Knot Again...

Trichonodosis [“What Is It…and by the way how do you pronounce it?” trik″o-no-do´sis].

These darn knots keep popping up every time I turn around. What is a natural, curly head girl to do??? You run your fingers down the strand of your hair and “oops, there it is”. They are so annoying. If you have them, relax and don’t worry, you’re about to find out what they are and how to avoid them.

So what is Trichonodosis? Trichonodosis is knotting of the hair, also known as a single-strand knot (referred to as “fairy knots” by some.)

Single-strand knots occur mostly in curly/wavy hair types. The hairs in this type are dry and curly. (Our hair type needs lots of hydration [water, conditioner, shea butter, oils, etc.])

Single-strand knots are caused by strands of hair that grow from the follicle, that form along the hair strand, which are situated away from the hair shaft and end up looping themselves around other strands of hair, which in turn tie and form a knot. Our natural curly/wavy hair type consistently develops trichonodosis.

These single-strand knots can cause breakage and split ends, but again, don’t get frantic, these fairy knots are common and I can show you how to reduce the damage that they cause.

Some ways to prevent these knots from getting worse are:

- Dusting (trimming a small amount of hair from the ends of the hair, preferably by a professional.)

- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. (I can’t stress this enough.) Condition your hair regularly after you shampoo.

- Deep condition your hair (mix in some olive oil) and use leave-in conditioners.

- Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb from the ends to the roots in small partings, this will reduce the chance of the hair knotting.

Deep conditioning of the hair is essential because it improves your hair’s elasticity. Diet can also help with hair elasticity. Eating foods such as eggs, (which contain lutein, known to be rich in biotin, which can strengthen the hair and also helps with hair growth), salmon, and nuts. These foods are high in protein, which the hair needs since our strands are made up of protein.

All in all, don't get yourself all twisted up about these single-strand knots, after all, they are part of the natural hair journey, so try working on preventing them and continue to enjoy your lovely natural tresses.