How to Detangle Matted Hair

If your hair has become matted and you need to unravel the hair without cutting it, here is an idea that can help you get the tangles out.

Things You'll Need

• Medium Tooth Comb
• Oil/Hair Lubricant

Instructions

1. First, you need to assess why the hair has become matted. Most of the time hair becomes matted when then hair isn't being combed regularly and natural shedding is not allowed to fall. These loose hairs make huge tangles, knotting several times around other hairs. The matting becomes worse if the hair is damaged. When the hair is damaged the cuticle is lifted and not smooth, so hairs do not slide past each other easily and makes combing even more difficult.

2. When the cuticle is smooth, the hair strands slide past each other easily. One way to make it easier is to add oil or lubricant to the hair. Oils include olive oil, mineral oil (baby oil), a hot oil treatment, coconut oil, or oil mixes like Hot Six Oil. Saturate the matting with oil, with a conditioning cap and add heat for 30 minutes or longer, allow the hair to soak and loosen for several hours.

3. Allow the hair to soak and loosen, then try to comb starting from the bottom of the matted area, trying to loosen only tiny clumps of hairs at a time

4. Another option is to use a salon quality product or lubricant to detangle the hair. Some conditioners with excellent detangling properties include Paul Mitchell the Detangler, Aveda Damage Remedy Conditioners, Roux Corrector and Conditioner, and At One Reconstructor, and Aussie Slip Conditioner. Soak the area thoroughly and allow the conditioner to sit on the hair for at least 30 minutes with a conditioning cap. Repeat above step.

5. If this does not work, do not wash the hair, but go to the salon and have a professional stylist help you detangle your hair. She may be able to give you a more accurate assessment of whether your hair will unravel easily or if you will require a hair cut to remove the matted portion.

Tips & Warnings

• Bone combs work better because the smooth edges will not get caught on the hair during the comb out.

• Try to be as patient as possible.

• It may take several days to remove the tangles, as long as the hair is softening and unraveling, continue to work to preserve your hair.