How to Remove Braids, Detangle, and Recover
Festival season is one of our favorite times of year. The outfits, the music, the hair — braids, extensions, wraps, all of it. But when the weekend is over and you’re back home, that hair needs some attention. Done right, removal is totally manageable. Done wrong, you’re dealing with breakage that didn’t have to happen.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why Braid Removal Deserves More Than Five Minutes
We get it — you’re tired, you want your hair back, and it’s tempting to just pull everything out and move on. But braids that have been in for a few days (or longer) have a lot going on: matted roots, product buildup, natural shed hair that couldn’t go anywhere, and strands that have dried and tangled around each other.
Rushing through removal is where most of the damage happens. A little patience goes a long way.
The Removal Process, Step by Step
Start with oil or a detangling product. Before you touch a single braid, apply a generous amount of a lightweight oil or detangling spray to your hair — focusing on the roots and any areas that feel tight or matted. Let it sit for a few minutes. This softens the hair and gives you a lot more slip to work with. We love Redken One United, Pureology Color Fanatic, or Mizani Miracle Milk as spray options, and Mizani Nourishing Oil is excellent for working through tighter tangles. Ask us which one makes the most sense for your hair type.
Work from the ends up. Always. Start at the bottom of each braid and work your way toward the root. Never pull from the root down — that’s how you cause unnecessary breakage.
Go section by section. Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Work in small sections so you can actually see what you’re doing and address tangles as they come rather than compounding them.
Use your fingers first, then a wide-tooth comb. Your fingers are your best tool for the initial detangling. Once the major knots are out, follow with a wide-tooth comb — still working from ends to roots.
Be patient with shed hair. You’ll notice more hair than usual coming out during this process. That’s normal — it’s shed hair that was trapped in the braid and couldn’t fall naturally. It’s not damage. Don’t panic.
After Removal: What Your Hair Needs
Once everything is out and detangled, your hair has been through something. Even if the process went smoothly, it’s been under tension, possibly in the heat, and likely needs some serious moisture.
Clarifying wash. Start with a clarifying or gentle cleansing shampoo to remove any product buildup, sweat, or residue from the weekend. This gives you a clean slate.
Deep conditioning treatment. This is the most important step. A deep conditioning treatment restores moisture, rebuilds elasticity, and just makes your hair feel like itself again. Depending on what your hair needs, a protein treatment may also be worth considering — especially if there’s any sign of damage or breakage.
Don’t skip the blow-dry. Air drying heavily tangled or recently stressed hair can sometimes lead to more tangling. A smooth blow-dry, done carefully, helps set the hair and gives you a better picture of how it’s actually doing.
When to Come In
Some situations are just easier with a professional — and honestly, more pleasant too.
If your braids were in for more than a few days, if you had extensions added, or if you’re already noticing significant tangling or matting, coming in is worth it. Trying to force through a serious tangle at home is a fast track to breakage.
At Hairetics, we specialize in textured styles, braiding, and extension work — we’ve seen every version of post-festival hair you can imagine and we know exactly what it needs.
The August + September Special
Through the end of September, we’re offering 10% off a deep conditioning treatment when booked with a blow-dry. These appointments are with our new associate Grace, who is available for blow-dry services starting mid-August. It’s a great combination — and a genuinely good deal.
Have questions about your specific hair situation? Come in or reach out — we’re happy to talk through it before you book.