Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Homemade Hair Detangler


This is the face of a wild child. This is my daughter, and all her curly hair.  I don't have curly hair, so I've had to learn and relearn how to manage this head.  Brushing her hair would always end in tears.  She's an out doorsy, rough housing, climbing trees full of life wild child who won't hold still long.   Particularly if it hurts.

I've tried a couple things to tame these curls over the years.  Here are some of my favorite go to recipes to help ease the tears.

The first recipe is slightly tedious, but I like the way it leaves her hair feeling.  I also am glad to know it's natural.
Ingredients:


  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup marshmallow root (get from a natural foods store)
  • 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (I use with the mother)
  • 1 tablespoon of oil (oils like coconut, olive, or jojoba)
  • 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil
Boil the water and the marshmallow root for about 20.  Allow it to cool, then strain the liquid through a cheesecloth, and add in the rest of the ingredients.


This is what I ended up with.  Who knew my crazy girl had such beautiful hair in there.  Now I know what you're thinking.  I don't have time for that.


I hear you, I don't always have time for that either.  So when I don't, here's what I use instead.

In an 8 ounce spray bottle I put in the following:

  • A healthy squish of conditioner, like Avalon Organics Lavender Conditioner.
  • water

It pretty much ends up 1 part conditioner (or less), 10 parts water.  Shake it up, and spray generously.

Linking back to Holistic Squid




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38 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 12, 2013 at 6:56 AM

    My hair was always braided or in a bun when I was little. Always. That way it didn't get tangled or in my way when running around (and my elastics had little bobbles on them and I whipped people with them when my hair was braided). Even now, I rarely sleep with my hair down, it gets too knotted underneath. I comb it when it's wet and brushes only touch my curls a couple times a year. I know your baby's pain! I may have to try your remedy one day ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 12, 2013 at 8:18 AM

      I braid her hair at night, and when she'll let me it's braided in the day too. It seems like such a shame to not let such pretty hair be down now and then. I brush her hair probably too often, it's how you take care of straight hair. ;) She'll have to figure out how to get the most out of her curls I think when she's older.

      Delete
  2. SoposieMarch 12, 2013 at 11:00 PM

    I have two young daughters with long hair, and we swear by the "Tangle Teaser" hairbrush. We got them at Sally Beauty Supply for about $9-$10 each. They looked like they are so cheap, but the concept is really good. The bristles are short and thin, bendable plastic. So with each swipe through the hair, the bristles are pulling through only one layer of hair (not all at once) and when you hit a tangle, the bristles only pull so much and then bend before the pulling is too painful. So you just swipe through a couple more times to get the inner layers, and done. We used to only have one of these, but the girls would go running through the house (yelling the whole time, of course) to find it whenever it was brushing time, and would take it with them on sleepovers and forget it, so we bought two more. I do the diluted conditioner spray too, but I'm interested in the marshmallow root. I'd like to try that. I've also used food-grade glycerin diluted with the conditioner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 13, 2013 at 12:56 PM

      So far I've been disappointed with lots of brushes. They either hurt, or they don't get all the tangles out and she has a nest under her hair. Maybe it's just the type of hair she has, but we have to keep up on it so it doesn't get too bad. :(

      Delete
  3. DenaMarch 13, 2013 at 7:46 PM

    My curly hair loves the products by Beautiful Curls. Natural and proceeds go to a great cause. They have a great leave in conditioner that works as a detangler, too. Love to make my own stuff, though, so I'll have to try your recipe! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. DenaMarch 13, 2013 at 7:51 PM

    Oh, andyoy have to try the dual bristle brushes. They are WONDERFUL for curly hair. I get mine at Ulta. They are a tad on the expensive side but leave my coarse curly hair feeling silky smooth. No more tears from my curly headed daughter either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 14, 2013 at 12:23 PM

      Hi Dena! Thanks for stopping over. I will look for these brushes and see if they make a difference. It would be nice to have a "dry" alternative! :)

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMarch 14, 2013 at 6:32 PM

    HAHAAAAR Ain't nobody got time for that!
    I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 10:17 AM

    I went no poo with my super curly haired daughter and her hair is so much easier to brush ;) i like this idea though so i still am going to try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 27, 2013 at 7:12 AM

      What's no poo? typo?

      Delete
    2. KimMarch 27, 2013 at 8:35 AM

      Oh you mean shampoo! Needed that second cup of coffee to get that one. ;)

      Delete
  7. Dawn ChandlerMarch 27, 2013 at 2:24 AM

    I have super curly hair. Ten years ago, the book 'Curly Girl' by Lorraine Massey changed my life. I am excited to try your hair detangler recipe for days I don't want to mess with my hair, but throwing away my shampoo and brush were the best things I ever did. I encourage you to check it out!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 27, 2013 at 7:13 AM

      I will check out the book. My hair is super straight, so it's definitely a learning curve with her hair. Thanks for the suggestion. :)

      Delete
  8. motorcyclegrandmamaMarch 27, 2013 at 6:07 AM

    You wouldn't have to use all that stuff on her hair if you would stop brushing it. Brushing curly hair causes frizzies, hence the need for product. I only finger brush; never brush brush.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimMarch 27, 2013 at 7:14 AM

      Thanks for your comment. My daughter is a swimmer, and I don't know if that makes her curls even more difficult to manage or what. I'm going to check out the book suggestion that Dawn said..sounds like something similar to what you're saying.

      Delete
  9. LinaBloshMay 28, 2013 at 8:20 PM

    Is it ok to not use marshmallow root or does it make a significant difference. I ask because I have super fine hair and I don't want anything that will way it down. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJune 2, 2013 at 2:28 PM

      It might work ok because of the oil, but I think it would work best with the marshmallow root. I have super fine hair, but I haven't needed to use it. My daughter's thick curly hair is the issue, not mine. =/

      Delete
  10. LinaBloshMay 28, 2013 at 8:21 PM

    Weigh*

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownMay 31, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    Thanks for the recipe. I just made it using regular mallow roots from my yard. (It's a prolific weed here in California's central valley.) It worked great on my daughter's 3-days-worth of sleep nest/swim dreds that I was dreading detangling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJune 2, 2013 at 2:29 PM

      So glad it worked well for you. How lucky that you have mallow growing in your yard! :)

      Delete
  12. DocJune 15, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    Hi there,
    I just HAD to let you know that this recipe totally worked for my extra coily hair today. I was convinced that this wouldn't work for my hair type but, alas, I was wrong (yippee). Thank you so much for this posting; you pretty much changed my life today (..i know, sort of dramatic but absolutely sincere).

    oh-- and not sure if you already knew this or tried this-- but I read a long time ago that if one pre-wets hair with regular water prior to swimming then the hair will absorb a lot less chemical/salt water while swimming.

    thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJuly 28, 2013 at 4:54 AM

      I'm so glad to hear it worked for you! I did not know about wetting hair before hand, that's really good to know. :)

      Delete
  13. UnknownJune 16, 2013 at 2:02 AM

    curly hair is more beautiful when not brushed. I only brush my hair with tones of conditioner and only when wet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJuly 28, 2013 at 4:55 AM

      Hi Maja, I've heard the same and agree. This is definitely a post-wash kinda treatment in our home.

      Delete
  14. AnnieEGJuly 2, 2013 at 8:10 AM

    Thanks for posting this. I just made the 'mallow detangler to try on my daughter. I had a couple questions about process, though... After boiling the marsh mallow with the water for 20 minutes, the water was seriously reduced (after straining through muslin, the yield was only a few tablespoons). How much do you usually end up with? I added some marsh mallow tea I'd made earlier this week to bring up the volume. Also, do you ever have a problem with coconut oil resolidifying in the final product?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJuly 28, 2013 at 4:57 AM

      Hi Annie,
      If it reduced too much, maybe think simmer. Turn the heat down, and try it again. I end up with enough to fill up our sprayer, maybe 1/2 - 3/4 cup. If turning the heat down doesn't work, try cutting the boil time in half.

      Delete
  15. jdubJuly 8, 2013 at 9:02 PM

    So what is the shelf life of the detangler??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimJuly 28, 2013 at 4:59 AM

      One batch usually lasts about a week in my house...specially right now since she's in the pool almost every day. It's never lasted long enough to expire, so I can't answer that with a lot of confidence.

      Delete
  16. m.August 8, 2013 at 2:16 PM

    hey kim,

    thanks for the article, looking forward to trying this. do you buy dried marshmallow root or powdered marshmallow root? or does it matter? thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KimAugust 9, 2013 at 3:36 PM

      Hi M...I buy the root. If your natural foods store has a loose leaf section, it may be there.

      Delete
    2. KimAugust 9, 2013 at 3:37 PM

      And by loose leaf, I mean loose leaf tea. :)

      Delete
  17. UnknownAugust 30, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    It doesn't say in the instructions whether this is a pour on and rinse process or leave in. I see you've mentioned using a sprayer for the alternative. Can you amend your instructions to include how to use it once it's made?
    Thanks! I'm looking forward to trying this since I already use marshmallow root for sore throat and upset stomach tea.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownSeptember 5, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    I made this for my almost 2 year old daughter and her curly hair is SPECTACULAR! I used fleaked marshmallow root and almond oil.
    I found it worked best after staying 24 hours in my glass spary-bottle. Leave-in solution. Sparying on her wet hait and combing after is the greatest!
    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownSeptember 5, 2013 at 8:19 PM

    *flaked

    ReplyDelete
  20. Girl IntuitiveSeptember 8, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    Is it wet hair leave-in or dry hair detangler?

    ReplyDelete
  21. UnknownSeptember 24, 2013 at 2:02 AM

    Exactly it will also help everyone those who want straight hair style.

    ReplyDelete
  22. littlegreencaresJanuary 10, 2016 at 11:47 PM

    Wonderful blog.. Thanks for sharing informative blog


    Kids Hair Detangler

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ujan sharmaJuly 17, 2019 at 4:22 AM

    Hi to everybody, here everyone is sharing such knowledge, so it’s fastidious to see this site, and I used to visit this blog daily

    benefits of glycerin for hair

    ReplyDelete

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