How to detangle curly hair without damaging it.

So many people dream of having curly hair. But those who have curly hair know that it can require some special maintenance and TLC, especially when it comes to tangles and knots. Thanks to a team of professionals, we have solutions to help you untangle the sometimes knotty subject of curly hair.

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3 min read
L'Oréal Professionnel Team
Woman from behind with shiny, healthy coily hair, illustrating tips and techniques to detangle curls without causing damage.

Why does curly hair get so tangled?

Curly hair has a unique, distinct structure with coiled or spiral shapes. These create friction among your strands of hair, which can lead to the strands intertwining or forming knots. The tighter the curl or coil, the more likely it is to get tangled. Curly hair also tends to be more porous, which leads to dryness and breakage, which can lead to even more tangling. Product buildup can also play a role, weighing down the individual curls making them more likely to get tangled.

How to detangle curly hair

With so many factors playing into the knotty situation that curly hair can sometimes present,
It’s important to choose the right approach to detangling your curly hair. You want to be gentle and strategic so that you can minimize breakage in the detangling process.
There are some basics to keep in mind, like using a wide-tooth comb, working from the ends up, and working in sections. There are a few different techniques in terms of how to detangle curly hair without breakage. Overall, be gentle and patient.

How to detangle curly hair when dry

To detangle dry curly hair, you’ll want to use some curl cream to help create some lubrication and movement. You can use your fingers (be gentle) or a wide-tooth comb. This can work for looser curls, but there’s more risk of breakage.

How to detangle curly hair when wet

To detangle wet curly hair, use conditioner or a detangling spray and work in sections with a wide-tooth comb to detangle your still wet hair.

How to use a detangling comb

A detangling comb like the AirLight Pro Professional Comb can be used on type 5+ hair (curls and coils that have undergone chemical processing). The AirLight Pro Professional Comb detangles at the speed of light, thanks to its wide teeth.

Get inspired for your future AirLight Pro hair styling experience.

Don’t get tangled up in the detangling process

The complex structure of curly hair is what makes it so wonderful to work with…and also what gets it all tangled up sometimes. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to how to detangle curly hair. Depending on your hair texture, you may opt for a dry or wet detangling process, and you’ll want to use the best tools. Curl cream, conditioner, and a wide-tooth comb are the pro-recommended essentials. And of course, a little patience.

Keep your hair salon-perfect at home with our Curl Expression pro routines.

Step 1: Cleanse

Anti-buildup cleansing jelly shampoo.

Eliminates buildup, provides moisture for all curls.
Step 2 : Treat

Intensive ​Moisturizer Rich Mask​.

Deeply hydrates & pre-detangles curls for 2x shinier hair.
Step 3 : Style

Cream-in-jelly​ definition activator.

Activates the definition of curls.
Heat protection up to 230°C/450°F.
Step 4 : Moisturize

Long Lasting​ Intensive Moisturizer​.

Moisturizes curls.
Heat protection up to 230°C/450°F.
Step 5: Dry

Drying accelerator.

Accelerates curls drying process by +37%. 
Heat protection up to 230°C/450°F.
Step 6: Revive

Curls reviver.

Instantly revives curls every morning after pillow friction. 48 frizz protection.

Coily hair

How to detangle curly hair FAQ

  • Why does curly hair get tangled?

    Because of its unique structure, with coiled or spiral shapes, friction is created among your strands of hair, which can lead them intertwining or forming knots.

  • How to detangle curly hair when dry?

    Use curl cream to help create some lubrication and then use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle.

  • How to detangle curly hair when wet?

    To detangle wet curly hair, use conditioner or a detangling spray and work in sections with a wide-tooth comb to detangle your wet hair.

  • Can a detangler damage your hair?

    Detanglers are designed for use on curly hair, but you still want to be careful in order to detangle without damage or breakage.

All you need to know about hair.​