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14 Top Detanglers to Add to Your Natural Hair Care Routine
By Jacqueline Samaroo
Tired of battling tangles and doing tons of damage to your natural hair in the process? You need a detangler that will soften those knots while giving your curls a little extra TLC. Luckily, there’s a wide range of natural hair care products that do just that!
Here’s a roundup of 14 of the best detanglers for natural hair. You’re sure to find one that fits perfectly into your natural hair care routine.
Our Top Picks
CHI Aloe Vera Oil
What’s in it: Aloe vera, agave nectar, coconut oil, olive oil
Why we like it: Aloe vera and agave nectar lead the way in making this detangler for natural hair super hydrating. It smooths and softens hair, giving it sufficient slip so you can detangle without over-manipulating your tresses.
Alikay Knots Be Gone Hair Detangler
What’s in it: Marshmallow root, aloe vera, Hibiscus flower
Why we like it: Even the toughest tangles are “knot” a problem with this detangler for natural hair. It’s lightweight and infused with a calming jasmine scent along with other good-for-your-hair botanicals. Plus, it’s great for detangling kids’ hair, too!
Carol’s Daughter Detangling Jelly-to-Cream Conditioner
What’s in it: Glycerin, rose water, aloe vera
Why we like it: This detangler transforms from thick jelly to rich cream as you work it into your hair. It then transforms your knotted curls with moisture, hydration, and all the slip you need for easy detangling.
Kinky Curly Knot Today
What’s in it: Mango extract, slippery elm, marshmallow root, lemongrass
Why we like it: This herbal leave-in conditioner and detangler is a go-to natural hair product for many naturalistas. Slippery elm and marshmallow root give it the serious slip that makes tangles in kinky, coily, or curly hair seem to melt away.
Best All-Rounders
Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer
What’s in it: Coconut oil, pomegranate oil, apricot seed oil, amber extract
Why we like it: A natural hair care product that obliterates tangles and leaves you with silky, smooth hair? Yeah, we’ll take some of that! And it’s exactly what this detangling primer gives, thanks to the action of its coconut oil-led formula.
Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Leave-in Treatment
What’s in it: Coconut water, flaxseed oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil
Why we like it: This “lightweight moisture treatment” goes way beyond detangling. It’s loaded with natural oils, including flaxseed oil – a source of several omega-3 fatty acids. What else has it got? Well, the goodness of coconut water, fruit extracts, shea butter, and marshmallow root, for starters!
The Mane Choice – Soft As Can Be Revitalize & Refresh Conditioner
What’s in it: Castor oil, avocado oil, vitamin E, biotin
Why we like it: This 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, and body wash gets plenty of curly-haired love for the way it detangles the most stubborn knots. Its natural haircare goodness is partly due to tea tree oil and a range of vitamins that includes hair-boosting biotin.
Best Detangling Sprays
DevaCurl No-Comb Detangling Spray
What’s in it: Quaternium-80, lemon balm extract, hops extract
Why we like it: This detangling spray gets its superior knot-fighting power from a coconut derivative named Quaternium-80. This anti-static, hair conditioning agent provides all the slip needed to gently loosen knots, saving you and your hair from the pain of detangling.
Oyin Handmade Oh My Glide!
What’s in it: Aloe vera, glycerin, sweet orange oil, sunflower oil
Why we like it: It’s a pre-styling detangler for natural hair with an impressive list of natural oils and plant extracts. It promises to elicit an “OMG” from you when you experience the slip it gives hair and ease with which it detangles!
Best Budget-Friendly
Not Your Mother’s Detangler Tahitian Gardenia Flower & Mango Butter
What’s in it: Tahitian gardenia, mango butter, glycerin
Why we like it: It’s one of those natural hair care products that make multitasking look easy. It sets to work smoothing and softening strands, reducing frizz, and adding bounce to curly hair. Epic!
Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Knot on My Watch
What’s in it: Shea butter, olive oil, soyabean oil, glycerin
Why we like it: Whether your hair is long or short in curls, coils, or waves, the “silky slip” of this natural hair detangler has got your back! It helps to restore your hair’s moisture balance and reduces the amount of manipulation needed to work through knots.
Best Detangling Oil
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
What’s in it: Coconut oil, argan oil, macadamia oil, Tahitian gardenia
Why we like it: A little goes a long way with this lightweight blend of oils and extracts. It seems to disappear into your strands as it releases tangles and adds slip to your hair. The result? You will only need minimal manipulation to comb through knots.
Others We Like
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Extra-Moisture Detangler
What’s in it: Shea butter, glycerin, argan oil, kelp extract
Why we like it: Are you spending too much time detangling and styling your hair? Thanks to raw shea butter and glycerin, this natural hair detangler gives wet or dry Type 3 or Type 4 hair sufficient slip for quick, stress-free detangling.
Soultanicals Knot Sauce Coil Detangler
What’s in it: Blue malva herb, broccoli seed oil, coconut nectar
Why we like it: It’s a fabulous way to blast through tangles and spice up your natural hair care routine, at the same time. It’s a multi-purpose natural hair product that also moisturizes your hair and works great when you’re doing twists. Plus, we simply can’t get over its sweet, cake batter scent!
Let us know your favorite detangler for natural hair and why you love it. Share!
