You wore your high-quality hair a few times, and now it’s a matted mess. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Whether it’s a wig or human hair extensions, tangling happens—and fast.
This post breaks down how to detangle matted hair, why it gets like that in the first place, and what you can do to stop it from happening again.
Why Does Your Wig Hair or Extensions Get Tangled?
If your wig keeps tangling after just a few wears, there’s a reason. Actually—several. Here’s what’s usually going on:
1. No Natural Oils = Dry, Stiff Hair
Your real hair gets oil from your scalp. Wigs and extensions don’t. That means they dry out faster, especially the ends. Dry hair clumps together and forms knots. Over time, those knots turn into mats.
2. No Moisture or Conditioner
Hair—yes, even fake hair—needs moisture to move smoothly. Without leave-in sprays or a light conditioner, the strands get rough and start sticking to each other. That’s how matting starts. Especially with curly or kinky textures.
3. No Night Protection
Sleeping in your wig without a satin bonnet or scarf? That friction from your pillow (even more so with cotton) causes breakage, frizz, and—you guessed it—tangles. Nighttime is when most of the damage sneaks in.
4. No Daily Maintenance
If you throw the wig on and go, then toss it on a chair at night, it’s going to tangle. Hair needs a little daily care. Even just finger-combing or spraying it with a detangling mist helps keep the strands from clumping.
5. You’re Wearing the Wrong Texture for Your Routine
Some textures need more attention than others. Kinky and curly wigs look amazing, but they also need detangling more often than silky straight styles. If you’re not up for the upkeep, the hair will tangle fast.
6. Product Buildup
Heavy products (like gels or thick creams) can leave residue. That residue attracts dust, makes hair sticky, and traps shed strands. And yep—that turns into tangles.
How to Detangle Matted Hair: A Universal Way
Matted hair can be a mess—literally.
And if you're staring at a wig or bundle full of knots, you might feel the urge to brush through it and hope for the best.
Please don’t. The goal isn’t to save every strand—it’s to save the whole piece.
Start by softening the hair.
Spray it down with water or a detangling mist. Add some conditioner or a few drops of oil to help loosen the strands. You want the hair to feel slippery, not stiff.
Then gently start pulling apart the worst clumps with your fingers. Go slow. If the mats are stubborn and won’t budge, that’s your sign: cut it.
And no, cutting isn’t giving up. It’s a way to protect the rest of the hair. Forcing your way through a tight knot causes way more damage.
It stretches the fibers, breaks the strands, and can even tear the cap if you’re working on a wig.
But snipping out that one tiny clump? That keeps the rest smooth, intact, and looking good.
Think of it like trimming split ends. You lose a little, but save a lot.
Once the tangles are gone, go back in with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush.
Work from the ends upward—always. Then follow up with more moisture, a little oil, and let the hair rest flat while it dries.
It’s a process, sure. But it’s better than yanking, tugging, and ending up with more damage than you started with.
How to Fix Tangled Crochet Hair (String Issues After Shipping)
If you opened your crochet hair, and found that the string looks like it’s been through something. We know—it can get a little messy in transit.
But don’t worry, that thin string is supposed to be there. It’s designed to give you a cleaner, more invisible knot when you install the hair.
Because the string is very fine and delicate (on purpose!), it may tangle during packaging or shipping. Luckily, it’s easy to sort out with a bit of patience.
What You’ll Need:
- Spray bottle with water or leave-in conditioner
- Rat tail comb, bobby pin, or yarn needle
- Hair clips or sectioning clips
- Optional: detangling spray or a bit of light conditioner
Step-by-Step: How to Untangle It
1. Lay it out: Place the hair on a flat surface—table, towel, or counter—so you can see the tangle.
2. Spray lightly: Mist the tangled area with water or a leave-in conditioner spray. This softens the hair and string, making it easier to separate.
3. Start small: Don’t yank. Gently use your fingers to find the ends of the string and pull apart small sections at a time.
4. Use a tool if needed: If your fingers can’t get in, use a rat tail comb or something with a pointed tip to loosen tighter knots in the string.
5. Clip as you go: After freeing each section, clip it aside so it doesn’t tangle again while you work on the rest.
6. Only cut if it’s stuck: As a last resort, you can carefully snip the string, not the hair, to separate it. The string’s job is to help with the knotting process, but the hair is still usable if the string is removed.
Reminder: What is the string for
Each bundle has a thin string connecting two sections of hair. This string is there to help create a more invisible knot when you crochet it onto your natural hair.
It saves time and gives a neater finish—but yes, it can tangle a bit on the journey to you.
A few extra tips:
- Be gentle—slow hands save more hair.
- Tangles are from shipping, not a defect. Once detangled, the hair performs just as intended.
- Store leftover hair flat or in a satin/silk pouch to prevent future tangles.
How to Keep the Tangles Away
Once you’ve fought through a matted mess, you probably don’t want to deal with it again. Good news? You don’t have to—if you change a few habits.
First, rethink your routine. If you’re only detangling once a week (or let’s be honest—once every two weeks), that’s not enough.
Even wigs and hair extensions need regular attention. A quick finger comb every couple of wears can make a big difference.
It doesn’t have to be a full wash day—just a gentle refresh to keep tangles from building up.
At night, don’t just toss your wig or hair into a corner. That’s a fast track to knots.
Use a silk or satin bonnet if you’re sleeping in it, or a silk bag or stand if you’re taking it off.
And if you’re rocking a sew-in or long-term install, try a loose braid or twist before bed. It protects the hair and keeps it from rubbing and matting while you sleep.
Also: moisture.
Extensions and wigs don’t get the natural oils from your scalp like your real hair does. So you’ve got to give them some help.
Use a leave-in spray or a light oil a few times a week—just enough to keep the strands soft and flexible.
Oh, and one more thing. Be gentle when washing and drying.
Scrubbing, wringing, or using high heat? That’s how tangles start. Instead, soak, squeeze gently, then air dry flat or on a stand.
It doesn’t take a ton of effort. Just small, consistent care. Think of it like brushing your teeth—you wouldn’t skip a week, right?
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