The Best Way to Untangle Matted Hair

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Using conditioner or oil and a comb to get rid of matted hair at home

Co-authored by Gina Almona and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: August 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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Applying Detangling Products

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Combing Out Your Hair

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Preventing Matted Hair

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Expert Q&A

Tangled hair can be incredibly frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be a lost cause! If you have matted sections of hair, worry no more because you’ve come to the right place. We'll show you how to use a deep conditioning product and a comb to detangle severely matted hair. Keep reading to learn how to gently get out knots and be tangle-free.

Things You Should Know

Coat your hair in a conditioning product, such as a leave-in conditioner or hair oil, to moisturize and loosen the hair strands.
Unlock the knots with your fingers, then use a wide-tooth comb to carefully comb out matted hair, working in small sections and starting at the ends of your hair.
Apply more moisturizing product to stubborn sections that don’t detangle easily. Keep working at it and be patient!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Applying Detangling Products

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1
Pick out a deep conditioner or oil to use on your hair. Deep conditioners are great at restoring moisture to your hair and making them easier to untangle, while detangling conditioners are meant specifically to add more slip to your hair to prevent knotting. Coconut, olive, or Moroccan argan oil can help detangle natural or kinky hair while taming frizz.^{[1]
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- Deep conditioning your hair may be ideal for dealing with intense matting in large sections.
- While some people use mayonnaise to detangle their hair, it can cause an unpleasant smell and be less effective than other conditioning options.
2
Dampen your hair with water before applying your chosen product. Use a spray bottle to cast a fine mist over your hair, or briefly hold your hair under the shower or sink faucet.^{[2]
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Research source} Ensure that you’re hair is damp or slightly wet rather than soaking wet, as very wet hair is more susceptible to breakage.

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3
Rub your chosen product into your hair. Apply a handful of your chosen treatment thoroughly to all parts of your hair, including the ends. Rub it into each section of your hair separately (rather than across your entire scalp at once) to avoid tangling your hair further.
- Most hair-detangling products, such as conditioners and hair oils, come with instructions. Make sure to follow those to ensure you’re using the correct amount of product.
4
Let the product sit on your hair for 20 minutes to 2 hours. The type of treatment you use will determine how long it needs to stay in your hair. If you’re using ordinary conditioner, it’ll help smooth out tangles in a matter of minutes.^{[3]
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Research source} Coconut oil and other hair oils typically have to stay in between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Deep conditioners vary but typically need at least 20 minutes to work.^{[4]
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- Always refer to the packaging of your chosen product or treatment for in-depth instructions on how long to leave the product in your hair.
- Keep your hair out of your face while waiting for a product to work by wearing a plastic shower cap.
5
Untangle the easiest knots with your fingers. Once the hair treatment has had time to take effect, attempt to gently pull apart the tangled sections of your hair. Small knots or loose mats can sometimes be pulled into smaller, separate tangles from the root side of the knot, nearer to your scalp.^{[5]
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- You can also use the small end of a rat-tail comb to help undo the knots.
- Don't expect to fully untangle your hair during this step. If you feel tension, stop and try a different tangled area.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Combing Out Your Hair

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1
Use a wide-toothed comb to take out knots gently. A comb with sturdy, widely spaced teeth is essential for combing out severe tangles. Fine combs and brushes are likely to meet too much resistance, forcing you to either pull out clumps of hair or stop brushing.^{[6]
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- Be sure to pick a comb that doesn't have teeth so wide that smaller tangles slip through.
2
Comb the ends first. Place the comb a few inches (several centimeters) from the end of the tangled hair and brush downward. Repeat until the section of hair is free of tangles. Then, move the comb slightly higher up, brushing until the entire length of your hair is combed.^{[7]
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- If you have a sensitive scalp, hold a section of your hair as you brush it. Comb the hair beneath your hand, moving your grip higher once the hair below is successfully untangled.
3
Apply additional conditioner or oil to stubborn areas. If a knot or tangle is harder to comb, rub a bit more of your chosen product on it. This can help lubricate the hair even more, making it easier to comb through.^{[8]
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4
Thin stubborn matted sections with scissors if needed. If a mat of hair refuses to come apart despite your efforts, you may need to thin it out. Hold your hair taut with your other hand. Use a pair of texturizing scissors over the mat, then gently tug at your hair to remove loose strands.^{[9]
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- If it has been weeks or months since the last time you combed your hair, cutting mats out may be your best option, as you could potentially spend hours detangling with little results.
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Finish with a fine-toothed comb or brush. Use a wide-toothed comb until the severe mats and tangles have been straightened out. Then, switch to a fine-toothed comb or a brush to remove any remaining small knots.
6
Rinse your hair to remove the product or treatment. Once your hair is untangled, thoroughly rinse your hair with water to wash out the conditioning or detangling product.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Matted Hair

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1
Use a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in conditioners can be left in your hair for hours at a time. They keep your hair moisturized and can help prevent tangles from happening throughout the day or night.^{[10]
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- Use leave-in conditioners or oils after washing your hair.
2
Loosely braid your hair before you sleep. If you wake up with your hair in a tangle, braid it before you go to bed to minimize the amount of tangling that can happen. Alternatively, you could put your hair in a bun or ponytail.^{[11]
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3
Separate easily tangled hair before washing. If you have afro-textured hair or another easily tangled hair type, part it into several sections before hopping in the shower or trying to detangle it.^{[12]
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Research source} Wash each section one at a time to avoid matting your hair while shampooing.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you treat 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

Use an oil-based serum or moisturizing conditioner at the nape or back of your neck. Saturate your roots with the product and then begin gently pulling apart knots with your fingers. Section off parts of your hair and use a wide-toothed comb to work your way up your head, combing and separating as you go.

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Question

How do you get huge matted knots in the back that almost look like dreads?

Community Answer

Try deep conditioner and follow the instructions in the article. Or, you could use vegetable oil.

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Question

How long will it take to get rid of badly matted hair?

Community Answer

Judging by experience, probably a few hours. If I have a really bad knot, it can take that long or even longer.

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Tips

Oil and oily hair products help lubricate the hair strands. If you want to use an anti-grease hair treatment, wait until after your hair is untangled.

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Avoid keeping your hair styled in the same position for weeks or months without combing or caring for it, as this could encourage more tangles.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Use the metal handle of a fine tooth comb to tease the mat apart. For larger mats, try and separate them into smaller matts using the comb handle. Don't forget to put conditioner underneath the mat as well as on top.
Coconut oil really does help! Whenever I go swimming and it gets super tangled, I just add coconut oil to my hair and wait for about 20 minutes. Then, I rinse it out and start to gently comb through my hair.
Tangle Teezers will pull small parts of hair at a time and remove layers, but the process can take a while.

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