I have very thick, long and coarse hair. It's gotten wavier as I have gotten older but I stopped using conditioner when I started buying natural shampoo. The natural conditioners really don't do much in the way of de-tangling the hair.

So I have gotten into the habit of using a bandana to keep the hair away from my face. I then use an elastic band to hold the hair in a ponytail. This has been going on for years.

Recently I have developed huge snarls in my hair. I suspect I got out of the habit of combing or even brushing my hair, at least thoroughly. I air-dry my hair.

Does anyone know of an effective NATURAL de-tangler? I have been putting olive oil and coconut oil but they just moisturize. They don't do anything to remove tangles. I am willing to buy a product if it really works. I would prefer some cool home remedy that's cheap and easy, but I will take any suggestions right now. Thanks!

lord, from your title, I thought all your hair suddenly fell out.

Aubrey Organics Primrose Tangle-Go works amazingly well for me. My hair is not coarse but is waist length so can be quite a chore to detangle sometimes.

I bought this product before I went raw vegan so I didn't notice that it has a touch of lanolin in it until I just checked the bottle for you now.

I just checked some reviews and ingredients lists. They have changed the formula since my bottle was made. Mine doesn't have any alcohol in it like the new version does. Reviewers are complaining about the smell being worse, too.

What I do is dampen my hair, add the detangler, comb out with a wide tooth comb starting at the bottom in sections a few inches at a time. Then I shower the product out without agitating the hair which takes out the smell.

It also worked great on my Bichon Frises' coats.

I have somewhere between "course" and "fine" hair, but like SueZ, it's waist-legnth, so naturally tangles happen I have been washing my hair in dark beer since childhood (my mom is an old hippie, so that's what she taught me), which has always kept my hair soft and easy to brush. I only wash my hair twice a week, which also helps keep it from tangling (the natural oils and the fact getting it wet seems to contribute greatly to tangles). I use no products in my hair and typically wear it up in a bun or braid (which prevent tangles as I'm moving around during the day). Braiding is self explanatory, but I do my bun by brushing, twisting it and then looping it around and using a octopus clip. I always brush my hair to tangle-free before I wash it and let it dry to barely damp before brushing. I find it helpful to grab about 6" from the bottom, brush to tangle free, then move up on on another 6" section until it's all tangle free. Basically, it's easier to remove tangles when you work up from the bottom instead of down from the top, and would probably apply to shorter hair too.

Kiwibird Wrote:
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> I have somewhere between "course" and "fine" hair,
> but like SueZ, it's waist-legnth, so naturally
> tangles happen I have been washing my hair in
> dark beer since childhood (my mom is an old
> hippie, so that's what she taught me), which has
> always kept my hair soft and easy to brush. I only
> wash my hair twice a week, which also helps keep
> it from tangling (the natural oils and the fact
> getting it wet seems to contribute greatly to
> tangles). I use no products in my hair and
> typically wear it up in a bun or braid (which
> prevent tangles as I'm moving around during the
> day). Braiding is self explanatory, but I do my
> bun by brushing, twisting it and then looping it
> around and using a octopus clip. I always brush my
> hair to tangle-free before I wash it and let it
> dry to barely damp before brushing. I find it
> helpful to grab about 6" from the bottom, brush to
> tangle free, then move up on on another 6" section
> until it's all tangle free. Basically, it's easier
> to remove tangles when you work up from the bottom
> instead of down from the top, and would probably
> apply to shorter hair too.


Kiwibird, I don't know whether you do this or not, but just in case you don't and are interested - I never use a blow dryer and I've only ever used a boars hair brush on my hair. I think this may be why I don't get split ends and my hair is very shiny.

SueZ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aubrey Organics Primrose Tangle-Go works amazingly
> well for me. My hair is not coarse but is waist
> length so can be quite a chore to detangle
> sometimes.
>
> I bought this product before I went raw vegan so
> I didn't notice that it has a touch of lanolin in
> it until I just checked the bottle for you now.
>
> I just checked some reviews and ingredients lists.
> They have changed the formula since my bottle was
> made. Mine doesn't have any alcohol in it like the
> new version does. Reviewers are complaining about
> the smell being worse, too.
>
> What I do is dampen my hair, add the detangler,
> comb out with a wide tooth comb starting at the
> bottom in sections a few inches at a time. Then I
> shower the product out without agitating the hair
> which takes out the smell.
>
> It also worked great on my Bichon Frises' coats.


Thanks! I have used Aubrey before but not a detangler. That's too bad about the change in formula, though. I am wondering if the company has changed hands.

Anon 102 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lord, from your title, I thought all your hair
> suddenly fell out.

LOL! Nope. I shed, though.

Kiwibird Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have somewhere between "course" and "fine" hair,
> but like SueZ, it's waist-legnth, so naturally
> tangles happen I have been washing my hair in
> dark beer since childhood (my mom is an old
> hippie, so that's what she taught me), which has
> always kept my hair soft and easy to brush. I only
> wash my hair twice a week, which also helps keep
> it from tangling (the natural oils and the fact
> getting it wet seems to contribute greatly to
> tangles). I use no products in my hair and
> typically wear it up in a bun or braid (which
> prevent tangles as I'm moving around during the
> day). Braiding is self explanatory, but I do my
> bun by brushing, twisting it and then looping it
> around and using a octopus clip. I always brush my
> hair to tangle-free before I wash it and let it
> dry to barely damp before brushing. I find it
> helpful to grab about 6" from the bottom, brush to
> tangle free, then move up on on another 6" section
> until it's all tangle free. Basically, it's easier
> to remove tangles when you work up from the bottom
> instead of down from the top, and would probably
> apply to shorter hair too.

I smiled when you mentioned the beer. In the late '70s or early '80s there was this shampoo I am sure is long since defunct called Body on Tap.
[danthemantrivia.files.wordpress.com]

Dreadlock it up, it's so liberating to leave it alone...

NuNativs on YouTube...

I've actually never owned a blow dryer. I let it air-dry (which is somewhat of a pain in the winter up here in Oregon lol). I used to used boars bristle brushes, but actually find the "newer" kind with the plastic "spikes" that have a ball on the end work better on my hair. My hair is pin-straight naturally though, so I don't have to fight waves or curls.

Curious how often you find the need to trim your hair (so few people have really long hair)? I usually have my husband cut off an inch or so once or twice a year to even it up.

banana who Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks! I have used Aubrey before but not a
> detangler. That's too bad about the change in
> formula, though. I am wondering if the company has
> changed hands.

Your welcome. That's all I know except that the bottle I have lists the main(first) ingredient as witch hazel instead of the new formula's alcohol.

Kiwibird Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've actually never owned a blow dryer. I let it
> air-dry (which is somewhat of a pain in the winter
> up here in Oregon lol).

Count your blessings. I'm in the Midwest and have had my hair freeze solid just on the trip down the driveway and back to retrieve the mail.

I used to used boars
> bristle brushes, but actually find the "newer"
> kind with the plastic "spikes" that have a ball on
> the end work better on my hair. My hair is
> pin-straight naturally though, so I don't have to
> fight waves or curls.

I have used those sometimes for processing natural Angora goat wool locks (which is really thick) and they worked great for that. They are very gentle.

> Curious how often you find the need to trim your
> hair (so few people have really long hair)? I
> usually have my husband cut off an inch or so once
> or twice a year to even it up.

I don't bother trimming more than twice a year either. I mostly wear it up during the day so it's very low maintenance. Wearing it down can be dangerous and messy.