Tired of the tangles? Use these five hair detangling steps and an easy recipe for homemade hair detangler spray to put a stop to the tangled hair!
I’ve been dealing with tangled hair since I was a child! I have naturally wavy fine hair, but I have so much hair it looks thick. Unfortunately, my daughter has the same tangle-prone hair.
My daughter and I struggle with the tangles every night before bed after her bath. She begs me not to brush her just like I pleaded with my mom when I was a child. I don’t want to comb her hair to be such an ordeal every night, so I made it my mission to stop the tangle cries! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience, read the full disclosure policy.
Turns out if couldn’t be easier!
Related: DIY Summer Ready Skin
Related: Summer Rain Creamy Homemade Body Wash
5 Homemade Hair Detangler Steps
After deciding to do something about my our tangled hair, I have tried several things. The first sounded like the easiest method. This was to dilute hair conditioner with water in a spray bottle. Well… that didn’t work. It was too heavy and left our hair looking like it hadn’t been washed. (frown) Then I thought about doing a hot oil treatment, but how do you make that work with a toddler? So, here are five steps for a homemade hair detangler that I’ve found make a big difference!
#1 After shampooing always apply a conditioner if you suffer from tangles. (Yeah, I made that sound like a chronic illness. Well, that’s how it feels to my hair and scalp!) An effective hair conditioner softens tresses and helps to strengthen hair, which cuts down on tangles. Find my recipe here for a DIY natural hair conditioner made with shea butter. It is an intense moisturizer and only includes ingredients to soften and strengthen hair! All are whipped together into a creamy texture, just like the store bought conditioners.
#2 This may sound like a dumb tip, but patting your hair dry with towel versus rubbing your head like you’re drying a dog will reduce tangles. Then, when you’re ready to comb your hair fold the towel down over around your shoulders. This helps to absorb water and provides a little cushioning for long hair when you’re brushing. I find this very practical when I’m brushing my daughter’s hair.
#3 Apply a detangling spray before combing to reduce damage and boost shine. Grab my recipe for a conditioning natural homemade hair detangler below. It’s super easy to make (it only takes 2 minutes mix together) and very effective! My homemade hair detangler is made with glycerin a natural humectant, to keep hair hydrated and essential oils to boost hair growth and shine. It’s perfect for all types of hair, especially dry, brittle, curly, and wavy hair. All which tends to tangle more often than straight hair. Learn more about using glycerin in your hair and other natural ingredients in a guide from Aura Cacia covering how to step away from heavily formulated hair products.
#4 Always comb your hair when it’s wet. It’s much easier to get the tangles out of wet hair than dry hair. Hence tip #2. I start with a wide tooth comb to separate and part hair, followed by a boar hair brush or natural detangler brush.
#5 To keep the tangles at bay, try a deep conditioning treatment. Apply hair conditioner (recipe here) as a hair mask once or twice a month. Add a quarter size amount to your hair beginning at the ends and working your way up. Wrap hair into a warm towel and let condition for 30 minutes before washing hair.
Ingredients for a Natural Homemade Hair Detangler:
6 ounces distilled water
1-ounce vegetable glycerin
1-ounce vitamin E oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops geranium essential oil
1 eight ounce spray bottle
How to Make a Conditioning Natural Homemade Hair Detangler:
Using a funnel pour six ounces of distilled water into an eight-ounce spray bottle (these are bottles I recommend). Add one ounce of vegetable glycerin and vitamin E oil. Then remove the funnel and place five drops each of lavender and geranium essential oil. Place the nozzle and cap on the bottle and shake well to combine.
Lightly spray into wet hair and comb to separate into sections. Then brush hair applying more as needed to difficult tangles. For knots, carefully remove with your hands as you unravel the knot.
Not only does this homemade hair detangler stop the tangle cries, but it also leaves hair softer and healthier than before. Give it a try and use the steps above to keep your tresses moisturized, strong, and tangle free!
