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This DIY Natural De-Tangler for Black Hair is the first recipe or product I’ve ever found of its kind that works! And it contains NO bad ingredients for your health.
I’m a white mama of a beautiful African daughter, and it took me over a year of buying and making hair de-tanglers and conditioners before I made this 3-Ingredient DIY Hair Detangler for 4C Hair. The recipe changed my life, no exaggeration!
Now I can joyfully do my daughter’s hair: She is pain-free, and I don’t have to struggle to get through tangles. This de-tangler is a time-saver and a huge blessing!
If you or a loved one have 4C hair and haven’t been able to find a totally natural hair care routine that works, painlessly, I’m so excited to share my recipe with you!
What’s wrong with other de-tanglers and conditioners??
In a word, they’re toxic.
As one source tells us, “Hair products sometimes used by Black women may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked with serious health issues …”
(When you read the ingredient, parfum or fragrance, you’re not getting an innocent smell; you’re getting a chemical hormone alter-er. We see here, on EWG.org, that fragrance alone takes an otherwise healthy product and reduces its safety significantly.)
In reality, most black women, and some black men, expose themselves to chemicals of concern, including some linked to cancer or endocrine disruption — on their skin — their whole lives.
One victim of stage 4 endometrial cancer zeroed in on the formaldehyde-based relaxers she used her whole life.
But even with formaldehyde being banned from hair-care products, black hair formulas contain other chemicals of concern — including phthalates, parabens, cyclosiloxanes, nonylphenols and fragrance chemicals — some of which can interfere with the body’s normal hormone activity.
In this 2018 study, researchers tested eighteen hair products used by Black women, including leave-in conditioners, hair lotions, root stimulators, relaxers and anti-frizz products. Researchers tested for 66 chemicals and detected 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals. Cyclosiloxanes, parabens and the fragrance-associated phthalate DEP were among the chemicals found at the highest levels. Many of the detected chemicals weren’t disclosed on the product labels.
In this 2024 study of 425 reproductive aged Black women, hair-product use was associated with higher levels of several phthalate, phenol and paraben biomarkers measured in urine — all hormone altering.
Ingredients in DIY Natural De-tangler and Conditioner
In contrast, this gentle and effective DIY recipe contains just three natural ingredients:
- ½ cup aloe vera gel (this one) — Buy the aloe vera gel that I link to, which contains a gentle preservative. I’ve experimented with adding my own “natural preservative”, and I like this method better (less cost, and it lasts well in fridge, plus, a better outcome [texture and effectiveness of the product]). Store your DIY Natural De-Tangler in the fridge between uses.
- Note: The aloe vera gel product that I use and link to does have multiple ingredients, although they are unlisted on Amazon (which is annoying). However, I have researched these and find the product to still be gentle. As mentioned, it’s important to buy an aloe product with a gentle preservative so the DIY product lasts. I am personally very sensitive to products and do not react to this ingredient in any way (and I have it on my hands for four hours at a time while doing my daughter’s hair each month).
- ¼ cup soft shea butter (find it here) — I first made this recipe with some soft shea butter we bought in Kenya. It stayed soft at room temperature. The product I link to works well, and it’s clean (pure), but it’s not as soft to begin with, so: Soften it in a water bath or a double boiler. Or smash it/beat it extra, as needed, as you make the recipe.
- 2 Tablespoons clear jojoba oil (this pale one) — Again, choose the pale jojoba oil I link to, as it’s gentler than darker colored jojoba oils.
Supplies
What you’ll need, in addition to the ingredients listed above, to make the detangler:
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer (like this)
- Storage jar or container (I use half pint jars, like this.)
- Rubber spatula (like this)
Instructions for making 3-Ingredient DIY Hair Detangler for 4C Hair
- Place all 3 ingredients in large mixing bowl. Beat until the mixture is uniformly smooth, whipped and creamy. (If a few shea butter clumps remain, that’s okay. You can always melt them between your fingers when applying.)
- Use a rubber spatula to transfer your detangler into clean jar(s). Store in the fridge. Lasts at least 3 months.
To use, get your hair wet first, towel dry or squeeze out excess; then smooth the detangler in by sections, as you brush the hair out. You’ll get a feel for how much you need as you use it.
Enjoy! Your hands will feel wonderful, too, when you’re done!
Halve or double the recipe
It’s okay to halve or double this recipe! I halved mine the first time I made it, because I wanted to make sure I loved it before making a big batch.
I adapted my recipe from this hair pudding recipe, shared with me by a friend.
Other considerations
A word on adding an additional preservative
I don’t do it. I tried the most natural and well suited semi-natural preservatives, and I really didn’t like the way it affected this product’s texture or the smell! I do not use it now. I count on the preservative in the aloe vera gel, and that works great. If, however, you’re very concerned, you can use this one, which has been tested in this recipe and works:
- Optional: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Optiphen Plus (find it here) — This broad-spectrum preservative is semi-natural and helps prevent mold or other undesirable growth (which completely natural preservatives can’t do). Optiphen Plus makes up only 1% of this recipe. This ingredient scores a 3 on EWG, which is the highest number I would personally use.
- Use the smaller amount of preservative if your aloe vera gel also contains a preservative.
- This product isn’t ideal, still, for those who are very sensitive.
- Note: Optiphen Plus thins this recipe slightly, so it’s a bit less pudding like. While mixing, the mixture will seem to thin and curdle, when first mixing. Continue to mix, and it will emulsify nicely.
I don’t recommend using the additional preservative, but it’s an option if you choose to.
Pin 3-Ingredient DIY Hair Detangler for 4C Hair here:
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