A young woman with light brown, slightly damp hair smiles as she brushes her hair. A young woman with light brown, slightly damp hair smiles as she brushes her hair.

How to Detangle Curly Hair

Want to keep your curls smooth, soft, and frizz-free? Remember to incorporate regular detangling into your curly hair routine. It's an essential part of caring for curls, but don't worry—the process doesn't have to be painful or annoying! Here's what you need to know to make this important step go smoothly.

How Often Should You Detangle Curly Hair?

Typically, you should detangle your hair whenever you cleanse or condition it. However, the process can take time, depending on your curl texture. If you have wavy or loosely curly hair, detangle knots and snags at least once a week. If your curls are tightly coiled or kinky, you might be able to go a week or two between detangling sessions.

Detangling for Every Curly Hair Type

How to Detangle Wavy Hair: After cleansing, gently pat your hair dry with a microfiber towel or soft material until it's damp. If working with dry hair, lightly spritz it with water to soften the waves. Then, work a leave-in conditioner like Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment through your hair, using your fingers to gently work out tangles. This product also hydrates and provides subtle definition to wavy hair.

How to Detangle Curly Hair: While still in the shower after cleansing, use a conditioner with good slip, such as Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Conditioner. Its blend of macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil softens curls. The shower's water flow can also help work out knots as you detangle with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers.

How to Detangle Coiled or Kinky Hair: First, saturate your hair with a hair oil like Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Hair Oil Treatment. The argan oil in this product helps knots slip out more easily. Working in small sections, gently brush your curls. For particularly tangled curls, detangle dry hair first to remove larger knots before wet-detangling with oil.