How To Untangle Severely Matted Hair (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Untangle Severely Matted Hair: Tips & Tricks PDF download Download Article 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: May 19, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Applying Detangling Products
    • |
  • Combing Out Your Hair
    • |
  • Preventing Matted Hair
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Gina Almona and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. 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. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,609,239 times.

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!

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Applying Detangling Products

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  1. Step 1 Pick out a deep conditioner or oil to use on your hair. 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]
    • 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. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 2.jpeg 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] Ensure that you’re hair is damp or slightly wet rather than soaking wet, as very wet hair is more susceptible to breakage. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Rub your chosen product into your hair. 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. Step 4 Let the product sit on your hair for 20 minutes to 2 hours. 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] 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]
    • 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 Severely Matted Hair Step 5.jpeg 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]
    • 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.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Combing Out Your Hair

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  1. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 6.jpeg 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]
    • Be sure to pick a comb that doesn't have teeth so wide that smaller tangles slip through.
  2. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 7.jpeg 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]
    • 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. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 8.jpeg 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]
  4. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 9.jpeg 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]
    • 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.
  5. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 10.jpeg 5 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. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 11.jpeg 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.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Matted Hair

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  1. Step 1 Use a leave-in conditioner. 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]
    • Use leave-in conditioners or oils after washing your hair.
  2. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 13.jpeg 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]
  3. Untangle Severely Matted Hair Step 14.jpeg 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] Wash each section one at a time to avoid matting your hair while shampooing.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question How do you treat severely matted hair? Gina Almona 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 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 30
  • Question How do you get huge matted knots in the back that almost look like dreads? Community Answer Community Answer Try deep conditioner and follow the instructions in the article. Or, you could use vegetable oil. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 51 Helpful 157
  • Question How long will it take to get rid of badly matted hair? Community Answer Community Answer Judging by experience, probably a few hours. If I have a really bad knot, it can take that long or even longer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 28 Helpful 110
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Reader Videos

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. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 4
  • 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. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 2

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.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4387693/
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/5QRd6gxk4wg?t=167
  3. ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/hair-nails/565478/how-long-should-i-leave-conditioner-in-my-hair/
  4. ↑ https://www.beautycon.com/article/the-dos-and-donts-of-deep-conditioning
  5. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/curly-hair-care
  6. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/stop-damage
  7. ↑ https://www.buzzfeed.com/lizmrichardson/best-detangling-brush-natural-hair-curly-hair
  8. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12715094/
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/BpexZWsca5w?t=132
More References (3)
  1. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/curly-hair-care
  2. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/curly-hair-care
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/5QRd6gxk4wg?t=229

About This Article

Gina Almona Co-authored by: Gina Almona Professional Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Gina Almona and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. 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. This article has been viewed 1,609,239 times. 28 votes - 81% Co-authors: 28 Updated: May 19, 2025 Views: 1,609,239 Categories: Detangling Hair Article SummaryX

To untangle severely matted hair, start by applying a deep conditioner or a detangling spray to your damp hair. After waiting several minutes, gently untangle the easiest knots with your fingers. Next, use a wide toothed comb to brush the ends of your hair, slowly working upward to release the knots. When you come across particularly bad knots, apply additional conditioner or oil as needed. Then, rinse out any hair treatments once your hair is untangled. For more tips from our Beauty reviewer, including how to prevent matted hair, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Ellie Thomas

    Ellie Thomas

    Apr 25, 2021

    "I am going to try this because my hair is long and when silky, it is lovely. But I need to get rid of the knots and..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Gina Almona Co-authored by: Gina Almona Professional Hair Stylist Co-authors: 28 Updated: May 19, 2025 Views: 1,609,239 81% of readers found this article helpful. 28 votes - 81% Click a star to add your vote Ellie Thomas

Ellie Thomas

Apr 25, 2021

"I am going to try this because my hair is long and when silky, it is lovely. But I need to get rid of the knots and..." more Donna Moore

Donna Moore

Mar 28, 2016

"Thank you. I was severely stressed out, as my friends told me I would have to cut it out. I have hair past my..." more Meggie

Meggie

Jun 25, 2022

"My granddaughter has her hair in a bun which is really one big tangled mess. It is rock solid, I am hoping I can..." more Laurie Griffith

Laurie Griffith

Jul 10, 2017

"My hair is severely matted, haven't combed it for over a year due to illness. This article gave me step by..." more Marita Rimaitis

Marita Rimaitis

Nov 13, 2016

"I'm going to give this a try, my hair has become severely matted. It's also knotted at the root, so is..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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