What Is Hair Extension Matting?
How matting is different from everyday knots and tangles
No one wants to invest in beautiful hair pieces, only to find themselves dealing with tangled, rough, or difficult-to-manage extensions later. The good news is that hair extensions matting is usually preventable, and often fixable too.
But matted hair extensions aren’t “just” hair pieces that are slightly knotted or tangled. The term “matting” refers to when shed hairs from extensions and your natural hair wrap together into dense, solid clumps.
Hair extensions matting is different from the occasional knot or tangle that you might notice after a busy day. Unlike everyday knots and tangles that you can usually finger-comb out, matted clumps are tighter and more stubborn.
As these clumps become more compact, they’re much harder to remove. If left untreated, they can become painful to take out. This may lead to breakage or even damage to your own hair.
Here at Cliphair, we’ve specialised in premium human hair extensions since 2007. Over the past 17 years, we’ve helped thousands of customers care for their extensions properly. We’ve also seen first-hand what causes matting, and how to stop it before it becomes a bigger problem.
In this guide, we’ll explain why hair extensions mat, how to prevent it, and what to do if your extensions have already become matted.
Where matting shows up first
Matting at the nape or around the crown tends to be especially common. You might have noticed matted hair extensions in these parts first. That’s probably because they’re the warmest areas of the head and also see a lot of friction throughout the day.
What Causes Hair Extensions to Mat?
Incorrect care and neglect: the single biggest cause
If you’ve ever wondered, “why do hair extensions get matted?”, you should be in no doubt about the number one culprit: poor day-to-day care.
Such “bad habits” as sleeping with wet hair, skipping regular brushing (particularly at the roots), using the wrong hair extension products, and failing to separate bonds regularly can all leave you at greater risk of matted hair extensions.
Even high-quality hair extensions can become matted if they aren’t cared for properly. The good news, though, is that these are the easiest causes to fix. It’s about putting in place the right (and consistent) routine for looking after your extensions.
Our complete guide on caring for all types of hair extensions offers lots of time-saving tips and healthy regimes to keep your hair in tip-top shape.
Poor quality hair or incorrect installation
Hair quality plays a major role in how susceptible extensions are to tangling.
The best hair pieces are made from 100% Remy human hair. Remy hair is “cuticle-correct”, which means that every cuticle runs in the same direction. The cuticles lying neatly together allows the hair to stay smoother and experience less friction.
By contrast, un-Remy (or non-Remy) hair still consists of real human hair, but the cuticles aren’t aligned in the same direction. Instead, the cuticles run in mixed directions, so strands catch each other much more easily. As a result, if you use non-Remy hair extensions, you’ll likely suffer from more tangling, frizz, and matting.
This difference is why we only use 100% Remy, ethically sourced hair here at Cliphair. Rigorous quality standards and regular factory visits help ensure the consistently high quality of our hair extensions.
For permanent extensions such as tape-ins, nano bonds, I-tips, and wefts, incorrect fitting can also drive up the risk of matting. That’s because poor installation can create extra friction points and looseness that makes tangling likelier.
So, if you’re interested in permanent hair pieces, make sure you have them fitted by a qualified hair extension specialist.
Friction, heat, and everyday environment
Are you sure that your hair pieces are good-quality, properly installed, and well looked-after, but still ask yourself, “why do my hair extensions keep matting?”
If so, it’s worth asking yourself whether day-to-day friction could be contributing to the problem.
The wind, scarves, coats, pillowcases, and the hair rubbing against itself while you sleep or exercise; these are all things that can create friction. Over time, this can encourage strands to wrap around each other.
The nape and crown are especially vulnerable, because they hold more heat and are in constant contact with clothing, pillows, and surrounding hair.
How to Prevent Hair Extensions from Matting
Start with the right preparation before fitting
Keeping your extensions healthy and matting-free begins before they’re even installed.
Yes, that’s right; we’re referring to the importance of your natural hair being clean, dry, and fully detangled before any extensions go in.
If your natural hair is weak, damaged, or prone to tangling, it’s well worth arranging a face-to-face consultation with a qualified hair extension specialist. They’ll be able to determine the most suitable method and placement for you.
For any permanent hair extension method, fitting should always be done by a professional. This way, you can be confident of achieving the best long-term results.
Choose 100% Remy human hair
One of the easiest ways to reduce matting is to simply choose quality hair.
As Remy hair is cuticle-correct, with all cuticles aligned in the same direction, the strands glide smoothly against one another, instead of catching and knotting. So, you can expect 100% Remy human hair extensions to resist matting far better than non-Remy hair.
Are you seeking out low-maintenance clip-in options? In that case, you’ll be pleased to read that Cliphair’s double-drawn Seamless clip-in extensions are particularly tangle-resistant.
For the very highest quality, always look to Cliphair’s premium-tier Remy Royale range. The AAAAA-grade, double-drawn hair pieces in this collection offer excellent longevity. For most permanent methods, this is typically six to 12 months. The lifespan of our Seamless clip-ins and Halos, meanwhile, can be up to 12 to 18 months.
Build a simple daily brushing routine
Regular brushing will go a long way to preventing small tangles from becoming bigger problems.
So, get into the habit of brushing your hair pieces morning and night with a proper extension-friendly detangling brush (steering well clear of bobbled brushes). The Cliphair detangler could be an excellent choice, but don’t forget that we also provide a more comprehensive brush guide.
For thicker hair or multiple rows of extensions, separate your hair into two or three sections while brushing. This will help you reach the hidden layers underneath, especially near the nape where matting often begins.
Protect extensions overnight
Put your hair into a loose low braid or ponytail for sleeping. This will help keep your hair contained while you sleep, in addition to reducing friction between strands. Using a silk pillowcase can also help minimise rubbing and tangling.
One thing you must never do, is go to bed with soaking wet hair. Instead, let it dry fully first. Wet hair is more vulnerable to tangling, and friction during sleep can rapidly create knots that develop into matting.
For more before-bed ideas, check our guide to protective hairstyles for sleeping with hair extensions. We’ve also written a general sleeping guide for hair piece wearers.
Keep hair moisturised with the right products
Dry hair tangles more easily than moisturised hair.
This is why it’s important to use sulphate-free and alcohol-free shampoo, as well as the right conditioner and hair mask designed for extensions. Such hydrating products will help keep your hair soft, manageable, and less likely to knot.
Our Quench the Thirst collection is designed to support extension aftercare. It helps maintain the softness and shine of your natural hair and extensions.
How to Fix Matted Hair Extensions Safely
Assess how bad the matting is
Before you try any detangling, you’ll need to suss out the severity of the matting. After all, this will make a big difference to how you can most safely fix your matted hair extensions.
What do matted hair extensions look like? Well, mild matting usually appears as small and loose clumps around the mid-lengths or ends. You’ll normally be able to manage these minor matting issues at home.
If, on the other hand, the clumps feel dense and compact and are close to the roots, bonds, or attachment points, this indicates a more severe matting problem.
A “DIY” approach probably won’t be enough to fix this. You certainly shouldn’t attempt self-removal or cutting-out if they’re permanent extensions like nano rings, tape-ins, I-tips, flat tips, or wefts. Instead, professional attention will be needed.
Gently detangling smaller mats
Presuming it’s minor matting you’re dealing with, patience will be essential. Apply a leave-in detangling spray or conditioner before you do anything else. Also take care to never force a dry brush through matted and dry hair.
When it comes to the specifics of how to detangle matted hair extensions, start by using your fingers to loosen the mat’s outer edges. Then, as the hair begins to separate, reach for a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, and work gradually from the ends upwards.
Take your time. Rushing this process can cause unnecessary breakage and hair loss.
For additional guidance, you might find it useful to read our blog post on how to detangle clip-in hair extensions, or our general piece on how to take care of tangled hair.
When to call in a professional instead
Sometimes, the only answer to how to remove matted hair extensions is to call for professional help.
- For clip-in extensions, if a mat won’t budge gently, it’s fine to keep working at it slowly at home. You’ve always got the option of having the piece professionally checked for repair or replacement.
- For permanent extensions such as tape-in, nano, I-tip, or weft hair pieces, the necessary approach is quite different. If you’re searching for how to fix matted hair extensions like these, do not attempt to cut, force through, or remove severe matting yourself. Instead, book a repositioning or removal appointment with a qualified extensionist.
What not to do
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Don’t cut mats out.
- Don’t yank or brush dry from the roots down.
- Don’t use heat to “melt” a mat loose.
Matting at the Nape and Crown
Why these areas mat first
Matting at the nape and crown happens because they’re the warmest parts of your head and experience constant contact with clothing, pillows, and the rest of your hair. All this movement against surfaces generates friction.
It’s easy to miss tangles in these areas when brushing, because they’re hidden beneath the top layers of hair.
How to actually reach and brush these sections
Section your hair into two or three horizontal layers, and brush each section individually. Start underneath and work upwards, making sure the lower layers receive as much attention as the visible top sections.
This simple habit can dramatically reduce matting at the nape and crown.
