01 Mar How Your Mental Health Can Cause Matted Hair
There’s a reason hair stylists are called “therapists.” One look at my client’s hair tells me everything I need to know — whether they’ve been working out, over conditioning, or if they’re going through a tough time. After being behind the chair for a couple of decades, I’ve seen it all. From helping brides and new moms to being a sounding board for major life decisions, I’m there through everything. Since the pandemic, more and more clients have come to me with one similar problem: severely tangled, matted hair.
As a natural hair stylist, matted hair is usually a cause for concern. Because it doesn’t just happen. It’s a combination of lack of brushing and detangling. Plus, hair fall out from stress and natural shedding which gets caught in these knotted webs.
While those are the technical explanations, matted hair usually tells me that something much deeper is happening with my client. Many women, especially Black women, will blame the lack of hair care on being busy with their job, family, and life in general. Let me be the one to tell you… it’s time to check in, sis.
How Mental Health Affects Your Hair
If you’re starting to see dull, matted locs, your mental health is affecting your hair to some degree. Science shows that problems like stress and anxiety cause thinning and shedding. When you’re going through a depressive episode or feeling overwhelmed, caring for your hair is the last thing on your mind.
We throw it into a bun, sleep on it without a bonnet, and go weeks without shampooing, deep conditioning, or even brushing it. Before you know it, those shedding strands that haven’t been brushed out get intertwined with your neglected mane and now your hair is full of knots and tangles. It feels dry and brittle. By the time you finally get around to caring for it, the matting feels like just another mountain to climb.
At this point, detangling is your best choice. Even if you don’t want to do it, and even if you’re tender headed. Letting it fester will only cause the matting to get much worse.
Trust me, I know just how time consuming and tedious the detangling process is, especially if you already feel like you’re fighting to get out of bed and keep going every morning. That’s what your “hairapist” is here for. Book your hair detangling appointment in Tampa, Fl.
I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to tell you to fake it till you make it. While detangling your hair won’t fix your problems, sitting in that chair while your stylist pours into you will help you feel better. Acknowledging that your mental health is affecting your hair – and likely your life – is the first step in getting back to you.
Do I have to cut matted hair?
It’s not always necessary to cut your hair. With patience and good products, you can simply brush it out in most cases. There’s levels to this thing!
- Hair sticking closely to your scalp. This type of matting typically occurs when you’ve spent a lot of time in bed. It can even happen with one or two nights of sleep. The friction and pressure from laying on the pillow can cause knots and tangles. If you don’t brush it out in the morning, it doesn’t disappear – it just keeps getting worse. Fortunately, you can typically intervene with detangling.
- Nests along the length of your strands. These clumps of tangles and knots can be hard to detangle. They can also attract other hair and create a bigger problem. You might see them in the area where your ponytail holder sits. Professional hands can help with really tough-to-detangle areas.
- Some clients come in and their hair is completely locked. In these situations, a haircut is my only recommendation. Removing locs involves ripping the hair starting at the ends. As a natural hair stylist, I cringe at the thought. With every haircut, I aim to keep your hair trendy, while maintaining as much healthy length as possible. I want you to feel amazing when you leave my chair!
How do you detangle matted hair
Book an appointment
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with matting hair from depression by yourself. Depending on the state of your hair and your experience with caring for it, you might be better off booking an appointment. A hair stylist can safely and gently detangle matted hair, while retaining as much length as possible.
I offer detangling services for my clients at an hourly rate. This appointment set-up gives us all the time we need so neither of us feels rushed. The only thing is that you have to be honest with your stylist about the true state of your hair before booking which indicates about how much time we’ll need. We’re not judging you, girl — we just want to be prepared!
At Salon Brazyl, the detangling process can include:
- A detox to rid the hair of any dirt, oil, and product build-up
- Steam treatment to infuse the hair with moisture and allow it to move more freely
- Thorough shampoo and deep conditioning treatment
- A cut at the end to prevent further breakage and tangling to give your hair a fresh start.
Booking a treatment shows you that someone is in your corner. My clients feel my energy when they sit in my chair. So I do my best to show up for every single one of you with patience, a quiet space and a positive mindset. If your hair has gotten so matted to the point that you are overwhelmed with the idea of detangling, I’m here to help. By even reading this, you’ve taken a major step to get back on track.