How to tame tangled hair

For many of us, managing tangled hair can be a daily struggle. Knots and tangles can make hair maintenance seem like an endless struggle, whether the cause is a busy lifestyle, inclement weather, or simply natural hair texture. Fortunately, you can change your hair care regimen and avoid tangles by using the appropriate methods and products.

We’ll look at useful tangle-busting tips and techniques in this article. We’ll go over everything you need to know to get your hair manageable and smooth, from selecting the best detangling tools to applying the best conditioning products. You can enjoy effortlessly gorgeous hair and wave goodbye to annoying knots with a few easy adjustments.

Prepare to learn quick and simple ways to prevent tangles in your hair. Whether you’re battling regular knots or infrequent snarls, these tips will help you keep your hair healthy, sleek, and feeling fantastic.

Why hair gets tangled

Tangled hair, also known as mats, are tightly tangled hairs that get saturated with sebum when their owner does nothing about them. Sebum draws in dust and debris, quickly giving the mat a felt-like appearance.

Causes of entanglement:

• Low quality of hair shafts. Damaged and dry hair is more likely to tangle than others, as the open scales of the hair shell cling to each other, bunching up. Porosity of hair can also provoke tangling – "empty" shafts are perfectly intertwined, but then cannot be untangled back. The reason for the deterioration of the condition of curls can be frequent thermal styling, dyeing with bad dyes, lack of protection from external factors – sun, frost, wind, disruptions in the functioning of the body;
• Specific hairstyles and their incorrect "parsing". This often occurs after Afro-braids – they thin the hair, and when unbraided, they often get tangled;
• Poor sleepn. If you constantly toss and turn in your sleep, loose strands roll up, forming tight weaves;
• Breaking Daily Rituals. Here we are talking about combing – it should be done 3-4 times a day, especially if the curls are long and problematic – dry, damaged, brittle;
• Using low-quality cosmetics and poor rinsing. If you don"t rinse your hair well after applying the mask, it will become sticky and will constantly stick together.

Tangles were once thought to be a serious illness, and the brightest minds of the day conducted research on them. The Kiev physiologist Alexander Petrovich Voltaire, for instance, wrote a dissertation on tangle formation in 1845.

Tangles were thought to be the result of evil spirits taking up residence in people during the 16th and 17th centuries.

These days, tangled hair is not such a big deal and cannot be solved; there are a number of methods for untangling hair without damaging your curls.

3 ways to untangle hair

It is sufficient to mist tangled strands with a spray bottle in order to untangle them without the need for prior washing. Hairspray, foam, mousse, gel, and other styling products that were previously applied must be taken apart after washing because their fixing qualities prevent you from being able to easily detangle your hair. All of the following methods are compatible with this rule.

Comb

The only tools needed for this method are water and a comb, making it the easiest to use, but it’s important to choose the correct one. The size of the tangle determines which comb is best for detangling:

• A comb with sparse teeth – for large tangles;
• A comb with frequent teeth – for small tangles.

You’ll also find a comb with a thin, pointed handle useful for picking up strands while untangling.

Take your time and remain composed when using a comb to untangle hair. A tangle doesn’t scare you, but it does require accuracy and patience. It won’t work to try and comb through all of the tangled hair in one sitting. Move calmly and deliberately in small steps.

How to use a comb to untangle hair:

1. Comb with a wide-tooth comb as much as possible;
2. Divide the entire mass of hair into sections – depending on the thickness, there can be from 3 to 6;
3. Find the place of maximum tangling of hair and wet it with water, preferably from a spray bottle. Wet strands become more elastic, so you can untangle them with the least harm to the beauty of your curls. Nevertheless, do not forget that hairs saturated with moisture are also easy to break or stretch, so act carefully;
4. Starting from the ends, carefully comb your hair with a comb, gradually moving to the roots;
5. As soon as you get to the place of maximum tangling, temporarily put the comb aside and use your hands to carefully move the strands to the sides, breaking the integrity of the tangle. Continue until you have disassembled the entire tangle into small strands. Here you can also use a pointed comb – it is convenient to separate the strands;
6. After the previous step, you will get several strands, each of which will have a small part of the tangle. Take the comb again and slowly, without sharp movements, comb the tangles towards the ends.

Some girls think that cutting off tangled hair is the only way to get rid of it. You can, of course, chop it off, but the cut will be extremely severe, particularly if the tangling happened closer to the roots. It is advised to remove tangles only in more complex situations or after you have succeeded in bringing them closer to the ends.

With a special product

You can use conditioners, sprays, and lotions—specialty products for detangling—instead of water. These are typically found in a child’s cosmetic bag because parents frequently use untangling products on their thin, prone-to-tangling hair. Naturally, "adult" brands also manufacture their own goods; we’ll include a list of the top items at the conclusion.

The steps will be the same as in the previous step, but before beginning, you must spray an untangling product in place of water. Don’t count on it; the tangle will not only need to be manually disassembled slowly and carefully, but it will also fall apart on its own after using the spray.

By smoothing out the structure of the hair shaft, these products have the advantage of preventing the scales from adhering to one another, making it easier and less painful to untangle hair.

With a balm or conditioner

You can use a balm or conditioner that you typically use after shampooing to help with untangling.

1. Comb your hair as much as possible, and moisten it with water from a spray bottle;
2. Distribute a large portion of balm or conditioner along the entire length, especially carefully working out those places where the tangle is localized;
3. A couple of minutes after applying with a comb, begin combing the strands from the ends, gradually moving to the roots;
4. As soon as the comb stops helping, put it aside and begin separating the tangle into strands with your hands. Due to the balm, the hair will slide better, become smoother and more pliable and it will be easier to untangle it.

And here’s a little tip: hold the strand above the level of the tangle to release the tension in the skin and lessen the painful sensations while untangling.

Although handling tangled hair can be annoying, it can be made much simpler with the correct methods and equipment. Start by gently working through knots in damp hair with a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush, working your way up from the tips. To assist in removing tough tangles, use a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner. Additionally, since brushing dry hair can break it, it’s best to avoid doing so. You can keep your hair manageable and smooth in the future by regularly trimming split ends and adhering to a good hair care regimen.

How to prevent hair tangling

• At least 2-3 times a day, comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb or a brush with natural bristles – this will help prevent the formation of advanced tangles and untangle hairs at the initial stage;
• Do not do hairstyles that lead to tangling too often – African braids, dreadlocks, backcombing – all this provokes the formation of tangles;
• Before washing your hair, be sure to comb it, and after – do not rub the length with a towel – it is enough to wrap the curls with it to absorb moisture;
• Try to avoid procedures that spoil the curls – affect the thickness of the hair, make it dry and porous. Such manipulations include frequent styling with curling irons and tongs, drying with a hair dryer. Minimize the impact of thermal devices and be sure to use thermal protection;
• Gather your hair in a loose braid before going to bed so that it does not get tangled during sleep. Changing the pillowcase will also help – silk or satin will do, which will not cling to the hairs.

If you frequently have tangled hair, it’s time to reevaluate your hair care regimen. To make combing easier, it would be a good idea to purchase a shampoo that will tame unruly hair and to supplement your hair care routine with a conditioner and mask.

The ideal mixtures for hair care that prevents tangling are:

• Shampoo + conditioner Matrix Mega Sleek + mask Total Treat. The shampoo and conditioner are designed specifically for unruly hair prone to tangling – they help tame curls, make them manageable, and prevent tangling. The mask effectively nourishes the hair shafts, filling the voids in their structure, which reduces the risk of tangling.

• Kérastase RÉGÉNÉRANT Chronologiste shampoo-bath and mask. The shampoo-bath gently cleanses without harming the structure of damaged hair, and the mask makes it thick and strong.

• Lador Damaged Protector Acid shampoo and conditioner. The series of products can be used for colored hair, as well as dry, damaged and brittle hair. Helps to discipline curls.

The best leave-in products for tangled hair

Add specific leave-in products that avoid tangling to your hair care routine to stop this issue. Also, if you’re stuck on what to do with matted hair, the products listed below can be of assistance.

Ollin Professional, PERFECT HAIR 15 in 1 Cream Spray

A product with many uses that not only prevents hair from tangling but also gives hair shine, softness, hydration, nourishment, and heat protection. After washing, apply to damp curls and style as desired. The product has received great reviews, despite its less than ideal composition.

Ideal for girls who want to permanently eliminate tangling, simply incorporate this spray into your daily routine.

Tangle Teezer, Everyday Detangling Cream Spray

From the makers of the well-known Tangle Teezer comb, a cream spray for effortless combing. designed for people with thick hair who are also prone to developing curls. hydrates and nourishes hair flawlessly, gets rid of fluff, and keeps hair from getting confused. has shi oil in it.

It can be used to unravel stiffons that have already formed because it can be applied to both wet and dry curls. A children’s spray with the same effect is available from the same manufacturer.

Bio-Spa, Professional Therapy Spray

The Bio-SPA spray works well on damaged, dry hair that is prone to tangling. The combination of 14 amino acids and vitamins helps to further prevent the issue and unravel hairs that have already fallen out. can be continuously applied to stop stiffon formation from occurring. It is applied without the need for flushing after washing the head completely.

Estel Curex Therapy, Spray-Exit

All hair types can benefit from the Estel spray’s ease of combing. additionally softens, smoothes, and adds shine. Apply differently—on damp or dry hair. possesses a pleasing scent. After use, highly porous curls could electrify.

Bielita, Spray-Conditioner "Easy Combing"

Long and extremely long hair that is prone to tangling, has a damaged curl structure, and lacks shine is a good fit for the Bielita two-phase spray. Apart from its primary function, the product also smoothes, softens, and seals split ends. Moreover, it functions as a heat shield.

Apply after washing to damp hair. Remember to shake the bottle to combine the phases before spraying.

Step	Description
1	Start by applying a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray to your hair. This will help make the hair more slippery and easier to manage.
2	Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to gently work through the knots. Start from the ends and gradually work your way up to the roots to avoid breaking your hair.
3	Work on small sections of hair at a time. This makes it easier to manage and prevents the knots from getting worse.
4	If the knots are particularly stubborn, consider using a hair oil or a leave-in treatment for added slip and moisture.
5	After detangling, rinse your hair with cool water to help close the hair cuticles and make your hair smoother.
6	Finish with a light conditioning treatment to keep your hair hydrated and less prone to tangling in the future.

Although taming tangled hair can seem like an overwhelming task, it becomes much more manageable with the right strategy. Start by using a detangling brush or a comb with wide teeth. To reduce breakage and pain, work gently through knots starting at the tips of your hair and working your way up to the roots.

The prevention of tangles also depends on conditioning. Use a high-quality conditioner on a regular basis to keep your hair silky and less likely to knot. For extra assistance with especially difficult tangles, think about applying a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner.

Finally, as vigorous brushing or combing can exacerbate damage, refrain from doing so, especially when your hair is damp. Instead, while your hair is still damp, use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle it. You can maintain the sleek, untangled appearance of your hair by adhering to these easy tips.

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