Homemade Detangler for Matted Hair

Knowing how to make your own homemade detangler for matted hair can come in handy on those days when you have to unravel knotted hair.

We have all been there. Staring at a mass of matted, tangled hair and wondering what happened to all the promises we made to properly care for and maintain our hair.

But sometimes life happens.

And instead of reaching for the scissors, you can reach for your apron and whip up your own homemade detangler to resolve your matted hair issues.

To do this, you will need to be clued up on the following:-

*Pssst, have you been bitten by the DIY hair bug. Then check out our quick recipes on how to make your own DIY Rice Water for Hair, DIY Clove Water for Hair and DIY Coffee Water for Hair Growth. 

1. How to detangle hair?

Detangling matted / knotted hair is a straightforward process that needs a lot of patience and consistency.

Follow this 6 step process whenever you have matted / knotted hair and want to get back on track.

Method:

🌺Step 1

Always work in sections. Section your hair into 2 – 4 parts (you can do more, depending on the length and thickness of your hair).

🌺Step 2

 Apply a generous amount of spray / gel onto your hair and then massage it in, working from roots to tips.

🌺Step 3

ALWAYS use your fingers to detangle your hair. Pay attention to the knots and shed hair, and only when these are removed, can you use a tool.

Remember that your fingers are your number 1 detangling tool.

🌺Step 4

After you have removed all the knots and shed hairs, use a brush to brush your hair. Work your way from the tips to the roots and then from the roots to the tips.

🌺Step 5

 Once your hair is properly detangled, plait it into 2-strand twists before moving to the next section.

🌺Step 6

Work section by section until your whole head is detangled and in twists.

The detangling sprays / gels recommended below can double up as conditioning treatments.

This means that you can apply the remaining spray / gel to your twists, cover your head with a plastic cap and leave it on for 20 – 30 minutes.

After that you can rinse / wash your hair as per your normal wash-day routine.

2. What can I use to detangle my hair?

In order to properly detangle your hair, you will need:-

• The right detangling products; and
• The right detangling tools, such as wide toothed brushes and combs.

Some naturals swear by specific detangling brushes such as Tangle Teezer, but ultimately you need to do what works for your hair and pocket.

Basically, any wide-toothed brush or comb that has bristles that don’t snag your hair will work just fine to detangle your hair.

3. DIY Detangler Sprays

DIY detangler spray is key for unravelling matted hair.

This is especially true if you prefer to manipulate your hair when it is slightly wet or damp, rather than when it is dry.

To make your own DIY detangling spray, you will need the following:-

• A spray bottle;
• A funnel to decant the ingredients;
• A conditioner of your choice that gives a lot of slip (preferably not too pricey, as you will need a lot);
• A carrier oil of your choice such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil; and
• Some water to dilute the mixture. You can also use room temperature water, or warmer water, (for those pesky, cold winter months).

When you make your own detangling spray, make sure you use products that you already have in your hair regime and that your hair loves.

We will discuss some of NaHaZo’s favourite DIY detangler sprays.

3.1 DIY Aloe Vera and Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Detangling Spray

Ingredients

•  ¼ a cup of Aloe Vera juice;
• ¼ cup of water;
• X3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar

Method

Using a funnel, add the Aloe Vera juice, Apple Cider Vinegar and water to the spray bottle and shake to mix.

Then use as per the detangling 6-step method above.

3.2 DIY Aloe Vera and Olive Oil Hair Detangling spray

This spray is an option if you do not have a conditioner, or if you prefer to use 100% organic hair products in your pantry.

Ingredients

• X3 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Juice (it can be more, depending on the length of your hair)
• X2 tablespoons of olive oil; and
• ½ cup of water.

Method

Simply shake to mix the ingredients thoroughly and then apply on your sectioned hair, detangling and then putting into twists.

You can leave the mixture on your detangled, twisted hair for 15 – 20 minutes and then wash / co-wash as per your normal wash day routine.

3.3 DIY Olive Oil and Conditioner Hair Detangler

This recipe is perfect for naturals whose hair is sensitive to Apple Cider Vinegar.

Ingredients

• X2 tablespoons of Olive oil;
• X4 tablespoons of your preferred conditioner; and
• ½ cup of water.

Method

Mix all the ingredients together in a spray bottle and then generously apply this mixture to your hair.

Working in sections, detangle and then twist your hair and then wash /co-wash in twists as per your normal wash day routine.

3.4 DIY Detangler with Coconut Oil

Ingredients

• X2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil;
• X2 tablespoons of olive oil; and
• ½ cup of warm water.

Method

Mix all these ingredients together. It is preferable to use warm water, so that the coconut oil stays melted. Then follow the same detangling process, sectioning your hair, finger detangling and twisting, before moving to the next section.

4. DIY Detangling Hair Gel

Gel is NahaZo’s favourite detangling product as it not only has plenty of slip, but it also nourishes one’s hair in the process.

Also, using gel to detangle your hair gives it a nice and healthy shine and finish.

Wanna make your own hair gel? Check out our easy recipes on how to make DIY Okra Gel for Hair and DIY Flaxseed Gel for Hair Growth. 

4.1 DIY Okra Detangling Gel

Ingredients

1. 1 bowl of DIY okra gel (it can be more or less, depending on your hair length)

Method

1. Wear old clothes and place a towel over your shoulder to prevent staining of your clothes as the gel may be messy.
2. Apply gel onto your sectioned hair and use your fingers to detangle your hair from tips to roots.
3. Make sure that you apply the gel down the length of your hair and finger detangle thoroughly, before using a brush.
4. Put your detangled hair into twists and then move onto the next section.
5. When your hair is completely detangled, you can add more gel to the twists, cover it with a plastic cap and let it sit for 25 – 30 minutes.

After this, you can wash as per your usual wash day routine.

4.2 DIY Flaxseed Detangling Gel

Ingredients

1. 1 bowl of DIY Flaxseed gel (it can be more or less, depending on your hair length)

Method

Use the 6-step detangling method discussed above to unravel your knots using the DIY flaxseed detangling gel.

As indicated earlier, the gel that you use depends on what your hair likes. Some natural’s hair reacts better with flaxseed gel, while others see more detangling and curl definition with okra gel.

NaHaZo recommends that you try both products, and then choose the one best suited for your hair needs.

Need other hair gel ideas? Try out our DIY Chia Seed Gel for Hair and DIY Styling Gel for Natural Hair: Gelatin. 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, first prize is to actively prevent matting of your hair by weekly maintenance and not leaving styles in for too long.

However, should you find that you have more knots and tangles than usual, then using the right products can get your hair to normal in no time. By using gels, conditioners and carrier oils that your hair already likes, making your DIY hair detangler can become part of your hair regime. 

Have you ever suffered from matted or tangled hair? How do you get your hair unravelled? If you are ready to remove a long protective style, why don’t you give one of these recipes a try? And then let us know in the comments how that worked out for you.

Until the next time beautiful ladies, happy naturaling!