How to Untangle Severely Matted Hair

Co-authored by Gina Almona

Last Updated: March 3, 2023 References Approved

If your hair becomes hopelessly matted, try a deep conditioner or moisturizing oil before you resign yourself to a short hairstyle. After leaving these hair treatments in for an hour, or even overnight, your hair should be easier to untangle. Combing it out can still be tedious, but much less painful and more effective than combing without hair treatment.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Products

1
Choose a hair treatment. Ordinary conditioner is worth trying if you haven't already, but if your hair is severely matted, you may need to resort to another option. 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. Coconut oil, olive oil, or Moroccan argan oil can be used instead, and may be especially useful for afro-textured hair. If you dislike the feel of oil in your hair, you can try a hair detangling spray.^{[1]
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- While some people use mayonnaise, this may cause an unpleasant smell and is less effective than other options.^{[2]
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2
Wet your hair slightly. Dampen your hair with a spray bottle of water, or briefly holding it under a shower or sink at low water pressure. Most hair treatments are meant to be applied to damp hair, but if you let the hair become dripping wet, it may be more susceptible to breakage.^{[3]
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3
Rub the treatment into your hair. Take a handful of the chosen treatment, or use up to two handfuls if you have hair that grows past your shoulders. Apply the treatment thoroughly to all parts of your hair, including the ends. Rub it in to each section of your hair separately, rather than across your entire scalp at once, to avoid tangling your hair further.^{[4]
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4
Wait while the treatment works on your hair. If using ordinary conditioner, it will finish moisturizing your hair within a few minutes. Coconut oil and similar oils should be left in for at least 30 minutes for maximum effect, but no longer than 2 hours.^{[5]
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Research source} Deep conditioners vary as shown on the packaging instructions, but are typically left in for at least an hour, and may be left in overnight for extreme cases.
- To keep your hair tidy and out of way, wear a plastic shower cap, or a plastic bag fastened with a hairband. Optionally, a tight-fitting hat over the plastic may help hasten the process.
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.
- Don't expect to fully untangle your hair during this step. If you feel tension, stop and try a different tangled area.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Combing

1
Use a wide toothed comb. 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. Always comb tangled hair starting near the ends. Place the comb a few inches (several centimeters) from the end of the tangled hair, and brush downward. Repeat until that section of hair is free of tangles, then move the comb slightly higher up. Repeat until the entire length of your hair is combed. For long or thick, severely matted hair, this may take an hour or more.
3
Hold your hair higher up to prevent pain. If you have a sensitive scalp, hold a section of your hair as you brush it. Grasp a portion of hair about the thickness of a marker or glue stick between your fingers, and give it a half-twist to keep the comb from pulling directly on your scalp. Comb this portion of hair beneath your hand, moving your grip higher once the hair below it is successfully untangled.
4
Apply additional conditioner or oil if necessary. Apply a drop of conditioner or oil to a tough knot and rub it in with your finger. This will help lubricate those hair strands further, reducing the amount they cling to each other.^{[7]
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5
Thin stubborn mats with scissors. If a mat of hair refuses to come apart despite all your efforts, you may need to thin it out. Open a pair of scissors and hold your hair tight with your other hand. Run the bottom blade of the scissors along the underside of the mat, then gently tug at your hair to remove loose strands.
- 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 can spend hours detangling with no results.
6
Finish with a fine-toothed comb or brush. Use a wide-toothed comb until the severe mats and tangles have been straightened out. Switch to a fine-toothed comb or a brush to remove any small knots that may remain.
7
Rinse your hair. Rinse out any hair treatments completely once your hair is untangled. If you have tightly coiled hair, and the severe mats have separated enough to allow you to part your hair, clip each section of hair to keep them separate, and rinse one at a time.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Prevention

1
Use a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in conditioners can be left in your hair for many hours at a time. They keep your hair moisturized, minimizing fraying and frizzling that can occur when your hair dries out.
2
Brush your hair when it is damp, but not soaked. Too dry, and hair becomes brittle and hard to brush. Too wet, and it becomes weak and easy to pull out accidentally. Find the middle ground, brushing or combing when your hair is damp after a shower, but not dripping wet.
3
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.
4
Separate easily tangled hair before washing. If you have afro-textured hair, or another easily tangled hair type, part it into several sections, and clip them to keep them apart. Unclip these sections one at a time when washing your hair, and clip them back together before unclipping the next section. This reduces the chance of larger mats forming.
- A mild, low-sudsing shampoo without sodium lauryl sulfate is recommended for this type of hair.^{[8]
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  American Academy of Dermatology
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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

Support wikiHow by unlocking this 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.
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.
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.