Do you have a hard time running a brush through your hair after taking a shower? What about a little one who rocks some pretty wild bedhead when they wake up in the morning? This DIY hair detangler takes care of those pesky tangles and snarls using safe, pure ingredients for the whole family.
My mom used to use detangler on me as a kid. I had long, fine hair and a feisty attitude, which made brushing it quite a joy. As we have let Asher’s hair grow, it has taken me back a bit to these childhood memories, especially as he squirms and reacts with each stroke of a comb. Thus, I started thinking, maybe it was time to make him a bottle of his own.
WHy make your own detangler?
- It’s cost effective over time.
- You can cater it to your hair type and desired aroma.
- You control the ingredients.
Prior to making ours, I thought I would take a look at the ingredients in a popular detangler for kids currently on the market. Here is what I found:
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance (Parfum), Amodimethicone, Dmdm Hydantoin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium Edta, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
Some of these I was familiar with, others I wasn’t as much, so I decided to plug each of them in to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Database to learn more about them. While a few of the ingredients presented as having low or no risk to our health, others didn’t fare quite so well:
Fragrance: Known human immune system toxicant or allergen
Dmdm Hydantoin: (Formaldehyde releaser) Known human immune toxicant or allergen; Cancer – limited evidence
Cetrimonium Chloride: Human skin toxicant or allergen – strong evidence; Suspected to be an environmental toxin
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: Human any toxicant or allergen – strong evidence; Suspected to be an environmental toxin
FYI: Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links. When you purchase via these links, Amazon gives me a little bit of money at no extra cost to you. It’s one little way you can help me keep Happy Healthy Casa up and running! And I appreciate it!
NATURAL DIY DETANGLER Ingredients
After reading that list, it only reaffirmed my decision to steer clear of the store-bought brands and create my own using only ingredients that are pure, natural, and that I can pronounce! Here is what I included:
Distilled water: Impurities are removed. And it prevents product spoilage.
Jojoba oil: Rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish hair. Naturally conditions the hair and scalp while simultaneously strengthening it and preventing dryness.
Apple cider vinegar: Naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Supports a healthy scalp pH, prevents dryness and restores shine.
Essential Oils: Promote overall hair health, growth and shine. Provide an all natural “fragrance” alternative.
- Lavender & Cedarwood are my favorites for dry hair.
- Patchouli & Lemon are helpful for balancing oil hair.
- Feeling in between? Try a combination!
**While these essential oils are ones that are considered to be “safe” for kids, use your best judgement for your child. You know them best.
NATURAL DIY DETANGLER Recipe
- 2 oz glass spray bottle
- 1/4 bottle apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
- 10-20 drops favorite essential oils
- fill remainder with distilled water
Shake it up, and you are ready to go. Give it a good shake before each future use.
**The apple cider vinegar smell is noticeable. I don’t mind the smell. But if you do, just aim for the higher end of the essential oil drops and/or choose stronger scented oils.
***Want to fill a bigger bottle? Just up the jojoba oil and number of oil drops proportionally to your selected size.
Looking for more ideas? Check out these related posts:
My Daily Essential Oil Routine
5 Ways to Use Essential Oils with Kids
My All Natural Morning Routine Must Haves
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