Are your curls a tangled mess? Before we discovered these products and tools, detangling was a dreaded chore, but we have found that these work like magic to transform our most challenging, tearful detangling sessions. You don’t need to go out and buy all 13 of these detanglers; in fact, you won’t need to since a couple of these are free and already at your disposal, but a few might become your secret detangling weapon.
1. Your Digits
Image Source: @kimberlycherrell
That’s right, your fingers. This is the cheapest and best way to detangle your curls. I finger detangle as often as possible. Many curlies name this cost effective tool as their favorite way to detangle.
The Technique: Pretending that my hands are wide tooth combs, I rake my detangling product or conditioner through my hair, starting at the ends, and work up the hair shaft.
2. ORS Olive Oil Girls Leave-In Conditioning Detangler
It’s always important to have a detangler that can be used on wet or dry curls, and the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Girls Leave-In Conditioning Detangler is here to deliver. You can easily detangle and moisturize your curls, coils, and waves to achieve more manageable hair. The recipe is infused with aloe vera, keratin, and wheat protein, which can reduce breakage and add shine.
3. The Wide-Toothed Comb
This is the tool EVERY curly girl should have. Using fine-toothed combs on our hair when wet or dry can be extremely damaging and increase the breakage we experience. You’ll find this tool on every curly must-have list, article, and YouTube vlog, so if you haven’t made the (small investment), it’s high time you did!
Image Source: @curlswithkeish
4. INSPIRE by made beautiful Pre-Poo Detangler
Curly girls have been raving about this detangler for years. This is a great detangler to help soften and prep your curls before shampooing. The hydrating and nourishing recipe includes shea, honey, and coconut, which help to detangle and minimize breakage. It’s also a great bonus if you need a kid-friendly option.
5. Denman Brush
The Denman is the brush known to detangle countless curls and coils magically. It also won our 2013 Editors’ Choice Best Type 4 Styling Tool award.
Most popular with Type 4 curly girls, a modified version may suit you better. The popular modified version removes every other row of bristles from the brush, making it a wide-toothed brush.
Image Source: @iamhajar_
6. As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
After hearing about this conditioner from curlies everywhere, I finally had a chance to use it for myself, and it lives up to its reputation. This product won your 2012 Best of the Best vote this year. This co-wash ticks all of the curly boxes:
- Great slip
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Sulfate-free
It also smells fantastic!
7. Camille Rose Naturals Fresh Curl
If you don’t know, you better ask somebody! This leave-in conditioner has slippy slip qualities. You can use it as a detangler or a daily leave-in to moisturize and nourish dry, frizzy hair. Your thirsty curls and coils will restored to beautifully moisturized. To maximize the benefits, rake the product through your curls, coils, and waves with a wide tooth comb.
8. EDEN BodyWorks Papaya Castor Scalp Cleanser
Sometimes, you need a detangler that can offer that 1-2 punch, and this Papaya Castor Scalp Cleanser helps remove buildup from the hair and scalp while also providing nourishment. This product’s creamy consistency produces minimal suds but will surely leave the hair looking and feeling clean and refreshed. What’s great about this cleanser is that it can also be distributed down the hair shaft. It’s an excellent detangler, providing lots of slip!
9. Tangle Teezer
Some curlies swear by this detangling tool, saying they couldn’t detangle their curls and coils without it. Others say it’s not for them, but like any product or tool, you need to determine what works best for your curls, so do your research and use the tool on your ends first to see how your hair reacts to it. Always work your way from your ends up to your roots when detangling.
10. Oyin Handmade Greg Juice
Greg Juice is an oil-free mixture of vegetable moisturizers and herbal essences. It feeds hair like a salad and is great for moisturizing, detangling, and refreshing thirsty hair. Added to this herbal infusion are vegetable ingredients for detangling and slipping, pure organic aloe vera juice for moisture and suppleness, vegetable glycerine for humectancy and shine, and an essential oil blend nutritious to the scalp.
11. Rat Tail Comb
Yes, I know what I said. The comb part of the rat tail comb can KILL your hair, but flip that baby around and you’ve got a got tool to help section your hair.
Detangling in sections for curly/coily girls is crucial. Using the pointed end of a rat tail comb can be a lifesaver when it comes to your detangling process.
12. Clips
Like the rat tail comb, some snag-free clips are important to use after parting your hair for washing and/or detangling. Some sturdy plastic clips or clamps work great.
13. Patience
That’s right! It’s probably the most important tool to keep in your detangling arsenal. As one of my favorite gurus used to say, “Treat your hair like a fine lace”- Nina Pruitt. That is if you want to keep your hair, and I’m sure you do.
What do you use to detangle your hair?
This article was originally published in May 2013 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.
