The Best Homemade Hair Detangler Spray for Curly Hair
Amy has been an online writer for over eight years. She loves writing about hair care and hairstyling.
I Will Never Buy Hair Detangler Again
I have a couple of curly headed kiddos, especially my little girl. Ever since her hair started growing, I knew it was going to be a hassle brushing it because it gets so tangled throughout the day and while she sleeps.
I can't tell you how many bottles of hair detangling spray I bought. The thing was however, that even though many of them did detangle her hair, they left her hair feeling dry or crisp. I just didn't like it.
She is very young and I really wasn't crazy about spraying things into her hair anyway, with it being so new and baby fine.
My son is in junior high, and ever since he was little, he has tried to find ways to smooth his hair. He has very thick and coarse curly hair.
He started using his sister's detangling sprays that I had bought and he even made the comment that they didn't work very well and made his hair feel more like straw.
One day it finally just clicked when I was bathing my daughter. I always leave some conditioner in her hair after I wash it just to keep it moisturized and easier to manage.
So, I had the idea to just get a spray bottle and add some conditioner to some water and use that instead of store-bought. Let me say this... I wish that lightbulb would have gone off sooner.
The ingredients
Personal photo
Ingredients and Application
Although I have found in the last several months of using this method that many conditioners work, I now have my favorite things to use. Here is what goes into my kids' hair detangler:
- 4 parts water
- 1 part conditioner (read below for my preference)
- 1 Tbsp Moroccan Oil
How to Make and Apply
It's very easy to make this, I simply squeeze in the amount of conditioner I want to use, squeeze in the oil, and then fill the rest of the bottle up with water. I give a good shaking up, and that's it.
In the morning when my daughter wakes up, I spray this all through her hair (not dripping wet, but enough to cover her hair entirely).
Once I spray it in, I just run my fingers through her hair to get it all in there. As my fingers are going through her hair, it's detangling it. You don't even have to work at it, the spray just works that good.
While the spray is on, it may feel a little oily, but it doesn't stay that way. As the hair soaks in the moisture, it dries and leaves her hair so soft and shiny.
These amounts work great for my daughter because her hair is so curly that it just soaks it up. My son uses this as well, and he loves it. His hair is easier to manage and it doesn't feel so rough.
The Products I Like
The conditioner that I have started using is Sleek & Shine Fortifying Conditioner from Garnier Fructis. It contains argan oil from Morocco and apricot and is great for frizzy hair.
For the Moroccan oil, I use the Garnier Fructis also. It's the Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment. I can't tell you how much I love this stuff.
My Theory on Why This Works
I'm no scientist, but I do have a theory behind using the conditioner and the oil. First of all, I use the conditioner to make my kids' hair easy to comb as it detangles their hair beautifully, all the while keeping it moisturized.
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The reason I started putting the oil in my concoction was because I wanted the moisture to get locked into the hair.
Also, after I had used this particular Moroccan oil treatment just one time, I could not believe how soft and shiny my daughter's hair was.
I have three bottles at all times: at home, in my car, and another in her diaper bag.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Comments
KIMINIGUEZ on September 27, 2016:
OMG!!!! FINALLY!! Something so simple after spending loads of money and countless hours trying to untangle my daughter's hair. It worked!!!! Thank you so much for people like you who have these great ideas. And, my daughter is much happier too.
Denise A Chaffin on July 28, 2014:
Hi! I was wondering what a 'part' was? You were exact with 1 Tablespoon, but didn't say what a 'part' was. . . .cup? ounce?
kthix10 from IL on April 09, 2013:
Love finding fellow hubbers through pinterest! This is great for my 5 yr old son
Amy D. (author) from Mostly in My Own Little World on February 01, 2013:
@bbrentlinger the reason this particular combination works is because curly hair gets dryer easier since the oils are not able to go the ends of the hair as with straight hair. On your daughter, you could still use this, but I think you could still benefit from just using about half the amount of the conditioner and leave out the oil.
@tammyloo I hope that you enjoy this. We still use it, have been for several months now. I have now started using the Herbal Essence condition in the turquoise blue bottle because it has moisturizing coconut in it and I love it too. Haven't found any other argan oil that I love as much as the Garnier though. Good luck and hope it works for you.
tammyloo on February 01, 2013:
My daughter is half African American and she has REALLY wild, curly hair, and now that I think about it, it tends to be on the dry side (and she is only one!). I, too, have tried a few things to make her hair more manageable. I saw this posted on Pinterest and went out today to get the items. I am excited to try this.
bbrentlinger on January 31, 2013:
Have you had anyone try it who doesn't have dry curly hair'? My daughter has beautiful baby fine straight hair. that gets super staticy and tangled. I was just wondering if it would build up? or feel greasy?
Amy D. (author) from Mostly in My Own Little World on January 13, 2013:
You're so welcome. I'm glad you find it helpful. I am still using mine and we still love it as well. Thanks for stopping by.
SmartAndFun from Texas on January 13, 2013:
Thanks so much for this! This is one of those "why didn't I think of this?" things. It is so simply to mix up -- and inexpensive! Your recipe is going to save me so much money. The Suave brand for kids is fairly cheap, but my daughter is now 14 and she didn't want to use it because it is baby-ish. The Dove brand is not a terrible price, but it adds up quick. Your recipe works great and is going to save me a ton. My d's hair is so very long, thick wavy and tangles up terribly, so we use it every day. Thank you!
Amy D. (author) from Mostly in My Own Little World on November 07, 2012:
Thank you so much Londonlady. For anyone needing a moisturizing detangler that works wonders, this is great!!!
Deya Writes on November 07, 2012:
Sounds like a good recipe. I love DIY projects. Nice hub, voted up :)
Amy D. (author) from Mostly in My Own Little World on November 06, 2012:
Hello Chrissie, I'm not sure about the static, I think that it probably would just because it moisturizes your hair so well. I haven't heard the snap crackle pops as much when I put her pajamas on over her head lol, and their hair doesn't stick up as much. That's why my son loves it, he says it smooths his hair down. Thank you for commenting.
chrissieklinger from Pennsylvania on November 06, 2012:
I love making homemade items and I can't wait to try this out. Does it help with reducing static as well? My hair gets very full of static in the winter months and drives me crazy. I have tried all kinds of things and haven't fallen in love with any of it!
