Every single person in our family has naturally curly hair. Though to be fair, Skylar’s is more of a wave. Otherwise, we’re all blessed with curled locks. All of that means we’re also blessed with tangles, and plenty of them. Daily. Okay, hourly with my active kiddos. Detanglers have also been my best friend for combing hair, and I’ve found ways to make it happen with as little tears as possible (after bath hair combing is the best by the way!). What I didn’t like was putting chemicals all over my little one’s heads at least once a day, and sometimes more, with the store-bought versions. And purchasing an all-natural detangler that we’ll go through in about a week just isn’t something I want to add into the budget. The solution? I started making my own!
Using just three ingredients, you can make your own that’s conditioning and safe for your hair while it get’s rid of those nasty chemicals and knots! I’ve customized mine so that the aromatherapy benefits are actually relaxing and calming (who doesn’t need a squirt of that a few times a day?!), my kids absolutely love the scent, I can comb through their hair easier than I’ve ever been able to with an over-the-counter spray detangler and there are so many more benefits.
What you need:
- Water
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Essential Oil
- Optional 4th ingredient for very dry hair: Aloe Vera Gel (pure and natural, NOT after sun gel 🙂 )
Plus, a spray bottle to mix it up in and use. I just repurposed an old one we had on hand.
You’re probably wondering what on earth vegetable glycerin is! Vegetable glycerin is essentially a clear, odorless liquid produced from plant oils, typically palm oil, soy, or coconut oil. It’s all natural, safe, and used in many different cosmetics since the glycerin acts as a humectant that draws in moisture. In our detangling and conditioning spray, it will help keep your hair hydrated, smooth and easy to release any knots and tangles.
To make this conditioning leave-in spray, just combine one part vegetable glycerin (1/4 C) to 4 parts water (1 C). Distilled water is best and that’s what I used in the beginning, but usually I’m in a hurry and just put the glycerin in the spray bottle and fill with water from my tap! The easier the better right?! If you’re adding aloe vera gel, keep it in the same ratio as the glycerin.
You can also drop in a few of your favorite essential oils! I like to use LXR blend, Lavender essential oil and Rosemary essential oil to create a very calming and soothing spray for my super active wee ones. LXR is an anti-anxiety blend created with Lavender, Spruce, Rosewood, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and Vanilla… and it smells amazing, plus is immediately relaxes. Rosemary is also great as it is a natural conditioner and is known to promote hair growth and thickness. 
Really, it’s super simple and once you start making your own for a fraction of the cost of store-bought detanglers and spray leave-in conditioners, you won’t go back! Plus, the scents can’t be beat… I don’t mind a calming effect when I need to comb through my kiddos after-swim knots. 😉
Let me know if you try it!
xo
Meg O. says
Love this idea of making your own detangler! Anything I can control the ingredients makes it a win. I probably should make some of this for Kennedy!
Trina says
I was wondering how you can tell if it is vegetable glycerin? I have a bottle of glycerin, on the bottle it actually says GLYCERIN USP SKIN PROTECTANT.
Tabitha Blue says
Some glycerin is made from animal fat instead of from plant oils… the vegetable glycerin is plant based. I would read the ingredients, if it doesn’t say plant or vegetable glycerin, then it probably isn’t. Hope that helps! Most vegetable glycerins say it right on the bottle! 🙂
Hannah Phillips says
What is the shelf life and how does it need to be stored?