The 13 Best Hair Detanglers of 2024
Sometimes a few passes with a brush or a comb can detangle your hair just fine, while other times, you find yourself yanking at a bunch of stubborn knots. When your regular hair brush isn’t cutting it anymore, the right hair detangler can take away a lot of the frustration. Unlike conditioners, which focus primarily on replenishing lost moisture, detanglers are specially formulated with ingredients that lubricate hair, making it easier to separate tangled strands without causing breakage.
While all detanglers serve the same basic purpose, their formulas differ across brands. Some are lightweight, others use hypoallergenic ingredients, and certain ones may even have UV protection built in. To help you narrow down your choices, we sifted through customer reviews and analyzed a variety of hair detangling products based on what type of hair they work on, formula, cost, and more. Plus, we enlisted the expertise of Lindsay Spiers, a Certified Trichologist and Hair Restoration Expert at Peri Hair Care, to provide tips on how to best use these products to manage tangles.
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It helps prevent future tangling with consistent use.
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The bottle has to be shaken up before use since the formula separates easily.
You can’t remove tangles for good, however you can reduce your likelihood of getting them, especially with the help of Drybar Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler. This product nourishes your hair with vitamins and antioxidants, restoring the breakage and roughness that causes hair strands to catch and tangle. It’s the only detangler on this list that’s also fortified with biotin, which improves the elasticity of hair so it’s more resistant to knots.
When using this detangler, you won't have to worry about harsh ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Instead, it breaks down tangles with vegan ingredients such as aloe, sea berry oil, and seed oil. It's designed for all types of hair, but is particularly ideal for those who deal with frizz and frequently use heat tools. While powerful, the formula does have ingredients that separate easily, so you'll need to make sure you remember to shake it before every use.
Size: 2–16 ounces | Type: Oil | Key Ingredients: Vitamin B, vitamin C, biotin, aloe, sea berry oil, and seed oil
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Its formula contains high quality ingredients that benefit all hair types.
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It isn’t as concentrated, so you may use more of it.
If you're hesitant to invest in a high-end salon brand, the Honest Company Refresh Conditioning Detangler is a reliable, budget-friendly choice. We love this pick in particular because it effectively treats tangles in all hair types, making it a good starter option as well for those who aren’t familiar with detangling products. Despite its low cost, it’s still made with high quality, natural ingredients such as argan oil, shea butter, jojoba, and quinoa protein.
The hypoallergenic formula is also free of dyes, parabens, silicone, and sulfate. And since it’s scented only by citrus peel and vanilla fruit extract (rather than synthetic fragrance), it won’t make your hair smell like cheap perfume. This detangler however isn't very concentrated, which means you may have to use quite a bit of it on tougher knots, but this is also what makes it gentle to use.
Size: 4 ounces | Type: Spray | Key Ingredients: Argan oil, shea butter, jojoba, and quinoa protein