How to Untangle Hair

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1 Removing Small Knots or Mats

2 Detangling a Full Head of Hair

3 Untangling Wet Hair

4 Preventing Tangles

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Article Summary

Co-authored by Gina Almona and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 References

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Tangled hair is a pain—literally. Tugging through tangles hurts and it also damages your hair, so what should you do? Fortunately, you probably have everything you need for silky smooth hair already in your bathroom. Whether you’ve got one knot or several, you can have your hair looking its best in no time.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Removing Small Knots or Mats

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1. 1
   Coat knots or mats with conditioner or oil to loosen the strands. Picking out a knot or matt can be really stressful and might damage your hair. Fortunately, conditioner or oil can lubricate the strands, making it easier to pull them apart. Put a dollop of conditioner or oil onto your palm, then gently apply it to your hair. Use as much product as you need to saturate the tangled area.

   • You can use your normal conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, or oil from your kitchen, such as olive or coconut oil.
   • The conditioner or oil will also reduce the risk of damage when you try to untangle your hair.
2. 2
   Use your fingers to gently pull apart big knots. Your fingers are less likely to cause breakage and damage than a comb or brush. Start by running your fingers through your hair, stopping when you hit resistance. Then, slowly pull apart areas that are knotted. Run your fingers through your hair again to see if the tangles are gone.

   • You may want to do this a few times until you can run your fingers through your hair without them getting stuck.
   • Detangling with your fingers first allows you to pinpoint and loosen any problem tangles before you go in with a comb. It’s more gentle than a comb as well, which means less pain for you.
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3. 3
   Comb through your hair to detangle small knots that remain. When you can run your fingers through your hair easily, it’s time to grab your comb. Start at your ends and pick out any remaining knots. Then, slowly work your way up to your roots. Finally, comb down the entire length of your hair-shaft.

   • Since you’ve already broken up the major knots and mats with your fingers, this shouldn’t take very long. If you’re still struggling with a tangled area, you might want to try using your fingers again.
4. 4
   Cut above a very stubborn knot that’s near your ends. Sometimes a knot just won’t come out and you have no choice but to cut it out. Generally, this happens near your ends, which are more likely to be damaged. If you’re having trouble getting the knot out, snip just above the knot using the ends of a pair of scissors. This will minimize damage from trying to pull apart the knot.

   • While this will cause uneven ends, the cut strands should blend back into your hair.
   • Use hair scissors if you have them. They’re sharper than regular scissors so they make a cleaner cut.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Detangling a Full Head of Hair

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1. 1
   Divide your hair into 4 sections so it’s easier to break up mats. Sectioning your hair will save you a lot of time and may reduce the risk of damaging your hair. Use a rattail comb or your fingers to section your hair down the middle of your head. Then, divide your hair again from ear-to-ear. Use a hair clip to secure each section to your head.

   • If your hair is very thick or long, you might make 6 sections. After you divide your hair down the middle, section it along your temples and at the lower part of your ears.
   • It’s really hard to detangle a whole head of hair without sectioning it off. Working 1 section at a time will make the job easier.
2. 2
   Apply conditioner or oil to 1 section to loosen the tangles. Place about a coin-sized amount of conditioner or oil into your hand, then rub your hands together. Gently slide your palms over the section of hair you’re working on to apply the product. Add more conditioner or oil as necessary to saturate your hair.

   • You can use a regular conditioner, leave-in conditioner, or any oil, such as olive or coconut oil. This will lubricate your hair so it’s easier to pull apart, and it helps minimize damage.
   • Always section your hair first so it’s easier to apply the product evenly. If you apply the conditioner or oil first, you’ll likely miss spots.
3. 3
   Pick out knots at your ends first using a wide-tooth comb. Start at your ends because it’s easier and less damaging for your hair. Use your comb to gently pull apart the knots or mats. Keep working until your comb goes through your ends easily.

   • If you try to start combing up near your roots, your comb will probably get stuck on the way down. This also makes the knots and mats worse because the pressure from the comb will tighten the tangles.
4. 4
   Work your way up to your roots as you untangle the hair. Once you untangle your ends, move up to the mid-shaft and keep working. Continue untangling the section until you can run your comb from your roots to the tips without meeting any resistance.

   • Make sure you remove all of the tangles before you move your comb higher. Otherwise, you might damage your hair.
5. 5
   Focus on 1 section at a time until they’re all detangled. Wait until you’ve finished an entire section before you unclip the next section. Coat each section with conditioner or oil, then start again at the ends. Keep working until all of your hair is tangle-free!

   • For instance, you might do the bottoms sections first and then move to the top sections.
6. 6
   Take your time so you don’t damage your hair. You’re probably in a hurry to get finished and might have places to go. However, you can cause a lot of damage and pain by pulling at the knots too fast. Go slowly so the process is easier on your hair — and your scalp.

   • Try to stay patient. If you rush, you might damage your hair or break off some strands.
   • The time it takes to untangle each section can vary, depending on how tangled your hair is. For instance, it might be more tangled in the back than in the front, so you might spend more time on the back.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Untangling Wet Hair

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1. 1
   Squeeze water out of your hair after a shower instead of rubbing it. Hair is more delicate when it’s wet, and towel drying it may damage your tresses. Instead of rubbing your hair with a towel, gently press the towel around your locks to blot away excess water. Doing this reduces the risk of accidentally damaging your hair. Plus, it creates fewer tangles.

   • Some people prefer using cotton T-shirts to dry their hair because the material is gentler on hair than bath towels are.
2. 2
   Spray a leave-in conditioner on your hair after showering. Leave-in conditioner provides a ton of benefits, including making it much easier to remove tangles. Follow the instructions on your leave-in product to apply it to your hair. Concentrate the product on your ends up to the mid-shaft. Try not to apply much, if any, on your roots because it can make them look greasy.

   • If you have very thick or textured hair, it’s best to section your hair into 2 to 4 sections when applying your leave-in conditioner. This helps you evenly distribute the product.
3. 3
   Use a wide-tooth comb to loosen tangles. Brushes and regular combs can easily damage wet hair. To protect your lovely locks, remove tangles using a wide-tooth comb.

   • If you prefer, you can use your brush or regular comb after all of the tangles are gone.
4. 4
   Work your way from your ends to your roots. Start detangling your hair at the ends. Once you can pull your comb through the ends easily, move up toward the mid-shaft. Finally, go up to the roots. Keep detangling your hair until your comb goes through your hair easily.

   • Apply more leave-in product if you’re having trouble detangling your hair.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Tangles

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1. 1
   Brush straight hair before showering. Massaging your shampoo into your hair can make existing tangles much worse. To prevent this from happening, run your brush through your hair before you hop in the shower. When you’re finished, it’ll be much easier to comb out your hair.

   • Brushing curly or textured hair when it’s dry can be damaging.
2. 2
   Run a wide-tooth comb through curly or textured hair while it has conditioner in it. The best time to detangle curly and textured hair is in the shower while your conditioner is on it. Coat your hair in the conditioner, then comb your hair, starting at the ends. Work from your ends up to your roots to remove all of the tangles.

   • The conditioner will protect your hair from breakage and damage.
   • Keep a wide-tooth comb in your shower so you can create a habit of always combing your hair when you condition it.
3. 3
   Braid your hair or put it in a bun before bed. Waking up with a tangled mess is super frustrating and can really ruin your morning. While you’re asleep, it's normal to shift around, which can leave you with unmanageable hair. Fortunately, this is a super easy problem to solve. Simply wrap your hair in a high bun or put it in a loose braid before you go to bed.

   • If you’re not washing your hair in the morning, a bun might be better if you’re going for a straight hairstyle or want to preserve your natural curl pattern. If you want easy waves or curls, braid your hair.
4. 4
   Sleep on a silk pillowcase to minimize friction from your pillow. Friction from your pillow can cause both tangles and damage. A silk pillowcase reduces friction, so it’s better for your hair. Switch to a silk pillowcase to see if it helps you have more good hair days.

   • As an alternative, use a silk wrap to cover your hair while you sleep.
5. 5
   Tie back your hair when it’s windy outside or you’re exercising. You’ve probably had at least one good hair day ruined by wind or a workout. When your hair is whipped around, it naturally starts to tangle. Make a habit of securing your hair when it’s getting tousled, whether by wind or movement.

   • If it’s windy, put your hair in a clip, bun, or ponytail.
   • For running, secure your hair in a ponytail or braid it.
   • If you’re swimming, put your hair in a high bun.
6. 6
   Get your hair trimmed every 2 to 4 months to prevent split ends. Your hair is more likely to tangle if it’s damaged, which is why more knots happen at the ends. Everyone gets split ends eventually, no matter how well you take care of your hair. Be sure to see your stylist regularly to get your ends snipped.

   • Keep in mind that split ends can spread up your hair shaft if you don’t get them cut. This causes a lot more damage to your hair, so don’t skip trims.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do you detangle severely matted hair?

  

  Gina Almona
  Professional Hair Stylist

  Gina Almona is the Owner of Blo It Out, a New York City-based hair salon. With over 20 years of beauty training experience, Gina's work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out New York, and Queens Scene. She has been able to keep a fresh perspective in the industry by demonstrating and participating in trade shows and workshops like the International Beauty Show. She received her cosmetology training from the Long Island Beauty School, Astoria.

  

  Gina Almona

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Start at the nape area and saturate it with either an oil serum or a moisturizing conditioner. Work your way up the head and gently loosen the hair as you pull it apart. You can either use a wide tooth comb or your fingers. Make sure to work your way up in sections.

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  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
• Question

  How do you untangle hair when it is really wet?

  

  Ashley Adams
  Professional Hair Stylist

  Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

  

  Ashley Adams

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  When your hair is wet, separate it into workable sections and clip them out of your way so that you're able to focus on one at a time. Locate the tangle and use your fingers to separate it from the ends of your hair up to the tangle and to the roots. Repeat for each section and followup with detangling by using a wide-toothed comb.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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  Not Helpful 7 Helpful 9
• Question

  Why does my hair tangle so easily? Even right after I get all the tangles out, literally all of them. I go to brush through it again and there are still really tough tangles.

  

  Ashley Adams
  Professional Hair Stylist

  Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

  

  Ashley Adams

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  The texture of your hair could be a factor. Curly hair is more prone to tangling. This could also be an indication that it's time for a trim.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Things You'll Need

Removing Small Knots or Mats

• Conditioner or oil
• Wide-tooth comb
• Scissors (optional)

Detangling a Full Head of Hair

• Rattail comb (optional)
• 4 to 6 hair clips
• Conditioner or oil
• Wide-tooth comb

Untangling Wet Hair

• Leave-in conditioner
• Towel or T-shirt
• Brush or regular comb (optional)

Preventing Tangles

• Brush (optional)
• Conditioner (optional)
• Wide-tooth comb (optional)
• Hair tie or scrunchie
• Silk pillowcase or silk hair wrap

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Tips

• If you’re detangling a child’s hair, distract them with something interesting so they don’t get antsy. You might turn on their favorite show, give them a book, or let them play on a phone or tablet.
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• Be patient. Your tangles will come out if you work through them slowly and gently.
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Warnings

• Remember to detangle from the tips first, then work your way up to the roots. Starting at the roots can be painful and might damage your hair.
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