Why Does My Hair Have So Many Fairy Knots? We Asked Experts

My curly crown has been tangling all my life. From the days when my mom did my hair and scolded me for the back being matted, to mornings after nights of dancing when my coils are snarled, my hair has always had a way of twisting itself up. While tangles have long been a normal part of my routine, lately I’ve noticed my hair becoming extra knotty—literally.

I’ve noticed my strands tying themselves into knots, making some of the ends look like rods of an abacus if you look closely enough. It’s been especially noticeable during wash days, when detangling takes longer than usual. This led me down a rabbit hole on “fairy knots.” I’m not sure who coined the term, but these certainly aren’t as magical to take care of as they sound.

Anyone with curly or coily hair, especially the longer it is, knows the detangling struggle. In my experience, fairy knots just intensify things. And these don’t only affect textured hair. I spoke to two hair experts who made it clear that these knots can happen to anyone, even though some strands are more prone than others. Below, discover everything you need to know about fairy knots, including what causes them, who is most likely to get them, and how to get rid of them without damaging your hair.

What Are Fairy Knots?

Fairy knots are, in short, when the hair completes a knot with an individual strand or turns into a knot with nearby ones. “They are different from both regular tangles, where multiple hairs intertwine, and different from split ends, which occur when the hair shaft frays or splits,” hair stylist and RevAir residential expert Crystal Mallett-Williams tells Byrdie.

With fairy knots, the knot may be loose or all the way tightened, resulting in what feels like a tiny bump on the hair strand.

What Causes Them?

Fairy knots happen when hair turns into knots, and there are a number of ways to get there. “Not getting regular trims is one,” three-time Emmy-nominated hair stylist Derick Monroe says. 

Dryness in the hair can also lead to friction, making it easier for strands to get knotty. Not properly detangling, or not detangling enough, can also cause fairy knots. “With the normal hair sheds you have daily, natural hair tends not to be combed or detangled for days on end, leaving shed hairs to be a major component of fairy knot formation,” Monroe adds.

How Hair Type Affects Fairy Knots

Hair type can absolutely play a role in how often fairy knots form. Curly hair can be more prone to knotting thanks to its very shape. “Tighter curl patterns naturally coil back onto themselves, and with shrinkage, a single strand can easily loop and knot,” Mallett-Williams explains. “When the hair is dry, there’s more friction along the cuticle, which increases the likelihood of that strand catching and forming a knot.”

Monroe adds that hair texture, which describes the thickness of individual hair strands, can also play a role. “If the hair is finer, they tend to fall prey more often than a coarser, thicker strand,” he says.

Color-treated hair can also be more prone to fairy knots because it tends to have a raised cuticle, which makes it more susceptible to damage and dryness.

Heat-styled hair, on the other hand, may be less likely to encounter this type of tangle. “Heat relaxes that cuticle a bit, no matter the level of heat,” Monroe says. On top of that, “because you are more likely to comb and detangle [more regularly]” compared to someone with color-treated or curly hair, those with heat-treated hair tend to remove the naturally shed hair that can build up and contribute to fairy knots.

How to Remove Fairy Knots

Fairy knots must be addressed to prevent further tangling and damage. Monroe advises careful detangling to help. “The biggest mistake I see is starting from the top, working down to detangle,” he says. “People end up doing more damage by being extra aggressive.” The hairstylist says it’s key to use a wide-tooth comb and a detangling brush to remove the knot gently. If you’re unable to undo the fairy knot, use hair scissors and “be very precise only to clip what’s necessary,” he adds.

If you find a rather large fairy knot, it can be tempting to remove it by biting or ripping the knot off, but this will likely damage your hair. “When you rip or bite a fairy knot, you’re weakening the hair shaft, which can cause fraying or splitting and lead to further breakage,” Mallett-Williams says. “If scissors aren’t available, it’s better to wait than risk damaging the strand,” she adds.

How to Prevent Fairy Knots

To reduce the risk of fairy knots forming in your strands, it’s important to establish a proper hair care routine. Monroe says to use a deep conditioner regularly, do steam treatments, get a trim every six to eight weeks, and apply oil to your hair and scalp. “Find an oil that is light for fine hair, like jojoba oil or argan,” he says. “Coconut [oil] can work for coarser, thicker hair.”

“Keeping the hair hydrated helps smooth the cuticle,” Mallet-Williams adds. “Sleeping on silk or satin and wearing protective styles also reduces shrinkage and friction.”

The Final Takeaway

Fairy knots are a normal and natural thing to happen to hair. Regardless, removing them is important to your hair’s health. Once you find a fairy knot, your first course of action should be gentle detangling. If it won’t come undone, use scissors to snip the pesky knot, or visit your hairstylist for additional assistance. As with most hair concerns, an intentional routine—with steps designed to infuse and maintain moisture—can help prevent fairy knots from accumulating in your hair, especially in areas like the nape of the neck that tend to get matted and tangle faster.