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Getting those tangles out without ripping the hair!

2/10/2016

6 Comments

 
Have you ever had a horse with a major dread lock in the mane or tail?  Well here is a full proof way for getting those tangles out without having to rip or cut them out.  If you use a product such as WD-40 on the hair first, (this is what I sue) apply liberally and then wait a few minutes for it to begin to lubricate, then you can start picking it apart with your fingers into sections and then go to carefully brushing out.  (I use a high quality hair brush rather than a comb)

Once you have all of the hair tangle free it is very important to thoroughly wash all of the lubricant out of the hair.  Then you can go ahead with applying your conditioners.  See my earlier blog post for more information on that.  

Many people think that you cannot brush the hair or you will rip it out.  Horses naturally shed their hair so if you don't regularly remove the shed hair then you will get dread locks.  This is because that long shed mane or tail hair inter-twines with the other hair in the mane or tail and creates a tangle.  To avoid this you should try and remove the hair that has naturally shed.  You can actually see this a lot of times both in the mane and more often than not at the top of the tail head.  The hair that is naturally shedding will have a white tip on the root and this is a sign to you that the hair needs to be brushed or hand combed out.  Remember though, that if the hair is not clean and conditioned you can pull out in tact hair along with that shed hair so it is important to wash and condition the hair at minimum every two weeks and at best once per week.  I make it a general rule never to brush the hair without having it clean and conditioned first.  If I see shed hair and am not ready to wash, then I use my fingers to comb through carefully to remove this shed hair.   I hope this helps with those tangles!
6 Comments
Sam
1/5/2020 07:25:13 am

Why would you tell anyone to use WD-40? That's a moronic idea.

Reply
Lynzi
1/1/2021 08:59:11 am

Sam.... you're the only one who's moronic here! If you can't "think out side the box" then maybe you should keep your small minded comments aside and let the grown ups be the ones to comment.

Reply
Debbie Augustinovich
3/19/2021 12:06:51 am

Tore both my shoulder rotators &bicep rotators@ same time.Hair has been twisted into a bun on each side ..for a year not washed or combed any new or loose stains i twisted&weaved -in&out >.I GOT QUESTIONS .. (CONDITION OF MATTS S COMPARE ..TO A LONG HAIRED MATTED DOG THAY CANT MOVE 2 INCHES AT LEAST..4 INCHES WIDE..YOUR -MY ONLY HOPE ".....SO BEAR WITH ME"AS -IN ...DOING .THiS ALONE..
WAS ABLE TO SPLIT THE MIDDLE up under the twist the clumps resemble inverted upside down duck wings...I ..HAVE ALL THE POSSIBLE TOOLS FOR DETANGLING .BUT "..DONT HAVE ACCESS ..TO ..ANY BREAK DOWN HAIR CONDITIONER NOT EVEN COOKING OIL. I GOT AND GET THE "JEST" ..HOW THE WD-40. CAN DETANGLE HAIR .I USED IT EMBROIDERING THREADS KNOT UP SPRAY WD-40 THE THREADS OPEN .LIKE A BLOOMING FLOWER. . SO HAVING SHARED SITUATION THRU THE NOVEL I M SENDING. .IS SERIOUS FOR YOUR. HELP. IVE SEARCHED 2/3 DAYS INTERNET UTUBE ETC I CAME A CROSS A STYLIST CLAIMED CLIENT USED WD40 IN DESPERATION AND SUCCEEDED.__
(59yrs woman live in pine,az mountains .no MEANS of transportation. Last year walmart took 6 1/2 hrs ..just detangle 1 bun..☆I DO HAVE WD-40
HERE'S MY DIY LOGICAL SAFETY QUESTIONS : ..DOES&DON'TS...😇😇
1)do i apply to hair "damp?,wet ?or dry ?
2) minumum &maximum wait time with WD40 "IN"HAIR..?
__WORKING WD40 INTO MATTEDHAIR__
3) FINGER TIPS METHOD?
4) MASSAGE WD40 THROUGHLY?
5) WD-40 THE SCALP?
**stupid last question**?
6)"IM A SMOKER" IS WD-40 FLAMMABLE
(GODD BLESS YOU .

Reply
C.davies
5/10/2022 12:29:18 pm

My mother has dementia and severely matted hair wonder if I can use a WD-40 to do the trick instead of paying $200 to $300 to get it untangled and unmatted

Reply
Toni Johnson
5/30/2022 11:43:10 pm

I have matted hair the size of a baseball I cannot get it unmatted will WD40 work and please tell me how? I have hair down the middle of my back..I kept it up in a bun for several weeks..took it down..half of it..matted up like a baseball..please help

Reply
Denise
6/29/2022 07:18:29 pm

I'm a mom who think hair is important, my daughter's hair was badly matted during COVID lockdown, I did not bug her about combing her hair out, when lockdown began to lift I scheduled her a salon appointment to get it out it toke 3 different stylist and 8+ hours to get her hair untangled when I tell the looks I got were horrible, not to mention she is extremely tender headed. I immediately had her hair braided by really great professionals and three weeks later I toke her braids down. Then month later.put a relaxer in and her hair was great. At some point her being teenager could take care of it... She did not. After 6 months it has been slowly 2 months trying to get it unmatted the top part done and untangled but the back is relentless and the bottom half is not helping, today I used WD40 and it was working like a charm, I of course washed her hair right away 2 times plus 3rd with conditioner. She needed a break but the giant 2 knots are no longer right on her scalp but her hair has loosen noticably and half is untangled. By Monday she will be all untangled. I can't believe it is working. Everything I research point to not a bad idea. I say yes Jesus! Thank the goddesses.

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    Ruth has been around horses for 46 years and loves to share her knowledge and what she has learned with others and to help horses and humans be in harmony.

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