How To Detangle Matted Hair

Whether your hair is curly or straight, thick or thin, tangles can be a serious issue that can badly damage your hair. When tangles and knots turn into a real mess, your hair can become matted, which requires special attention to prevent breakage. If you want to know how to detangle matted hair regardless of your hair type, read on for some helpful tips and tricks.

How To Detangle Matted Hair the Right Way

As tempting as it may be, taking a dry brush to matted hair is not the right approach. Proper and safe detangling requires the right preparation, technique, and products. Ignoring even one of these essential steps could leave you with frizzy and damaged hair.

Moisturize First

There is a lot of debate out there about whether or not your hair should be wet when you detangle it. This comes down to your specific hair type. In general, water can weaken the strands of straight hair and can cause stretching and breaking if you’re not careful. However, those with curly or coily hair should usually add plenty of water before detangling.

Regardless of whether or not you should include water in this step, everyone needs something to add some slip and moisture to their hair. Before you begin, use a high-quality detangler and apply it according to the instructions. It can be helpful to let it sit for a few minutes before you start working your fingers or comb through all of those knots.

Go Slow

When learning how to detangle matted hair, it’s best to go slow. Combing through seriously matted hair takes time and patience. Get yourself in a comfy spot and make sure you’re free to give yourself plenty of time to carefully separate the strands. Even with a great product, rushing through a detangling session can still cause more breakage.

Use the Right Products

While traditional conditioners are a great start for preventing tangles and knots, most of these moisturizers aren’t designed to give you the slip you need to undo a matted mess. Instead, use products that are specifically made with detangling in mind.

Detanglers

If you’re looking for a simple conditioning option to help you detangle in the shower, The Detangler by Paul Mitchell works wonders for matted hair and has been trusted to help with tangles for years. Simply apply to wet hair and work it through your ends, using your fingers or a comb to distribute the product evenly. Rinse well, and then shampoo and condition as needed. You can also use it as a conditioner for everyday use.

If you prefer a product you can apply directly to tangles and knots both in and out of the shower, UNITE 7 Seconds Detangler is a powerhouse moisturizer that makes hair slippery, silky, and smooth. Working through even the toughest knots is a breeze with this lightweight spray detangler. The best part? There’s no need to rinse; just leave it in for continuous moisture and damage repair.

Combs

When it comes to hair care, not all combs and brushes are created equal. Make sure you’re using the right tool for your specific hair type to effectively work through knots without stretching or breaking your strands. The Mason Pearson Detangling Comb is designed with all hair types in mind and it can be used on wet and dry hair.

How To Prevent Matted Hair in the Future

We’ve been focusing on how to detangle matted hair but one of the smartest ways to deal with matted hair is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Keep your hair hydrated with products like Davines OI All in One Milk and it will stay silky, healthy, and far less prone to serious tangles. Take steps to prevent dryness and damage, since these can lead to more knots as well.

You can also protect your hair at night by wearing a silk scarf or sleeping on a silk pillowcase. Not only will it help prevent damage and tangles, but it can also help your next-day hair look more like wash-day hair by preserving your style. Silk pillowcases can also be great for your complexion.

Tangled hair can be a pain but you can restore it with the right approach and products. When you know how to detangle matted hair, you can enjoy a more gorgeous mane that’s both healthy and beautiful. Want to learn even more about working through tangles? Shop LaLa Daisy’s entire collection of detangling products and be sure to visit our Beauty Resource Center for more tips on how to detangle matted hair. You can also read this article from HealthLine on how to prevent matted hair.