you don't have your own "tools" to work with??

Yesterday I was at my parent's house with my daughters...kind of a rest stop between a dr appt and a church event.  My hubby had gotten the girls ready that morning while I went to my appt, then he met me there and went to work.  In any case...he hadn't washed my oldest's hair (she's a bedwetter--yuck) or even combed out the snarls.  Of course, no child of mine is going to church like that, so it was time for a bath.  Unfortunately, no comb in the house, and all of their brushes were either hard plastic or nylon.  I had my hair basket with me, but it was missing my comb and brush!  Ugh!!  I could just feel the breakage as it happened.  My daughter has beautiful BSL length hair, and I nearly cried the whole time I brushed her wet hair.  She DID cry.  Owie!

What would you have done?

oooo - don't ya just hate it when that happens??!!  I'd do the finger combing... both before and after washing.  The brush would wait until the hair is dry - I'd be too worried about snapping the fragile hair.

I'm sure you were very careful and did little damage.