4. Brush in downward motions, starting at the end. Brush each section of hair starting with the ends. Tease out each knot or tangle with repeated downward motions. Once finished, brush downward from a slightly higher position.
5. Wet hair as a last resort. When your hair is wet, it is at its weakest. The cuticles (outer hair walls) are expanded, soft, and full of water. However, combing wet hair is less painful on the scalp, and may make it easier to untangle. Brush very gently, to avoid breaking the hair.
When combing wet hair, a wide-toothed comb is safer than a brush. Progress to more and more narrow combs to get rid of smaller tangles.