3 Homemade Detangling Sprays (Say Goodbye to Tangles)
I was watching ducks swimming in the river the other day.
The river was flowing fast. A bunch of ducks came by swimming, and swooshโฆ they disappeared very quickly as the flow of water favoured their swim.
And then another bunch of duck came by. But these guys were hardly moving forward. They were sometimes going in the reverse and with great effort moving little ahead. Whyโs that? Well, you must have guessed it, the ducks were trying to swim against the river current.
You see, fighting the water is tedious, exhausting and not pretty at all. And so is fighting against the knots and tangles that form in your hair. Many of us have gone through the hassle of trying to undo every little piece of hair.
I too used to dread the whole circus of unknotting hair and then crying over the broken bits.
But not anymore. And why should anyone agitate over the tangles when you have some amazing herbs to make combing easier. Plus the bonus โ your hair will be smoother, silkier and shinier.
Do you want to know more about the detangling herbs??
But first, why does hair tangle?
The simple explanation is that hair tangles because it gets stuck with each other. As in between each other. Still not clear, letโs get to the hair design.
Although our hair is very thin, it consists of three layers. Our interest in this article is the outer most layer of hair. So I was thinking of ignoring the inner two layers. But on second thoughts, I will talk briefly about them. Thereโs no harm to knowing more.
The three layers of hair:
- The outermost is known as cuticle: It consists of flat cells that look like fish scales or shingles on the roof. Its job is to seal and protect the inner structure of the hair.
- The middle layer is cortex: Our colour pigments are stored here. Also, it is made up of coiled protein strands which offer hair its strength and elasticity.
- The innermost layer is the medulla: It consists of soft, thin cells and air pockets.
Coming back to tangles and how the outer layer of hair causes it.
When we wash our hair, it causes the cuticle scales to open up. And as the hair dries the scales close tight and give hair a smooth surface. But this may not happen for all hair. Ideally, this should happen, but depending on how healthy your hair is, or what shampoo you use, or how hard the water quality is, the scales of the cuticle may not close fully, making your hair tangle. Also, more dry and curly hair, the higher the friction between them and the worst the tangles form. Oops, donโt hate your hair.
You can reach out for a detangling conditioner and apply on your hair to smooth the cuticles and undo the tangles. But if you have been left disappointed by the empty promise and more tangles, then itโs time to look for options in nature. Also, the store-bought products can be loaded with silicone, synthetic preservatives, colours and fragrance โ all of them can do more harm to your hair and scalp in the long run.
So how to detangle hair naturally?
Fortunately, nature has provided us with herbs for every hair concern and occasion. To tackle the knots and snags, you have herbs like flaxseeds and marshmallow root. They contain abundant amounts of a slimy, slippery substance called mucilage. This slimy mucilage forms a silky film on the hair and reduces friction, thus making detangling a breeze. Want to know how to use these herbsโฆ
Without further ado, here are 3 homemade detangling hair sprays:
- Fenugreek Spray for Easy Detangling
- Flaxseeds Super-Duper Detangling Spray
- Marshmallow Root Detangling Spray for an Extra Oomph
1. Fenugreek Spray for Easy Detangling
What would we do without fenugreek? Itโs such a fantastic herb for hair โ from hair growth to conditioning to detangling โ fenugreek is an all-rounder.
Talking of detangling, fenugreek seeds are great for the job. They add tons of moisture into hair, making it soft and smooth. While the mucilage in the seeds provides slipperiness to the hair strands, so your hair will be easy to comb. And you will see little to none breakage.
As a bonus: if your hairโs thinning or growing at a snailโs pace, the nourishing properties of the fenugreek renew hair follicles and help grow the hair stronger and faster.
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel (optional, use for pH balancing and defined look)
- 10 drops lavender or ylang ylang essential oil (optional, adds fragrance and boosts hair growth)
Making
All you have to do is place fenugreek seeds in a bowl, add water and stir. Let this sit for 24 hours. Strain the fenugreek seeds using a fine sieve or muslin cloth.
Pour the fenugreek liquid in a spray bottle. Thatโs it.
Soak fenugreek seeds in water for 24 to 48 hours. Strain and fill it in spray bottle.
Adding the extras: you can make fenugreek spray super effective by adding aloe vera. Aloe veraโs pH balancing action helps to get your open cuticles close, so your hair detangles more readily. You can also add essential oil for fragrance and extra nourishment.
How to Use
Spray on damp or dry hair, then using your hands spread the detangler evenly onto your hair. Spray more if needed, and comb with a wide-tooth wood comb.
Storing the spray: since this is an all-natural spray, keep it in the fridge, it will last a week or two.
That was fenugreek seed spray. I must tell you it does have a faint currish smell which disappears in a few minutes. But if you have a sensitive nose and looking for a neutral smelling detangler, thereโs flaxseeds spray.
2. Flaxseeds Super-Duper Detangling Spray
Flaxseeds are often put in the category of super-foods because of their high omega-3 and antioxidants. I will put flaxseeds in the category of super-detangler. And itโs not because of omega-3 that it works as a detangler, flaxseeds are super duper high in mucilage.
When you cook the flaxseeds, it releases jelly-like gooey, slimy mucilage around them. And that is what makes the hair strands slippery and smooth the hair cuticle. Thus, allowing for easy separation when combing.
Moreover, the omega-3 from the seeds will not go waste. It helps to strengthen hair and promote growth.
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon flaxseeds
- 11/2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional, helps with pH balancing and detangling)
- 1 teaspoon almond oil (optional, use for very dry hair)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional, nourishes and adds fragrance)
Making:
Place the flaxseeds and water in a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the flame to low and let it cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Switch off the flame and strain using a fine sieve.
Once the flax liquid is cool, pour it in a spray bottle. You can put apple cider vinegar, almond oil and lavender oil at this point.
How to Use
Shake well before using. Spray on damp or dry hair, then using your hands spread the detangler evenly onto your hair. Spray more if needed, and comb with a wide-tooth wood comb.
Storing the spray: since this is an all-natural spray, keep it in the fridge, it will last a week or two. You can also freeze the extra in ice cube trays and pop out a cube and rub on your hair.
Coming up last is marshmallow root detangling spray. It will, of course, help to detangle, but also add extra oomph to hairโฆ
3. Marshmallow Root Detangling Spray for Extra Oomph
Unlike the fluffy marshmallows, the marshmallow root is not sweet tasting. Itโs very neutral flavour and smell, but when you use it on your hair, your hair will glide with ease and elegance, leaving a sweet smile on your face.
The sliminess of marshmallow coats the hair strands and helps detangle even the toughest tangles and curly textures. What I also like about marshmallow root is it plumps the hair strands and makes it look thicker, shinier and bouncier.
You will need:
- 2 tablespoons marshmallow root
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon hibiscus flowers (optional, helps with detangling and pH balancing)
- 1 teaspoon jojoba oil (optional, use for very dry hair)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
Place the marshmallow root and water in a pot. (For an extra boost, you can also add hibiscus flowers and flaxseeds.)
Bring to a boil, then reduce the flame to low and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool. Strain with sieve or muslin cloth.
Pour it in a spray bottle. You can put the oils if you desire. Jojoba oil provides softness, and lavender oil makes hair smell nice as well as gives nourishment.
How to Use
Shake well before using. Spray on damp or dry hair. And then using your hands spread the detangler evenly onto your hair. Spray more if needed, and comb with a wide-tooth wood comb.
Storing the spray: since this is an all-natural spray, keep it in the fridge, it will last a week or two. You can also freeze the extra in ice cube trays and pop out a cube and rub on your hair.
What Other Herbs Can I Add to the Detangling Spray Recipe??
The beauty of making detangling spray at home is you can put other amazing herbs to suit your hair needs. These are my favourites:
- Hibiscus: I like adding hibiscus flowers as itโs naturally pH balancing and nourishing. Hibiscus will keep the cuticle scales tight and snug so you can comb easily.
- Aloe vera: This is also a wonderful addition for pH balancing and hair nourishment.
- Horsetail: Rich in silica, horsetail adds shine and strength to hair.
- Shikakai: Increases silkiness and bounciness of hair. Itโs also pH balancing.
- Chamomile: It makes hair soft and adds highlights to hair.
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ..
So gals (and guys with long hair), letโs recap:
You can make your own detangling spray using either of the three herbs: fenugreek, flaxseeds and marshmallow root.ย I cannot say which of the three is my most favourite detangler. I use all, not at once, but depending on which herb I am hooked to that month.
Combing hair is no longer a painful, arduous task for me. Thanks to beautiful herbs and their slimy mucilage, I comb with nil resistance, and itโs also a hair-break saver for me. So if you are struggling to untangle, donโt fidget with every piece of hair, instead, smooth your strands with slimy herbs. And let the comb glide with ease and elegance.
Do you make detangling spray at home? Please let me know in the comment box belowโฆI would love to know how it works for you.
