I feel for Madeleine. I had long, super super fine hair as a child and yes, it'd knot in 20 seconds or less. Mom tried everything, conditioners, spray in stuff, everything. Didn't help and I spent most of my childhood in braids (religious family, so short hair on girls was not an option).

Hate to say it but nothing really helped except time. Somewhere around pre-teen, my hair got a little more heft to it and stopped turning into massive rats nests.