, and this often contributes to excessive tangling post-wash. You'll know that your hair is over-processed if it feels dry, gummy, brittle, or looks like a different texture. 

Fix it: Damage from over-processing is permanent in the majority of cases - there's no way to completely restore it back to normal. But there are a few ways to improve it, including more frequent deep conditioning, daily moisturizing, and using keratin-infused hair products. Another way to improve over-processed hair is to limit the amount of heat you use on your hair and take a break from all types of chemical processing. 

You Wildy Scrub Your Scalp

Another one of the leading causes of post-wash knots and tangles is manually tangling your hair as you wash it. As a kid, you were probably taught to apply the shampoo and scrub it vigorously in circles. But what many don't know is that, while this does get your scalp clean, it can also tangle your hair. 

Fix it: Instead of wildly scrubbing your scalp without rhyme or reason, separate your hair into 4 sections and use alligator clips to keep them separate. Then, unclip one section and hold it taut with one hand while you use the other hand to scrub your scalp. Scrubbing your hair this way will reduce the amount of tangling you'll experience after washing. 

With the tips in this article, you can now enjoy your wash day again without having to worry about the tangles to come. We hope that this article is helpful to you as you care for your hair.

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.