Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Tangled Hair

Every person has a unique hair texture, thickness, oiliness, or dryness, but it should be safe to say that everyone has at least once experienced having a pretty bad tangle. 

While tangled hair isn’t a major issue to most people, to some, it can be an everyday nuisance or even a situation where attempting to fix it would literally make you want to pull your hair out. 

However, just like any other hair woes, you can prevent tangles with some careful hair TLC. This really starts with the products you use for washing and conditioning. 

So what makes a shampoo the best for tangled hair? 

There needs to be a balance between clarifying and hydrating when it comes to shampoo. 

Dirt and other build-ups can cause hair to get knotted up and tangled. This is why a shampoo that specializes in breaking up oils and clearing out any other built-up product and dirt is a great start to preventing tangled hair. 

However, this has to be balanced out with moisturizing properties. 

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What shampoo is best for tangled hair?

While cleaning your hair and getting rid of product build-up is important, it’s only half the battle. 

Clarifying shampoos, for the most part, can also be very drying. And what does dehydration bring along? More knots and tangles! 

Not all shampoos are equal, though. We’ll give you a few tips on what best clarifying shampoos are out there with all the hydrating nourishment you need. 

Best conditioner for tangled hair

To really make your washing routine tangle-proof, it’s best to pair up a good shampoo with a great conditioner.

A conditioner with lots of slip reduces friction in the hair, making it a lot easier to comb through and get out knots after.  

Now that you know what makes a shampoo and conditioner good for detangling, here are a few of our top picks!

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Best drugstore shampoo for tangled hair – Design Essentials Almond and Avocado Shampoo

* Prices and Images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2024-05-01 at 02:04  

Don’t turn your nose up at the drugstore when it comes to the essentials. More affordable doesn’t have to mean you skimp on any important benefits. 

The Design Essentials detangling shampoo is great for cleaning your hair, making sure it lays smooth and shiny without any build-up. At the same time, it also ensures that none of your own precious natural oils gets stripped away harshly. 

This means that you don’t have to worry about dehydrating your hair when you get it perfectly clean. 

Aside from this, it’s also a gentle sulfate-free formula. Not only that, but it’s free of paraben, paraffin, and other chemicals that can cause further damage and tangles to the hair. 

It’s a great option for just about any hair texture with natural hydrating oils that nourish as you clean. 

Pros: 

• Nourishing formula 
• Paraben and sulfate-free

Cons:

• Formula can be too heavy on fine hair

Best drugstore conditioner for tangled hair – Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Dream Detangler Jelly-to-Cream Conditioner

* Prices and Images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2024-05-01 at 02:04  

A jelly-to-cream formula isn’t your run-of-the-mill conditioner. But don’t let this newfangled style deceive you into thinking that this is all a gimmick. 

The Carol’s Daughter Wash Day conditioner is a genius formula that moisturizes the hair with glycerin — a natural product that keeps moisture locked in. 

The texture is also not just to play around for novelty’s sake. The jelly formula makes it easier to spread through the hair and detangle any knots while wet. 

Its high coverage also ensures you get enough product to give you slip even after you wash your hair. 

Its ingredients are also an instant favorite as it has deep conditioning properties from glycerin and rose water and is free of any harmful chemicals and scalp-clogging oils. 

Pros: 

• Free from harmful chemicals 
• Vegan-friendly
• Friction reducing-formula 

Cons: 

• Strong floral scent 

Best shampoo for fine tangled hair – Aveeno Cotton Blend Sulfate-Free Shampoo

* Prices and Images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2024-05-01 at 02:04  

People with fine hair might find the balance between clarifying and moisturizing a bit tougher to balance. Too clarifying, and it could strip fine hair of essential moisture and nutrients. Too moisturizing, and hair can get heavy, oil-clogged, and greasy. 

The Aveeno Cotton Blend Shampoo treads the line nicely. Oat, being the Aveeno signature, soothes the scalp and promotes a better balance of the natural condition of the hair and scalp. 

It cleanses without stripping the hair of moisture, as the cotton fiber extracts add in extra hydration without weighing it down with vegetable or fruit oils. 

This lightweight formula makes it perfect for fine hair, preventing greasiness while making it easy to detangle it at the same time. 

Pros: 

• Lightweight formula 
• Free of harmful chemicals 

Cons:

• Heavily scented 

Conditioner for fine tangled hair – Garnier Hair Care Fructis Sleek and Shine Zero Conditioner

* Prices and Images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2024-05-01 at 02:04  

Conditioner can be a bit of trouble for people with fine hair. Most of the time, it’s a choice between a slippery conditioner that gets rid of knots but weighs the hair down with oils or something light but does nothing against the tangles. 

 The Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Zero Conditioner is a more lightweight option with marula oil that helps with detangling. It’s also free of silicone that usually weighs hair down even more. 

This way, you can detangle fine hair with a lighter option of oil without it being too greasy, heavy, and gross. 

Pros: 

• Lightweight formula 
• Nourishing oils

Cons: 

• Can be slippery and hard to rinse out 

Best detangling shampoo and conditioner for natural black hair – SheaMoisture Hydrate + Repair  Shampoo and Conditioner

SheaMoisture is an absolute favorite for natural hair. The whole brand is known for its moisturizing, nourishing, and curl-defining products. 

This means it’s no surprise that the Hydrate & Repair shampoo and conditioner are the best out there for naturally curly hair when it comes to detangling. 

The shampoo is a moisturizing sulfate-free formula, which cleanses the hair gently. The fact that it’s free of nasty sulfates also assures you that your curls are going to be as bouncy as every without being weighed down by any pesky chemicals. 

The manuka honey and yogurt also ensure that the hair is deep conditioned at every step. It locks hydration in and keeps hair nice, smooth, and with lots of slip for detangling. 

Overall, this is a powerful combo for detangling and maintaining curls and repairing any hair damage that could potentially worsen any knots and tangles. 

 Pros: 

• Deeply conditioning and repairing formula

Cons: 

• May be too lightweight for very thick hair

Best shampoo and conditioner for dry tangled hair – L’Oreal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner

Dry, tangled hair is double trouble. Aside from increasing friction that gets hair tied up in knots, dry hair is also prone to breakage and other damage. 

The L’oreal Dream Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner kit is a great combo to fight dryness and tangles. 

This duo fights damage at the root with its restoring formula full of natural oils, vitamins, and other nourishing, healthy fruit extracts. It smooths hair, makes it shinier, and even seals split ends, preventing future damage and breakage. 

The conditioner is specific to detangling needs as well. With Castor oil and vitamin B, it nourishes deeply while making those knots a lot less stubborn.

Pros: 

• Nourishing formula with repairing properties

Cons: 

• Oils in may be too heavy for finer hair

Best shampoo for tangled hair for adults – Oribe Run-Through Detangling Shampoo

Detangling is often a concern related to kids. They usually have finer hair and get into many situations that can cause knots and tangles. But we know that tangles can be just about anyone’s problem.

So, if you’re looking for a real treat or a big splurge to nourish your hair, the Oribe Detangling shampoo is your best bet for that. 

When you want to look at things through a microscope, tangling is mainly caused by openings on the hair cuticle that snap on each other. The Oribe shampoo targets tangling right at the source by smoothening the cuticle to prevent those knots from even starting in the first place.

It’s a gently cleansing formula that cleans out any product build-up that might add to the tangling but is also a nourishing and hydrating formula that keeps the hair nice and shiny. 

Pros: 

• Repairs the hair cuticle to prevent tangling 

Cons: 

• Has a heavy perfumey scent 

Best conditioner for tangled hair for adults – UNITE Hair 7 Seconds Conditioner

The Unite Hair Conditioner is a no-nonsense formula that delivers everything you might need to prevent knots and make detangling a lot less of a pain for all different hair types. 

It has argan oil and different natural extracts that deeply condition the hair and accentuate its natural shine. This product is also free of unnecessary harmful chemicals like parabens and sulfates. 

Pros: 

• Nourishing formula
• Free of parabens and sulfates

Cons: 

• Formula can feel a bit thin

Best salon shampoo and conditioner for tangled hair – Luseta Tea Tree & Argan Oil Detangling Shampoo & Conditioner Set

If you want every single wash at home to feel just as good as a salon day, then the Luseta Detangling set is made exactly for that. 

The tea tree oil is a great clarifying agent that’s sure to clear your hair of any built-up oils and products. Meanwhile, the argan oil nourishes that hair and keeps moisture locked in. 

Luseta is a brand that’s sure to be healthy to the hair, with all their signature ingredients being natural extracts. They also do away with harmful chemicals and ensure that you get salon-quality washes every single time, even when you DIY at home. 

Pros: 

• Makes hair soft and detangles easily 

Cons: 

• Tea tree oil may be irritating to extremely sensitive skin

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FAQs

What causes tangled hair? 

A myriad of things can cause tangled hair. Sometimes, it’s physical factors like the wind or rubbing against your pillow at night. 

But, some other factors cut a bit deeper than hair just being tousled around. When your hair is dry, tangles and knots can also form. 

Too much washing, heat damage, and chemical damage can disrupt the hair shaft and make hair more prone to knotting and tangling. 

How do I keep my hair tangle-free?

The best way to keep hair tangle-free is by taking care of it every step of the way. 

• Choose products that promote detangling as your shampoo and conditioner
• Use detangling brushes, wide-toothed combs, or even your fingers to brush out the knots while the hair is wet 
• Detangle from the ends to prevent breakage and damage
• Use detangling spray or leave-in conditioner for added help throughout the day
• Protect your hair from sun damage and chemical damage 
• Sleep on silk pillowcases or in silk wrap to prevent too much friction from the pillow

Now with these tips and tricks, and an array of different products for your hair’s detangling needs, you can take your pick and start your journey to turning your hair from tangled and knotty to smooth real nice!