How To Detangle Matted Hair Without Breaking Strands In 7 Steps

Are you frustrated with your matted hair? Does it feel like no matter how hard you try to brush out the knots, they just seem to get worse and worse? Trying desperately to detangle our knots without breaking any hair strands is a painful reality.

Is there a way to detangle matted hair painlessly without cutting your strands or seeking professional assistance?

I have some good news for you: there is, and it is much easier than you’d think! In this article, we’ll show you how to tackle those tangles and help make your hair manageable again.

So, if you’re ready to detangle matted hair into smooth locks, let’s get started!

In this post, you’ll learn the following:

• What is matted hair
• What causes matted hair
• How to detangle matted hair
• If and when you’ll need to cut your matted hair
• Great detanglers available
• And so much more

What Is Matted Hair?

To grasp what matted hair is, imagine a bird’s nest on your head! It’s like a crazy party where your hair strands got all tangled up and decided to stick together like glue.

It’s when strands of hair become tightly interwoven, creating a knotty mess that’s anything but pretty. It’s like a hair knot but the extreme version^[1].

Any hair type can have this nasty predicament when uncared for. However, it is more often in thin, dry, curly, or oily hair.

What Causes Matted Hair?

Before learning how to detangle matted hair, we’ll explore some potential causes. If you come down to a culprit among these reversible causes, you could get rid of knotted hair once and for all. 

Several factors can contribute to matted hair, including hair type, improper brushing techniques, chemical treatments, environmental factors like humidity, and exposure to water for prolonged periods.

Hair type is important in determining how easily your hair tangles up. If you have naturally curly or oily hair, it will be more susceptible to knotting than straight fine locks. This is because the strands tend to get caught on each other more often.

Also, dry hair is more prone to get matted. If your scalp naturally doesn’t produce enough natural oil, your locks may dry out quickly and become brittle – leading them to tangle easily. This is worsened when the hair is not properly cared for with regular shampooing and conditioning sessions.

Omitting brushing sessions is a pretty straightforward reason. Running a comb through curly hair can be painful. But avoiding it will force you to detangle matted hair, which is a much bigger hassle.

Incorrect brushing techniques can also lead to matted hair. Using excessive force and especially brushing when the hair is wet can cause breakage. Broken strands will tangle around and worsen any existing knots.

Not rinsing your hair properly is another cause. Improper rinsing can lead to product buildup, which dries out the hair and creates friction that leads to complicated knots.

Chemical treatments such as bleaching or perms tend to strip away essential moisture from our hair, making it brittle and vulnerable to matting. Similarly, high humidity levels can introduce frizziness to our locks, making them prone to knotting.

How To Detangle Matted Hair?

Do you have so severely matted hair nothing is working? Have you lost all hope and patience and have resolved to take to the scissors to solve the problem?

Detangling matted hair is undoubtedly a daunting process, but it can be done successfully with the right tools and techniques. Just follow these easy but miraculous steps, and you’ll be able to detangle matted hair in no time!

What Do You Need To Detangle Matted Hair

Before we begin the process, let’s ensure we are equipped with all the proper tools. If you think all you’ll need is a brush, forget about it!

Here is your detangling equipment:

1. Elastic bands or anything you use to tie and separate your hair
2. Spray bottle filled with water  
3. A good leave-in conditioner or detangler for matted hair
4. A brush with soft and flexible bristles

The Best Way To Detangle Matted Hair Step-by-Step

Now that you are all set up let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to detangle matted hair, minimizing breakage:

1. Separate Your Hair

Use your fingers to carefully and gently separate your matted hair into smaller, manageable sections. Focusing on smaller areas is best to make the process faster and more effective.

Secure the sectioned strands with elastic bands to remove them from your working area.

2. Introduce Moisture

First, wet your hair with warm water until it is fully saturated from root to tip. This will help soften up any tangles and make them easier to work through without causing unnecessary breakage or damage.

3. Work Your Way Through With Your Fingers

Before you get a brush in there, try to work on the knots with your fingers. Always start from the bottom of your strands and carefully separate your hair, working up. By now, you will be able to somehow run your fingers through.

4. Apply A Detangler

Apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner or detangler for matted hair to moisturize the hair further and make it slippery.

Cote the length of your hair and work the product with your fingers. Again, try to run your fingers through your hair while the product does its magic.

5. Brush Away

Now comes the time for the actual act of untangling! Begin at the ends of each strand and slowly move upwards towards the scalp while brushing outwards (away from the roots) using a soft brush specifically made for detangling purposes.

Be sure that whatever tool you choose has rounded tips so that it won’t snag individual hairs along its way through any particularly tight spots too harshly either (as this could cause even more breakage).

Pro tip: Avoid tools such as regular combs, which have small teeth since they are more prone to pulling at knots instead of working them apart gently as their wider counterparts would do.

6. Secure The Strand

When you finish the section you have been working on, secure it by twisting it or loosely braiding it all the way down. This will prevent knotting while you work with the other parts of your hair.

7. Rinse And Go

When everything is smooth and detangled, you can go ahead and rinse off the detangler residue with cold water before styling. I would suggest not going right in with shampoo because you will once again strip all the moisture off your hair, reversing all your efforts to detangle matted hair.  

Should You Detangle Matted Hair Wet Or Dry?

To get this out of the way from the start, detangling matted hair when dry is a big no-no! When your hair is dried and thirsty for water, it is more delicate and susceptible to breaking.

Always detangle matted hair when wet, and your hair will thank you! However, completely wet hair will not do the trick either. You do not want the hair to be dripping with water. That is why getting them using a spray bottle with lukewarm water is better than running them under the shower.

Do You Need To Cut Severely Matted Hair?

Even if you have so severely matted hair nothing is working, keep the scissors as a last resort. Detangling extreme knots is time-consuming and painful to the point of finishing up your patience reserves.

However, do not give up without a proper fight! First, ensure you have followed the above steps to a T.

Here are some things to consider before you cut your matted hair:

• Are you using a good detangler for matted hair?
• Are you using a generous (!) amount of detangler?
• Are you using the right brush?
• Are you always detangling, starting from the edges and going up?

If you have tried everything several times, but nothing is working, then you might consider cutting your matted hair. 

However, instead of doing it at home, seek out professional help from someone who specializes in haircuts for severely matted hair. They can assess the situation properly and determine what type of cut would best restore healthy-looking locks.

How To Avoid Matted Hair In The Future

So, you have managed to detangle matted hair efficiently! You are a true legend! But what happens after that? Is there a way to prevent matted hair in the future? 

Knots form easily, but matted hair can be avoided with proper care and attention. First and foremost, ensure that your hair is well-moisturized at all times.

Never skip conditioning; don’t be afraid to use a leave-in conditioner to provide that long-lasting moisture. Alternatively, you can use nourishing oils such as coconut oil or argan oil to give that extra touch of nourishment.

Pro tip: Opt for products intended for curly hair, as they will provide the specialized, intensive care you need.

Avoid using products that contain alcohols like propanol or denatured alcohol, as they are known to strip away essential moisture from the scalp, creating a dry environment that promotes matted hair. Similarly, avoid chemically processing your hair like dying or bleaching.

Invest in quality combs and brushes with wide, soft teeth that won’t pull on the strands too hard when brushing through the knots. Don’t skip brushing sessions – It’s best to detangle your hair after each wash session to benefit from the moisture the water and conditioner added to your hair.

Don’t forget about regular trims! Getting rid of split ends helps reduce breakage, which could lead to matted locks down the line, so make sure you’re keeping up with regular appointments at least once every two months, if possible!

If you want to take hair care to another level, you can invest in silk pillowcases. These allow your hair to retain moisture and prevent hair from getting matted.

If you don’t want to devote yourself to many hair care tips, throw in a protective hairstyle that will elevate your aesthetic and save you from having to detangle matted hair often. However, you should know that protective hairstyles have their secret caring tips to unlock.

If you want to understand more about your curly hair and how you can take better care of it, check out these 5 Curly Commandments for Lucious, Soft Curls.

Best Products For Severely Matted Hair

Technology is here to aid you in the quest to detangle matted hair! Numerous excellent products exist, from innovative brushes to specialized conditioners.

A hairstylist is nothing without good-quality products – trying to detangle matted hair short on equipment can be an Odyssey. Here are some top picks for specialized care of your matted hair: 

Best Brushes For Matted Hair:

1. The Wet Brush Detangler Pro features IntelliFlex bristles that are gentle enough to glide through knotted and tangled strands without breaking or damaging them in the process. This brush also boasts an ergonomic design, which makes it much easier to use during styling sessions.
2. The Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Brush is a swift solution to matted hair lying on the higher end of the spectrum. This luxurious brush includes boar and nylon bristles, massaging the scalp, distributing its natural oils, and ensuring speedy and gentle detangling without any damage!
3. The Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler is a great tool for beginners. It works on all hair types, won’t pull too hard and cause breakage, and, most importantly, is super effective.
4. The Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush is a perfect option if traditional hair brushes are too uncomfortable for you. Moreover, it’s a gentle option that can also be used by children.
5. The KareCo Tangle Buster Brush works really well for tighter coils. It’s just the right amount of gentle and effective. The bristles are flexible and move smoothly through the hair without pulling or causing any damage.

Best Detanglers For Matted Hair:

1. Cantu Coil Calm Detangler is formulated with shea butter. It makes detangling matted hair a breeze by offering intense moisture, releasing knots, and providing a healthy shine. 
2. R+CO Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray is a lightweight detangling spray that adds shine and hydrates even the most unmanageable and dry hair. The scent is also very pleasant.
3. Moroccanoil All-In-One Leave-In Conditioner is a multitasking spray that works on all hair types to protect against breakage and thermal damage while nourishing and softening the hair for up to 72 hours.
4. Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Hydrating & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner has a frizz and tangle-taming formula that instantly improves manageability. The Maxi Pro-Nourish Complex hydrates and strengthens dry strands, while the Ultra-Protect Complex reduces damage caused by UV and other external stressors.
5. Briogeo Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner Spray is a leave-in spray fortified with spinach, chia seeds, and cocoa seed butter, which together leave strands shiny and much more manageable. It fortifies, nourishes, and protects your mane.

Conclusion On How To Detangle Matted Hair

Detangling matted hair can be daunting, but with the right techniques, it doesn’t have to be. Except for using the right methods, you also need proper equipment and lots of patience.

So, grab your essentials and get ready to detangle matted hair. Take your time and ensure you’re treating your locks carefully for minimum breaking! Let’s keep those scissors at bay!