Best detangling hair products and brushes for kids
From sprays and leave-in conditioners to detangling hair brushes, these fab products will make styling your child's hair a breeze
We all know that any type of tangle can be quite frustrating. Add to the equation a young child who feels the pain of every tug during a rushed morning routine or a tired evening hair-wash and it’s a recipe for tears.
But with the right tools and products, tangles can become significantly easier. Firstly, approach the tangles calmly and positively. A favourite cartoon, bath toy or tray full of Lego can work well to distract. Start brushing from the ends of the strands, rather than the roots – working the other way will cause a bigger tangle.
On wash day, a good conditioner and a quality brush or wide-tooth comb are invaluable on wet hair. Conditioner provides “slip”, allowing the brush to move through the strands more easily, and a good brush or comb reduces the need for force and will help eliminate unnecessary breakage.
A quality detangling spray or leave-in conditioner will also help with ongoing maintenance during daily styling. The right ingredients such as calendula, tea tree and oats will help ease out any knots and offer many other benefits, too.
Here are 10 of the best detangling hair products for kids…
1. Tangle Teezer The Original, £12.00 – best for easy brushing
Nestling comfortably into the palm of your hand, the Tangle Teezer confidently tackles any tangles that come its way. It’s designed with flexible teeth that glide through hair without tugging.
The brand boasts an impressive range of brushes – you can’t go wrong with the original, but there’s also the “Thick & Curly“ which has longer and firmer teeth perfect for thick and knotted hair.
We’ve found it best to use the Tangle Teezer on wet hair and work through the strands with one of the conditioners on our list for a relaxing scalp massage and perfectly defined strands.
Available from: Tangle Teezer, Boots and Amazon
2. Johnson's No More Tangles Kids Conditioner 500ml, £3.75 – best for easy combing
A favourite brand with parents for generations, Johnson’s is known for its “no more tears” hair-washing promise. This conditioner has been specifically formulated to make combing easy and unlock knots and works great with the Tangle Teezer at the top of our list.
Users describe the conditioner as light on the hair, so it’s easy to wash off. Johnson’s No More Tangles range has a total of 4 products so it’s worth checking out the rest of the products, to use them in combination with each other.
We also like that Johnson’s promises mild products that can be used at every stage of baby’s life – its updated formulas use 50% less ingredients and are suitable for sensitive skin.
Available from: Tesco, Morrisons and Amazon
3. Mini-U Moisture Mania Hydrating Conditioner 1000ml, £13.95 – best for the entire range
This hydrating conditioner will leave hair feeling soft, shiny and healthy so will reduce the risk of dryness and tangles. As it’s a lightweight conditioner, it can also be used on a variety of hair types, from thick to thin, and is particularly effective for working down longer strands.
Mini-U make a great range of hair and skincare products for kids, with the entire range of Mini-U products winning gold for best baby skincare brand in our MadeForMums Awards 2018.
Available from: Mini U and Amazon
4. ASDA Little Angels No More Knots Detangling Leave-in Conditioner 200ml, £1.30 – best for a budget buy
Organic oats and calendula make this an effective everyday solution for hair styling. It can be used on wet or dry hair – and provides “slip” to help brush with less tears.
Users feel it helps prevent tangles and works better than more expensive products. Just a few spritzes can be effective – especially handy if your little one isn’t in the mood for a full wash and condition.
Oats are known for helping soften hair and adding sheen, while calendula (similar to marigolds) can hydrate and condition – a great combination of ingredients for no-knots hair at an affordable price.
Available from: Asda
5. Original Sprout Miracle Baby Detangler Spray 354ml, £17.95 – best for natural and organic ingredients
Many users support the “miracle” part of this product name; claiming that this spray has transformed their kids’ morning hair routine from a nightmare into a dream.
At £17.95, Original Sprout is the most expensive spray on our list, but it uses natural and organic ingredients and is free from a whole host of potential irritants (including gluten, dairy, peanuts and strawberries).
The spray uses calendula oil with rosemary, cranberry, arnica and cucumber to make this detangling spray effective and gentle, as well as relaxing to use.
Available from: John Lewis, Original Sprout and Amazon
6. WetBrush Original Detangler, £11.99 – best for reducing breakage
The WetBrush has been crafted with ultra-soft IntelliFlex® bristles which are designed to glide through hair strands, making brushing painless and minimising the breakage that can come with tangles.
This brush goes toe to toe with the similarly priced Tangle Teezer on our list, so it comes down to which design you prefer.
Combine with the right conditioner or detangler from our list – and enjoy tear and pain-free detangling.
Available from: Superdrug, Lookfantastic and Amazon
7. Childs Farm Hair Detangler Grapefruit & Organic Tea Tree Oil 150ml, £5.50 – best for daily styling
This small but effective spray is tough on knots and perfect for those mornings when you need to style and go. Even on dry hair the results are impressive, with users stating that the spray eliminated tears pretty much instantly.
This is one of the smallest bottles of detangler on our list – so you may need to use it sparingly to make it last. However, like the Original Sprout, it boasts some great natural ingredients including tea tree oil. Naturally anti-fungal and antimicrobial, tea tree oil refreshes the scalp and lets the follicles breathe. It’s suitable for sensitive skin and may even encourage hair growth.
Available from: Boots, Superdrug and Amazon
8. Wide Tooth Hair Comb Argan Oil Infused, £4.99 – best for long hair
Not everyone enjoys the brushing motion, therefore a good wide-tooth comb can be a better alternative to a brush when detangling. A wide-tooth comb is especially effective on wet hair but even on dry hair, it will help improve smoothness and increase shine.
This comb has the added benefit of being infused with argan oil, which is great for reducing dryness because of its softening and hydrating qualities.
It also comes at an affordable price – less than the Tangle Teezer or Wet Brush.
Available from: Amazon and Majestik+
9. Jasmine Silk 100% Pure Mulberry Silk 19 Momme Charmeuse Silk Pillowcase with Cotton Underside, £9.99 – best for preventing tangles at night
Most effective in the reduction of tangles, especially if your little one wakes up to a head of knotted hair, is this silk pillowcase. Silk pillowcases help to reduce the effects of friction while sleeping, which can result in loss of moisture and frizz.
This particular pillowcase is on our list as it has a cotton underside. This will help prevent the case from slipping around or even off the bed. There are a few colours available so you can also match with your child’s existing room décor.
What's more, the smoother surface is pleasant to sleep on, so it’s unlikely that your little one will object to this bedtime addition.
Available from: Amazon
10. L'Oreal Kids Sweet Pear Tangle Tamer 150ml, £2.09 – best for before-school styling
Coming in a smaller bottle, like the Childs Farm spray earlier on our list, this spray is perfect for any tangles that have appeared in the night. And similar to the Johnson’s product, there’s a promise of “No Tears! No Knots!”.
It's suitable for use on wet or dry hair; users really rave about using it on their child’s dry hair as it makes brushing easier and tackling knots quicker – perfect when you’re in a hurry.
It also has a lovely fruity scent, making it an even nicer way to start the day.
Available from: Boots, Tesco and Ocado
Read more...
Authors
Janet is mum to two children aged 6 & 9 and a great-Aunt too. She began writing early, penning her first book aged just 7. She has published 2 books
Create the perfect wishlist for your baby with MyCrib
Are you expecting and don't know where to start? Discover how MyCrib can help you build your dream wishlist. You can add products from any site with just one click and even use MyCrib's buying assistant to help get you started.