How to Prevent Hair from Knotting

Co-authored by Patrick Evan

Last Updated: August 18, 2024 Approved

Knotted and tangled hair doesn’t just look messy: it can also be painful and difficult to comb out, and it can lead to a great deal of breakage. There are many things that can cause tangled hair, including particular hair styles and heat products, but knots can also occur in the shower or when you dry your hair. Tightly curled hair is even more prone to knots, and it can also be difficult to keep long hair tangle-free. There are ways to remove knots once they form, but if possible, it’s always best to take preventative measures that will stop knots before they form.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preventing Knots When Grooming

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1
Brush your hair before you wash it. Always use a wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush with plastic tipped bristles,^{[1]
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Research source} and comb through your hair before showering. This will help stop your hair from tangling when you wash it.^{[2]
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- As a general rule of thumb, don’t brush your hair when it’s wet, as wet hair is more prone to damage and breakage. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle your hair.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Patrick Evan
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
2
Shampoo properly. Wash your hair by focusing your shampooing on the scalp, rather than the hair, and never pile your hair on top of your scalp. Use a natural shampoo that doesn’t contain sulfates or harsh detergents, as these can dry out your hair.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
- When you wash your hair, work the shampoo in a downwards motion from the roots to the tips. Do not work the shampoo up the hair as this can cause the hair to tangle more.
- Don’t wash your hair every day, as this can strip your hair of oils, leaving it dry and more prone to breakage.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Patrick Evan
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
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3
Condition after you shampoo. After you shampoo, scrunch conditioner into the ends of your hair until your hair feels slippery. Carefully run your fingers through your hair to remove all the knots, then gently comb through your tresses with a wide-toothed comb.^{[6]
X
Research source} This will detangle your hair without breaking the strands. Leave the conditioner in for 2-3 minutes, then rinse it out.
- It is important that you use a comb and not a brush for this step.
- If you have thick, coarse, and tightly curled hair, condition your hair twice daily as opposed to just once. Condition once in the morning or after you shampoo your hair, and again before bed with a moisturizer, leave-in conditioner, or dry conditioner.
4
Dry your hair gently. Instead of wrapping, twisting, or rubbing your hair, gently squeeze it with a microfiber towel to get out the excess moisture.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.} It’s also best to avoid heat products, such as blow dryers and flat irons, which can dry out your hair and leave it prone to damage and tangling.
- If you must blow dry your hair, towel and air dry it until the hair is mostly dry. This will help cut down on the blow dryer time.
- If using a hair dryer, never point the nozzle up towards the roots. Instead, work it down the strands towards the tips to help protect the cuticle of your hair.
- Always use a heat protectant spray when blow-drying your hair, as it can help you avoid any potential heat damage.^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Patrick Evan
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
5
Moisturize hair regularly. Healthy and moisturized hair is less likely to knot and tangle, so along with regular conditioning, try a weekly hair mask or deep conditioning.
- To deep condition, work a quarter-sized dollop of deep conditioner into your hair. Wrap your head with a shower cap or plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing.^{[9]
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6
Seal the tips of your hair. After you condition your hair, apply a hair butter or oil to the tips. This will seal in the moisturizing conditioner and help smooth and relax the ends of the hair, thereby preventing them from coiling around themselves and forming knots.^{[10]
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- Another way to seal your hair is to switch your hair dryer to its cool setting. Blow the cool air over your hair, starting up near the roots and moving downwards towards the tips.
- This step can be skipped if you have fine or medium hair, but should be followed for hair that’s thick, coarse, and tightly curled.
7
Gently stretch the ends of your hair. This is particularly useful for tightly curled hair, as the stretching will prevent the hair from coiling around itself and forming single-strand knots. You can stretch the tips of your hair by wrapping the ends around rollers.
- You can also protect your hair from knots by using hair styles that stretch your hair, such as twists, braids, and buns.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Preventing Knots Throughout the Day

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1
Tie your hair up when you're being active. If you're playing sports, swimming, or exercising, prevent your hair from knotting by wearing it in a braid, ponytail, or bun. The less your hair moves around and the less it gets matted with sweat and dirt, the more likely you are to be able to brush through it when you're done.
- Prevent damage to your hair and scalp by positioning your buns and ponytails in different spots on your head every time, and always make sure that such hair styles are loose.
- When you are finished exercising, let your hair down. This will help sweat evaporate from your scalp.
Whether you're going for a summer drive with the windows down or if it’s just a windy day, wrap your hair in a scarf, cover it with a hat, or wear it in a protective hair style to stop it from blowing around too much. Not only will the wind ruin your hair style, but it will also blow your tresses into a tangled mess.
3
Care for your hair when you sleep. While cotton is a popular choice for bedding, hair can catch on cotton pillow cases as you sleep, and this can create knots. Instead, look for a polished cotton pillow case, or a smooth fabric such as silk.
- You can also wear a satin bonnet or wrap your hair with a protective fabric to prevent knotting when you sleep.^{[11]
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To keep your hair healthy and remove damaged ends, you should trim your hair every eight months,^{[12]
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Research source} but if your hair is prone to tangling, consider trimming it every three months. Removing knots can cause breakage, and frequent trims will remove split ends and broken tips, and ensure your hair stays healthy looking and radiant.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Removing Knots

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Tie or pin up the majority of your hair, and leave a small section of hair free. Once you detangle that section, start a new bun or ponytail to keep the detangled hair separate, and move on to a new section of tangled hair.
2
Finger comb your hair. On the first section of hair, start near the tips and run your fingers through your hair to remove knots and tangles. Combs can actually make knots tighter, so untangle what you can with your fingers first.^{[13]
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Research source}
- As you detangle the bottom of that section of hair, move up the strands and continue removing knots until you reach the top of your hair.
When you encounter particularly nasty knots, apply some watered down conditioner to the area. Let it sit for a couple minutes, then go back to detangling with your fingers.
4
Repeat with a comb. Once you’ve removed all the knots you can with your fingers and can easily run your fingers through the entire length of your hair, gently comb through the same section with a wide-tooth comb. Like before, start at the bottom and work your way to the top.
- Divide the section of hair into even smaller sections if you have trouble running the comb through.
- Add more conditioner as needed to help loosen knots.
If you come across a knot that you can't loosen with your fingers or the comb, insert the needle of a safety pin into the center of the knot and move it around to loosen the knot.
In case you come across a knot that you absolutely cannot remove with conditioner, your fingers, the comb, or the safety pin, you may have to trim it off. Use sharp barber scissors, and make sure you remove as much excess hair from the knot as you can before making any cuts. Try to work the knot down toward the tip of the hair as far as you can to minimize the amount of hair you have to trim.

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Question

How can I keep my hair from knotting?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

The best way to prevent knotting is to keep your hair healthy. Get regular trims and use a conditioner suitable for your hair type.

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Question

How do I keep my curly hair from knotting?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Curly hair is prone to knotting for two reasons: it is prone to dryness, and the strand's diameter is inconsistent. To address dryness, you should use products containing nourishing oils like argan and macadamia. To strengthen the inconsistent structure, treat your hair weekly with a protein-based deep conditioner.

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Question

What helps to detangle hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

For damp hair, leave-in conditioner is a great detangler, as is vinegar. On dry hair, a light-weight oil like Argan is a good choice. Use sparingly, starting at the ends of the hair.

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Apply hair oil before washing your hair, and then wash it thoroughly to avoid grease after coming out of the shower. This locks in moisture and gives your hair a shiny, not greasy, look.
Sometimes detangling your hair while wet is actually a good thing if you have curly hair. It makes the hair easy to brush.

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