Knowing how to detangle hair properly prevents a surprising amount of breakage. Most damage from combing does not come from the tangles themselves but from pulling a comb or brush down from the roots through a knot. Three habits protect your hair: add slip, work in small sections, and start at the ends.
Why hair tangles
- Raised cuticles. Dry, damaged or bleached hair has a rough surface that catches on other strands.
- Texture. Curls and coils wrap around each other.
- Length. Long hair has more chances to knot.
- Friction. Wind, collars, scarves and cotton pillowcases rub strands together.
- Shed hairs. Loose hairs that have not fallen away bind the others.
Wet or dry?
Wet hair stretches more and breaks more easily than dry hair, so the best moment depends on your hair type.
| Hair type | Best time to detangle |
|---|---|
| Straight | When towel-dried or mostly dry |
| Wavy | Damp, with conditioner or leave-in |
| Curly | Wet, with plenty of conditioner |
| Coily | Wet or damp, in sections, with conditioner |
Tools
- Fingers are the gentlest tool and are good for finding knots.
- A wide-tooth comb suits wet hair and curls.
- A flexible detangling brush bends when it meets resistance.
- Clips hold finished sections out of the way.
Avoid fine-tooth combs and stiff brushes on tangled hair.
Step-by-step method
- Add slip. In the shower, apply conditioner. On dry or damp hair, use a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner. Leave-In Conditioner vs Hair Serum: Which Do You Need? explains leave-in products.
- Divide the hair into sections. Use two to four sections for fine hair and six or more for thick or coily hair.
- Hold the section a little above the place where you are working. This stops the pull from reaching the scalp.
- Start at the ends. Comb the last few centimeters until they are smooth.
- Move up a little and comb down to the ends again. Repeat until you reach the roots.
- Stop at a knot. Work it apart with your fingers and a little more conditioner. Loosen it from the bottom and the sides.
- Twist or clip each finished section before you start the next.
- Rinse if you used rinse-out conditioner.
Dealing with a stubborn knot
- Saturate it with conditioner or a little oil.
- Hold the hair above the knot.
- Tease strands out one by one with your fingers or the end of a comb.
- Be patient. Cut only as a last resort, and then only the smallest part.
For badly matted hair, a hairdresser can often save much more length than you would expect.
Preventing tangles
- Condition every time you wash.
- Blot hair with a soft towel. Do not rub.
- Sleep with hair in a loose braid or bun, on a satin pillowcase or in a bonnet.
- Tie long hair back in wind and during exercise.
- Trim split ends, which catch on each other. See Split Ends: Causes and Ways to Reduce Breakage.
- Do not go to bed with soaking wet hair.
Detangling children's hair
Use the same method with a spray detangler, work in small sections and hold the hair above the knot so that it does not hurt. Short, calm sessions work better than one long battle.
How often to detangle
- Straight and wavy hair: daily, gently.
- Curly hair: on wash days, and with fingers between washes.
- Coily hair: on wash days. Combing every day causes unnecessary breakage.
If you see many short, broken pieces after combing, change your method and read How to Reduce Hair Breakage When Brushing. For full routines, see Curly Hair Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide for curls and Coily Hair Routine: Moisture, Detangling, and Styling for coils.
Related on ArniSun
- How to Reduce Hair Breakage When Brushing
- Curly Hair Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Coily Hair Routine: Moisture, Detangling, and Styling
- Split Ends: Causes and Ways to Reduce Breakage
- Leave-In Conditioner vs Hair Serum: Which Do You Need?
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to detangle hair wet or dry?
It depends on the texture. Curly and coily hair is best detangled wet with conditioner. Straight hair is stronger when it is mostly dry.
Why should I start from the ends?
Combing from the roots pushes all the tangles down into one tight knot. Starting at the ends clears them a little at a time with far less pulling.
Is it normal to lose hair when detangling?
Yes. You shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day, and they come out when you comb. If you wash and detangle once a week, a week's worth appears at once.