I have grown my hair down to my ankles but it is seriously dry and very matted.  Can anyone recommend a product that will detangle and hydrate my hair as I am spending days trying to detangle it but it is just so dry and I think that I am just making matters worse.  I have tried so many conditioners for dry hair but none of them work - my hair is seriously dry and matted - please help as it is getting so bad that I am having to cut knots out where they are becoming so tight.

Although you already have extremely long hair, I'd highly recommend you read through the suggestions in the long hair guide on this site.  http://www.longlocks.com/how-to-grow-long-hair.htm

To try to detangle what you currently have, I would try using a LOT of conditioner or oil, then try to detangle from the ends while the hair is wet (as in the shower or tub).  Be very gentle with the hair, as it is vulnerable to stretching and breaking when wet.  Use a hair pick or wide toothed detangling comb, preferrably one that does not have rough edges or seams on it.

Trimming any split or broken ends will also help as these frequently are the cause of tangles as they grab other hairs.

A task as yours will be difficult and enlisting help from friends or family may be necessary.

Good Luck!

Wow,hair to your ankles,that is impressive! :o
Bikerbraid has already given great advice,I can only suggest wearing your hair up or braided to prevent knots&tangles in the first place.But I guess you are doing that already if you have grown hair to your ankles!May I ask how long it took to grow it that long?
Oh,and I can recommend a great conditioner,(I know I must be sounding like a commercial for Matrix  ::) ),Matrix Biolage Conditioner,keeps my hair tangle-free all the time-but then I´m only at 43 inches yet.

Well, just to keep Anne-Marie from sounding like a commercial  :D I'll add that I, too, use Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm, as does my hairdresser. (I bought it on Anne-Marie's suggestion and then discovered that said hairdresser, who has long hair, uses it, too.)

Great stuff. Between using that and wearing my hair in a braid as often as possible, I'm getting a lot fewer tangles. And, what's more, my hair is actually starting to look and feel like hair again, as opposed to a straw-like mess.

My hair is *nowhere* near your length. But, maybe if you can get it untangled once and then keep it a) super-well-conditioned and b) braided or otherwise not flopping, you can avoid future woes.

You might find more ideas under my own personal plea for help, "Fine, dry hair in the desert."

Good luck. And, ankle-length hair - wow!!

Christine

That´s good to hear ;) ;) ;)