Tangled or matted hair can be frustrating and painful. Not to mention that it doesn’t look attractive and can get in the way of you styling your hair how you want. Getting tangles out of your hair, however, isn’t as difficult as many make it out to be. When you understand the best tools, products, and methods to use, you can resolve tangles without feeling like cutting them out is the one possible solution. Continue reading to learn how to get tangles out of hair. We’ll also share some tips to prevent your hair from getting tangled in the first place.
Table of Contents
- How Does Hair Get Tangled and Matted?
- How to Get Tangles Out of Hair
- How to Keep Hair From Getting Tangled
- Getting Tangles Out of Your Hair
How Does Hair Get Tangled and Matted?
Hair can get tangled when two or more strands wrap themselves around one another, causing them to get intertwined or knotted together. If the cuticle, or the outermost layer of hair, is damaged, it opens up. Two opened cuticles rubbing against each other is what can cause tangles to form.
When smaller tangles aren’t quickly resolved, more and more hairs become intertwined in the mess. This can cause hair to become matted, or to have big clumps of tangles.
There are actually a number of reasons your hair can get tangled or matted. First, some hair types, such as curly or wavy hair, are more likely to tangle than smoother and less-textured hair types.
Other things that can impact how much your hair tangles include:
- Using the wrong hair care products
- Washing your hair too frequently
- Rubbing your scalp and head too much as you shampoo
- Using heated styling tools
- Drying your hair using a towel
- Not brushing your hair every day
- Brushing your hair too frequently
- Sleeping with your hair down
- Having split ends
- Not drinking enough water or being dehydrated
How to Get Tangles Out of Hair
The prospect of getting tangles or mats out of your hair can feel very daunting. However, there is no reason to give up hope. With some time, effort, and the right tools and techniques, you will be able to detangle your knotted hair.
Below, we’ve put together a few different ways that can help with detangling your hair. Consider the tools and products you have on hand, as well as your preferences, to decide which one you’d like to try. Just remember that everyone’s hair is different, so it may take you a few tries to find the approach that is most effective with your hair. You may also find success combining a few of these different techniques to learn how to get tangles out of hair easily.
Wide-Toothed Comb
What is the easiest way to remove tangles from hair? When you’re looking to get tangles out of your hair, wide-toothed combs are your friend. Because the teeth are more spaced apart than a fine-toothed comb, they are better able to work through tangles without pulling too much on your hair or causing pain. This also means that they are less likely to cause your hair to break or pull it out of your head as you’re trying to work through the knots.
If you’re looking for how to get tangles out of hair after swimming, a fine-toothed comb can also help. Swimming and chlorine can be rough on your hair, but if you act quickly to wash and conditioner your hair, and then detangle your hair with a fine-toothed comb, it can work wonders.
Conditioner
Applying conditioner to your hair can also help with removing the tangles and knots from it. It can improve the health of your hair and make it easier to work through the tangles after your shower using a fine-toothed comb, as shared above.
When you condition your hair, you should start at the tips and work your way up to the roots of your hair. A common mistake people make is applying too much conditioner to their scalp; it is only needed for the hair itself, not the scalp.
Start Working on the Tangles in the Shower
Better yet, rather than conditioning your hair in the shower and then waiting until you’re out of the shower to start combing through the tangles and knots, get started while your hair is still slicked down with conditioner. If you want to know how to get tangles out of hair without pain, use a shower comb or wet brush while you’re still in the shower to start removing the tangles. With wet hair and conditioner, the comb or brush will be more easily able to slide through your hair and remove the knots.
Use a Detangling Spray
Whether you’re looking for how to get bad tangles out of child’s hair or your own hair, a detangling spray is a great solution for how to get tangles out of matted hair. These sprays, which can be used with either damp or dry hair, are designed to reduce the friction and tension between the hairs that are knotted. This makes it easier to comb through your hair and release the tangles. Additionally, detangling sprays also include hair-softening ingredients, such as shea butter.
Try Oil
Using oil can also be helpful when you want to know how to get tangles out of curly hair. Mineral oil is one type of oil you may want to try. It doesn’t have an odor and won’t alter the color of your hair. It can help to reduce static and make it easier to comb through your hair.
Another thing you can try is to mix a little bit of baby oil into your regular conditioner. This can help make your hair a bit more slick and make it easier to run a wide-toothed comb through it in the shower.
Section Your Hair Using Your Fingers
Try sectioning your hair using your fingers if you’re looking for how to get tangles out of hair fast. When you separate your hair into sections with your fingers, your fingers will be able to work through many of the tangles first for you. This will leave less for you to deal with using a comb or brush.
Hydrate Your Hair with a Hair Mask
Using a hair mask can help nourish and hydrate your hair. Sometimes, hair that tangles frequently is overly dry, so using a hair mask can help make your hair easier to comb through.
Consider a deep-conditioning hair mask, such as the SheaMoisture Manuka Honey and Marula Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque or the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask.
Alternatively, you could even make your own DIY hair mask using ingredients you may already have in your fridge or pantry, such as yogurt, egg, banana, olive oil, avocado, or honey.
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Want to know what home remedy can I use to untangle my hair? Well, if you’re looking for how to get tangles out of long hair or short hair, an apple cider vinegar rinse can help.
Simply wash your hair as normal in the shower. Then, pour a mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water (about 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 1 to 1 ½ cups of warm water. Allow the mixture to sit in your hair for 5 to 10 minutes.
Then, rinse it out, apply your regular conditioner, and comb through your hair using a wide-toothed comb.
How to Keep Hair From Getting Tangled
If you find yourself asking, “why is my hair always tangled” or want to know how to wash your hair to avoid tangles, read through the tips below. These can help you learn what you need to do to prevent your hair from getting tangled and matted in the first place.
Soon, questions like, “why does my hair tangle so easily,” will be a thing of the past.
- Brush your hair before taking a shower and washing it.
- Braid your hair
- Avoid rubbing a towel over your hair to dry it. Rather, use a cotton t-shirt
- Place your hair in a loose ponytail before going to bed.
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase
- Cover your hair with a hat or scarf, particularly on days that are very windy.
- Trim split ends at least once every 6 weeks.
- Try to stay away from heated styling tools
- Don’t over-lather your shampoo on your head
- Apply deep conditioner to your hair before swimming
Getting Tangles Out of Your Hair
Do you feel a little less worried about your tangled hair? Obviously, dealing with lots of knots or matted hair is not a positive experience, but we wrote this post to share that there is hope. You can get the tangles out and return your hair to its original beauty. Then, be sure to follow our tips above to keep your hair from getting severely tangled or matted again in the future.
These are all great tips. It’s important to detangle hair when it is wet or at least damp.
xoxo
Lovely
mynameislovely.com
<3
Great detangling recommendations- so important to detangle gently so as not to damage or break the hair!
-Ashley