Should you detangle your hair right after getting out of the shower or wait until it dries? The answer depends notably on its texture. Straight hair and tight curls are not necessarily styled at the same time. Here are some guidelines for organizing this task, choosing a simple tool, and using conditioner according to its directions.
Straight hair: let it dry a little before combing
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends letting straight hair dry a little before gently detangling it with a wide-tooth comb. It is therefore not necessary to run a brush through hair that is still soaking wet.
To absorb the water, wrap your hair in a towel or t-shirt rather than rubbing it vigorously. Then keep the comb close at hand for styling. This guideline does not specify a number of minutes: the idea is to let the hair dry a little before starting.
Curly or coily hair: detangle on wet hair
For thick, curly hair, the AAD recommends detangling in the shower before rinsing out the conditioner. For very curly or coily textures, it advises combing through wet hair. It also recommends avoiding brushing curls when dry, which promotes breakage and frizz.
Work in sections rather than trying to go through all your hair in a single pass. Your fingers or a wide-tooth comb can be used for detangling. Between washes, the AAD fact sheet on curls describes a method using thoroughly wet hair and a suitable leave-in treatment. A rinse-out product does not automatically replace this type of treatment.
Start with the ends, without pulling
The direction of movement also matters. The AAD advises detangling the ends first, then gradually working your way up. In practice, start with a small section near the ends; once it is detangled, move to the section above it.
- Use the comb gently, without pulling or jerking.
- If a knot resists, gently untangle it rather than forcing the comb through.
- Limit the number of passes to what is necessary for styling: the "one hundred brush strokes" rule is unnecessary.
This progression gives a simple order to the task. It does not guarantee an absence of breakage and does not require reaching a daily quota of comb strokes.
An example of conditioner to incorporate after washing
The current product page for the shea, argan and flax conditioner — 200 ml presents a conditioner designed to make styling easier. Its directions indicate applying it after shampooing, gently massaging the scalp and hair, leaving it on for 3 minutes, then rinsing.
Respect this leave-on time and the intended rinse. This conditioner is not presented as a leave-in treatment. General recommendations on detangling do not replace the product instructions and do not prove that one formula is suitable for all textures.
For the previous step, the bamboo and aloe vera shampoo — 250 ml indicates applying it to previously dampened hair, gently massaging the scalp, then rinsing thoroughly. Keep the instructions for each bottle separate: washing, applying the conditioner, and combing are three steps to organize.
Prepare an easy-to-follow routine
Before the next wash, simply identify when you will detangle, prepare your comb, and reread the instructions for the chosen treatment. To compare the products and their directions, visit SMZ Dr Sophie hair treatments.
Sources and credits
Sources consulted on October 28, 2026:
- American Academy of Dermatology — Tips for healthy hair (updated August 12, 2024).
- American Academy of Dermatology — 6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists (updated June 29, 2022).
- American Academy of Dermatology — How to stop damaging your hair.
- SMZ Dr Sophie — current product pages for the 200 ml conditioner and the 250 ml shampoo, directions transcribed from the provided labels.
Product photographs: SMZ Dr Sophie. General advice, without personalized medical recommendations.