AHHH!! Matting, please help!!

Ok, I've read some past topics on matting, but I need more help!

I thought my hair was doing fine (I keep it brushed, I always braid it at
night, everything I can think of). I guess I was just being careful brushing
around my mircolinks because I was afraid of pulling them out.

So when I was straightening my hair this morning, I realized right above
the microlinks it's all matting. It's right by my roots, so I'm scared to cut it
out, but it hurts like a $%@#$ to comb and pull it all out!!!

I've gotten most of it out (after only like 2 hours of ripping at my skull!!)
There's still a huge one in the back. Is this just the nature of the
extensions?

Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening? Anything that
might make it easier to get some out (like something you can actually put
in you hair)

I read about the rat tail and cutting some, so I'm going to try that now,
but why could this be happening?? Any info would help me!!!

how long have your extensions been in? Its normal after a while to have some matting in the root area. But to help prevent it you need to get your fingers in there everyday to seperate the individual strands and YES....a looper brush helps to brush that area. But you cant prevent all of the matting from the shed hair tangling around the attachment area...but shouldnt be serious matting

keep working it....dont cut it, use some oil...conditioner or anything to help work it loose!

You can get a looper brush at any beauty supply store or Kristin has one in her online shop  http://www.yourhairshop.com/shoponline.html

i agree with all the advice.

the reason hair matts up by the root is this-

typicially we loose 150- 200 strands of our own hair Per day. in the sink, brush, our clothes etc. Well, with the hair being locked, or shrinked or glued with extension hair, we still have hair that has shed, however it has no place to go so it sits at your root and then some hair from another extensions sheds and those two side by side marry eachother and they have a family and that family is now called Matt or knot!

sometimes too, if your hair is very fine and thin to start off with, it has more of a chance of matting at the root.

The best thing to do is like sherrie said, go thru each strand and each row and keep the path clear. Also use a looper brush like Kristin sells.

When i have clients who get some matting, the best thing to do is to remove the extension hair and attachment- loc, shrink etc and then work on the matting, using like kristin said a rat tail comb. Go slow it will come out.

good luck