Removing Dread Knots in Children

Removing tangles and dread knots can be painful and stressful, especially when dealing with children's hair. While playing and sweating, children's hair can become full of knots. Working out dread knots can take a lot of time depending on the size of the knot. Children usually become restless during the process, so you may want to break up your knot removal session into multiple, shorter sessions so your child does not become too frustrated.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Cut out the dread knot. If the knot is toward the bottom of the hair, the simplest method is to cut the knot off. However, most dread knots are in the hair at the nape of the neck and are unable to be removed this way.
     
   • 2
     Wait until your child's hair is dry. Wet hair breaks very easily and can be more difficult to untangle.
     
     

     

     
     
   • 3
     Pin up your child's hair that is not in the dread knot. This allows you better access to the knot and prevents any more dread knots from forming. Slather untangling cream on the dread knot.
     
   • 4
     Use your fingers to gently untangle the knot as best you can. Work toward the bottom of your child's hair strand and pull your fingers through the hair. Start the process again a little higher up on the hair shaft, always working downward. Continue until you are at the top of the hair near the scalp.
     
   • 5
     Hold your child's hair with one hand and use a wide-toothed comb on the knot with the other hand. Follow the same process you did with your fingers. Start low on the hair shaft and gently remove any tangles. Holding the hair helps this process to be less painful for your child, but she will still probably become agitated. Stay calm and think of a fun game to play or a song to sing.
     
   • 6
     Use a fine tooth comb to remove any remaining knots that can not be removed by the large comb. Hold your child's hair as close to the scalp as possible. Gently pick out the knot with the comb.
     
   • 7
     Add more untangling cream as necessary to loosen the dread knot. Wash and condition your child's hair when finished with the dread knot.