Emergency Hair Care: What to Do When Wind Causes Severe Tangling
Strong winds can turn a good hair day into a stressful situation in minutes. If your hair feels heavily crossed, tangled, and difficult to run your fingers through, the most important thing to do first is simple:
Stay calm.
Whether you’re wearing your natural hair, a curly wig, a water wave wig, or a deep wave wig, panic and force will only make tangles worse. Here’s a step-by-step emergency care guide designed especially for Black women to safely detangle hair after wind damage.
Step One: Add Slip — Never Detangle Dry Hair
The moment you notice tangling, your first move should be to moisturize and soften the hair.
You can use:
Conditioner
Leave-in conditioner
Hair oil or serum
The goal is slip, not soaking wet hair. Avoid dripping water — hair should feel damp, soft, and lubricated so strands can slide past each other without breaking.
This step is essential for curly textures and wigs like deep wave wigs, which are more prone to interlocking when dry.
Step Two: Always Work in Sections
Never try to detangle your entire head at once.
Divide your hair into small, manageable sections and secure the parts you’re not working on. This reduces tension and allows you to focus on each tangle carefully, which is especially important for textured wigs like water wave wigs and curly wigs.
Step Three: Detangle in the Right Order
- Use Your Fingers First
Start detangling with your fingers, not a comb.
Begin at the ends of the hair, gently separating strands and slowly working upward. Finger detangling helps you feel where knots are without pulling unnecessarily. - Switch to a Wide-Tooth Comb
Once the section feels looser:
Use a wide-tooth comb only
Always start from the hair ends
Move upward gradually toward the roots
Never begin detangling from the top — this is how breakage happens. - Conditioner Soak for Stubborn Areas
For areas with heavier tangling, try this professional trick:
Prepare a small bowl of warm water
Mix conditioner and water at a 2:1 ratio
Submerge the tangled section for 1–2 minutes
Gently detangle again using fingers or a wide-tooth comb
You can repeat this process as needed. Once detangled, apply a lightweight hair oil to seal in moisture and smooth the cuticle.
This method works particularly well for water wave wigs and deep wave wigs, helping curls regain softness and definition.
For Severe or Stubborn Knots
If you’re dealing with heavy or stubborn tangles that won’t loosen:
Use a Rat-Tail Comb Carefully
Sometimes a single strand causes an entire knot. Use the tail end of a rat-tail comb to gently pick and loosen the knot instead of pulling it apart.
Work slowly and patiently. This technique can save curls and prevent unnecessary hair loss.
Final Thoughts
Wind-related tangling happens to everyone — especially those wearing curly or wavy textures. The key to emergency hair care is moisture, patience, and the right technique.
Whether you’re caring for your natural curls, a curly wig, a water wave wig, or a deep wave wig, gentle handling will always protect the beauty and longevity of your hair.
Healthy hair isn’t about perfection — it’s about knowing how to respond when things go wrong.