Homemade Hair Detangler
From: Brandy M.
My daughter has long curly hair. We always use detangler after her bath. I’ve found that if you put a teaspoon of cheap hair conditioner in a spray bottle, fill it with water and shake, it’s just as good as expensive store bought detangler.
I have used a tiny amount of lotion in an emergency. We were on a trip and didn’t have any and her hair was a mess! It worked great and really didn’t make her hair oily.
Tawra
For those of you with fine, limp, long, oily (can it get any worse?) hair like mine, part of the secret in using any conditioner is to only rub it on the ends, not the scalp, to prevent oiliness.
Jill
Photo By: Elizabeth-table4five
Are you serious?! I wish I had seen this yesterday, before I bought a new bottle of detangler. I’m new to blogs like this, and BOY am I learning a ton. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this fabulous tip!!!! My daughter also has naturally curly hair and I’ve considered taking stock in the company that makes our favorite detangler. Now I don’t have to run to the store when we’re out!
Thanks for the hint. I went right upstairs and made a bottle of your detangler. I have curly hair, and it has gotten dry looking in the last couple of years. And using conditioner is not a good thing. It makes it too flat. I think your idea sounds terrific.
Cas
Just a ps update. I tried your detangler, and it works. My hair is shiny and soft. Thanks a million!!
For some reason I can’t get your recipe for your hair detangler… Ever since you have went with this website thingy I miss out on a lot of your goodies. Not knocking progress but I got along alot better with the old fashioned way. Sure miss your goodies.
Have a good one!
I’m not sure I understand what the problem is? If you were able to post a comment then you should be seeing the article is it not there? Tawra
Jill according to my hairdresser if you have dry hair rinse your hair in hotter water.
If you have oily hair rinse it in cold water.
for blondes use lemon juice in the summer to lighten it or if you want to get rid of the build up of conditioner and soap.
for brunettes use vinegar.
since conditioners are nothing but wax, i found the best thing is to rinse the hair in baking soda and water and run a comb through. works great as a conditioner and leaves the hair feeling soft and silky.
Hair gets tangled because there is residual soap left. Fill a spritz bottle with vinegar and sprits on the hair, then rinse. It cuts the soap and the hair will be easy to comb. And you WON’T smell like a pickle. My now-grown daughter who had long hair can attest to this.
My daughter has curly hair & we have done this for years! She is almost 11 now. Another thing we found is she doesn’t need to wash her hair as often. My hair is straight & tends to be a bit oily. I usually have to wash mine every day. My daughter can go about 3 days before she washes it, especially if I straighten it. If she has been participating in sports (she does track & volleyball) or it is hot etc then she washes it more often of course. I found the conditioner spray works well on my hair too in the winter when it tends to get full of static.
I have used most of the “homemade” rinses like vinegar and lemon juice and they work fine for my hair and Tawra’s but Elly’s (Tawra’s daughter) hair is like nothing I have ever seen before and none of those would work for her.
One thing I love to do but don’t do often because it is kind of a pain and that is collect rain water and rinse my hair in it. There is nothing I have ever tried that compares with softness and feel as to rinse your hair in rain water.
I just set a couple of bowls out during a rain storm and collect what I can. Pour it in a pitcher and for my last rinse on my hair just pour it on. I think it is even nicer then anything you could have done at a fancy spa.
I have a lot of long dry fine hair that tangles like crazy. The Shielo Antioxidant Leave In Protectant is the best I’ve found yet. I find that most detanglers fall into one of two categories: effective but goopy, or ineffective and non-goopy. The Shielo Leave In is unlike these in that it is light, but ACTUALLY detangles. Still, I have to use a lot of it, especially near my scalp when I want to comb my hair in a different direction.
It is scented, but lightly so. Considering how much of the product I use, I am glad the scent isn’t too strong.
I love doing this, it’s perfect for my fine frizzy curls, especially in the winter. I like a half tablespoon size mixture of strengthening & curling deep conditioners for good shape & frizz control. My fave diy product is a light honey pre conditioner rinse. Best thing I’ve ever used on my curls!
Wow this tipe is awesome! It’s winter in New Brunswick Canada and its really dry, which causes my 5 yr old daughter fine hair to tangle. Merci beaucoup!
De rien Martine.
My granddaughter’s hair is thick, fine and tangles like crazy so Tawra and I feel your pain. It can be a nightmare for mom and daughter alike to comb hair each morning.
I have used rain water too. I haven’t years but I remember Momma and gramma using it on my hair growing up. Momma even used a can of beer in my hair once. I don’t remember the recipe she used but my hair was long (past my bums), heavy and curly. Momma liked what it did. As a teen I found that washing my hair everyday. Shame on me. I wished I’d listen to Momma.
with over 25 years of experience
I would recommend INFUSION…
mix a small amount infusion and water
pour in to a spray bottle..
mix up only a small amount because it can
go bad..
My Son “Mark” was born with no hair…but
his hair grew in to a mass of very light blonde
curls… in the morning….he had monster hair
fussy… Sprits his have with infusion… and just
rake your fingers thru.. and beautiful curls
bytw.. he love his curls he didn’t want to wear
his baseball cap….
Apple Cider Vinegar is good for removing buildup and it leaves your hair shiny. Also a small amount of Baking Soda mixed with shampoo (never apply straight to your head) is also good for removing buildup, but will leave your hair dull and dry, so remember to condition after. DO NOT use Baking Soda on you hair if it is colored. It will fade the color.
I disagree that baking soda will fade colour. I have been using baking soda and vinegar on my hair for many months and I find that the colour is actually lasting longer. And I do apply the baking soda directly to my hair. I just wet my hair, shake baking soda all over and give it a good massage. Works a treat.
I have to agree. This is the first I have ever heard of it fading the color. So far everyone has said how they love it because it doesn’t fade their color and helps the color last longer plus everyone I know of has had no problem with using the soda on their hair directly. That’s no to say that there may be some sort of chemical imbalance in your hair Willie or sometimes meds can cause a persons body to react to things too.
Kay, did you mean Infusium 23? It works wonders on my curly hair! It is in a grey bottle and is called Leave in Treatment. When I use it right after my hair is washed I don’t need gel or mousse to keep my Ro-Fro down!
Rose
Where’s the recipe?
It’s in the first paragraph where it says to put 1 tsp. of conditioner in a spray bottle and fill with water then shake.
Thanks!
I DID NOT say ANYTHING about MY hair. Just stating what I have learned from working on hair. I did not mean to offend anyone.
Wasn’t offended at all Willie. Just trying to clear up some confusion for some who have had a question about it.
My daughter has straight, fine, long hair that tangles like crazy. My older daughter has the same, but curly. I just put the conditioner on the hair and comb it through. No rinsing and it stays untangled longer. But it really helps to braid the hair, especially at night to keep it from knotting up. My younger daughter’s hair is almost always braided, except for special occasions.
I used to use vinegar as my rinse to bring out the red cast on my chestnut hair. The silver is taking over…
Since we’re on the subject of hair, does anyone know how to get the yellow out of my white hair? It’s making me nuts! All the expensive shampoos seem to do is get the green out of my wallet!
Sandy, have you tried the Sauve Clarifying Shampoo. All the professionals say it’s the best for getting green chlorine out so maybe it would work for you. It worked great on my daughter’s hair.
Thanks, Tawra! I’ll give it a try!
I have waited too late.. but i am desparate. I had knee surgery two weeks ago. I was not allowed a hairbow during the ordeal.. the surgery was very painful , so I thrashed my head back and forth. My hair was slightly wet bfore so my hair problem was made worse. I got home last week but my hair was the last thing on my mind. Present day… my hair was approximatly 25 inches long (color treated), extremely thick. So thick i can rarely find a hairbow to go around it. IT is also one length. It was one thing about myself i was proud of. It is Now a huge matted mess . I have tried many products recommended by the hair product store owner. nothing has worked .. I am the lead soprano in our church. We are performing an early Easter on Sunday MaRCH 25,2012. It is a HUGE deal at our Church. I am so afraid I gonna I am gonna have to CUT it. I dont know whaat to do. I know the conditioner spray bottle will not work. I have used DETANGLER, CONDITIONER, ORGANIC, NONORGANIC . I have until Sunday 10:45 to fix , or wear wig , hat or scarf. I would appreciaate any tips, advice or prayers. I already lost my knee to lose my hair would hurt MUcH worse. Thank you Laura M Lancaster
Oh Laura you are having what I would call the ultimate bad hair day. : ) I shouldn’t laugh because I know how frustrating that is. You have tried most everything it sounds like. The only other things I could think of is I have been using the baking soda in water to wash my hair I noticed a side benefit which is it really detangles my hair so well I don’t have to use conditioner any more. Now my hair is long but not thick. You might try also to apply a little vegetable oil or peanut butter to one of your rats nest working it in and see if that helps. I would just do it on a small piece to see if it works.
As a last resort you could go to a beauty school today and see if they can get it combed out for you and if the worse case scenario happens you can have them get as much as possible out and then they could cut and layer the pieces you can’t detangle. That way you can keep most of the length. They usually take walk ins and charge very little although I do know they are busy on Saturdays and of course this would be a last resort.
One last thing. Don’t we wish we lived in a day and age where we could wear hats and veils for just such occasions. : ) Let me know what happens.
well, I tried the baking soda and water, my hair hasn’t been the same since
However, been leaving most of the conditioner on my hair. Although it doesn’t cure the frizz I created, it has calmed it down a lot.
In frugality’s name though I have to admit that the tsp in a spray bottle makes a whole lot of sense!
My daughter is encouraging me to keep my hair short, it does look better, for about a week. I can’t afford her $95 cuts. so am trying to limp through the frizz to a length that may help it hang better.
Trying the tsp tip today, after I get cleaned up from canning all week! LOL
oh, by the way, I found Tresemme for .87 a bottle at HEB yesterday, same stuff on the shelf for $3 something, I can’t figure out why it was on such a sale, but it’s gone now! LOL, I’m a pig, bought it all!
How much water with the 1 tsp conditioner?
I have an old spray-in conditioner bottle I was thinking of reusing for this purpose & want to get the right concentration (I have really hard water, which does a number on my dry/fine/curly hair).
Probably about 1-2 tsp. for your bottle. It doesn’t have to be exact. If it seems to be to much after the first time you spray it just dilute it or if it doesn’t quite detangle just right add a little more. You need to just adjust it to your water and hair type.
I used infusium for years and it is a great product, I always mixed it half and half with water and it was still effective.But a few years ago I realized when my bottle of conditioner was empty if I took it and filled it with water and shook it I get free detangler and just pour it in my spray bottle, then adjust it by adding more water til it looks about right.