Case Study || "Tangle-Teezer-Like" Tool and Breakage?

I was on one of my favorite forums when I came across the following case study that was performed in India.  The report involves a tool that resembles the "Tangle Teezer" in terms of bristle arrangement and sizing.  (There are, of course, some differences between the tool in the report and the "Tangle Teezer", but the similarities cannot be neglected, in my honest opinion.)

So what is so interesting about this case study?  Well, to me, it does more than demonstrate how the use of certain hair tools may ultimately translate to breakage.  It does two more things:

1) It gives possible confirmation to those who jumped on the "Tangle Teezer" bandwagon and noticed an increase in breakage and split ends thereafter.

2) And, for my own hair care practices, it makes me think twice about using the "Tangle Teezer" on my flat-ironed hair.  (You see, I figured the problem with the tool that most people were experiencing was due to using it on textured hair.  I thought it okay to use the tool on straight hair ... until now.)  Contrary to what I initially guessed, the study was performed on patients who were not afro-textured but who had naturally straight/wavy hair.  Even on straight hair, this tool may present a problem!?!

Ultimately, patients were asked to: 

• avoid the tool (and instead use a straight comb with elongated bristles) AND 
• to change their combing habits (which involved using the tool on hair that had not been lubricated with conditioner or oil).

For the full study: TRICHORRHEXIS NODOSA INDUCED BY TOOL AND COMBING HABIT (2011)

About trichorrhexis nodosa -  "The essential abnormality of trichorrhexis nodosa is the formation of nodes along the hair shaft through which breakage readily occurs (Source)."

Friday's Length Retention Tip!

Do you want to reach your goal? Then ...

adopt a low/no comb routine.  Combing the hair is a form of mechanical manipulation and may encourage breakage (Source).  Thus, keep combing to a minimum (e.g., once a month, every few months, or never).  If possible, opt for finger detangling instead.

Other tips:

*Use a wide tooth bone/resin comb instead of a regular comb
*Finger detangle on dry, lubricated, stretched hair
*Comb on damp, conditioner-soaked hair
*Toss out your brushes (denman, tangle teezer, paddle, etc.)

Reader's Question: Low Comb Routine

• Hello! I am currently experimenting with detangling my hair less often. I read that you do a low comb routine. Can you do a post on your detangling routine? How often you detangle? What you use to detangle (conditioners, combs, brushes, etc) What you do between combing sessions (finger comb, etc)?

Great question!  I have a two-part answer that depends on hair length:


FROM TWA to BSL:
(I actually started this routine at APL, but it works for shorter lengths as well.)  When my hair was this length, I comb detangled every 1-3 months.  I would soak my hair in LustraSilk Cholesterol mixed with olive oil for about an hour.  Then I would comb through each section of hair with a wide-tooth comb followed up by a medium-tooth comb.  After I completed each section, I would twist/braid it up, rinse out the conditioner, and proceed to style my hair as usual. Every 1-2 weeks (between comb detangling sessions), I redid my twists and used that opportunity to finger detangle on dry hair.  


FROM BSL to BEYOND:
I currently detangle about once every 3-4 weeks.  I soak my hair in LeKair Cholesterol mixed with olive oil for about 20-30 minutes.  (As my hair has gotten longer, the ends require just a little bit of protein to remain strong, hence my switch to LeKair.)  Then I run through the ends with a wide-tooth comb followed by a paddle brush from from roots to the ends.  (I use a paddle brush instead of a medium-tooth comb for ease and speed.)  At this length, I no longer finger detangle since my twist styles last from one comb detangling session to the next.


EDITED - MBL and BEYOND: I no longer use a paddle brush.  I only use a wide tooth comb.


I hope this helps!