Precautionary Measures to Keep Them at Bay
► Keep hair moisturized- I have found that since doing the GHE along with the LOC method, I have had considerably less ssks. This is because my hair has been kept moisturized which lessens the friction between strands. Also of great importance is the need to ensure that you drink lots of water to hydrate the hair from within.
► Limit “out styles” such as wash n’ gos and afro puffs or tufts since these lend themselves to shrinkage and dryness from environmental factors; two ideal factors for the creation of ssks.
► Do not skip the detangling process. When hair is not properly detangled, shedded hairs tend to tie themselves around single strands of hair, leading to the formation of ssks.
► Gently detangle hair to ensure that you do not end up forming more ssks and/or tearing out the ones that exist. This is where I would highly recommend the use of finger detangling to ensure that you are able to feel out the knots on your own
► Limit manipulation all together especially those of a vigorous nature.
► Keep hair organized by ensuring that you keep your tresses as elongated as possible. The more stretched out your hair is the less likely it is that you will develop ssks. These means that you should do your best to handle hair in sections. using loose twists, hair ties*, banding or threading and clips are some of the ways you might do this. If you are washing or styling your hair ensure that the hair is kept organized in order to limit the occurrence and/or abundance of ssks.
► Use products that give you great slippage so that you can lessen friction on the hair and make managing the hair easier. A good oil and conditioners or butters* will also help to keep your cuticle layers down so that your hair is not rough.
► Try to guard against exposure to the cold as well as excessive protein and glycerin in the wrong weather, all factors which can lead to hair being dry and rough.
► If your ends are rough, trim them off since rough cuticles are the perfect environment for the formation of ssks.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so if you do not have major issues with ssks, thank your lucky stars but do not become complacent, lest you fall ill to this critter.
The logical conclusion then, is that if your hair is super coily/curly then you ARE going to get some degree of ssks forming regardless of how exemplary your regimen is.
But excessive ssks (on most strands) is neither healthy for your hair, nor is it conducive to your length goals.
I have this alll the time
Very much
When I had hair, it was as if my natural hair couldn’t be without em single strands knot.
Ughh those…I have those
I have the m too, ALOT!
I’m going through it too yall!!! I dnt know what to do. The only thing i know i dnt do is cover my hair every night
Also try to comb them out with a good leave in daily.
Ughh…they are a nightmare!!
yesssssss it’s too real!
Nope!
what do you do to prevent them
Honestly the only way I’ve found that completely prevents them, is to keep the ends straight. Last year my SSK’s were so bad that braid outs were pretty much impossible. I found that this problem was greatly reduced after I started blow drying my hair rather than letting it air dry. I found that the heat really set in the oil and leave in conditioner. That combined with the heat protectant made for very soft ssk free hair. Mind you, because of the petroleum use I do have to use a shampoo containing sulfides.
Thankfully I never get them.
Can’t stand to come my hair when I have so many of them.
All the time. I sit with a pair of shears next to me ; (
I don’t let them bother me anymore.
Yes!!!!!! How do I avoid this? Pls pls pls let me know
Yes…the strugge…lol
Lovie Wallace this is what I mentioned to you lol! Also I follow multiple natural hair communities on FB 🙂
Natural hair is a struggle with these, I Hate them
Thanks, Kaci Wallace! I have been checking to see if I have this happening. I believe I do.
I’ve never had this! Is this common?
The more tightly coiled/ kinky your hair, the more it tangles on itself creating knots.
Is your hair relaxed? I didnt get them until being natural. With 4b hair type
Quite so for some naturals. Stay on the safe side.
I have a bad habit of snapping them off!
I use to have a bad problem with them, but I started pre-pooing with lots of oil (at least an hour before shampooing) and moisturizing twice a day instead on once a day and putting JBCO just on the ends. Working well for me.
That’s a pretty good regimen.
Those things were driving me crazy…it takes a little more time, but worth it.
How do you usually style your hair
I wear lots of protective styles, crochet braids, cornrows, two strand twist, and when I’m feeling frotastic I rock my fro..lol! I change the style each week after a wash and DC.
Yes… but i notice them more when it close to wash day… but after i condition they disappear 🙂
I only get them when I’m not moisturizing properly and leave my hair out.
My nemesis!
Not sure how to prevent them, I’m just not bothered by them when I get them.
Yes I get them all the time and I just pull it on off doesn’t fade me one bit I have a head full of hair so its not like u can tell and yes its very normal for natural hair just condition and go on bout your day or snip it
Yes
Yes!! Hate them!
Happens to my hair all the time I hate no one knows how to prevent it
Yes I hate them so I do the search and destroy method
I do the search and destroy method too since I can’t stand the thought of doing a wholesome chop LOL
I have them and it doesn’t bother me…maybe if I straightened my hair it would but yeah most of them are in the back of my hair (where its the kinkiest)…
Funny enough I get SSK more when my hair is wet because I have a really really tight curl pattern and detangling is more work. When my hair is stretched less to no SSKs.
They can be a problem as they are one pre- requisite to breakage or weakened hair. I wear locs and I don’t really concern myself as much because I’m content with my achieved look.
My hair has never been relaxed, I’ve always been natural I just straighten it from time to time. I actually just went through a big chop to my chin and half shave it’s growing back now.
I have them too
Those SSKs are like a plague. I have them.
I get these terribly. One thing I noticed is doing is smoothing my hair down with caster oil each night really helped.
Nope.
Will definitely follow those precautionary measures in order to minimize my single strand knots. Such a big help. Thank you for posting this. Have a great day!
These knots break my hair off. I have to keep my hair stretched to avoid getting them so easily.
I hate those buggers
They cause the ends of the rest of my hair to tangle and knot. Makes my ends feel horrible. Yep I cut them off whenever I see them.
No knots are knots and I get rid of them by detangling my hair.
Even if you detangle it you still get single strand knots. Its natural with curly hair. I normally cut them because i dislike the feel of it.
Iv stopped letting them bother me.
i learned to live with them and make them submit to my will lol