As natural hair gets longer, it's often prone to single-strand and fairy knots. Dickey dishes advice on how to avoid them. Music by warner case (@warner.case).
Single strand knots are not caused by split ends. It’s caused by the hair curling into itself. You can grow a long strand of hair with multiple knots. They don’t always cause breakage either.. If they are bothersome it’s best to keep the ends twisted up and not having all your hair out all the time. Keeping the hair in a uniform pattern is key. Stretching the hair so it won’t curl into itself. You will not retain any length if you constantly trim because you think the knots are split ends!! Also trim when needed, some people trim once or twice a year. It depends on how healthy your hair is. Don’t just trim because it’s been three months lol evaluate your personal situation.
Lol exactly This guy is telling wrong things😂 Fairy knots are not split ends it can show in the middle of a strand It's not a split end itself but it can make the hair tangled and cause breakage and split ends
YES! If I gently brush/comb in the shower, then I have WAY less shedding, and hardly any knots. Most of the time, any knots I do get can be gently picked apart, like when you're sewing and the thread wraps around itself. Been 3? years since I last trimmed. Once my damaged hair grew out it wasn't necessary to keep cutting anymore.
But sometimes I have single strand knots without split ends. When I look at the strand with the knot there are no splits. This happens when I wear my hair down too often, when it’s windy and when my hair isn’t properly moisturized. I only have this issue with my kinky curly hair. Never had this issue while relaxed. I only trimmed 1x a year while relaxed and sometimes I went even longer without trimming.
BklynBabe Agreed. Seems like it comes with the territory of having kinky curly hair regardless of how well you care for it. Which is why I don’t fuss over it.
Appreciate your videos buuut, single strand knots often form despite trims and are not synonymous with splits. Splits are, of course, when strands literally "split" in two, three, etc. Single strand knots are more like tangles, but involving one strand as opposed to two or more strands. That single strand twists upon itself like a pretzel to form a knot (though, as with splits, more prevalent when your ends are old, dry...). ..Just by the nature of having textured hair (curls, coils, etc--esp tight), they can form at any time (stretching your hair, proper detangling, using a gel or other means to hold the strand helps...along w/ proper moisture and timely trims)... but they're different hair annoyances. ...Thank you for the vids
Hi Dickey! Came across your videos 6 mos ago and so glad I did because it changed the course of my natural wash & go hair drastically as I now realize how much moisture/conditioner my hair really needs! This video, however, I feel may need clarification because single-strand knots and split ends are different in that the the single-strand knot is an actual knot or tie in the one strand, usually close to the end of the hair strand due to the hair tying or knotting onto itself, and most commonly found in the type 4 textures. I think it’s mainly due to the tighter curl textures and wearing the hair out and the free ends of the hair curls up upon itself maybe due to rubbing against clothing or pillows or headrests or whatever. Sometimes you may find both a split end and a single-strand knot together on one strand. Because of your advice, I’ve been able to better manage split ends, but single strand-knots are still common. Thanks again for your videos!
While I respect your knowledge and expertise split ends and single strand knots are not the same. Its a tiny knot on a single strand of hair. Predominantly seen in type 4 hair that gets the most tangled. It can be prevent/ reduced by keeping hair stretched; which does not reduce split ends, the splitting or fraying of the cuticle layers, which leads to breakage and splitting up the shaft of the hair. Kind regards, Lindamorena
Its a split end that has formed itself into a knot. Ppl are so afraid to cut those dry ends off! Whats the point of having long hair if its not healthy? The idea of keeping your ends moisturized and trimmed regularly is to obtain and maintain healthy hair that looks and performs great. The ends are the oldest part and take a beating from styling and poor care they must go if you want to get rid of the knots and tangles. Hair grows 1/4-1/2" monthly so if you take 1/4-1/2" off every three months its a win win. Ijs. Ive been natural my entire life with thick tailbone length hair off n on. When i stopped cutting or dusting my ends and blow dried and pressed my hair to hell my hair was dull thin breaking and shed almost a full head of hair a week. Ijs, give it a try for a yr and if it doesnt improve your situation, I'll stand corrected! You wont lose a thing but you will gain better tamed hair. One love peace.
aqua fina Thanks clarifying that knots are splits that formed a knot. After watching this video yesterday I understood why I had alot of single strand knots and fairy knots so I trimmed and now my hair looks healthy and no more Velcro ends. They don't attach to each other nor do I see knots. I'm going to trim every 3 months. I makes sense to me.
From my exerience with my hair, when I leave it open or wash it open I get alot of knots. I have since started to keep my hair plated or twisted and wash in plates, open and plate back and it has reduced tangling and knots. I dont agree that not trimming hair every 3 months causes knots or is rigidly necessary.
I had a cut and within 2 weeks the knots were back. After5 years I don't think natural is for me. I still have yet to find products that I don't have to re do my hair in 2 days b/c it's dry as hell.
I feel you. Although I don't deal with fairy knots that often, The dryness is something else. I can't tell you how much I've spent trying to find something to keep my hair moisturised.
Curl Enhancing Smoothie use to work but not anymore lol. I feel like I may need to try a hair butter these creams aren't cutting it lol. I also wonder if this Texas heat is also not helping.
You gotta keep your ends moisturized. The dryness is a demon. Try, wetting and putting leave in and oil to the last 3" of your strands every day and dc more after washing paying extra attention to the ends? Keep up the quarterly trims also.
