Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
Whether you’re fighting knots, frizz, heat damage, or all three, the best detangler sprays are fit for the job. These lightweight mists don’t just help break up tangles, as their names suggest—they can also act as leave-in conditioners, heat protectants, and even split-end serums, all in one. They work “by smoothing the [hair] cuticle and adding ‘slip,’ which drastically reduces friction between strands,” says Jay Small, a hairstylist based in Los Angeles. He notes that this process can make your hair more manageable while also preventing the breakage that can come from being a little too rough with your brush or comb.
Our Top Detangler Sprays
- Best Overall: Lolavie Glossing Detangler, $29
- Best for Fine, Thin Hair: Dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner, $30
- Best for Dry, Curly Hair: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner, $31
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier, $36
To find the best detangler sprays for every hair concern and type, we spritzed our way through the gamut of formulas to compile this list of Allure editor and expert favorites. Shop our go-tos for soft, shiny strands below.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Why does my hair get tangled?
- What does a detangler spray do?
- How do I use a detangler spray?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Lolavie Glossing Detangler
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LolaVie
Glossing Detangler
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Lolavie Glossing Detangler
Sarah Han
Why we love it: For model-status, photoshoot-worthy hair, only the best will do. LolaVie’s Glossing Detangler won a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award for its clean but hardworking formula. (You can read up on Allure’s full definition of “clean beauty” for more context.) It features hydrating, shine-boosting lemon peptides, plus vegetable ceramides and squalane that condition hair deeply, for softer, smoother strands. Other standouts include bamboo extract, which shields hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the brand’s B-Pro3 bond technology, a complex derived from chia seeds that can help protect hair from future damage. Think detanglers are only for your hair? Think again: Lactobacillus ferment, a probiotic, helps calm and soothe your scalp, for healthier, stronger follicles.
Han before applying the Lolavie Glossing Detangler
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Lolavie Glossing Detangler
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“Because my hair is super-prone to frizz, I’ve been trying to step up my post-wash hair routine, which now involves layering in a detangler spray while my hair is still damp before blow-drying, and then adding in a leave-in serum or treatment. I love this one with LolaVie because it feels weightless in the hair (like all of LolaVie’s products, really) and makes my hair look shinier after my blow-dry—which I suspect is due to the lemon peptides. (Man, I love peptides everywhere—skin, hair, you name it.) Of course, it detangles like a dream and offers heat protectant—so the Glossing Detangler is simply a must-have.”—Sarah Han, commerce editor
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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"I have really long hair and this mist quickly detangles it in mere seconds. I coat my strands with it and use a wide-tooth comb to gently loosen knots. It helps keep me from breaking and tearing my ends." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: lemon peptides, vegetable ceramides, bamboo extract, Lactobacillus ferment, squalane
- Silicone-free: yes
- Heat protectant: yes, up to 450 degrees
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Fine, Thin Hair: Dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
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Dae
Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
Amazon
Sephora
Kinonen applying the Dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
Sarah Kinonen
Why we love it: Dae’s Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner breaks up knots and tangles without weighing thin strands down. “While it does contain silicones, it still works well for fine hair when applied properly,” hairstylist Vanessa Ocando told Allure. “It’s best applied on wet hair to help distribute it more easily.” She suggests spritzing it three to four times about a foot away from your head: “I usually recommend it to fine-haired clients who want smoothing results without heavy buildup, and I use it to refresh my curls when my ends start to feel dry,” she adds. Those smoothing, frizz-fighting benefits come from rose of Jericho (a.k.a. the resurrection plant, often found in harsh desert climates) and moringa oils. Also at work: hydrating squalane, shine-boosting prickly pear seed oil, and strengthening cactus flower extract.
If that wasn’t enough convincing for you, this mist also protects hair against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and soothes your scalp with Lactobacillus ferment. Plus, the citrus, orange blossom, and vanilla scent had our tester head over heels from the first spritz.
Kinonen before applying the Dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
Sarah Kinonen
Kinonen after applying the Dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
Sarah Kinonen
Tester feedback from Kinonen
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“Oh my gosh, it smells so freakin' good. After the first spritz of this lightweight leave-in conditioner, it was an immediate yes for me. And once I combed it through my dry, split ends and felt my hair immediately transform to soft and shiny, this treatment became an everyday staple.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rose of Jericho, prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract, squalane, Lactobacillus ferment
- Silicone-free: no
- Heat protectant: yes, up to 450 degrees
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry, Curly Hair: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
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Amika
Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
Amazon
Sephora
Revolve
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying Amika’s Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: You’ve undoubtedly heard of hyaluronic acid for your skin, but Amika’s Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner combines HA with squalane and coconut water to help you achieve softer, bouncier curls (with no crunch). “This is my hydration heavyweight, perfect for textured hair that feels brittle, dry, or sun-damaged,” Riverdale, New York–based hairstylist Michele Aquino told Allure. That’s also thanks to a highly moisturizing trio of avocado oil, sea buckthorn oil, and shea butter. “[Hydro Rush] melts through tangles with ease and doubles as a protective layer before pool days, outdoor exposure, or diffusing curls,” she says.
Pro tip: “I apply it generously on damp hair, mid-shaft to ends, right after shampooing and conditioning,” Aquino says. “For clients with low-porosity hair, I like to layer it under a richer styling cream for optimal absorption and definition.”
Shipin before applying Amika’s Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying Amika’s Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“My curly hair is desperately dry, so detangling can not only damage my brittle strands but also create a mess of unwanted frizz! (Which in turn, causes my hair to tangle, and so the cycle continues.) Thankfully my hair drinks up Amika's entire Hydro Rush line—and the leave-in spray works particularly well for my strands! There's a nice amount of slip, so you can use it out of the shower without feeling like your hair needs a rinse. I also love the spray nozzle for a generous and even distribution—particularly great if you have hair on the mid-to-long side. With this detangler, my thick hair smoothes out nicely and creates and easy (or, easier) glide to detangle.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: squalane, hyaluronic acid, coconut water, avocado oil, sea buckthorn oil, shea butter
- Silicone-free: yes
- Heat protectant: no
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier
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Rahua
Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier
Bluemercury
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier
Sarah Kinonen
Why we love it: Created specifically for color-treated hair, Rahua’s Hydration Detangler UV Barrier tackles tangles as it forms a protective shield around your strands. A combination of vitamin A- and E-rich oils (the brand’s namesake rahua nut and sacha inchi seed) softens hair and combats frizz, while morete oil helps block UV rays that can fade your color faster. Additionally, aloe and soothing kaolin clay hydrate and cleanse dry scalps, as well as your hair. It’s all wrapped up in a bright, fresh passionfruit and mango scent that makes adding this pre-blow-dry step to your hair-care routine well worth it.
Kinonen before applying the Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier
Sarah Kinonen
Kinonen after applying the Rahua Hydration Detangler UV Barrier
Sarah Kinonen
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“I shower every night, and although I don't wash my hair every time I'm in the tub, I always get it wet. So by the time I'm dressed and my hair has been towel-dried, it's usually in need of a little help in the detangling department. A traditional leave-in always gets the job done, but on evenings when the knots are rough, I reach for this Rahua mist.
Despite its thicker consistency in the bottle, it's surprisingly lightweight, softens strands immediately, and cuts knots almost instantly. I usually mist three to four spritzes into my hair—from mids to ends, but focusing mostly on my ends—and gently brush out with a detangling brush (I'm obsessed with the Dae brush for this!). This mist smells so good (like passionfruit!) and gives my already-delicate strands some much-needed softness. Although I don't heat-style my hair (I'm much too clumsy for hot tools), I like that Rahua's mist also has built-in heat protection for those very rare days that I gather the courage to pick up a curling iron. This works wonders on my straight, fine hair, but it really does play well with all hair types!” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rahua nut oil, morete oil, sacha inchi seed oil, aloe, kaolin clay
- Silicone-free: yes
- Heat protectant: no
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Detangling Heat Protectant: Aveda Brilliant Damage Control
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Aveda
Brilliant Damage Control
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why we love it: The more often you style your hair with heat, the more damage you’re potentially doing—so using a detangler spray that also protects strands against high temperatures is a must. Aveda’s Brilliant Damage Control is our top heat-shielding pick that also strengthens hair from within (thanks, wheat protein) and prevents breakage caused by brushing, combing, and styling. Inside the formula, castor oil, soybean oil, and panthenol leave hair smooth and shiny, while calming chamomile and calendula extracts keep your scalp irritation-free. Add hydrating aloe vera and softening vitamin E, and you get a lightweight leave-in that softens and refreshes with each spritz. Bonus: The jasmine and rose scent is pleasant without being overpowering, according to our tester.
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the Aveda Brilliant Damage Control
Alessandra Foresto
Foresto after applying the Aveda Brilliant Damage Control
Alessandra Foresto
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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“There's never a time in my household when we're out of this spray. Both my husband (who has medium-to-long hair, similar to soccer player Andrea Pirlo back in the early 2000s) and I use it on wet hair to detangle before combing and add shine. I also use it as a heat protectant before blow-drying and love the way it doesn't make my hair crunchy. Both of us love its jasmine and rose scent.” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: chamomile extract, calendula extract, aloe, castor oil, soybean oil, panthenol, wheat protein
- Silicone-free: yes
- Heat protectant: yes, degrees not listed
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Frizz: Unite 7Seconds Detangler
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Unite
7Seconds Detangler
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Dermstore
Why we love it: If your sleek hair goals are constantly waylaid by frizz, Unite’s 7Seconds Detangler is here to smooth your strands with each application. “This is my quick-fix hero,” Boston-based hairstylist Sean Michael told Allure. “It instantly detangles, protects from heat, and gives that soft, touchable finish without ever feeling heavy.” The key is hydrolyzed rice protein, which strengthens brittle hair and restores shine, along with softening panthenol. There’s also amodimethicone, a non-water-soluble silicone that forms a waterproof coat over your hair cuticle, keeping it hydrated from within while “preventing [outside] moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and causing frizz,” Capistrano Beach, California-based cosmetic chemist Vince Spinnato previously told Allure. The formula is safe to use on color-treated hair—although New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, told Allure that people with thick, coarse, curly, and dry hair will often notice the best results from products with silicones—and also helps seal split ends until your next trim.
Bonus: Both Michael and Carrie Prowant, a hair-extension specialist based in Bettendorf, Iowa, note that this product is especially great for getting knots out of hair extensions.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hydrolyzed rice protein, panthenol, amodimethicone
- Silicone-free: no
- Heat protectant: yes, degrees not listed
- Fragrance-free: no
More detangler sprays we like
- Best for Damaged Hair: If your hair has been through the wringer, whether from bleach or heat, Prowant recommends BosleyMD’s MendXTend Leave-In Treatment. Founded 45 years ago by Lee L. Bosley, a dermatologist who specialized in hair restoration, BosleyMD offers volumizing products and hair-growth solutions primarily for people with thinning hair—although its leave-in treatment is meant for most hair types. This body-boosting spray adds volume and shine, thanks to hyaluronic acid, and also prevents breakage with hydrolyzed rice protein. Plus, saw palmetto helps naturally block dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an enzyme that shrinks hair follicles, causing hair loss, Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New Jersey, told Allure.
- Best for Sensitive Scalps: Briogeo is no stranger to treating sensitive scalps—the brand’s Be Gentle, Be Kind collection is entirely aimed at soothing dry, flaky skin. The Be Gentle, Be Kind Detangling Spray is no different and is free from fragrance and essential oils, two common ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Hydrating glycerin and aloe vera deeply nourish, while moisturizing meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba seed oil, and panthenol restore shine. And plant-based extracts, including calming oat bran and antioxidant-packed green tea, pull double-duty, nourishing your strands and your skin at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my hair get tangled?
Tangles usually occur due to raised hair cuticles (which should lay flat). This can happen due to your natural hair texture, dryness, or environmental stressors like wind, friction from your pillowcase, or pollution—your cuticles can catch on each other like Velcro, Small says, causing tangles. Other factors, like how long your hair is and how much chemical processing your hair has been through, can also play a role in how often your strands knot, he adds.
What does a detangler spray do?
“These treatments work by smoothing the cuticle and adding 'slip,' which drastically reduces friction between strands,” Small says. This process makes your hair more manageable while also preventing the breakage that can come with brushing your strands, he explains. Prowant adds that a detangler spray can also stop split ends from developing, hydrate your hair, and make it more elastic. Some can even calm your scalp and provide a protective barrier from heat and UV light, she says.
How do I use a detangler spray?
Small suggests using your detangler spray before you get in the shower, since “hair is at its most durable when it’s dry.” (The motions you go through while washing your hair can actually make any existing knots worse, he adds.) Spritz the product onto dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends, and brush it through using a wide-tooth comb or a flexible brush, he says, starting at the ends and working your way up. Then, hop in the shower and use your shampoo and conditioner as you normally would. If your detangler spray has heat protection, you can give it another spritz after you step out of the shower, before you style it. For the record, anyone can use a detangler spray, but they’re even more important for people with long or fragile hair, Small says.
Meet the experts
- Jay Small, a hairstylist and cofounder of Arey, based in Los Angeles
- Michele Aquino, a hairstylist based in Riverdale, New York
- Sean Michael, a hairstylist based in Boston
- Vince Spinnato, a cosmetic chemist based in Capistrano Beach, California
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Carrie Prowant, a hair-extension specialist and Keranique brand ambassador based in Bettendorf, Iowa
- Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New Jersey
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best detangler sprays, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
