Understanding Fairy Knots
Fairy knots are tiny, single strand knots that happen when the ends of individual hair strands get tangled. The official name for fairy knots is trichonodosis and they're basically a curly-haired version of a split end. Although they come with the curly hair territory, there are things you can do to treat and prevent fairy knots. And it starts with identifying the cause of these tiny tangles. More on that below.
Identifying the Causes of Fairy Knots
The first step in eliminating fairy knots is finding out what's causing them. It's important to understand how your hair is getting tangled, so that you can put a plan in place to stop it. The most common causes of pesky little knots include the curl pattern, everyday hair shedding and poor hair care habits. Let's get into each.
Curl Pattern
Though all hair textures run the risk of getting tangled, natural, curly, kinky and coily hair types are especially prone to fairy knots. That's because the hair follicles on these hair types are oval-shaped. This causes the hair strand to grow out of the scalp in a coiled pattern, naturally winding around itself and encouraging tangles. This is particularly true for tighter textures, so the tighter your curl pattern, the more susceptible your strands are to fairy knots.
Hair Shedding
Another contributing factor is everyday hair shedding, which is typically 50-100 strands a day. When curly hair strands fall out, they have a tendency to lock around each other and create fairy knots. This happens even more when the cuticles of the strands are damaged. Those with split ends and damaged hair are also much more susceptible to this type of tangle; as hairs split, they wrap around themselves.
Poor Hair Habits
Fairy knots can also be worsened by improper maintenance and care. Things like not using high quality hair products, using sulfates and other harmful chemicals, excessive heat styling, rough shampooing or detangling and friction from rubbing against clothing or the pillow. These things disrupt the cuticle and cause strands to intertwine with each other or onto themselves, resulting in, you guessed it- fairy knots.
Treating Existing Fairy Knots
Now it's time to break down how to deal with existing fairy knots. Your first instinct might be to brush or comb through your tiny tangles, but don't do it! Brushing through these knots will cause more damage than the actual knots. This will not only contribute to split ends and breakage, but likely tighten the knot and make it harder to untangle. Instead, follow our guide below of these stylist-approved tips and learn how to detangle single-strand knots. Let's take a closer look at each.
Separate Your Strands
Start by separating your hair into four sections, two on top and two on the bottom. You may need more sections if your hair is very curly or thick. Use a hair clip to hold each section in place. Working one section at a time, pull your hair away from your scalp, holding it taut and gently separating any knots. Once you have a section detangled hold it out of the way with the clip again, before starting on the next.
Apply Conditioner
Applying a high quality leave-in conditioner can help you gently work through knots in your hair. The conditioner closes the cuticle, helping strands slip out of the tangle easier. Simply rub your favorite conditioner between your fingers and apply it to the knot, or gently rub the knot with conditioner. Be sure to avoid conditioners with parabens, silicones and other harmful chemicals.
Use Your Fingers
Removing fairy knots with your fingers is a safer, more effective way to work through your tangles than using a comb or brush to remove them. Using a brush or comb can put unnecessary pressure on the tiny knots forcing your strands to snap. If you find that you can't use your fingers, gently use a wide tooth comb, starting at the ends and working your way up.
Be Gentle
Avoid pulling or yanking single-strand knots if you can't untangle them gently. Sometimes the only way to get rid of a stubborn fairy knot is to cut it out before it gets more tangled and causes breakage. If this is the case, we recommend always using sharp hair clippers. Using dull household scissors when trimming your hair can cause damage to your ends.
Take Your Time
When it comes to untangling fairy knots, patience is key. Take your time and don't rush, which can cause you to carelessly pull through your strands and break them. Don't focus on multiple strands at a time. Instead, start with a small piece and try to detangle it from the others. Then, move on to the next piece and so on, until all the pieces in that section are untangled.
