Few folks can escape the horrors of knotted hair—the infants, the balding, and the buzz-cutters are just about the one ones secure. For the remainder of us, knots are an unlucky a part of life.
Whereas a great detangler and hair brushing can often repair your on a regular basis tangles, generally these knots and tangles tackle a lifetime of their very own. In these conditions, we’re confronted with the improve nobody requested for: What had been as soon as easy knots and tangles grow to be deeply intertwined, lumped collectively mats. And matted hair is not any joke.
Whereas your first thought is perhaps to seize the scissors, battle that intuition. With the correct instruments and temperament, it’s potential to eliminate mats from your personal dwelling. Learn on for recommendation from hair well being knowledgeable Shab Reslan and trichologist Bridgette Hill on eradicating mats and how you can keep away from matted hair altogether.
Meet the Professional
- Shab Reslan is a hair well being knowledgeable, hairstylist, and host of the Hair Like Hers Podcast.
- Bridgette Hill is an authorized trichologist and founding father of Root Trigger Scalp Evaluation, in addition to a member of invisibobble’s Hair Loving Job Power.
What Causes Extraordinarily Matted Hair?
Matted hair is a mixture of connected and shed strands that twist collectively to kind clumps—suppose conventional knots and tangles, however worse. Whereas on a regular basis knots might be eliminated pretty simply, mats are robust, if not altogether not possible, to take away with a brush or comb alone.
Hill describes matted hair as “hair fibers that grow to be intertwined round one another in a good interlocking sample that grow to be fused collectively, making a cluster or clusters of an unorganized mass of hair fibers.” And whereas these with drier or textured hair varieties, like curls and coils, are actually extra liable to matted hair, it could actually occur to anybody.
The primary reason behind hair matting, in keeping with Reslan, is product buildup on the hair shaft from styling merchandise, improperly shampooed hair, conditioner or hair masks left in for too lengthy, and the like. Over time, that buildup finally makes hair so boring and coated that strands simply tangle collectively as a result of ensuing friction.
Hair may also grow to be matted from a scarcity of hair brushing, combing, and different detangling strategies, Hill mentions. When tangled, hair fibers lack moisture and might grow to be intertwined, finally resulting in mats. Different causes embrace improper use of hair equipment or hair ties, lengthy stints with out trims, and failure to guard hair in a single day.
Learn how to Detangle Extraordinarily Matted Hair
Right here’s the excellent news: Chopping matted hair is absolutely the final resort. That being mentioned, Hill warns that the important thing to detangling excessive mats is having persistence—and being ready with the right instruments. As for the instruments, she suggests the next:
- Broad-tooth comb
- Detangling brush
- Pin-curl or rat-tail comb
- Detangling primer (her decide: Oribe’s Run Via Detangling Primer, $37)
- Detangling spray (her decide: R&C’s Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray, $26)
- Hair oil (her decide: Karite’s Nutri-Nourishing Oil Remedy, $40)
- Moisturizing conditioner or remedy
- Invisibobble’s Traceless Waver Hair Pins ($4)
When you’ve rounded up your instruments, you’re prepared to start the method.
- Saturate the whole matted clump with detangler spray, utilizing your fingers to actually disperse the product all through the mass of hair.
- Utilizing your fingers, attempt to gently loosen up the hair fibers—be certain that the hair is totally lined with the detangler spray.
- Apply oil to the hair mass for some further lubrication and slip. This can will let you safely comb via the hair as you attempt to separate the hair fibers from each other. Use the wide-tooth comb for this step.
- Isolate any free-hanging hair strands. Work a detangling brush from the underside of the hair, transferring slowly and punctiliously up towards the matted space.
- Alternate between the detangling brush, vast tooth comb, and rat-tail comb as wanted based mostly on their effectiveness in loosening the tangles within the matted space. For tightly intertwined areas, use the tip of an Invisibobble Waver to isolate hairs from the mass.
- As hair turns into remoted from the mass, use the wide-tooth comb to take away any free hairs within the mat. Add conditioner to these ends for further moisture and safety. Proceed with the above steps till the mat is totally eliminated.
In excessive circumstances, Hill suggests starting with the oil and saturating the matted clump utilizing your fingers. Start in the course of the mat and try and loosen and widen the mat to search out some free ends of hair to work with. Hill says utilizing the tail of a pin-curl comb is particularly useful on this case, as it is going to create area to work via the mat. Then proceed with the steps as said earlier than.
Remember the fact that it’s pretty regular to see some hair shedding throughout the detangling course of since mats include hairs you’ve already shed.
When to Lower Your Hair
When you’re unable to get a comb (and even the tail of a comb) into the mat, slicing is sadly your solely possibility. Alternatively, if you end up tugging on hair fibers and creating an excessive amount of rigidity, it additionally is perhaps time to get out the scissors.
If it’s been weeks or months because you final combed your hair (we don’t decide), slicing may additionally be your best choice since it is going to doubtless take many hours to totally detangle mats—and even then, outcomes aren’t assured.
Learn how to Keep away from Extraordinarily Matted Hair
Congratulations: You’ve efficiently de-matted your hair. Now you wish to keep away from future mats. The important thing right here, in keeping with Hill, is working towards correct scalp and hair care, utilizing equipment designed to forestall tangles and snags, preserving the ends of hair hydrated with a lightweight serum or leave-in remedy just a few instances per week, and scheduling common haircuts. For lengthy hair, or hair liable to knotting, take into account defending your strands at evening with a silk pillowcase, scarf, or bonnet.
Be conscious of hairsprays and backcombing, each of which encourage tangling and matting of hair fibers. And, in fact, be certain that to detangle hair completely after each wash.
The Closing Takeaway
Matted hair is an absolute ache to take care of, even with the correct instruments and strategies. In a perfect world, we’d keep away from matted hair altogether, however we all know this isn’t the case. Life occurs, mats occur.
Fortunately, the correct instruments and strategies—and a complete lot of persistence—can probably prevent from a significant chop. So discover your inside peace, seize an amazing comb, and get to de-matting.
FAQ
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What’s matted hair?
Matted hair is a mixture of connected and shed strands that twist collectively to kind clumps. Whereas on a regular basis knots might be eliminated pretty simply, mats are robust, if not altogether not possible, to take away with a brush or comb alone.
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How does matted hair happen?
The primary reason behind hair matting is product buildup on the hair shaft from styling merchandise, improperly shampooed hair, conditioner and hair masks left in for too lengthy, and the like. Over time, that buildup finally makes hair so boring and coated that strands simply tangle collectively as a result of ensuing friction. Hair may also grow to be matted from a scarcity of hair brushing, combing, and different detangling strategies.
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Who can get matted hair?
Anybody with hair can get matted hair—even canine. That being mentioned, these with drier and extra textured hair varieties are usually extra liable to mats.
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How can I keep away from matted hair?
The secret’s working towards correct scalp and hair care, utilizing equipment designed to forestall tangles and snags, preserving the ends of hair hydrated with a lightweight serum or leave-in remedy just a few instances per week, and scheduling common haircuts. For lengthy hair, or hair liable to knotting, take into account defending your strands at evening with a silk pillowcase, scarf, or bonnet.
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