Inside: Natural hair care doesn’t have to be complicated! Here are three homemade hair detangler recipes that are inexpensive and simple to make, plus what to buy if you don’t want to DIY.
Has your mother ever threatened offered to shave your head? Mine has.
You guys, this is a woman who didn’t raise her voice when I wrecked her bought-that-very-day car when I was sixteen and made pancakes for my college friends at 2am while we studied. She’s practically a saint, but when I was little, brushing my long hair would nearly bring her to her wits end. One night, she “gently” offered to just shave my head.
Now that I’m a mom, I get it. It’s no fun to watch a child shed tears over tangles. I tried different brushes and combs which definitely helped, but it was still something my daughter dreaded. Then I remembered the detangler spray my mom eventually found – YES!
And nooooooooo.
I mean, have you seen the ingredients in most children’s detanglers?
Fortunately, there’s a natural solution that works, and you may already have the ingredients to make it! Or actually make them, because there are several ways to whip up homemade detangler.
You’ll find three recipes below, along with better store-bought options if you don’t want to DIY.
How Detanglers Work
According to chemist Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.:
Although there are many possible ingredients in hair detangler, they all work by altering the surface of your hair. Hair detangler is a type of hair conditioner that smooths your hair by coating it with an oil or polymer and/or by acidifying 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.” (1)
The first two recipes I’m going to share with you are alternatives to the synthetic polymers mentioned by Dr. Helmenstine.
The last recipe works using a weak acid (apple cider vinegar) to smooth the cuticle. Though I wish they were, none of these formulas are miracles in a bottle. However, they do make the process easier without leaving hair greasy.
Tip: Use A Wet Brush
This brush works wonders on tangles, especially when combined with the detangling recipes below.
Also, when you don’t have time to DIY, Overall, Shea Moisture Kids Hair Care Coconut & Hibiscus KIDS Extra Moisturizing Detangler has a clean ingredient list (overall) that incorporates both marshmallow root and slippery elm extracts. The only ingredient I don’t love is the behentrimonium chloride, which is a conditioning salt that is used as a preservative. Of all the options I’ve looked at, though, it’s the best.
Why use marshmallow root in detangling spray?
As the quote from Dr. Helmenstine I mentioned earlier explains, some detanglers smooth hair by coating them in polymers. Even some DIY detanglers take this approach by using diluted conditioner, which often contains polymers.
I’m not a fan of this approach because – as I explained in my post on gelatin masks for strong, shiny hair this only makes the hair **look** healthy – in reality it’s doing the exact opposite. Silicone blocks moisture from reaching the hair shaft, which can cause strands to become dry and brittle over time. Other polymers such as dimethicone have similar effects.
Fortunately, there’s a better way to coat the hair – mucilage!
Okay yeah, it’s not a pretty word, but it works.
For hair, mucilage provides the much needed slip for manageable detangling. Water enables the transport of mucilage in between the hair fibers where the slimy consistency makes the strands slippery. By getting in between the strands, mucilage temporary weakens strand cohesion. Without strand cohesion the strands glide past each other easily; allowing for easier separation and removal of shed hair. Aside from mucilage, herbs also come with a plethora of water-soluble minerals and vitamins all of which nourish the hair and sooth the scalp while detangling.” (2)
Mucilage also helps coat and protect an irritated throat (see my sore throat tea and sore throat spray recipes), ease heartburn and stomach aches, improve gut health and more, which I love because it means that marshmallow root – the mucilage-rich herb in first recipe below – can also be used for other purposes. If you order some and want to see what else you can make, here are seven uses for marshmallow root and how to prepare it.
Now back to hair . . .
Using Essential Oils In Your Detangler
Though completely optional, essentials are a wonderful addition to the marshmallow root recipe. Not only do they have properties that benefit hair, they smell amazing.
Here are some options that are safe for kids:
- Lemon essential oil smells amazing, and is helpful for balancing oily hair. Depending on how much you use and how often it may lighten your hair – some people use it to create natural-looking highlights. (where to buy lemon essential oil)
- Patchouli and tea tree also have astringent properties which are beneficial for oily hair. Rosemary is also a good option, but it is not recommended for kids under six. Click here to read more about using essential oils with children. (where to buy patchouli, where to buy tea tree essential oil, where to buy rosemary essential oil)
- Chamomile and lavender essential oil are helpful for dry hair (where to buy chamomile, where to buy lavender)
Recipe #1: Marshmallow Root Detangling Spray Recipe
This stuff works amazingly well, but it doesn’t smell awesome. For that reason, I definitely recommend using essential oils with this formula. You’ll find some suggestions above.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons marshmallow root, you’ll need less than half an ounce for this recipe)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (where to buy apple cider vinegar)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons jojoba oil or olive oil (where to buy jojoba oil, where to buy olive oil)
- Up to 30 drops essential oil (optional, see suggestions below)
To Make
Add marshmallow root and water to a small pot and bring to boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for another 15-20 minutes, then strain using cheesecloth. Add essential oils and oil to the vinegar and allow to sit for a few minutes, then stir vigorously. Add the marshmallow root to the vinegar mixture and pour into a spray bottle.
To Use
Shake well before using. Spritz onto dry or wet hair, then comb through. I think the thicker gel works better, so I just spray in the stream setting and then smooth over the hair. Allow the detangler to soak into the hair for 1-2 minutes, then comb through.
Shelf Life
Store in the refrigerator. Because it doesn’t not contain any preservatives, I make small batches and use within about a month.
Recipe #2: Homemade Flax Seed Hair Detangler
This recipe is great because it uses ingredients that are easily accessible. I don’t think it works quite as well as the marshmallow root recipe above, but if you need something quick it’s a great option.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons jojoba or olive oil (where to buy jojoba oil, where to buy olive oil)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (where to buy apple cider vinegar)
- Up to 30 drops essential oil (optional – see suggestions listed above under the marshmallow root recipe)
To Make
Add seeds and water to a small pot and bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat and allow the seeds to continue cooking for 15-20 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and strain seeds through a fine mesh sieve or a pair of pantyhose, then stir in oil. If you are adding essential oils, add them to the apple cider vinegar and allow them to sit for a few minutes, then stir vigorously. Pour apple cider vinegar into the flax gel/oil mixture.Allow the mixture to set in the fridge so you can tell what the final consistency is. If it’s too gel-like to be used in a spray bottle, dilute as needed. Place liquid in a spray bottle.
To Use
Spritz onto dry or wet hair, then comb through. If the mixture is too thick it will spray as a stream rather than a mist. I think the thicker gel works better, so I just spray in the stream setting and then smooth over the hair. Allow the detangler to soak into the hair for 1-2 minutes, then comb through.
Shelf Life
Store in the refrigerator. Because it doesn’t not contain any preservatives, I make small batches and use within 3-4 weeks.
Recipe #3: Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Detangler
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (where to buy apple cider vinegar)
- 1/3 cup distilled water (or water that has been boiled and cooled)
- 1 teaspoon jojoba or olive oil (where to buy jojoba oil, where to buy olive oil)
- Up to 30 drops essential oil (optional – see suggestions listed above under the marshmallow root recipe)
Using Essential Oils In Your Detangler
Though completely optional, essentials are a wonderful addition to the apple cider vinegar recipe. Not only do they have properties that benefit hair, they smell amazing. (And for those who don’t love the smell of vinegar, that can be a huge plus.)
Here are some options that are safe for kids over two:
- Lemon essential oils smells amazing, and is helpful for balancing oily hair. Depending on how much you use and how often it may lighten your hair – some people use it to create natural-looking highlights. (where to buy lemon essential oil)
- Patchouli and tea tree also have astringent properties which are beneficial for oily hair (where to buy patchouli, where to buy tea tree essential oil)
- Chamomile and lavender are helpful for dry hair (where to buy chamomile, where to buy lavender)
To Make
If you’re using essential oils, add them to the apple cider vinegar allow it to sit for a few minutes. Add the oil and stir vigorously, then add the water. I use 1/3 cup because we have hard water. Hard water is alkaline and therefore counteracts the acidity of the apple cider vinegar (ACV) – for that reason I keep the concentration of ACV pretty high in my solution. You may find that a more diluted version works well for you – add water as needed.
To Use
This recipe works best as a leave-in conditioner applied after shampoo. Shake well before using then spritz thoroughly onto hair. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes, then comb through using a wide-tooth comb.
Shelf Life
I have never had a batch go bad, but because it doesn’t contain any preservatives I store mine in the fridge and use within four to six weeks.
Do you have a detangling tip? Please share it below!
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Sources for this article:
Helmenstine, Anne Marie. (2017, March) How To Make Homemade Hair Detangler. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-homemade-hair-detangler-607707
Tribe of Chic. 5 High Mucilage Herbs For Hair. Retrieved from http://web.archive.org/web/20150219025442/http://mynaturalhairgrowth.net/detanglingherbs/#
Just when I was thinking about buying some J&J detangled for my toddlers fine, curly locks, this popped up on my newsfeed on Facebook. Yay! Can’t wait to make it! The flaxseed recipe reminded me of my aunts talking years ago. Apparently, they used to cook the flaxseeds and strain the gel out and used it to set their hair in curlers back in the day.
My 10 year old Granddaughter is African American. Today I made the flaxseed detangler. It is truly a miracle. I have never been able to get all the knots out of her hair without spending endless hours and many products. In less than 10 to 15 minutes I was done. I added coconut oil instead of olive oil. We were both amazed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and hers, for this amazing all natural recipe.
My 10 year old Granddaughter is African American, today , I made the flaxseed detangle recipe. It is truly a miracle. I have never been able to get all the knots out of her hair without spending endless hours and many products. In less than 10 to 15 minutes I was done. I added coconut oil instead of olive oil, which was the only modification I made. We were both amazed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and hers, for this amazing all natural recipe.
Congrats! Keep loving your successor!
Hi Heather! I love your blog and articles! I have one question for you and it is completely off-topic, but please bear with me 🙂
Your daughter looks super cute on the pictures and I noticed her teeth. This reminded me of a question I wanted to ask for very long, do you think that your daughter is on the track to get straight teeth without braces?
If not, are you considering any jaw widening?
Thank you!
Bailee
I am hoping to write about that in the next few months! 🙂
How much marshmallow root do we use Heather?
Not sure if you replied to this or not concerning the teeth. When I was a child, I had enough space between my two front teeth to put my little finger between them. As a young adult, 20 -21 when my wisdom teeth came in, the spacing in my teeth went away as my mouth made room for my wisdom teeth. Even when my wisdom teeth were removed, my teeth stayed in their new place. Just a thought. Katina Clark
Bailee,I thought this was a hair blog,not a teeth/jaw blog? Maybe you know something I don’t about teeth but ,I think her daughter has a beautiful smile and I didn’t even notice the spaces which is what makes her unique and who she is! Now, back to the reason I am here. I love the essential oil recipe. I only need to use a little bit ,it works wonders for my tangled hair!
You are right that the girl is pretty regardless of spacing in her teeth but I think it’s the bloggers job to react to the question/post on HER blog about HER daughter. If she finds it inappropriate I’m sure she’s perfectly capable of expressing that on her own. Perhaps there were motivations for the comment you are not aware of, i.e. Interest in tooth straightening alternatives, not necessarily cosmetics of spaced teeth. Also, her tooth alignment could change as adult teeth and molars arrive. Not trying to be overly critical or anything but i just found your comment to be a little intrusive as the original question was not addressed to you and was written with relatively benign/unoffensive language. In fact, mommypotamus replied with a smiley face and seemed more than willing to address the topic, so I don’t understand why you are bent out of shape. You could have asked about the reason for the comment/question and pointed out that the daughters beauty and value is not a matter of straigh teeth but you went beyond that with your sarcasm and inferrance that she’s somehow wrong for asking a question on a different topic. If you want to police a blog it should be your own lol
Wow, women!
I bought the rose hip oil you recommended for use as a facial moisturizer and I started using that in my hair. It works amazingly well!! Just a few drops rubbed into wet hair helps get out all the tangles and leaves hair feeling soft and silky without being greasy. My hair is severely dry and over processed and this is the best solution I’ve tried yet. I’ve tried many synthetic and natural products and this was the best solution for me.
These are great! I’ve always wondered what would be a viable option! My daughter gets the worst tangles!
Making the marshmallow detangler tonight, very excited! One potential flaw, I have marshmallow root powder – did not realize until I got everything together. So 3T may be way off but what I am gonna start with. 🙂 and lemon essential oil.
Can i use this on dyed hair?. I used to use ACV all the time. As I aged I started coloring my hair to cover the gray. I was told that if I use ACV on colored/dyed hair it would strip the color. Is that true?
I use henna as a dye and act as a conditioner rinse and also in my bentonite mask. It doesn’t strip my color. I actually use it in my henna recipe. I currently use flax seed gel and in my recipe, I use marshmallow root and slippery elm bark. Gives great slip for curls. I also use a horse detangler brush. It’s cheap and slides thru tangles with ease. As a detangler, I use only 1 tablespoon of flax seeds, 2 tbl spoons of marshmallow root and 2tblsp of slippery elm bark in 2 cups of distilled water.
How do you prepare those three for a detangler?
Using vinegar as a detangler for my hair eventually turned my salt & pepper blend to blond with very natural lowlights. I’m Not sure how it would affect your color, but i would definitely expect some change. However, if you have ever considered “going” blonde, this is an easy and healthy path. Its gradual too.
Would love to try this on my daughters hair. I order through our Frontier co-op and they carry both the marshmallow root powder and the cut & sifted root. Your link to mountain rose looks like the cut & sifted roots but I wanted to be sure before I ordered.
Thanks!
Tammy
Hi, after straining the marshmellow root, do i add the liquid that i strained or the actual marshmellow root??
I really need this for my almost 8 year old!!
Just curious Heather, is plant therapy the brand that you now recommend for essential oils?
Thanks!
I’m in the process of making your flax seed recipe. It calls for 2 tsp. of ACV, followed by 3 Tablespoons ACV. Can you clarify?
So sorry, “2 teaspoons” is a typo – not sure how it got there! It should just be three tablespoons.
From the pictures, it looks like you & your daughter have straight/smooth hair. Wonder if you know anyone who’s tried one of these not as a detangler, but for de-frizz on a curly-haired head? It’s somewhat similar to the homemade mixture I’ve been using on my (adult) hair – water, glycerin, jojoba oil, a few drops of lavender e.o., which I spray on my hair before gently drying. Which is a very *simple* process, and works reasonably well to control some amount of my natural frizz. Have heard the flax-seed recipe works great for curls, so I might try one of yours out for my own hair. If you happen to have heard of someone who’s tried it for that purpose, I’d love to hear!
Blessings,
Dr. Deborah
Glad you brought up curly hair. mine is long, and curly and thick! triple trouble. I am trying natural recipes now, and not using commercial shampoo or conditioners.
I’ll try your recipe.
What do you use as a shampoo??
thanks
Barb
PS
what proportions do you use?
thanks
These recipes look great! I will definitely have to try them out for myself. My hair is rather fine but it still tangles quite a bit after I wash it, and even when I swim or am outside for a bit. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Heather, I was just wondering what your thoughts were on using glycerin in hair products? I haven’t used it in years, then just recently a natural shampoo I bought had it in and I didn’t realise, then wondered why my hair was so incredibly silky smooth!!?! I checked the ingredients and realized it must be the glycerin. I’ve done a bit of research on it but most people seem to feel it’s fairly harmless. I am concerned, however, not in the safety of using it, but what it’s doing to my hair. It feels like its coating it and I don’t know if that’s a long term bad thing to be doing to me hair? Do you have any further insight into this? Cheers,
Kim
I’d like to know this too.
thanks
Barb
Made the Marshmallow one for my 1 year old daughter’s unruly curly hair and IT WORKED! thank you! I used lavender 10 drops and since we co-sleep I find we all drift off to sleep nicely 🙂 thanks!
I want to put a preservative in mine, as I don’t use up hair products that often (my current bottle of hair detangler is probably 2 years old!) that being said, is there a certain preservative that would work best for the marshmallow root detangler recipe? Thanks!
Germall plus works for me. I would only make a spray bottle amount of detangler though and keep it refrigerated. Up to maybe 3 weeks.
Make smaller batches as meeded
Hi Heather! Just a quick question about the marshmallow root – are you using chopped root or powdered? I have powdered marshmallow root in my stash and I was wondering if it would be possible to use that?
– Michele
I use chopped. Powdered work as well, but I’m not exactly sure what to recommend in terms of recipe/method changes.
Homemade safe shampoo????? Recipe
Thanks so much. The marshmallow one worked absolute wonders on my 2 year old’s curly hair. She actually sat more or less still and let me brush once she realized it wasn’t going to pull. Since I have curly hair too this is huge. I really don’t want her to grow up hating having her hair touched like I do. This gives me hope. Thank you
I knew about Apple cider vinegar but I didn’t knew about other two. Apple cider vinegar is working fine for me. but will also try others sometime.
The only problem was it made my hair smell really strong because I used peppermint smell.
I tried the marshmallow and the flax on my hair (which is very fine and tends toward the oily side), and they both made my hair incredibly soft and silky. So, I tried them on my daughter’s hair and both of them made her hair (which is quite fine and on the dry side) dry and almost crunchy — strange, almost like dry, crunchy, but oily hay. And it became incredibly knotty and generally, a big tangly mess for next 4 or 5 washes (which I did with our regular shampoo, which is Aveda). Any ideas on what happened? It worked so great for me. I’ve been looking for a more natural shampoo and conditioner, but have had no luck with her hair.
Great ideas and information here! I plan to make up a batch soon for myself. My hair is mostly super-fine but there’s a lot of it so it tangles like crazy.
Suggestion: Yarrow is highly beneficial to hair and gentle enough for babies. It strengthens the hair shaft and roots and encourages strong growth. Consider steeping yarrow in place of the marshmallow root in that recipe? I will try it for mine.
Also, I know Rosemary is great for strengthening hair and revitalizing the scalp, plus the extract is a natural preservative. I was thinking of possibly using a little Extract of Rosemary or pure vitamin E for a natural preservative to considerably lengthen the shelf-life. Have you tried either of these to know if there’s a consistency issue to be aware of or compensate for?
I’m not sure what went wrong, but the marshmallow root recipe left my daughter’s hair smelling like vinegar AND oily. Vinegar basically cancels out all other smells & cuts through oil, especially when it sits for a day or two.
My precious 4 year old son will not agree to cut his hair (it’s a couple inches below his shoulder at this point), but also refuses to tie it back (hello leftover food particles) and almost never lets us brush it. Add to that the fact that he’s a water only no ‘poo kid and you get, well, dread locks. I’ve made all of these and they have all worked wonderfully.
These recipes are magic. And I love you.
Research Flash Drying.
OMG, the marshmallow recipe just saved my 3yo daughter’s hair! After a week of horrible sickness, plus a nursing newborn and my own nasty cold dominating my attention, my daughter’s beautiful long blond hair got so matted it actually had dreadlocks! I felt terrible – I thought we’d have to cut it off. I happened to have marshmallow root and tried your recipe. Amazing! I made it exactly as written, althought even with a lid most of the water boiled off, so I added more when mixing it up. Thank you!!!
Hi Heather
For your Marshmallow Root detangling spray can you substitute coconut oil for the jojoba or olive oil and still achieve great results.
Made this tonight! Thank you so much for sharing. I did add about 15 drops of tea tree oil to ours. My middle step-daughter has brought us lice three times in the last two years and tea tree oil (added to store bought detangler) have prevented the little supr-annoying buggers from migrating to my kiddos and me!
For lice, use diatomaceous earth. Much easier, faster and guaranteed results. Research it. Blessings. ;).
Thanks for this article. I will try it out on my thick, tightly coiled, kinky tresses. 😉
If diatomaceous earth gets in your eyes, it can cause irreparable damage (because the particles are so small that they cut into the jelly-like substance of your eyes and can’t be rinsed away), just so you know. Kids who rub their eyes a lot should not have DE on their heads.
I’m wondering how this would work (or which of your recipes would be better to try) as a leave-in post-shampoo detangler for my 11 year old daughter’s long, fine, oily-scalp (hello puberty!) curly hair. We want to preserve her ringlet ends/waves which are more in the last half of her hair (it’s to the waist almost so the curls are pretty relaxed due to the length/weight of the hair). She has had some breakage due to having to wrestle bad mats and tangles out almost daily unless we keep her hair braided most of the time – we use the Wet Brush on both wet and dry hair already but we need something more. So many recipes and products make the hair either too oily or too soft and flyaway. Tips, suggestions, for curly long fine oily hair?
Can you substitute the apple cider vinegar (in the first recipe) with another type? I’m severely allergic to apples…
Yes, you can 🙂
I hate the smell vinegar, is it possible to omit the recipe or substitute AVC with something else? Thank you, 🙂
Is it okay to use purified water instead of distilled in the ACV recipe? Also, would the flax recipe work if you used Flax Meal and not seed?
Can I use marshmallow leaf instead of root??
I have made this detangling spray today for my son. He is 6 and growing his hair however it is an unusual texture. Its brittle and breaks easily and frizzy not curly (like each individual hair is finely crimped). I used marshmallow root powder and followed the above recipe but it looks like a dusty dirty spray. I have sprayed his hair and (his hair is blonde) it now feels stiff and dirty. Does it need more water to dilute as it is black? Do you recommend using this every night and washing it twice a week? Thanks for your help.
I just made the flaxseed version for my daughter and it worked beautifully! I am truly amazed. I didn’t realize the recipe calls for flax seeds, I used flax meal instead.
Thank you very much, Heather. I can’t wait to try more DIY recipes.
I made the acv concoctions few days ago for my daughter’s frizzy & heavily tangled hair on the back side. It didn’t work magic in just one application. I have been spraying her hair everyday after her shower and after 3 days her hair becomes alot softer & i notice that the tangled area has become lesser and lesser.
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I have two girls (10 and 2) with curly hair. My older girl’s hair has gotten much heavier in the past few years; the toddler’s hair still has some of that baby silkiness. By far the best detangler we use is a flax gel that is made with a decoction of marshmallow, horsetail and oat straw. I make a huge batch of the tea- 12 cups water, 4 tablespoons marshmallow, 4 tablespoons horsetail, 2 tablespoons oat straw- and use it in all the post shampoo products (the ACV rinse and flax gel). The gel is 1/2cup seeds and 2 cups tea, boiled until egg white consistency and strained. If it is too thick, I add some extra tea and shake. Spray into hair after shower and comb. Bouncy, shiny curls? I’ve taken to adding a few drops of grapefruit EO to the mix for shine.
Gave some to a friend with a daughter who has very tight curls. Will report back when I hear. If I remember ?
Hello Roisin……please could you elaborate more on the type of tea you used and please if you don’t mine sharing the process either here or via my email [email protected]……I will really appreciate. Thank you
Who knew marshmallow had roots. So, they’re a vegetable.
Your marshmallow recipe works a dream! My child’s fine, curly hair was matted all the time. I have to only apply it once between shampoos and, even though it may tangle, it combs out super easily with no owies. Thank you for this!
My one question though is you say you store it in the fridge…mine separates, and the oil floating on top solidifies. Not super convenient when you need it right at that moment. I did mix the oils with the vinegar and even whisked it into emulsion with a coffee frother. Is this normal? If not, any idea where I went wrong and how I can fix it? Thanks so much!
I’m a bit confused as to what I’m doing wrong. I made the marshmallow root recipe the first time, exactly as stated, and it turned out great. However, it was way too much and I felt like I was wasting most of it so I tried to half the recipe and I’m not having the same results. My daughter’s hair was still really knotted and hard to untangle and once I did get it untangled, it dried very brittle, as if I put egg whites all over her hair. Any ideas why this is happening? Thanks!
Awesome
The marshmallow recipe is great. Used coconut oil instead. I’m allergic to glycerine, and found the only thing that really worked on me and my four year old daughter is Apple cider vinegar. But, even the brags gives me hives and my daughter hates the smell! I just tried this….it works wonders on my hair. Love it!!!it just feels so wonderfully soft and smooth and silky! Now, the real test will be on my 4 yr. old little girl who’s hair is almost down to the back of her knees! I am hoping for the same results, because she hates the acv, and the only products I could find that worked were Pantene and mane & tail. As a certified organic farmer, I do not like using chemicals!!!
Just wondering, since we usually keep ACV just out in the cupboard, would the ACV one be fine out of the fridge in the bathroom where it’s easily accessible after washing hair or will it just go bad? I am planning to put about 10-15 drops tea tree in it to get rid of the smell if it makes any difference but we have that in the bathroom on the shelf so I wouldn’t think so. Thanks
OMG the Marshmallow Root Detangling Spray is great for me! Unfortunately my 6 year old refuses to use it yet, but I’m hoping my glowing reviews will get her to come around. Thank you sooooo much for this!!!
Hi, I used my flax seed powder from the uk and after 3 straining it still has bits, is it normal. Also the smell of the vinegar is quite strong, anything else that can be added???? haven’t tried it yet….
Thanks
Hi there. For the ACV detangler recipe, can I use mineral water instead? I’m leaving in China and we use mineral water for our daily usage cos the tap water is very hard water and many impurities.
I use a prdouct called Monat on my hair. It’s all natural and was curious if you’d want a few samples to try and maybe do a blog on if it fits your criteria. I have just recently Brennan diagnosed with scleroderma and a month trying too do a lot of changes in eating/sleeping habits, etc to help my body. I would love your thoughts on this product. Thanks for your time ❤️
Hi Heather, my 3 children are on a swim team and are in chlorinated water every day for hours. I’ve been spraying a store bought leave in conditioner (gets a good rating on EWG list) on their hair and brushing it through (especially the ends!) Before their swim caps go on in order to protect the hair shaft from soaking up so much chlorine and giving them straw like texture. Would these leave in conditioners do the same job of protecting/closing off the shaft that the synthetic polymers do in store bought conditioner? And would they still be working two hours later as they are still in the pool? I’d love any information you have on keeping hair healthy in the pool!
As a mom of swimmers, I would be interested learning more on this too. Have you yourself learned anything more, Erika? Thanks in advance.
I tried to strain the flaxseed with a pantyhose, no liquid would come out! What is it that I am doing wrong? Also The water I boiled the flaxseed in was evaporated although on low heat.. do I add that water to the mixture anyway?
It sounds like your stove runs a little hotter than mine and that the liquid evaporated too quickly. Just add some water (either boiled and cooled for five minutes or distilled) until it reaches a sprayable consistency. 🙂
Hi…after the shampoo, I just add some ACV to plain water and rinse my daughter’s hair with that. I don’t use plain water after. Her hair is super silky and easy to brush.
Are all 3 recipes Leave-in? I notice the only one that says leave-in is the ACV one but the others don’t specify. Can you please clarify? I’m already using just ACV with water ao I’m excited to try it with the other ingredients ☺
Yes, they are all leave- in 🙂
Hi mommypotamus, you look beautiful, like so so beautiful. Thanks for the home made detangler options and recipes, unfortunately my mom’s very busy and I actually looked this up because I cannot stand her knotty hair. So thanks a bunch.
Hello. I usually spray my light skinned DD VERY long thick hair with coconut oil & water then put in a bun for swimming. It works extremely well and there are no tangles. But there are a couple times where she has gone swimming with a dry braid, then rinses off with the pool shower (could be cold or warm depending). My question is if you have a suggestion for a detangling spray before her after swim shower? I was thinking mixing conditioner and water once her braid is removed then pool shower. Once home a real shower. Any suggestions much appreciated. Thanks!
Emulsifiers aren’t being used. You’ve got carrier oils and essential oils and you’re trying to mix them with water yet aren’t using an emulsifer or a solubiliser. Totally unsafe and without preservatives, the products are not going to last 3-4 weeks. You can freeze FSG in ice cube trays, take out what you need. You’re not running a PET in a third part lab. Water = life which is mold, fungus, yeast, and bacteria. You should only keep homemade DIY stuff for as long as you would keep food and eat it. Would you make soup and eat it after 3-4 weeks in the fridge? No way. This stuff won’t last that long either.
I have heard that neem oil is wonderful for strengthening the hair. Would you recommend adding a small amount in place of the other oil? It is also anti-bacterial,& anti-fungus . Would help as a preservative.
Can you just rinse these detanglers out with just warm water? Or will the oil Just make the hair look oily. We don’t use shampoos or conditioners, but we do need to detangle.
Thanks
After shampooing my hair, I squirt a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part apple cider vinegar onto my hair and leave it for a minute before rinsing it out. I comb with a wide tooth comb and rarely have any knots.
Thank you so much! My partner bought some detangler for our daughter and I really didn’t want to knowing it looked chemically. After he tried it we both agreed the smell alone was a red flag. I am going to try and find some marshmallow growing as I know it can be pretty common. Hope so! Thanks again:)
This recipe saved my kid’s hair! Brushing it was such a nightmare that he wanted it cut short. After I made this and started using it, he’s happy with his long hair again.
I use lemon essential oil (and also ylang ylang and vetiver) and it’s really helping to bring the blonde back out, especially now that the sun is out.
I’ve struggled with my thick curly hair all my life and the marshmallow root is a godsend!
I so appreciate the work you do to share your recipes made with simple ingredients. I look forward to trying many of them.
Question. Could I possibly sub the jojoba oil with calendula oil? That’s all I have on hand.