As with any hair product, it’s important to find one that is either designed for their locks’ texture and style or is made with the best ingredients for their specific hair type. “There are several methods to choose from when it comes to detangling hair,” Jess Van Diest, licensed stylist and salon manager at Kidtopia Salon in Virginia, tells Verywell Family, “The hardest thing is figuring out what works for your child.” To make this process easier, we’ve created a list of some of the best hair detanglers for kids on the market. The SoCozy Detangler and Leave-In Conditioner Spray for Kids is our favorite because it’s made with clean ingredients, smells great, and really works! Cozy Friedman, licensed stylist and owner of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City tells Verywell that she created this detangler for kids because she struggled so much to find products that met her standards and that kids didn’t mind smelling. This detangler is free of sulfates and phthalates, as well as common allergens like gluten, wheat, and nuts. It’s formulated to work with most hair types, is weightless, and not only detangles, but it also strengthens hair. Price at time of publication: $13 “Sprays allow [caregivers] to focus the detangler directly at the problem areas,” she says. This makes the detangling process easier and less painful for kids. The Fairy Tales Tangle Tamer Static Free Detangling Spray helps clear knots out of hair, manages frizz, and adds moisture to locks without leaving a gunky residue behind. It’s safe for kids and toddlers and is free from nuts, soy, dairy, and gluten. Price at time of publication: $12 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $6 We like that it’s made with shea butter, coconut oil, and honey to keep hair soft and moisturized throughout the day, and without any harmful ingredients. This detangler helps reduce breakage during the combing process and will leave hair feeling bouncy and healthy once it’s dried. Price at time of publication: $17 While it’s technically made for all hair types, we love it for fine hair because it’s formulated with lightweight, naturally derived ingredients like quinoa extracts and jojoba protein, as well as moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and argan oil. The Honest detangling spray is also free of harsh ingredients, so it’s super clean and gentle on the hair. It also smells great and will leave the hair feeling soft and smooth. Price at time of publication: $7 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $16 Price at time of publication: $6 While we definitely love this hairbrush, it is important to note that the best way to truly minimize hair breakage is to comb through your child’s hair with your fingers. “Using a brush to detangle hair […] can snag and pull at tangles at the ends of the hair, causing rips and breakage,” says Longsworth. “Finger detangling with lots of water and a detangler [product] is best.” However, finger detangling can be a real journey with wiggly toddlers and kids, so, in that case, both Friedman and Van Diest suggest using a detangling brush with a product to get your little one’s locks cleared of knots quickly. Price at time of publication: $15 The deeply moisturizing formula helps counter the dryness that comes with chlorine and saltwater, and the same ingredients that hydrate the hair also contain a good amount of “slip,” which is great for detangling hair after a day in the sun. Finally, it’s free of harsh ingredients and gluten, soy, dairy, and nuts, so it’s safe for kids with food allergies. Price at time of publication: $11
What to Look for When Buying Hair Detangler for Kids
Hair Type
According to our experts, the first thing to consider when buying hair detanglers for kids is what type of hair it’s made for. “Look for the detangler that addresses your child’s hair type,” Friedman says. Some different hair types include fine, wavy, curly, thick, textured, natural, or straight, and sometimes a child’s hair can be a combination of textures. If the product you use isn’t made for their hair type, it could make knotty hair messier (and make the experience less than fun for little ones). “Generally, detanglers heavier in oils and butters work better than water-based detanglers, but they may also be a bit heavy for fine hair strands,” Longsworth says. For fine hair, she suggests looking for detanglers in spray bottles, as they’re typically “thinner and more water-based than [detanglers] in a jar or pump bottle.” Similarly, keep in mind that the best detangler for your child’s hair may not be a spray or leave-in treatment at all—it could be a comb or a brush that works best.
Ingredients
Another important factor in finding the right detangling product for your child is the ingredients list. “Always look for clean products that avoid sulfates and phthalates,” advises Friedman. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant that is found in many cleaning products, soaps, and personal care products. While sulfates are effective at cleaning, SLS can be too harsh for strands and the scalp, causing excessive dryness and irritation that can lead to breakage. Phthalates are chemicals that are used in various industries, including hair care to create a gel-like texture. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is unclear on the effects of phthalates on human health, the uncertainty is enough reason to avoid the chemical wherever possible. The FDA also reports that the use of phthalates in products intended to be used by people of all ages has decreased over the last two decades. As for what ingredients you should look for, Longsworth recommends looking for products with a lot of “slippery ingredients” such as marshmallow root, shea butter, jojoba oil, slippery elm, coconut oil, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera), fatty alcohols, and/or glycerin. The slippery ingredients coat the strands to prevent tangle-causing friction, making it easier to run a brush, comb, or your fingers through the hair.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to two daughters, a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. Her daughters both have very different types of hair that is constantly tangled, so she understands the pains of combing through a wiggly kid’s knotted hair, and the confusion of finding the right hair products for fine and straight hair as well as for thick and wavy hair. Gaby Longsworth, PhD recommends these steps:
