How do I untangle severely matted hair?

Author: Lizeth Anderson  |  Last update: Friday, November 28, 2025

Here's a step-by-step guide:
  1. Saturate the entire matted clump with detangling spray. ...
  2. Using your fingers, start to gently loosen up hair fibers.
  3. Apply hair oil to the hair for additional slip. ...
  4. Isolate any loose strands.

How do you detangle the worst matted hair?

Wet your hair and put conditioner, wait 5 minutes. Then fill up the tub with warm soapy water and soak in it for a few minutes. Head back just float and relax. Then start manipulating the tangles, have them under the water while doing this. The tangles should gently fall out, slowly and gently untangle them.

What is the best product to use on severely matted hair?

Get yourself a tangle teaser, it was designed to de tangle matted hair. Coconut oil and a soak with conditioner is a good place to start with the tangle teaser. Also try kinky curly knot today, it's hands down the best detangler out there. That said I want to ask; how is your mental health doing now?

How to get a massive knot out of hair?

If you have a lot of knots then start with a wide-toothed comb; this will remove bigger knots, then move onto using a smaller comb. Start at the ends and work your way up using gentle strokes to detangle knots. Starting at the roots and pulling downwards could make tangles worse.

Is it better to detangle matted hair wet or dry?

Fact: wet hair is more fragile. Therefore, it is better to detangle when your hair is dry… BUT the exception is for curly and coily hair. - Curly hair can experience more damage brushing when it's dry because of the amount of friction created while detangling.

Detangling extremely matted hair - How to Detangle Matted Hair

What helps extremely knotty hair?

How to minimize or avoid tangling
  • Use a Leave-In Conditioner to Hydrate and Detangle. ...
  • Use a hair mask weekly to detangle and strengthen. ...
  • Use hot tools less. ...
  • Sleep on a satin pillowcase. ...
  • Braid your hair to sleep on. ...
  • Don't dry hair with a towel. ...
  • Get regular trims to remove damaged hair.

How long does it take to detangle severely matted hair?

Depending on how many breaks we do (or don't) take, detangling our matted hair can take 2 hours to 5 days.

How do you get a big rat nest out of your hair?

Coat your hair in conditioner and comb your hair starting from the bottom. Again, ensure that your entire head is covered to make getting the knots out easier. Take your time and make sure to comb all of the knots out. You can section up your hair to be sure that all the knots are gone.

How to get nits out of hair?

Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may remove lice and some nits. Studies show that wet-combing results vary. Start by wetting the hair and lubricating it with hair conditioner or olive oil. Comb the entire head from the scalp to the end of the hair at least twice during a session.

How to get Knox out of your hair?

Removal of Knox From Hair

Remove bobby pins, bun form and rubber band. Rinse hair in warm water, shampoo twice, condition hair as usual. Sprinkling baking soda over the area coved in Knox before washing will help wash the Knox out of the hair.

Do I have to cut severely matted hair?

When to Cut Your Extremely Matted Hair. If you're unable to get a comb (or even the tail of a comb) into the mat, cutting is unfortunately your only option. Alternatively, if you find yourself tugging on hair fibers and creating too much tension, it also might be time to get out the scissors.

Can vinegar detangle matted hair?

You might associate apple cider vinegar with salad dressing or lemon water, but this all-purpose ingredient is just the thing to loosen tangles and soften hair.

What is the best detangling spray?

Our Top Picks:
  • Best Overall: Amika The Wizard Detangling Hair Primer, $31.
  • Best for Straight Hair: Kenra Platinum Pearl Detangler, $21.
  • Best for Fine Hair: Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-In Conditioner, $46.
  • Best for Waves: Leonor Greyl Paris Lait Luminescence Detangling Milk Spray, $55.

How to unknot dreaded hair?

Start at the ends and untangle one dreadlock at a time. Coat the dreadlock in conditioner and use a rat-tail comb to gently pick out the end. Work your way up to your roots, reconditioning your dreadlock as needed. Then, comb through the dreadlock until you don't feel any resistance.

What is the best product to detangle matted hair?

  • Products highlighted as 'Overall Pick' are: ...
  • Aunt Jackie's Curls and Coils Knot On My Watch Instant Hair Detangling Therapy for Natural Curls, Coils and Waves, Enriched with shea Butter, 16 oz. ...
  • UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-In Conditioner Spray for Frizz Control & Heat Protection.

How do I get rid of nits ASAP?

Lotions and sprays for head lice and nits

There are several different products that can be applied to the scalp and hair to kill head lice, including: dimeticone 4% lotion or lotion spray – applied and left for 8 hours (usually overnight) dimeticone 4% spray gel – applied and left for 15 minutes.

What are pediculicides?

This medication is used to treat lice, which are tiny insects that can infest and irritate the scalp (head lice), the pubic area (crabs), or the body. This medication works by paralyzing and killing lice.

How to get a huge matted knot out of hair?

If you are struggling to detangle a bad knot, Cole recommends applying a moisturizing conditioner or mask to the problem area. From there, hold the knot between your fingers and, using an upwards motion, gently comb it through with a fine-tooth comb. "Once the knot is out, shampoo and mask again," he says.

How do you get a rats nest in your hair?

Rat's nest hair often occurs when hair becomes dry and lackluster, resulting in severe tangling. Factors such as poor hair care routines, environmental conditions, and even sleep habits can contribute to this issue. Neglecting proper hair maintenance can lead to knots that intertwine over time.

How to cut a knot out of hair without cutting hair?

Working out the Knot
  1. Divide your hair to isolate the knot. ...
  2. Mist the section of hair with your detangler. ...
  3. Work the product into the knot with your fingers. ...
  4. Pick the tail of a rat-tail comb into the center of the knot. ...
  5. Work your way up the section of hair, through the knot. ...
  6. Remove tiny knots with your fingers if possible.

How to save severely matted hair?

All you need to do is follow these simple steps.
  1. Step 1: Moisturize and apply a detangling product. ...
  2. Step 2: Section the matted hair. ...
  3. Step 3: Work from the ends and work your way up. ...
  4. Step 4: Use your fingers to detangle first, then a wide-tooth comb.

What is the unite 7 seconds detangler?

7SECONDS Detangler instantly detangles, smoothes, and protects. This protein-based leave-in conditioner leaves hair strong and healthy while targeting tangles and knots. Our detangler also seals the cuticle and protects hair from heat and UV. It's a must-have for all hair types. • Daily use for all hair types.

Why is my hair still tangled after detangling?

There could be a few reasons why your hair is constantly tangling. Hair texture, frequency of brushing, exposure to wind, as well as the healthiness of the hair can all contribute to matting. Your hair is more likely to tangle if: It is super thick and curly.

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