Best Detangling Sprays for Women
Beauty

14 Best Detangling Sprays to Tackle the Most Difficult Knots

Game changers!

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When it comes to hair — especially long hair — few things are more frustrating than tangles. One second your mane is perfectly combed, then you blink, and find several knots just chilling, all tangled together like BFFs. Enter a detangling spray, which can do wonders, leaving you with all-day knot-free hair. 

How exactly does it work? Detangling sprays are a type of leave-in conditioner that smoothes and moisturizes the hair shaft, making it less likely to, well, tangle. “They work best for those with fine, thin, long and/or bleached hair — all of which are the most prone to getting tangled,” says Paul Labrecque, creative director and master stylist and colorist for Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare in New York City. 

The beauty industry has come a long way from the fruity-smelling detangling sprays we used to use back in the day, too. Now, detangling sprays not only help reduce breakage, but also help improve your hair’s health. They're easy to use: When you get out of the shower, gently pat your hair dry with a towel (rubbing it is a big no-no, because it will only create more knots), then spritz, aiming the product at your mid-lengths to ends, says Labrecque.

Ready to try one of the most underrated beauty products in the industry? Hairstylists say these are the best formulas out there: 

Our Top Picks: 

Best Overall Spray: Amika The Wizard Detangling Primer

Amika The Wizard Detangling Primer

$25 at Amazon

This is a weightless detangling spray that will leave your hair smooth, shiny, and smelling great. It's infused with avocado oil, which explains the moisture it adds to your hair. 

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Reviewers note a little bit goes a long way

Cons: X Reviewers say the cap leaks a bit over time

Best Drugstore: John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Conditioner

John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Conditioner

$17 at Amazon

Made for all hair types, this detangling spray combines a blend of green tea extract with vitamin C, A, and E, amongst other things, and it works wonders if you have frizzy or color-treated hair. Why? It will hydrate your hair while also protecting it from heat styling and sun damage. 

Pros: ✓ Budget-friendly ✓ Reviewers say this product helps define curls without stickiness

Cons: X Reviewers note the smell is nothing to write home about

Best for Curly Hair: Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

$33 at Ulta

Curls are more prone to tangles, but this creamy formula will help smooth things out — without taking the bounce out. That's because it's packed with natural oils and honey to smooth and lock in moisture. 

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Reviewers say it won't weigh down curls

Cons: X Pricey

Best for Long Hair: Bed Head Beach Freak Detangle Spray

Bed Head Beach Freak Detangle Spray

$14 at Amazon

A little bit of this ultra-moisturizing spray goes a very long way, which makes it an exceptionally smart pick for the long-haired. And, as a nice bonus, the formula is packed with citrus extract that gives it a super sweet scent that lasts all day. 

Pros: ✓ Lightweight ✓ Reviewers boast it “detangles like a dream”

Cons: X Some call the scent overpowering

Best for Matted Hair: The Mane Choice Soft as Can Be Revitalize & Refresh 3-in-1 Conditioner

The Mane Choice Soft as Can Be Revitalize & Refresh 3-in-1 Conditioner

$12 at Walmart

Struggling with serious knots — we're talking borderline matted hair? Since this formula is made especially for kinky, curly, wavy, and textured hair, it's packed with ingredients like biotin, avocado oil, aloe vera, and castor oil. It's versatile, too — use it as a detangler, co-wash, or leave-in conditioner.

Pros: ✓ Budget-friendly ✓ Reviewers say it boosts shine

Cons: X Bottle is relatively small

Best for Summer: Sun Bum Beach Formula 3-In-1 Leave-In

3-in-1 Leave-in Hair Conditioner Spray

$15 at Amazon

When you need a detangling spray that can battle salty and chlorine-filled knots, try Sun Bum's Beach Formula 3-In-1 Leave-In. Its enriched with coconut oil and banana, which makes it smell delicious, but it also contains UV filters that protect your hair from environmental damage. 

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Contains UV protectant

Cons: X Bottle is relatively small

Best Luxe: Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer

ORIBE Run-Through Detangling Primer

$37 at Amazon

From its packaging to its price, everything about this detangler screams "fancy!" Though the price can be daunting, the lightweight formula truly lives up to its claims of immediate glide-through after misting the product from roots to ends just once. And wow does it smell amazing. 

Pros: ✓ Non-greasy ✓ Reviewers have no trouble detangling even matted knots

Cons: X Expensive

Best for Thick Hair: Verb Leave-in Mist - Detangle + Defrizz + Conditioning

Verb Leave-in Mist - Detangle + Defrizz + Conditioning

$18 at Amazon

A little goes a long way when it comes to Verb's Leave-in Mist. Its consistency is more like a leave-in conditioner and less of a mist, thanks to the argan and moringa oil ingredients.  If you have thinner, finer hair, you might want to mist a bit on your ends rather than spray your whole mane.

Pros: ✓ Reviewers say a little goes a long way ✓ Doesn't contain sulfates

Cons: X Reviewers with fine hair say it's a little heavy

Best for Thin Hair: R+Co Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray

R+Co Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray

$24 at Amazon

This detangling formula is infused with abyssinica seed oil to help untangle even the most unmanageable knots. Still, it's practically weightless, so even those with fine hair can indulge. 

Most Popular

Pros: ✓ Lightweight ✓ Reviewers say it smells great

Cons: X Expensive

Best for Frizz: Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Spray Leave-In Conditioner

Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Spray Leave-In Conditioner

$18 at Amazon

Daily Dose's product says it all with its name, it is a miracle in a small, pink bottle. Suited for all hair types, this leave-in conditioner does wonders for your hair, especially if it tends to get extra frizzy. 

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Reviewers say it leaves even gray hair silky

Cons: X Reviewers say bottle sometimes leaks 

Best for Natural Hair: Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray

Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray

$19 at Ulta

What do you get when you put together coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter? Well, the ultimate detangling spray for curls. It absorbs well, working its magic instantly — a real curly girl miracle.

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Boosts shine

Cons: X Some reviewers say the formula is a bit greasy

Best for Color-Treated Hair: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil

$34 at Amazon

If you have thick hair that can handle the weight of a serum, Bumble and bumble's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil is a miracle-worker. It contains a blend of coconut, safflower, grape, macadamia, argan, and sweet almond oil to smooth out any knot-causing frizz. As a nice bonus, the formula helps improve the appearance of split ends, too. 

Pros: ✓ Smells great ✓ Reviewers say it effectively tackles frizz

Cons: X Bottle is relatively small

Best Cruelty-Free: Not Your Mother's Knotty To Nice Conditioning Detangler

Not Your Mother's Knotty To Nice Conditioning Detangler

$7 at Ulta

This readily-available drugstore formula is infused with keratin to strengthen hair while it works to lubricate tangled hair. It smells nice, too — it's a fresh scent that's not at all overpowering. 

Pros: ✓ Reviewers note how well this product works on fine hair ✓ Budget-friendly

Cons: X  Reviewers say the spray nozzle delivers uneven spritzes

Best for Frizzy Hair: It's a 10 Haircare Silk Express Miracle Silk Leave-In Conditioner

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

$16 at Amazon

This hardworking formula — available in drugstores — is beloved for good reason. It's exceptionally tough on tangles, plus smooths hair cuticles and softens the hair shaft to leave strands frizz-free, even in hot weather. 

Pros: ✓ Reviewers note the product leaves hair smooth and shiny ✓ Smells great

Cons: X Reviewers say it's better for shine than detangling