Pigtails, keeping hair knot-free

[nephron]

I've got my hair up in pigtails at the moment, and for once my hair is behaving.











(this one's from April)

Does anyone have any advice on how to keep my hair less knotty as it grows? Once my curls hit my shoulders I always end up cutting them off as they just get so frustrating- I can't comb my hair except when it's wet and slathered with conditioner, and if I leave it 2 days I start getting horrendous knots and even dreadlocks :-/

Thanks!