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Got long hair? Or got kids with long hair? Forget those expensive hair detangler sprays from the store. You need this DIY Hair Detangler. You can make it with just a few ingredients you already have in your bathroom. And it helps to get the tangles and knots out, while naturally conditioning and strengthening hair.
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Got long hair? Then you know the struggle… tangles! And if you have kids with long hair, you know how hard it can be to get those tangles out. There’s usually tears involved from both you and the kids.
So it’s no wonder most parents resort to store-bought hair detanglers. I used to buy them for myself as my hair started to grow out long. I’d get terrible tangles and needed something to help. But little did I know most hair detanglers are made with toxic chemicals.
Here’s an ingredients list of a popular brand of a hair detangler for babies and kids:
Water,Amodimethicone,Glycerin,Sodium Benzoate,Polysorbate 20,Distearyldimonium Chloride,Behentrimonium Chloride,Citric Acid,Fragrance,Trideceth-12,Cetrimonium Chloride
I don’t know about you, but I can’t pronounce most of those ingredients. And while most of the ingredients rated 3 on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database (0 = most safe, 10 = highly unsafe), the ingredient I’m most concerned with is the fragrance. Companies don’t need to disclose the recipe for their fragrance because it’s considered to be a trade secret. But that fragrance could actually be comprised of up to 300 different toxic chemicals engineered to smell natural.
No thanks. I wanted something better for me and my family.
So I started to experiment with DIY Hair Detanglers. Most recipes were basically a teeny amount of conditioner mixed with a lot of water and poured into a spray bottle. That might work for some but I wanted to find something that could help to condition my roots too. And I finally found it.
How Hair Detanglers Work
Although there are many possible ingredients in hair detangler, store bought detanglers all work by altering the surface of your hair. A hair detangler is a type of hair conditioner that smooths your hair by coating it so that the hair’s surface tightens up, smoothing the scales on the hair’s outer surface or cuticle and imparting a positive electrical charge to prevent the static that can worsen tangles.
This DIY Hair Detangler Spray leaves hair shiny, clean, and smelling fresh. It doesn’t leave hair (even fine kids’ hair) weighed down or oily.
How to Make This DIY Hair Detangler Spray – Step by Step
1. Add essential oils to the spray bottle.
2. Add 1 oz of witch hazel.
3. Add 1 oz of distilled water.
4. Shake well each time before use. Spray onto wet or dry hair and gently comb through.
What makes this homemade hair detangler recipe special is the witch hazel. Most of us know that witch hazel is a natural astringent and helps to control oil production on the skin. Well…. it does the same thing for hair. But it’s actually quite moisturizing too. It’s like a natural conditioner that can give hair more volume without the frizz. And it means you can spray the roots AND the ends of your hair.
Witch hazel is great for dry, itchy scalp too. Just massage it into the scalp and let it sit for about 30 minutes. It can help to remove the dry flakes from the scalp. Then, just wash it and use a regular conditioner and then this DIY Hair Detangler to get the tangles out.
Hair Detangler Brush
I recommend using a detangler brush or comb is great in conjunction with this DIY Hair Detangler. Swap hard or abrasive brushes for something gentler on knots to avoid making the problem worse in the long run. Try to avoid overworking your tangles with a regular brush or comb as this can cause additional damage. It’s better to use a wide-tooth comb – start below the tangle and work your way up.
When you wash your hair, avoidtugging through tangles too quickly. If you wash too vigorously, then you can cause more harm than good – not to mention the pain that would come from all the. Instead, slow down the pace and take your time to tease out those tangles. Leave your detangler spray in for a few minutes to give it time to sink in and help soothe away tangle-causing dryness.
Knot-Free Hair
While you may never be forever knot free, here are a couple of tips on minimizing your knots, after detangling.
- Wash your hair gently. If you’re tangle-prone, tone down your technique to keep knots to a minimum from the get-go. Use the palm of your hand rather than the fingertips, for less friction while washing your hair.
- Towel dry your hair gently. When drying your hair, squeeze the water out and pat your hair dry rather than vigorously run the towel through your hair.
- Never leave your hair tied up in a towel unless it’s been brushed through first, or you’ll get more tangles later.
About the Ingredients
- Witch hazelacts as a natural conditioner – giving it more volume and helping with frizz – yet it also helps to curb oily scalp.
- Ylang Ylang essential oilhelps to strengthen hair and helps it to grow in thick and strong. It can also help with dry scalp.
- Rosemary essential oilhelps to stimulate new hair growth and really helps with damaged hair. It can help with dry scalp too.
- Lavender essential oilhelps to soften and condition hair naturally. It also smells fantastic.
Another bonus? Ylang Ylang, Rosemary, and Lavender essential oils can help to protect hair from those unwanted little visitors kids get during the school year. Get a starter set of essential oils for 60% off – use the oils to make this and so many other DIY recipes.
Who’s ready to make this DIY Hair Detangler?
Top Tips for This DIY Hair Detangler
- Make sure to shake well before each use.
- The essential oils in this detangler can also help with preventing hair lice for kids.
- Keep knot free for longer by gently washing and drying hair.
- Create a nice label for your bottle with my label template (link in recipe card).
More DIY Tutorials
- DIY Poo Pourri: After You Poo Spray
- 10 DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas with Essential Oils
- DIY Coconut Brown Sugar Scrub
- 100+ DIY Beauty + Skin Care Recipes
Did you try this DIY Hair Detangler? Don’t forget to rate the recipeand comment below to let me know how it went. You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFacebook,InstagramandPinterest.
DIY Hair Detangler Spray
Don't Mess With Mama
Got tangled hair? Forget those expensive hair detangler sprays from the store. Make your own DIY Hair Detangler with just a few ingredients you already have in your bathroom.
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Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Total Time 2 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 2 oz glass spray bottle
- 1 oz witch hazel
- 1 oz distilled water
- 5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
- 5 drops Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops Rosemary essential oil
Instructions
Add essential oils to the spray bottle.
Add 1 oz of witch hazel.
Add 1 oz of distilled water.
Shake well each time before use. Spray onto wet or dry hair and gently comb through.
Notes
- Create a label for this DIY Hair Detangler with this template.
- Use a shipping label for either a laser or ink-jet printer.
Keyword diy, hair, hair detangler
Tried this recipe?Mention @dontmesswithmama on Instagram
Want More DIY Beauty Recipes?
Check out my bookNatural Beauty Made Simple. It comes with 45 homemade skincare recipes with a set of printable labels and gift tags. You can download it instantly to your phone, computer or e-reader, so it’s portable and can go with you anywhere!
With this book, you’ll learn how to:
- Make your own organic beauty and skin care products for less than $25 a month!
- Learn simple techniques to make your own skincare – without the fuss of complicated recipes or hard-to-find ingredients
- Get tried-and-true recipes that work to nourish the skin and make it look more radiant than ever before
- Create beautiful gifts for friends and family with the printable labels and gift tags I’ve included with this book
As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of DIY beauty and natural hair care, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to guide you through the intricacies of creating your very own DIY Hair Detangler. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the ingredients, their properties, and their effects on hair, ensuring a safe and effective alternative to commercial products.
Let's delve into the concepts and ingredients used in the provided article:
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Detangling Mechanism:
- The article explains that hair detanglers, whether store-bought or DIY, work by altering the surface of the hair. They are a type of hair conditioner that smoothens the hair by coating it. This coating tightens the hair's surface, smoothing the scales on the outer surface or cuticle, and imparts a positive electrical charge to prevent static, which can worsen tangles.
-
Concerns with Commercial Hair Detanglers:
- The author expresses concerns about toxic chemicals in commercial hair detanglers, emphasizing the lack of disclosure of fragrance ingredients, which could consist of up to 300 different toxic chemicals. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database is referenced to evaluate the safety of listed ingredients.
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DIY Hair Detangler Ingredients:
- The DIY recipe shared in the article comprises essential oils, witch hazel, and distilled water. Essential oils include Ylang Ylang, Rosemary, and Lavender, each chosen for its specific benefits for hair. Witch hazel is highlighted for its natural astringent properties and its ability to control oil production on the scalp.
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Special Ingredient: Witch Hazel:
- The article emphasizes the unique properties of witch hazel, acting as a natural conditioner that provides volume without frizz. It is suggested for use on both roots and ends of the hair and can also help with a dry, itchy scalp.
-
Hair Detangler Brush:
- The importance of using a detangler brush or comb is stressed to avoid additional damage when dealing with tangles. Recommendations include using a wide-tooth comb, starting below the tangle, and working upward slowly.
-
Tips for Knot-Free Hair:
- The article provides additional tips for minimizing knots, such as gentle hair washing techniques, towel drying with care, and avoiding leaving hair tied up in a towel without brushing through it first.
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Benefits of Essential Oils:
- Essential oils (Ylang Ylang, Rosemary, and Lavender) are included not only for their pleasant scents but also for their specific benefits, including strengthening hair, promoting growth, and addressing dry scalp issues. Additionally, they are suggested to help protect against unwanted visitors like lice.
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Top Tips for DIY Hair Detangler:
- The article concludes with practical tips for making and using the DIY Hair Detangler, including shaking well before each use, using essential oils for preventing hair lice, and ensuring gentle hair washing and drying techniques.
By following this comprehensive DIY recipe and incorporating the provided tips, you can create an effective, natural, and budget-friendly hair detangler tailored to your needs.