Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
Knotted, tangled, matted – no one wants these nightmare conditions for their precious hair. But hair can become matted quicker than you imagine.
Due to their nature and structure , natural curls in particular tend to get tangled more easily than you would like. Before the worst case scenario is that your hair becomes extremely matted and can only be radically cut out with scissors, you should take action yourself and put a stop to the matting as quickly as possible.
We'll show you what's important to prevent your hair from getting tangled and how you can save your mane and gently detangle it if it does get knotted or matted. Ultimately, your hair should be tangle-free and healthy and shine in all its glory.
What is meant by matted hair?
Matted hair occurs when strands of hair become tangled and entangled, causing the hair to look dull and messy. This creates small nests of tangled hair that, if not counteracted, will grow larger and tighter.
Felt hair is particularly prone to developing when the hair is dry and brittle . This causes the outer cuticle layer of the hair to stand up and the hairs to literally stick together.
Due to friction and natural movement, these tangles become tighter and more and more hair collects in the matted nests. Curly or frizzy hair tends to mat more easily because its naturally slightly open cuticle layer makes it more susceptible to knots and tangles.
At some point, even with a lot of effort, you can no longer untie the knots and the only thing that helps is cutting out the matted area with scissors. To prevent this from happening, you should act in time.
Causes of matted hair
Why does hair get matted? There are various reasons why hair gets tangled and we want to look at the most common causes and problems here. If matting is not prevented, in the worst case scenario it can even lead to hair breakage.
That's why it's important to find out why your hair is constantly matting. This is the only way to quickly take countermeasures so that your curls can be untangled and well-groomed again.
Care:
Often, matted hair is an unmistakable warning sign that you are either not caring for your mane properly or not caring enough . How does your hair feel and how does it look? Are your curls perhaps too dry?
Get to know your hair structure and give your hair enough attention and care products tailored to your hair type. Regular hair treatments and hair masks can help to improve the condition of your hair so that it no longer becomes tangled.
At this point we would like to recommend our curl quiz . This way you will know within a few minutes what porosity your hair has and what care it absolutely needs.
Dyeing:
There is no way to sugarcoat it, chemical dyes are stressful for your hair and are damaging to your hair health. Lightening and bleaching in particular penetrate deeply into the hair structure and roughen the cuticle layer of the hair. You can read more about this at: Dyeing curls: Highlights and curlyage for curly hair
The hair becomes straw-like and loses moisture even faster. This greatly promotes tangles in the hair.
Heat:
Curling irons and straightening irons can also damage the structure of your hair if used too often. If you cannot do without these heat tools for styling, then use high-quality devices with a ceramic coating and use them at the lowest possible heat setting.
Otherwise, excessive use of heat can quickly cause the hair to become matted.
How do you blow-dry your curls properly? Read this article. How to blow-dry curls properly: techniques with and without a diffuser
External influencing factors:
Forces that act on the hair through pressure, friction or too much movement can also lead to matting . Hats and scarves, for example, particularly encourage hair matting at the back of the head.
Dry heating air or excessive UV radiation from the sun can also quickly lead to brittle and dry hair that is prone to matting.
You should also take a closer look at your bed linen . After all, we spend a good third of the day sleeping. If you use a rough cotton or linen as bed linen, this can also dry out your hair .
The natural movements you make while you sleep can quickly cause your hair to become tangled. This is particularly common on the neck. Switching to a hair-friendly silk pillowcase can help.
It may be a luxurious purchase, but a mulberry silk pillowcase is a lifelong companion and can be a real game-changer if your locks are plagued by tangles.
A silk cover also has many other advantages and you will definitely not want to be without it. Take a closer look at the advantages: 100% mulberry silk pillowcase for curls.
How can you remove matted hair?
Has it happened and a nasty tangle has formed in your hair? Don't worry, there's no reason to be ashamed! Especially with curly hair , it can sometimes happen that a few strands get completely tangled , even though you take good care of your hair and don't neglect it.
There are several ways and techniques you can try to remove matted hair . Before you lose hope and reach for the scissors, you can try the following means and methods to save your matted hair and remove the stubborn knots.
Proper combing or detangling of hair
If you have straight hair, combing and brushing regularly is a good way to prevent it from matting . It's not so easy for us curly-haired people, because brushing your hair when it's dry is the enemy of every natural curl. The curl structure is lost and your hair just looks puffy.
For us curlies, regular detangling after shampooing while using a conditioner is the better option. A conditioner gives the hair a lot of "slip", so that the hair slides well and knots and matted strands can be untangled relatively easily with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.
From time to time, you can carefully untangle your hair with your fingers when it is dry . This is a good idea, for example, in the neck area, as this is where tangles are particularly common in curly hair.
Wash your hair carefully
Gentleness is always a good idea when handling curly hair. Just as you should avoid vigorous rubbing with a towel , it is also not a good idea to ruffle or scrub your hair back and forth when washing.
The best method is to gently massage your scalp with your fingertips without moving your hair too much. If you are too rough, tangles are inevitable when you wash your hair.
Impurities can be removed particularly gently but thoroughly with a scalp brush that stimulates circulation. This requires only minimal movements to be effective and is a wonderful helper that prevents tangles. How about the Rainbow Curls - Scalp Massaging Brush ?
There are shampoos for matted hair, but most conventional anti-matting shampoos are not suitable for the Curly Girl method .
Therefore, to detangle and save matted hair, we recommend using a moisturizing shampoo such as the Bounce Curl Pure Silk Moisturizing Shampoo , which moisturizes and strengthens your hair while you shampoo it.
Give your hair a break
Just like you sometimes need a break to catch your breath, your hair will also appreciate a break to relax now and then. Leave the straightening iron and curling iron in the cupboard and avoid strenuous color treatments if possible.
In summer, for example, you can avoid using the high heat setting on your hairdryer and just let your curls air dry. Your hair will thank you.
If it is absolutely not possible to pause your usual styling routine, then regularly treat your hair to a mini break with a nourishing and restorative deep conditioner.
In our Lockenbox shop you will find a wide selection of hair masks, treatments and cures : Lockenbox Deep Conditioner .
Detangling spray against matted hair
A detangling spray can also be a miracle cure for knots in the hair. To detangle the hair, the spray is applied to damp hair and after a short exposure time, the strands of hair can be detangled much more easily.
Especially for natural curls, there is the wonderful Breahni Weightless Detangler , which glides effortlessly through your strands and creates ultra-soft curls.
Tie a braid
Even our great-grandparents knew about the power of a "protective hairstyle". In earlier times, women only wore their hair down on special occasions. In everyday life, long hair was artfully pinned up or worn in braids.
Although there were hardly any care and styling products back then , people often had beautiful, thick and long hair. A braid is therefore a perfect hairstyle to prevent hair matting and protect your mane from tangling .
Regular appointments at the hairdresser
Brittle hair ends and split ends indicate that the cuticle layer of the hair ends is damaged. Therefore, it is a good idea to trim the ends regularly. This not only prevents matted hair, but also ensures healthy growth and a well-groomed appearance of your curly hair.
The best home remedies for matted hair
There are various recipes for home remedies for matted hair circulating online, but we would advise you not to try every recipe indiscriminately. We would strongly advise you against the tip of declaring war on matted hair with a portion of washing-up liquid! This will most likely damage your curly hair instead of doing it a favor.
Below we present you with some much gentler methods to detangle your hair using home remedies.
Coconut oil as a home remedy for matted hair
Coconut oil not only looks good in the kitchen, it is also very suitable as a moisturizing treatment for your hair. When detangling knots, you can try using coconut oil to get more slip in your hair so that knots can be undone more easily.
However, keep in mind that coconut oil can quickly weigh down your hair and cause greasy strands.
Avocado and olive oil against tangled hair
Avocado and olive oil are also rich nutrient bombs that can help detangle knotted hair . To do this, mix the flesh of an avocado with a little olive oil and apply the whole thing to your curly hair as a hair treatment.
After allowing the product to work for about 10 minutes, carefully untangle the matted areas and then wash the whole thing thoroughly.
The insider tip: honey and egg yolk
If you mix honey and egg yolk in a 1:1 ratio, you get a smooth DIY treatment that makes the hair nice and slippery and can help with detangling. After about 20 minutes, the mixture should be rinsed out of the hair thoroughly.
Expert tip: Be careful! Egg yolk coagulates at higher temperatures and you definitely don't want curdled egg in your hair! It is therefore important to only wash out the honey-egg yolk treatment with lukewarm water.
How can I prevent matted hair
In the previous sections, you have already learned a lot about what you can do to prevent your hair from matting. It is important not to let it get too tangled in the first place.
If you notice knots in your hair, you can try to gently loosen them with your fingers. If that doesn't work, you can try using conditioner when washing your hair or a detangling spray. Sometimes home remedies like avocado or coconut oil can help.
In general, well-moisturized, nourished and healthy hair is much less prone to tangling.
- healthy,
- vital
- and get well cared for curly hair,
the right care method is essential. The Curly Girl Method by Lorraine Massey can therefore work wonders when it comes to preventing matted hair.
With the right products, you can prevent all hair problems. But which are THE products? We have developed the Curl Box so that you no longer have to worry about curl products. Take a look at it.
Conclusion
In this guide, you have learned many ways to get rid of knotted hair and tangles using different techniques. Whether it is
- wearing a braid,
- a homemade hair mask
- or a detangling spray.
If this happens, you can try to detangle your hair using different methods.
Reaching for the scissors and cutting out the matting should be considered as a last resort – i.e. only when absolutely nothing else works!
Ultimately, the very best way to avoid matted hair is to carefully and regularly care for your locks.
By taking regular care of your hair and treating your curls gently, you can help prevent tangles and keep your curly hair healthy and shiny.
We at Lockenbox see it as a matter of the heart to give you all the tools and products you need to ensure that your curls are and remain optimally protected against tangles and other hair damage.
FAQ
Why is my hair matted on the back of my neck?
Hair on the back of the neck is prone to tangling because it is often compressed by friction against clothing or the pillow while sleeping. This can cause knots to form, which can develop into matted hair over time.
Another reason may be that the curls at the nape of the neck are often longer than the rest of the hair. This can make it more difficult to detangle these areas of hair sufficiently, which can lead to matting. Therefore, pay special attention to this area of hair when detangling.
If your hair is prone to matting, it is best to avoid wearing clothing that rubs against your neck, such as turtlenecks or scarves, as this can encourage matting.
When it is necessary to cut matted hair
Saving extremely matted hair is almost impossible. The matted knots in the hair eventually become so tight and tangled that there is simply no longer any chance of untangle the hair. If, despite all your efforts, a brush or comb really cannot get through the matted area, it is better to cut out the matted knot so that all the hair can continue to grow healthily without the risk of getting caught in the matted area.
Ideally, you should always pay attention to your hair and act quickly to untangle even small knots. Then you'll be on the safe side and extreme matting won't occur in the first place.
Which brush is suitable for tangled hair?
For tangled hair, it is recommended to use a brush that has soft and flexible bristles so that the hair is not put under too much strain. A brush with rigid or hard bristles can damage the hair and make tangles even worse.
It's also a good idea to gently untangle any large knots with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb before using a brush.
A brush that is great for removing tangles and one of our favorites is the Detangling & Styling Brush from Rainbow Curls
