How to Deal with Beard Knots

Try pulling a comb too fast through your beard. Soon enough, you find yourself stuck in a hard tangle of stubborn knots. Sounds painful, right? 

Beard knots are a common problem for beard growers. Like your iPhone charging cable, they seem to form without any outside input. Leave your beard for a few days, and it’ll get itself all tangled up. But what can you do?

Dealing with beard knots isn’t like fighting an uphill battle. You can break through the knots, soften your beard hair, and prevent a future reoccurrence with a few sensible tips. Read on. 

In this guide:

• What are Beard Knots?
• What Causes Beard Knots?
• How to Untangle Beard Knots
• Preventing Beard Knots

What are Beard Knots?

Beard knots are pretty much what they sound like: small, tangled clumps of hair that form inside your beard. Usually, they’re more common as a beard grows longer and thicker. However, even a shorter beard can develop knots if not groomed properly. 

Men with curly, wavy, or especially thick beards develop beard knots more often. These can range from a simple tangle to a dense knot that’s hard to break through.

What Causes Beard Knots?

So, why do beard knots occur in the first place? Well, the most obvious reason is that all kinds of hair are prone to get tangled. Just like any form of cable, knots appear seemingly by accident. That being said, several factors increase the risk of knots:

• Dry Beard Hair. The softness of your beard is one of the biggest factors. The drier and more brittle the beard hair, the more likely it is to knot or tangle. Why? Well, dry beard hair is less flexible and gets stuck in knots. This is especially bad if the weather is cold or dry, as your beard can be even more brittle. 
• Long Beard Hair. Longer beards are more prone to knotting simply because there’s more hair for tangles to form. Think about Gandalf working out those tough beard knots – it’s something Aragorn never had to worry about. 
• Curly or Coarse Hair. Naturally, curly or wavy hair often finds its way into tangles. The already curly strands tend to become interlocked, tangling around each other as they grow. If your beard hair grows in different directions, then this problem can be even worse. 
• Friction. Any man who wore a facemask during lockdowns can attest that constant friction increases beard tangles. It’s a nightmare. Even sleeping on your face can lead to tangling or knotting overnight. 

Of course, the real reason for beard knots is a lack of proper beard care. Any beard – no matter how long or curly it is – can eliminate beard knots entirely with a good moisturizing routine. 

How to Untangle Beard Knots

Untangling your beard knots doesn’t take too long. However, if you want to avoid a painful few minutes, we recommend investing in the right equipment. Forget about sharp, plastic combs – these shred your hair, increasing the risk of further knotting and split ends. 

What You’ll Need:

• Wide-toothed beard comb 
• Detangling brush 
• Beard oil 
• Beard balm 
• Leave-in conditioner 
• Scissors (for severe knots)

What To Do:

Step 1. Start with Your Beard Brush or Comb

There are two pieces of equipment you need:

• Boar’s Hair Beard Brush. The gold standard for tackling beard knots. The thick bristles get deep into your beard hair, gently teasing apart any tangles and knots. Perfect for working your hair into alignment and dealing with the most stubborn tangles.
• Sandalwood Beard Comb. Another must-have – this beard comb has narrow teeth on one side and wide teeth on the other. It lets you unpick knots big and small, starting with the wide teeth and working through to the narrow. Plus, being made of sandalwood, it won’t shred your beard hair.

Often, people combine this step with the beard oil stage. The beard brush and comb work really well to get the oil deep into your beard, ensuring every inch is moisturized and nourished.

Step 2. Use a Hair Drier

There’s an old barber’s trick: use a hair drier to heat up your hair. Direct the hot air downwards as you run your fingers or comb through the beard. Most people find this loosens up the tangles enough to deal with the most stubborn knots. 

Step 3. Cut If You Have To

Rarely, you’ll come across a knot that simply isn’t coming undone. Usually, such stubborn knots occur in the curliest, most unkempt beards – think Gandalf gone wild. In such cases, there’s only one solution: reach for the scissors.

Try to save as much hair as possible. But if you need to trim, then it’s unavoidable. Many men visit the local barbers if their beard is in this condition. They’ll help trim and untangle your beard without causing too much discomfort. 

Step 4. Apply a Healthy Dose of Beard Oil

Beard oil is the secret ingredient for untangling beard knots. Apply a good few drops – up to 5-6 drops -  to really lather your beard in oil. It’s more than we’d normally recommend. However, the goal is to get your beard hair nice and slippery, reducing the friction and allowing the knot to become untangled. 

You can always wash the excess beard oil out. However, we suggest leaving it in and using a beard brush to get an even covering. Considering your beard is likely severely dry, this excess beard oil will soon be absorbed. 

Preventing Beard Knots

Beard knots aren’t inevitable! Develop a beardcare routine that ensures your hair stays soft, hydrated, and untangled. Follow these tips:

• Oil Up, Beard Down. Think of beard oil or balm as your beard’s daily hydration hit. It’s packed with nutrients that keep the hair soft and less prone to tangle. Pro tip: Look for products with natural ingredients like jojoba and argan oil such as Beard Sorcery’s beard oil.
• Daily Detangle Dance. Make combing a part of your morning ritual. Not only does it sort out those tangles, but it also spreads natural oils throughout your beard, keeping it healthy and vibrant. Bonus: It feels pretty good, too!
• Suds and Softness. Use a beard-specific shampoo and conditioner to keep your facial hair pristine. These products are designed to match the natural pH of your beard and won’t strip away essential oils like regular hair products might. Cleaner beard, smoother days!
• Snip, Snip, Farewell Frays. Regular trims are your beard’s best friend. They keep everything looking neat, nix split ends and say adios to knotty nuisances. Not confident with scissors? A quick visit to a skilled barber can do wonders!
• Silky Sleeps. Upgrade your pillowcase to silk or satin and turn your night’s rest into a beard-care session. These smooth fabrics minimize friction, which means less tangling and breaking overnight. It’s a small change with big benefits, plus it feels amazing!