The 18 Best Detanglers Will Free Your Hair From Knots

Best Overall

Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer

$39 at Amazon $19 at Sephora $37 at Dermstore

Size: 1.7, 5.9 oz | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, apricot oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

According to hairstylist Sky Kim, the best hair detangler is Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer. "It smells strong but nice and gives you shine and moisture," she says. We couldn't agree more. The superstar formula blends coconut and apricot oil to gently separate your hair.

And the magic doesn't stop there. Amino acids seal the cuticle to strengthen and prep your hair for styling while delivering the hydration it needs to live its smoothest, silkiest life. It's a relatively small bottle for the price, but a little goes a long way. Lightly mist your hair from root to tip, then comb through to release your knots.

Best Budget

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Detangler

$14 at Amazon $7 at Target $7 at Walmart

Size: 5 oz | Key Ingredients: Aloe, vitamin E | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Thanks to Garnier, you can detangle your hair for just a few bucks. Not only is this spray tender with your knots, but it calls on ingredients like aloe and vitamin E to minimize frizz, add shine, and soften your hair. We also love that it's completely free of animal-derived ingredients and made without parabens or silicones. Apply the leave-in formula to wet or damp hair, then comb it through.

Best for Natural Hair

The Mane Choice Soft As Can Be Detangler

$11 at Walmart $14 at Ecosmetics.com $14 at Sallybeauty.com

Size: 8 oz | Key Ingredients: Biotin, avocado oil, aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Mane Choice's Soft As Can Be is technically suitable for all hair types, but it was formulated with kinky, wavy, curly, and textured hair in mind. Containing nourishing ingredients like biotin, avocado oil, aloe vera, and castor oil, this ultra-moisturizing product can be used as a regular conditioner, co-wash, leave-in conditioner, or post-shower detangler.

Best for Curly Hair

Aunt Jackie’s Knot On My Watch Detangling Therapy

$8 at Target $8 at Walmart $9 at Sallybeauty.com

Size: 12 oz | Key Ingredients: Olive oil, cocoa butter, soybean oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Knot On My Watch is a no-nonsense product that instantly detangles even the most stubborn knots from curly hair. Its "silky slip" blend of olive oil, glycerin, soybean oil, and cocoa butter allows you to effortlessly glide a comb through your hair without any bumps in the road. By replenishing parched strands with much-needed moisture, it also prevents more knots from forming.

Best UV Protection

Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier

$34 at Amazon View on Rahua.com $34 at Macy's

Size: 6.5 oz | Key Ingredients: Morete oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"I'm also into Rahua Hydration Detangler," says Kim. "It's really lightweight, so you can layer it on." This ultra-moisturizing spray plays nice with all hair types, working to soften, smooth, and protect while it detangles. It won't weigh down fine hair, but it's still substantial enough to make a difference on thicker, textured hair. And if you have color-treated hair, Morete oil protects against UV rays that can fade or change your color.

Best In-Shower

TGIN 3-In-1 Co-Wash Conditioner And Detangler

$16 at Amazon $16 at Ulta

Size: 13, 32 oz | Key Ingredients: Shea butter, sweet almond oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you run into knots frequently, you know getting them out often begins in the shower. With that said, you'll be glad to have a bottle of Tgin Quench on hand when you're working out the kinks. This triple-threat product, infused with shea butter and sweet almond oil, can be used to wash, condition, moisturize, and detangle, and you can count on softer, smoother, shinier hair every time.

Best Post-Shower

Amika The Wizard Detangling Primer

$27 at Amazon $31 at Sephora $31 at Kohls.com

Size: 4 oz | Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn berry, avocado oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If your tangles tend to appear when you step out of the shower, reach for The Wizard. This multitasking potion contains hydrating sea buckthorn berry, nourishing avocado oil, fortifying tocopheryl (aka vitamin E), and smoothing panthenol. As if by sorcery, it instantly detangles your locks while prepping them for styling. And—bonus!—it protects your hair from heat damage and reduces your blow-drying time.

Best Leave-In

Pattern Leave In Conditioner

$12 at Amazon $12 at Sephora $28 at Ulta

Size: 9.8, 25 oz | Key Ingredients: Honey, jojoba oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Touted as one of the best leave-in conditioners, the creamy formula draws on natural oils and honey to untangle knots, loosen matted hair, and seal in moisture. After showering, apply it to soaking-wet hair, then work it through so it's evenly distributed from root to tip.

Best Leave-In, Runner-Up

Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler

$14 at Target $13 at Walgreens View on Instacart.com

Size: 8 oz | Key Ingredients: Mango extract | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another option for a detangling leave-in treatment is this one from Kinky Curly. The brand's products are geared toward those with curly and natural hair, but Knot Today is effective at removing knots and tangles on all hair types. It also provides moisture to make detangling easy and pain-free. The strong herbal scent might not be for everyone, but it definitely gets the job done.

Best for Frizz-Control

It's a 10 Silk Express Miracle Silk Leave-In Conditioner

$16 at Amazon $26 at Ulta $23 at Walmart

Size: 4, 10 oz | Key Ingredients: Silk | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Since its 2006 launch, It's A 10 has walked the line between drugstore and high-end haircare with finesse. The brand's beloved Silk Express not only rids your hair of tangles but also smooths the cuticles and softens the hair shaft to protect against flyaways and frizz. Spritz it on wet or damp hair from mid-shaft to the ends, then carefully comb it through and style as usual.

Best Multiuse

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave In Conditioner

$23 at Sephora View on Ulta $23 at Target

Size: 16 oz | Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, argan oil, aloe | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Multiuse cosmetics are having a moment. And when it comes to hair products, you really can't go wrong with Melanin Haircare's leave-in conditioner. The all-star formula is a godsend for tangled hair, and there are tons of ways to use it. We're talking pre-shampoo treatment, regular conditioner, co-wash, hair mask, post-shower styling cream—you name it. It's light enough for daily use, but if you want to reap even more of its benefits, you can leave it on for up to 30 minutes.

Best Oil

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

$24 at Sephora $47 at Ulta $24 at Target

Size: 3.4 oz | Key Ingredients: Argan oil, coconut oil | Cruelty-Free: No

Sometimes, you need to grease up to untangle knotted hair. Bumble and Bumble's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil contains a moisturizing blend of coconut, safflower, grape, macadamia, argan, and sweet almond oil to unwind all the twists and turns that have you tied up. The lightweight, super-absorbent formula also addresses frizz and split ends. Though it's pretty lightweight, the oil content might be too heavy for fine hair.

Best Unscented

Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Detangling Spray

$28 at Amazon $25 at Sephora $25 at Ulta

Size: 5.9 oz | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, oat milk, green tea | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you prefer products without strong fragrances, Briogeo's unscented Be Gentle, Be Kind might be right up your alley. Formulated with aloe vera, oat milk, and green tea, this naturally sourced detangling spray is easy on stressed hair and tough on knots. It also has a smoothing effect that helps control flyaways. Spray it onto slightly damp or towel-dried hair and comb it through before air-drying or blow-drying.

Best Heat Protectant

Ceremonia Guava Rescue Hair Heat Protectant Spray

$24 at Sephora View on Ceremonia.com View on Credo Beauty

Size: 6.7 oz | Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, guava, blue agave | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Heat can dry out your hair, which, according to Moore, is a major no-no if you want to keep tangles at bay. With this in mind, you might consider a heat protectant-detangler combo, like this pick from Ceremonia. It contains natural ingredients that promise to safeguard your hair from the sun's UV rays, blue light from electronic devices, and heat styling up to 450 degrees. Then it goes above and beyond to smooth and hydrate each strand.

Best Slip

IGK Good Behavior Prep Spray

$32 at Amazon $32 at Sephora $32 at Ulta

Size: 7 oz | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, spirulina protein | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to detangling hair, many products promise to offer the elusive "slip." This essentially means they lubricate your hair to minimize friction so knots easily untie and matted sections loosen. IGK's Good Behavior Spray gets the job done with a lightweight concoction of natural oils. Beyond untangling, it provides heat protection and up to 24 hours of frizz control while smoothing your hair and adding shine.

Best Brush

Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler

$16 at Amazon $16 at Ulta $16 at Nordstrom

Materials: Plastic

This detangling brush can be used in the shower to work a mask or deep conditioner through your hair or on damp, towel-dried hair. Featuring over 300 flexible, two-tiered teeth, this thoughtfully designed hairbrush is a great companion to your detangling product of choice. Just a heads up, it's not meant to be used with heat—so don't use it as a blowout brush. But you can use it in the shower with a conditioning treatment or post-shower before you blow-dry.

Best Brush, Runner-Up

Wet Brush Hair Brush

$8 at Amazon $9 at Walmart $14 at Jcpenney.com

Materials: Plastic

The Original Wet Brush helps gently loosen knots without yanking at your roots. With flexible, nylon-tipped bristles, it vows to minimize the pain of brushing wet hair while cutting down on breakage and the overall effort of detangling. Though the brand says it can be used on wet or dry hair, some stylists (Moore included) advise against trying to brush wet hair, which is generally weaker than dry hair.

Best Comb

Mason Pearson De-Tangling Comb C2

View on Amazon $45 at Nordstrom $45 at QVC

Materials: Plastic

Mason Pearson combs have reigned for over a century. The iconic brand's detangling comb builds on the trusted quality of the original to effortlessly separate knotted hair and avoid weakening it further. The wide-toothed design is easy on your hair, allowing you to smooth and separate it without yanking or tugging on your scalp.