Best Shampoo For Tangled Hair In 2023 | 10 Top Picks And Reviews

In my article below I have reviewed products that detangle your hair and found out the best shampoo for tangled hair. These moisturizing, sulfate-free formulations help remove knots and make hair smooth, silky and manageable.

Detangling can be a damaging process so you should only do it with utmost care to make sure that there is no hair breakage. 

This can be made sure by using the right products and techniques that will help you detangle your hair effectively.

Using the right shampoo for tangled hair can make the otherwise tedious and difficult process easier. The shampoo that you use regularly can actually make a big difference in the detangling process. 

Best Shampoos For Tangled Hair	Best For	Chief Ingredients
Best Shampoo For Dry Hair: Videri Lemon Sage and Tea Tree Oil	Sensitive Scalp	Aloe Vera Extract, Lemon Sage Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Best Salon Shampoo for Tangled Hair: Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Detangling Solution	Straight-Wavy Hair	Passion Flower Juice, Bisabolol, Citric Acid
Best Detangling Shampoo For Black Hair: Creme of Nature Professional Detangling Shampoo	Damaged Hair	Coconut Milk, Coconut Oil
Best Drugstore Shampoo For Tangled Hair: The Mane Choice Easy on the Curls Shampoo	Curly Hair	Matricaria Flower Extract, Lavender, Castor Oil, Vitamin E
Best Detangling Shampoo For Adults: Design Essentials Honey Cream Shampoo	Dry Hair	Polyquaternium-7, Honey, Citric Acid
Best Detangling Shampoo For Kids: Fairy Tales Tangle Tamer Supercharge Shampoo	Fine, Thin Hair	Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Seed Oil
Best Shampoo For Tangled Fine Hair: Noah Kids Detangling Shampoo	Kids Hair/ Sensitive Skin	Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Glycerin, Vitamin E
Best Detangling Shampoo For Natural Hair: Shea Moisture Hi-slip Detangling Shampoo	African American Hair	Red Palm Oil, Cocoa Butter, Flaxseed Oil
Best Shampoo For Oily Tangled Hair: BioSilk Therapy Shampoo	Fine Hair	Lavender, Peppermint, Hydrolyzed Silk

Check out the top detangling shampoos at a glance!

Top Detangling Shampoos For Hair	Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Detangling Solution	Creme of Nature Professional Detangling Shampoo	The Mane Choice Easy on the Curls Shampoo	Design Essentials Honey Cream Shampoo	Fairy Tales Tangle Tamer Supercharge Shampoo
Images
Price	Expensive	Affordable	Affordable	Very Expensive	Slightly Expensive
Detangling Properties	4/5	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Ingredients Quality	4.5/5	3.5/5	5/5	4/5	4.5/5
Sulfate-Free	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Suitable For Colored Hair	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Top Shampoo For Tangled Hair 2023

How To Select The Best Shampoo For Tangled Hair

Tangled hair can be a nightmare to deal with, but selecting the right shampoo can make all the difference.

Avoid Sulfate Based Shampoo – First things first, avoid shampoos that contain harsh sulfates as they can strip the hair of its natural oils and worsen tangles. Opt for a sulfate-free shampoo instead.

Formula Designed with Slip – For tangled hair, look for shampoos that are specifically designed for detangling. These shampoos contain ingredients that help to smoothen and soften hair, making it easier to comb through.

Highly Moisturizing Ingredients – Stuff like argan oil, coconut oil, and shea butter are great options. If your tangled hair is also prone to dryness, consider a moisturizing shampoo. These shampoos are formulated with ingredients that help to hydrate and nourish the hair. Look for shampoos that contain glycerin, aloe vera, and oatmeal.

Compatible with Hair Texture – It’s also important to consider the texture of your hair when selecting a shampoo. Thick and curly hair may benefit from a cream-based shampoo, whereas fine hair may work better with a lightweight, gel-based formula. Lastly, consider your budget.

In summary, selecting the right shampoo for tangled hair involves looking for sulfate-free, detangling, moisturizing, and texture-appropriate options within your budget.

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Top 5 Causes of Tangled Hair

Knots are formed on your hair when the cuticles block each other. Let us take a look at some factors that might be causing your hair to tangle:

• Friction- Friction can be caused by many habits such as pillowcases, clothing, bedding, using certain types of towel etc. This is the reason why your hair tends to be tangled after waking up from sleep. It is common to find people using pillowcases made up of satin that claims to reduce friction in your hair while lying down.

• Dehydration- This is one of the most common reasons for having frizzy and tangled hair. Dehydration is very common among those with chemically treated or coloured hair. Therefore it is important to adopt the right practices and use the right products to provide some external moisturisation to your hair.

• Not Brushing- This leads to the formation of kinks and buildup of product and dirt which can be a major cause for tangles.

• Sleeping with open or wet hair- These practices create an ideal situation for tangles to form in your hair. Wet hair is vulnerable to becoming frizzy and creating tangles.

• Hair fall- Sometimes when our hair breaks it doesn’t fall off, it gets trapped by other hair strands or kinks to form tangles. This is commonly seen in damaged hair.

How I rated and the best shampoo for tangled hair on a scale of 1-5?

I have looked through a series of important factors before selecting these shampoos to determine their ability to tackle coarse hair. After reviewing, I ranked the products on a scale of 1-5.

• Detangling Ingredients- The presence of a lot of natural ingredients that are rich in moisture and helps in retaining moisture can help in tackling tangled hair. I have made sure that these shampoos are rich in ingredients like aloe vera, Coconut, Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter etc.

• Absence of harmful ingredients– Ingredients such as sulphates, parabens, SLS, Alcohol, mineral oil etc can be harmful to your hair in the long term. It leads to dehydration of hair and causes tangles to form so most of the shampoos are free of them.

• Hair texture after use- I made sure that all the shampoos given below make your hair silky and smooth which helps in removing tangles.

This is especially helpful when your hair has gone through colouring or chemical processes. Let us take a look at some of the best detangling shampoos that are suitable for different hair types.

Videri Lemon Sage and Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

Best Shampoo For Oily Tangled Hair

If you’re thinking of a detangling shampoo, you’re probably thinking of shampoos with heavy ingredients like cream, shea butter, honey, etc. But what about oily hair that gets knotted up easily? These ingredients can reduce tangles but make greasiness worse.

So I was super excited to try out this particular Videri shampoo!

First of all, the base of this shampoo is aloe vera extract and not water. This gives it a lot of slip and makes it easier for it to detangle knots.

I’ve also noticed that using this shampoo makes my hair look fresher somehow, more hydrated but there isn’t any trace of greasiness.

What I liked more is the presence of tea tree oil in the formula. Tea tree oil is known to have excellent anti-inflammatory properties and lemon is known to be a powerful cleansing agent that is gentle on hair.

So basically, if you have greasy, dandruff-prone hair that gets tangled very easily, the Videri Lemon Sage and Tea Tree Oil Shampoo is your best friend.

And yes, it is sulfate-free! If you’ve got colored hair you can use it without a hitch.

Oh, and bonus points from me for the lovely (and perfume-free!) citrus scent.

However, I think it goes without saying that due to the lack of rich moisturizers like shea butter, etc. this shampoo is for normal, thin, oily and straight hair types only. If you’ve got African American hair or very dehydrated hair, I would suggest something like Creme of Nature and SheaMoisture shampoos that I’ve reviewed below.

Pros:

• The shampoo is sulfate-free so it’s suitable for colored hair
• The aloe vera base of shampoo detangles without making hair greasy
• It contains tea tree oil that reduces oiliness and dandruff

Cons:

• Is not suitable for very dry, tangled hair

Ingredients:

• Sage
• Aloe vera
• Tea tree oil

Who It’s Good For:

• People with oily scalp, thin hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.3/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.8/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4.5/5

Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Detangling Solution

Best Shampoo For Thin Tangled Hair

I reviewed this shampoo as I had heard a lot about Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Detangling Solution.

A lot of my friends claimed this shampoo provides intense hydration to your hair which helps in easing the process of detangling. And honestly? It was a great find.

I liked how this shampoo is packed with nourishing ingredients such as aloe vera, Cupuacu butter (Theobroma grandiflorum) and apricot kernel oil. Now I’m a sucker for natural ingredients.

I found that the aloe vera helped in gently cleansing my hair while relieving any irritation as well. So extra points for that!

The best part about this shampoo is that it was sulfate-free. So if you have color-treated hair, you can use it without a second thought.

And frizzy haired folks like me will like how the shampoo also helps in controlling static. 

I found that within just 2-3 times of usage it helps reduce dryness, stimulates hair growth and retains moisture in my hair. Here’s how my hair looked after 3 weeks of use.

Pros:

• Controls static, making hair less prone to frizz
• Hydrates your hair with the aloe vera and apricot kernel oil
• It’s paraben-free so safe for scalp and skin
• It’s sulfate-free so safe on colored hair
• Vegan formula is good for animal lovers

Cons:

• None that I noticed

Ingredients:

• Cupuacu butter
• Aloe vera
• Silicone

Who It’s Good For:

• Normal to thin hair, frizzy hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 3.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Related: Best Shampoo For Long Hair

Creme of Nature Professional Detangling and Conditioning Shampoo

Best Shampoo For Dry Tangled Hair

I was attracted to the Cream of Nature professional detangling and conditioning shampoo as it promised to contain natural ingredients such as sunflower and coconut oil. 

Now I love a good oil-based shampoo as it help in nourishing your mane while making the process of detangling easier.

And yes, to some extent this shampoo did stand up to my expectations as it contained coconut oil which is one of the most popular natural moisturisers that has been used for maintaining your hair. 

After using this shampo I found that it helped treat a slight scalp irritations l had and it also made my head less itchy, flaky.

But is the shampoo good for a dry scalp or dandruff?

Unfortunately, I found this shampoo contains sulfates, specifically SLS (sodium laurly sulfate). So while it’s moisturizing, I wouldn’t recommend it for very dry scalps.

This formula is suited for normal hair and nourishes your hair to make it smooth and shiny.

I liked that this product also helps in minimising scalp irritations.

But if you have a sensitive scalp or color-treated hair, I’d give this one a miss. You’d be better off with the Matrix detangling shampoo instead.

Pros:

• Contains coconut and sunflower that moisturize hair
• Oil-based formula has high slip and makes it easy to detangle hair
• Makes your hair shiny due to the natural ingredients

Cons:

• Contains SLS that can strip moisture and hair color

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil
• Sunflower oil
• Coconut milk

Who It’s Good For:

• People with curly, type 3 hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 3/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Related: Best Shampoo For Straight Hair

 The Mane Choice Easy on the Curls

Best Shampoo For Curly Tangled Hair

If you are a curly-haired girl looking for something to tame your tangles, this shampoo is a great option. I have a wavy perm right now and this shampoo works amazing well on my texture as well.

I like how it is specifically made for curly hair and it makes your hair soft and shiny while facilitating smooth detangling.

The best part about this shampoo is that it’s infused with biotin and vitamin E which are among the most important nutrients for the hair. 

I loved how I could see instant results on my hair. I also made one of our curly-haired editors try out this shampoo and here’s how her hair looked after the first wash.

If you’re a black woman you’ll be happy to know that you can cut your hair washing days into the half with the help of this shampoo. It guarantees to cut wash days in half, melt away knots and tangles and instantly hydrate and nourish your hair. 

I also liked that this shampoo is free of sulphates, parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum. So it’s safe for scalps that are prone to irritation or sensitivity.

Pros:

• Contains biotin and Vitamin E that moisturize and thicken hair
• Cuts wash days in half as it helps detangle black/Afro hair instantly
• Sulphate and paraben-free shampoo safe for sensitive scalp
• Removes buildup from scalp, preventing curls from being weighed down

Cons:

• Might not be suitable for straight hair as its ingredients are too rich and heavy

Ingredients:

• Biotin
• Aloe vera
• vitamin E

Who It’s Good For:

• People with thin wavy or curly hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Related: Best Shampoo For Shiny Hair

Design Essentials Honey Cream Shampoo

Best Salon Shampoo For Tangled Hair

This shampoo from design essentials is formulated with Honey Creme condition that helps in smoothing your hair cuticles and makes your hair more manageable. 

It claims to help soften, detangle and smoothen your hair cuticles.

This shampoo has a mild formula that is gentle enough for daily use. It lathers well and helps moisture to penetrate your strands and retain them. 

The shampoo is free of sulphates and alcohol.

You can expect soft, tangle-free, manageable and moisturised hair with prolonged usage of this shampoo. It is suitable for all hair types. 

This shampoo was previously known as Moisture Retention Conditioning shampoo.

Pros:

• Softens your cuticles
• Mild formula
• Lathers well
• Sulphate free

Cons:

• Contains sulphate and sodium

Ingredients:

• Honey
• Glycerin
• Citric Acid

Who It’s Good For:

• People with dry scalp, colored hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 3.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Fairy Tales Tangle Tamer Supercharge Detangling Shampoo

Best Natural Shampoo For Tangled Hair

Children tend to have a lot of tangles on their hair. I hardly take notice of it because of which they face breakage and thinning issues. 

This shampoo is formulated for kids to help them have tangle-free manes.

This shampoo has a lot of nourishing ingredients such as Vitamin E, Jojoba and Aloe. Vitamin E helps in balancing the production of oil on your scalp. 

It also reduces hair loss and makes your hair shiny. 

Jojoba is packed with vitamins and minerals that strengthen your hair and combat hair loss. 

Aloe vera helps in relieving scalp irritations and makes your hair shiny. This shampoo is suitable for all types of hair including curly, kinky and wavy hair.

The formula is free of sulphates, parabens, gluten, soy, dairy and nuts. It has a pleasant smell of pineapples which the kids would love!

Pros:

• Contains Aloe, Jojoba and Vitamin E
• Suitable for all hair textures
• Pleasant smell
• Sulphate, paraben, gluten, nut, soy and dairy-free.

Cons:

• None

Ingredients:

• Aloe vera
• Jojoba oil
• Vitamin E

Who It’s Good For:

• People with allergies, sensitive scalp, kids

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4.5/5

Noah Kids Detangling Shampoo

Best Kids Shampoo For Tangled Hair

This is another detangling shampoo that is suitable for kids. It gently cleanses children’s hair and makes it more manageable. 

It is enriched with the goodness of Milk, Vitamin E and Sugar. Milk acts as an excellent conditioner for your hair and softens your hair to bring down frizz and tangles.

Vitamin E helps in improving scalp circulation, Balancing oil production, making your hair shiny and reducing hair fall. 

This shampoo has a non-toxic, mild formula that is gentle enough for kids.

Another major ingredient in this shampoo is Sodium PCA that plays a key role in moisturising hair.

This shampoo also helps in controlling static and it doesn’t weigh your hair down in the process. 

The brand only includes eco-friendly ingredients and the product is vegan, cruelty-free and organic. It is also free from ingredients like silicones, parabens, mineral oil, Paraffin and SLS. 

Pros:

• Vegan
• Cruelty-free
• Organic
• Controls Static
• Contains Milk, Sugar and Vitamin E

Cons:

• The smell might be too overpowering for some

Ingredients:

• Milk
• Lactic acid
• Sugar extracts
• Vitamin E

Who It’s Good For:

• People with scalp issues

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Shea Moisture Hi-slip Detangling Shampoo

Best Drugstore Shampoo For Tangled Hair

Shea moisture is popularly known for its hydrating hair products and this one is no exception. 

The Shea Moisture Hi- slip detangling shampoo is enriched with the goodness of Red Palm Oil and Cocoa Butter that provides intense nourishment and hydration to your hair.

Red palm oil contains Vitamin E which is an excellent ingredient for tangled hair. It maintains a healthy scalp and shiny hair. 

It is also antibacterial which relieves any irritations, cleans your scalp and hair and stimulates hair growth.

Cocoa butter is also an excellent natural conditioner that helps in easily detangling your hair. It hydrates your hair, softens it and helps in taming frizz. 

This product is especially helpful for those with curly or wavy hair textures.

It does not include harmful ingredients such as silicone, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or petrolatum.

Pros:

• Contains Red palm oil and Cocoa Butter
• Free of sulphates and Parabens

Cons:

• Might weigh down your hair

Ingredients:

• Red palm oil
• Shea butter
• Cocoa butter
• Vitamin E

Who It’s Good For:

• People with 4c African american hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl-Defining Anti-Frizz Shampoo

Best Detangling Shampoo For Adults

I used this shampoo because I was intrigued by the claims made by Maui that there are “all natural”. So I wanted to check it out for myself.

The chief ingredient in this shampoo is coconut and unlike other products it’s base is aloe vera not water (or aqua). This I think made the most difference.

When I used this product the first thing I noticed was how hydrated it left my hair. It didn’t just control frizz by adding a layer of emmollent (substance that will prevent water loss), but it actually increased hydration.

My hair looked so smooth instantly. And yes, using my Tangle Teezer to remove knots from my hair became so easy in the shower after washing my tresses with this shampoo.

The coconut oil formula helps keep hair smooth for a long time. However, it is evident this shampoo is formulated for people with either curly hair types or a thicker hair texture.

If you have fine or thin hair I think the coconut oil formula might leave hair feeling limp.

No the shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates, so you don’t have to worry about excessive dryness or color fade. However, to my disappointment it does contain added perfumes.

Now don’t get me wrong the shampoo smells great. But the fragrance can ruin hair in the long run.

Pros:

• The aloe vera base helps hydrate hair strands without making it greasy
• The coconut oil helps reduce frizz and increases softness
• There are no sulfates or parabens in the shampoo
• The shampoo is 100 percent vegan

Cons:

• The shampoo contains added perfumes that can dry hair in the long run

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil
• Papaya extract

Who It’s Good For:

• People with frizzy, dry, textured hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4.5/5

BioSilk Silk Therapy, Shampoo

Best Salon Shampoo For Tangled Hair

I was looking far and wide for a detangling shampoo that won’t leave fine hair greasy when I found this Biosilk one.

Most detangling shampoos contains rich butters or oils to help add slip to your hair. These work very well but can leave finer hair textures limp as they weigh it down.

The Biosilk shampoo (apart from being sulfate-free) also contained a lot of ingredients that suits oily, fine hair like peppermint and lavender.

But there’s also hydrolyzed silk extract that’s supposed to add that “slip” to your hair making unravelling knots easier.

When I used the shampoo my scalp and hair felt so refreshed and the shampoo helped reduce frizz too. I also liked how well it worked at removing tangles on hair.

I used a wide toothed comb in the shower and I could hardly find any knots at all! So bravo to the shampoo.

My only gripe is that it contains added perfume.

I would also like to reiterate that this is a shampoo for fine, straight and maybe even oily hair types. So if you want a moisturizing, detangling shampoo please choose something like the Maui or SheaMoisture ones.

Pros:

• The hydrolyzed silk in the shampoo can help reduce frizz and static
• It contains water-soluble silicones that increase slip without causing buildup
• The lavender and peppermint extract helps cleanse oil and dirt from hair

Cons:

• The shampoo contains fragrances that can trigger sensitivity

Ingredients:

• Hydrolyzed silk
• Silicone
• Lavender oil
• Peppermint oil

Who It’s Good For:

• People with thin, damaged, knotted hair

My Ratings:

• Detangling Properties – 4.5/5
• Absence of Harmful Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Hair Texture After Use – 4/5

Detangling can be caused by many reasons. But it is mainly influenced by the health of your hair cuticles. 

FAQs about Shampoos For Tangled Hair

It’s normal to get hair tangled up after you wake up or take a shower. But using the best shampoo for tangled hair can keep that in check as well.

These products contain great slip and remove knots and snags with ease.

Now you don’t have to worry about breakage or frizz anymore!

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

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