There are many ways to have perfectly smooth, healthy, and tangle-free hair. But no matter how often and meticulously you get your hair ready, you may find yourself battling with matted strands from time to time. Severely matted hair is more than just a hassle—it’s downright damaging. Let us show you how with these expert tips how to detangle severely matted hair.
How To Detangle Severely Matted Hair?
Shampooing
First things first, you need to start with a proper shampoo. If your hair is severely matted, it might be best to cut it off and start over. This is a drastic measure, but it can be the best way to treat severely matted hair. Using a clarifying shampoo will remove all of the dirt, oils, and product build-up that is causing the matted hair. If you have long, thick hair, it might be best to get a professional to do it for you as you do not want to risk cutting off too much. Also, this will help with the tangling process so you can have a smoother transition.
Tangled Hair Extension Remover
If you have ever tried to remove a multifilament hair extension, you know that it can be a very difficult process. It can take hours and be very painful. If you have a lot of knots in your hair, it can be best to cut them off as they will be much easier to remove. You can do this with a special detangling comb for hair extensions. If your hair is really matted and you have no other way of removing the tangles, you can try using a special type of oil to loosen the hair. Coconut oil is a great option as it is not too harsh on your hair and can help gently loosen the knots.
Wide-Tooth Comb
After you have shampooed your hair, the next step is to comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb or detangling comb. This will help to smooth out the hair, remove knots, and breakage, and get your hair back to a normal state. Wide-tooth combs are usually a standard size and are very affordable. If you have a comb that is too narrow, you might cause more breakage and damage to the hair. Therefore, it is important to use a wide-tooth comb to help prevent this from happening.
Boar Bristle Brush
After you have shampooed, conditioned, and combed your hair, it is time to use a boar bristle brush. This will help to get rid of any static in your hair and make it smooth again. You can also use the brush to style your hair, but it is especially helpful for getting rid of the static that matted hair has. Static is actually a huge cause of matted hair and can be very hard to get rid of. Using a brush will help to get rid of this static and smooth your hair again.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is great for treating matted hair as it can help to break up the knots and make the hair soft again. If you have long hair, you can section it off and apply the coconut oil to the matted areas. Be sure to use a good amount as you want to make sure you are covering all of the hair. Once you have applied the coconut oil, wrap your hair in a warm towel or a hair turban. This will help to make the coconut oil work even better and get your hair back to a smooth and normal state.
What Causes Matted Hair?
Shedding
If you’re shedding more hair than usual, it could be a sign that your hair is breaking off. Hair shedding is normal, especially as we age, but if it occurs in large amounts, it can lead to hair thinning and hair loss. It’s best to pay attention to your hair shedding patterns, so you can identify potential issues and fix them before they become serious problems. If your matted hair is due to shedding, there are a few ways you can fix it. First, identify the cause of the shedding. Is your hair shedding due to a seasonal change, medication, stress, or hormonal imbalance? Once you figure out what caused the shedding, you can begin to solve the problem and hopefully get your locks back to normal.
Hair Tangle
A hair Tangle is when a section of hair gets stuck with another section. A tangle can occur anywhere on your head and usually happens when your hair is wet and at least two sections of hair are entwined. The way to fix a tangle is to gently pull apart the trapped sections of hair. If your matted hair is due to a tangle, try to identify which sections of hair are tangled. Once you’ve found the tangled bits, you can use your fingers to gently separate the sections. Be careful not to rip the hair, as this could lead to breakage. You can also try using a wide tooth comb or a detangling brush to gently work the knots out.
Trauma To The Hair Shaft
Your hair shaft is the built-in shaft of every strand of hair. It is responsible for protecting the hair follicle and is made up of many different proteins, minerals, and vitamins. If your hair is matted due to trauma to the hair shaft, it’s possible that you have been using some kind of harsh product or styling tool. If your hair is matted due to trauma to the hair shaft, it is important to identify the source of the problem. If you recently colored your hair with a harsh hair dye, used too much hair product, or used a bad hair styling tool, your hair may be matted. Try to identify what might be causing the trauma to your hair shaft. Once you’ve figured it out, you can try to fix it.
Grease And Oil Buildup
One of the most common causes of matted hair is buildup from oils and dirt. If you have any kind of scalp condition such as dandruff, it could be causing your hair to matted. If your hair is matted due to grease and oil buildup, you can use a clarifying shampoo to help remove the excess oil and dirt from your hair and scalp. Be sure to start with a small amount of shampoo and increase it if necessary, as you don’t want to over-wash your hair and cause more damage. If your matted hair is due to a scalp condition, such as dandruff, you should try to identify the cause of your dandruff. Is it due to a change in your diet or a stressful situation you’ve been going through? Once you’ve figured out the source of your dandruff, you can try to find a solution to the problem.
Bacterial Growth
One of the scariest reasons your hair might be matted is bacterial growth. If the matted sections of your hair are sticky and have a foul odor, it could be due to bacterial growth. Bacterial growth on your hair is common in people with certain scalp conditions, such as dandruff. If you have dandruff, you can try to identify the reason for it. It could be due to a change in your diet or hair care routine, or a reaction to certain medications. Once you’ve figured out the cause of your dandruff, you can try to find a solution to the problem. You may want to change your diet to stop dandruff or use a different hair care routine to keep dandruff away.
Tips For Preventing Matted Hair
-
Avoid teasing your hair: Teasing your hair will cause it to become matted more quickly and easily, and it can also lead to breakage.
-
Wash your hair regularly: Washing your hair at least once every three days is the best way to prevent it from becoming matted. Gentle shampoo and conditioner are best for fragile and sensitive hair.
-
Invest in hair care products: Using high-quality hair care products can help prevent your hair from becoming matted.
-
Brush your hair regularly: Brushing your hair before you go to sleep each night can help prevent it from becoming matted.
-
Stay out of extreme weather: Extremely cold or hot weather can cause hair to become easily matted.
-
Protect your hair from the elements: Avoid swimming, working out, or doing any other activities that will cause your hair to get extremely wet.
Conclusion
Matted hair can be frustrating, painful, and difficult to get through. But it doesn’t have to be something that keeps you from leaving the house. Follow these expert tips on how to detangle severely matted hair, and you’ll be back on track to a healthy and beautiful head of hair in no time. And remember to be gentle with your hair. It’s already fragile and susceptible to breakage, so you don’t want to make things worse by being too rough with it.
