With three girls at home — all with long hair — I needed an easy solution for combing through the tangles. And you know me, I don’t want to spend extra time, money, and resources for things I can simply do myself. We used to buy commercially-prepared conditioners and detangler sprays, but those products that are chemically acceptable and affordable are far and few between.
For a while we just fought through the brushing and skipped buying the detangler spray altogether.
That was until…I discovered the amazing properties of Marshmallow root!
Marshmallow root is great for the hair because it:
- contains many mucilaginous compounds.
- has a very slippery texture when made into an infusion.
- softens the hair naturally.
- promotes hair growth (due to it’s high content of plant proteins).
- provides natural shine to dull hair follicles.
- soothes dry scalp.
- reduces itchy scalp.
The Recipe
Ingredients
-1 1/4 cup distilled water
-1/4 cup dried marshmallow root
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
-1/2 tablespoon olive or jojoba oil
–essential oils, optional
Method
1. Combine marshmallow root and water in a small pot and simmer over medium low heat for 15-30 minutes to allow the mucilage to release. The longer you let it simmer the thicker the mixture will be. Note: I order my Marshmallow root from Mountain Rose Herbs.
2. Remove pot from heat and allow mixture to cool.
3. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, nylon, tea towel, or cheesecloth. Squeeze the strainer in order to extract all the goodness of the herb (you will now understand how “Marshmallow” root got it’s name). Compost the herbs and reserve the liquid.
4. To the Marshmallow root infused water, add vinegar, oil, and essential oils if using.
5. Pour into a re-purposed detangler spray bottle. Re-label and use as you would commercially-prepared spray. Shake well prior to use.
Note: This formula is not.greasy.at.all. It is well absorbed by the hair and leaves it soft and managable all day! You’ll love it!
Here is my daughter’s hair first thing in the morning, before the herbal detangler spray:
And here we are after. Note: This is simply the herbal detangler spray, brushing, and air drying:
Looking for the raw materials mentioned in this post? Mountain Rose Herbs is my go-to for all my oil, dried herb, and essential oil needs!
Now it’s your turn! Do you use detangler spray in your house? Have you ever made your own? Feel free to share your recipe!
Homemade Raw Vegetable Dip: The Green Goddess
This sounds like something that I could use for my daughter. She is bi-racial and I know that it would work for her hair, but does it work for black people’s hair?
Neeli, have you heard about “The Curly Girl Method”?
Google it & you’ll find some fantastic advice for naturally curly or wavy hair.
They talk about how shampoos strip the natural moisture out of our hair & then we over-condition and use the wrong stuff.
Thanks Mary! I will check that out.
Thanks!
Neeli,
My son is also biracial (I’m white, and my husband is black.) I have gone through close to 30 different products trying to find one that is natural and that actually WORKS! His hair is very tightly curled, and this is the method I use. It works like a charm!
Shampoo: 1 tblsp. baking soda in 8 oz. water, shake well, pour over hair, massage in and rinse
Conditioner: 1 tblsp. apple cider vinegar in 8 oz. water and a few drops essential oil (I use lavender, but you can skip it completely), pour over hair, work through with fingers, rinse (You’ll be amazed at how effectively this detangles!)
Leave in product: Kinky Curly Curl Custard. (I’ve found it at Whole Foods and Target) I apply it to his hair while it’s still very wet, just not dripping anymore. Work it in evenly with your fingers (Be generous with the amount you use!) Then comb hair in small sections until curls are well-formed.
It takes a little time, but it’s totally worth it! All natural and his hair looks like a million bucks! I’m going to make this detangler and try it between the conditioner and leave-in product! I think it will make it an even easier process! Oh, and my son’s hair is 4-5 inches long when you pull the curls out, so if your daughter’s hair is a lot longer, just double the recipes. (I think I actually got the shampoo and conditioner recipes from Frugally Sustainable.) Sorry this was so long! I hope it helps!
Sarah,
My daughter is biracial too. Black/Filipino. I have tried everything from salon products to Lush. Spent anywhere to $5-$200. About two months ago, her and I went ‘poo free, using the EXACT same method you are using for your son, minus the kinky curly curl custard(which I may have to try. How does it work for frizz? Her hair gets EXTREMELY frizzy).
Let me tell you that this has been THE best method thus far. And can I say, it’ s so ridiculously inexpensive?!
Alas, it does not help too much with the tangles. But, I am okay with that as this recipe with marshmallow root sounds like a go! She has the driest hair and her scalp is always itchy. I wonder, will it help with dandruff?
It might help if you add oil or even coconut milk to the baking soda mixture. I had the same issue with my hair being ridiculously frizzy with this process but the coconut milk or olive oil should help.
If you are using baking soda, it is very important that you condition and seal the hair follicles afterward to reduce frizz. Baking soda had a high ph level that lifts the hair cuticles. You should add moisture with a conditioner before you use an acidic product, like apple cider vinegar, to smooth out the cuticle. Also curly, bi-racial hair needs moisture in between washes to reduce dryness. Use a leave in conditioner, or spritz with a moisture rich solution periodically to add moisture, then use an oil to help seal it in.
I am going to make this detangler for me and my daughters. I like as much “all natural” as I can with my hair (minus hair color……sorry but I can’t handle the gray) I have done the “no poo” thing as well and it is VERY drying!! I did a lot of research on the whole “no poo” phenom after using the method for almost a month. This is not a process that should be done on any hair, no matter what color/race or mix you are, for a long period of time. One month, two tops….just to remove all the build up from shampoo and conditioners and styling products. I know that I don’t have any degree in anything “scientific” but the no poo method is just way too much of a PH up and down for your hair. I also suffer from very oily hair and mad crazy dandruff (thanks dad) that I loathe with a passion!! I have found a few things that work wonders, I can’t use just any one thing…….thanks genetics! Some of you may even find this helpful, especially the biracial. Amla oil is amazing!!!!! Google it. You can make your own DIY for your specific needs with it or you can buy a product that already contains it in the African American hair care section. It is called Amla Legend Body Filler Hair Wash by Optimum, and it smells amazing BTW. It is a bit pricey (to me anyway), it is about 6 bucks a bottle. I only use it once every two weeks though so it last a bit. The rest of the time I use a homemade Honey Shampoo. It smells yummy, makes my hair soft and shiny AND honey is a natural anti-fungal and antibacterial not to mention it has a PH level of 4 and your hair has a natural PH level of about 4-7, plus, if I accidentally get any in my mouth there is none of that awful shampoo taste LOL. It is really simple 1 tbls of raw Honey and 3 tbls of distilled water. It HAS TO BE RAW, UNFILTERED, NATURAL HONEY. Otherwise you are being counterproductive. Yes it will be watery, it is suppose to be and I just mix it up right before a shower each time. Mix it over low heat so the honey will mix with the water (you can even add a couple of drops of an essential oil if you like) wet your hair in the shower, pour half the mixture over your scalp and massage in, pour the rest over all of hair and bathe……rinse at the end of the shower. That is it. Sorry if I took over…….just trying to help. I am sooooooo making your detangler though!!!!
The Kinky Curly Custard is much like an enhanced version of this detangle, because it also has marshmallow root extract in it.
I wasn’t able to find marshmallow root, but I did find marshmallow root powder. Will this work the same and do I need to adjust the amount?
I need to try this! Thanks for sharing.
Oh my. That’s amazing stuff. Wish I had this recipe when my girls were little. I will share with everyone I know. Thanks!
This looks amazing! LOL- it makes me wish I had a little girl to try it out on but my 4 year old boy is a no-go! Haha……however, I love seeing what you post each day and making the things that I can use….thank you!
Thank you for this recipe! I will give it a try. I have two girls with thick hair, and they’re both sensitive when I have to brush through it. Maybe I’ll add a few drops of tea tree oil to the spray, to help prevent lice. That seems to be a problem in my daughter’s school lately. :-/
Hi Andrea! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I just use apple cider vinegar mixed with water and spray that on my hair. I will definitely be giving this a try as soon as I get some marshmallow root! Blessings from Bama!
That is beautiful hair!!! 🙂
Thanks to the Marshmallow root 🙂
How much liquid should you have after you simmer & strain? I didn’t have much & I simmered on low!
Wow! I love the “after” picture…I have 2 tangled girls at my house and we struggle with tangles every day! I had to cut my oldest daughter’s beautiful blonde hair when she was 4 because she wouldn’t sit for me to detangle her hair 🙁
I pinned this to try later. Thanks!
Vinegar is a natural detangler on its own; I’ve been using it for some time now mixed with water and it works on all types of hair.
This is so timely – we just ran out of tangle spray and I happen to have all of the ingredients! My almost three year old has hair down to her waist and we have to use a detangler. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
That is awesome Sonya!!! I hope you love it as much as we do!
If I buy 4 ounce of marshmallow root, how many 1/4-cup portions will I get out of that 4 ounces?
Great question Michelle! 1/4 a cup of Marshmallow root is approximately 1/2 an ounce…so 4 ounces will give you enough to make this recipe 8 times. If you get Marshmallow root from Mountain Rose Herbs at $3.50 that’s breaks down to a pretty cheap product 🙂
I’m definitely going to try this with my daughter. Her hair always seems to be tangled. If she remembers to rinse with the apple cider vinegar, it seems better.
I think she’ll be blown away at what this does for her hair 🙂 She’ll love it!
I so need this for my 21 month old son’s hair! Thank you! (Pinning this now.)
I will be using this! We have tangled curly hair…and all girls in this house (other than my hubby that is). I’ve been moving to natural soaps etc, but didn’t know if there was a detangler for my oldest that would work. Thank you!
I have been looking for a good detangling spray recipe that doesn’t use commercial products! I have 4 girls and we all have thick, long hair (well, the baby doesn’t yet…)! Thank you!
Same here Melanie! No need to worry with what’s in the product with this recipe 🙂
Great recipe also glad to have found website for Mountain Rose Herbs website. They have everything all the things that I order at great prices.
Hi there- great idea.. I have a toy poodle who mats when his hair gets longer. I likethe longer look, but it is difficult to maintain. Would this work on a doggie, like a person?? It would be amazing if it did!!! Please let me know what you think. . .thanks!
You should totally try that on your dog! The ingredients won’t hurt him/her, so what do you have to lose? Especially on a poodle, which has hair instead of fur!
I agree with Jill! I think it would work wonderfully!
I’ve heard that just plain old cornstarch is perfect for detangling matted pets.
This looks great. I would like to try this on my own hair. How long will it last before going bad? I
probably would use it every other day or less. Probably between washings. Thanks.
Another great question! I say, because of the added vinegar, it would keep for quite a while (a week or two on the counter and maybe longer — a month — in cold storage). Honestly, we’ve always used this up before it’s had a chance to go bad.
does it make your hair smell like Vinegar? My 13 yr old would probably freak out…if she went to school smelling like vinegar..
Regina, I use an apple cider vinegar rinse every time I wash my hair. You can smell it when it is wet but as soon as it dries the smell goes away!
Not at all! The smell of vinegar goes away when the hair dries. And you can actually make your hair smell awesome by adding a few drops of good-smelling essential oils.
Thanks for the recipe! Can’t wait to give it a try.
Btw- Marsh Mallow root grows on the banks of rivers and marshes. That’s where the common name comes from. The confection we know of today used to contain marsh mallow root and so was named after the plant, not the other way around. Cool, huh?
I’ve never heard of marshmallow root. This sounds awesome, I know what we will do know when our current commercial spray runs out!
That’s awesome DonnaJ 🙂 I love that you are using up what you already have first! Be sure to save that spray bottle to fill with your homemade product 🙂
I have very long, thin, fine hair that tangles horribly but it is very oily so conditioners make it even worse. I have been using commerical detangler for a while and it works much better than conditioner but I will try this because it promotes hair growth and I need all the help I can get in that area. Thanks for the tip!
I am anxious to hear your thoughts on this recipe!
I can’t wait to try this! Is it hard to find marshmallow root? Where should I look to buy it?!
Hi Tarin! There are a couple of links to Mountain Rose Herbs in the post 🙂 They are great!
I just bought a pound of marshmallow root powder. Do you think I could use that in place of the cut herb?
You could definitely try Amber! I’m thinking the only problem you would run into is the straining, but other than that you should be fine. Oh, and maybe only use an 1/8 of a cup of powder 🙂
I had the same question, as I have marshmallow root (oral) pills, that I haven’t gotten around to using. I’ll have to check and make sure there aren’t any other ingredients in the pills, but I will try making this with the powder. Amber, did you come up with a recipe equivalent?
I used to use detanglers, but switched to leave in conditioners in a spray bottle with water. Remember to start at the bottom with long hair & you may need to avoid wet brushing as some hair stretches when wet. Will look at making my own from this recipe. Trying to become more self sufficient. Thanks!
I can’t wait to try this, I have long curly hair & have recently converted to the “No Shampoo” way of life & have been looking for more natural products to tame my hair. As I live in Australia I really hope I can find marshmallow root easily enough.
I hope so too Tash! This could be exactly what you are looking for!
Hi Tash,
I live in Australia also and had to do a bit of hunting but finally found an eBay store called noodlesemporium and bought Marshmallow Root at a reasonable price. It didnt take long to arrive and it looks exactly the same as the picture that Andrea has posted.
Question for Andrea though – once I finished simmering the Marshmallow for about 20 minutes, I had no liquid left, just mushy herb that wouldn’t go through the sieve at all !! How much liquid should be left to put through the sieve ?? I’d really appreciate your answer to this as I am excited to use this homemade detangler but stuck at first base !
Kindest regards, Karen
Thanks for sharing this recipe! do you think this could be used in place of cream rinse somehow? maybe as a leave in conditioner sprayed on after shampooing? Thanks again!
Oh absolutely Patty! Good thinking! This could totally be used as an herbal conditioning rinse in the shower right after shampooing.
Is it the powder or the actual dried root? I looked at the website & they have both!
Hi Nikki! Order the dried root…not the powder 🙂
Could you use this on wet hair? Or just dry?
Got my stuff on the way from Mountain Rose! 😉
Great question Mrs. Z! I should have mentioned in the post that a simple infusion of Marshmallow root used as a conditioning rinse (after shampooing) is heavenly! This recipe can most definitely be used on both wet or dry hair.
Where did you buy the mushroom roots from??
Click on the in post link to Mountain Rose Herbs! I feel like they have the best prices and highest quality 🙂
Hi Andrea! So I am wondering if I could use this as a hair conditioner instead of the straight (or partially diluted) Apple cider vinegar. What are your thoughts? I can’t wait to try this on my daughter’s hair.
Absolutely Rebecca! That’s a great idea 🙂
I was wondering which essential oils are preferred, as well as what amount should be added. Oh, and then would addind vitamin e oil, or even using ut as a replacement oil, would that be even better (in theory)? Thank you! Cant wait to try this with my daughter. Even commercial products dont work well with her. She cries everytime. Im going to make some for my pastor’s daughter as well!
Are there any other uses for Marshmallow Root?
http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/marshmallow.shtml
I hope this links up – just Google Marshmallow root or cut and paste the irl if it doesn’t. 🙂
Great idea! I do have a question though…Is there a pleasant smell? I am kinda particular about smell…
Thanks! 🙂
i bought marshmallow seeds from rareseeds.com, which is another awesome website. you can eat the flowers and leaves like a veggie, the preferred method is a light saute with onions and garlic. cant wait to try it! i’m wondering what changes to this recipe, if any, need to be made if using fresh roots? thanks!
The only thing that should change is using a larger amount being as how the root is not dried. Grate the root and start with 1/2 cup.
I just bought some marshmallow root and will be making this today! My daughter’s head and mine thank you.
I LOVE this!!!! I just made some yesterday and used it on my 18 month olds hair and it looks so pretty and soft. I love the way it smells. I added just a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. I also used it on my 7 year old. Brushing her hair has always been a perfect mix of a horror movie (with the screams) and a WWF match. To say she doesn’t like her hair brushed is an understatement. Well this morning I sprayed it on her hair as she cringed and in expectation of the brush. And then…..I started brushing very slowly and no screams. So then I started to brush at normal speed and still NO screams!!!
So can I say THANK YOU!!!!!! This is a thumbs up all around!
I purchased Marshmellow root in capsil form ~ so I use the same amount 1/4 cup as I can’t find it in it’s ‘raw’ form. I made it as the recipe above and it’s really thick??
Hi there,
I just made some and can’t wait til tomorrow morning to use it on my daughter’s gnarly rat-nested morning hair! I have a question though, mine turned out really dark in color, is it supposed to? I’ve never used Marshmallow root before, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t screw this up!
Thanks and I’ll let you know if it works!!
Wow! This looks amazing! I will definitely make this for my curly girls! Thank you!
I’m mos def going to try this out (just for my own, looooong, straight hair, down to my hip) but I was wondering if anybody has made any experiences with mixed kids’ hair?? My daughter is 5, her daddy is black, I am white, and she has the kinkiest, tighest, ,most stubborn and stiff curls imaginable!! I normally use Mixed Chicks on her (great product) but this sounds like it could work on her. Any advice??
Oh, and just my 2 cents:
I heard from a fellow Mom who just went through a HEAD LICE scare at their school that peppermint oil keeps the little bugs from making an appearance (as in – if they have a choice, they will choose the kids who dont smell like peppermint), so maybe adding a drop or two of peppermint oil would be something that’s interesting to some of you.
She received that information when she took her entire family to a specialist place (they treat your whole house and all family members, for a small fortune). Thank goodness it was false alarm!!
also, teatree and rosemary help in combination with the peppermint
Thanks for the tip! As a public school mom, that is one of my biggest fears.
I’ve always made my homemade detangler with 2oz aloe gel, essential oils and water in a spray bottle. It leaves your hair shiny and manageable 🙂 I’ll have to see how the marshmallow root makes it different- thanks for the info 🙂
I have LOTS of aloe vera gel and no marshmallow root and we’re moving July 1, so I don’t want to buy anything that I don’t have to! Thanks for the tip – I will certainly have to try it! I also am not sure about finding marshmallow root in Canada (may look for the capsules) but will try to grow my own after we get moved, too! 😀
Is the olive oil in this recipe the same as what I use for cooking? Sorry about the silly question….I am just getting started and still have a lot to learn!
I am really enjoying your website…Thank you!
Please Beth…never feel silly for asking! It’s a great question!
Yes, the olive oil that you use for cooking is perfect 🙂
Love this recipe! Just made it now. For those that don’t want to order from the net, I found Marshmallow root capsules at my local health food store. Instead of the 1/4 cup of dried herbs, I used two teaspoons (it was approximately 6 capsules) of emptied out capsules. Works great on my hair, leaves it so soft! Can’t wait to try it on my daughter’s hair tonight! Thanks for sharing!
Wow. That first pic is what my 4yo girls hair looks like all the time!! I need to get some marshmallow root and fix her frizzy hair!! Thanks for the great post Andrea.
I have tried to go without using the bought shampoo. Instead made my own, which seems to be quite successful except my hair feel somewhat sticky. But I sure have noticed a difference in hair loss, it changed drastically after I no lnoger used the bought shampoo. I have tried to rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar but they still seem somewhat sticky. After they are dry when I brush them you can tell how the brush gets sticky too. Or when I straighten them, I can tell on the straightening iron that my hair are sticky. How long does it take to detoxify your hair from toxins in shampoo? I no it is better to not wash your hair to often but it does not feel very good if they feel like this.
Amazing results! I will have to try this, I use the cleansing conditioner method, (and am in the process of figuring out how to make my own) but it is gentle enough that it cannot remove commercial styling products. I will have to try this when the weather makes my hair go all flyaway!
This sounds great, have to try on granddaughter’s bi-racial curly hair. I wonder if you could add the essential oils of rosemary, teatree, pepppermint and lavender to keep away the little buggies.
Great thinking Debra!
I have all the ingredients here, so as soon as I saw this I had to whip up a batch. I have marshmallow root in tablets, so I used 10 of them. I trashed my spritzer bottle, but a mason jar will work alright for me. I will just keep it in the fridge and apply it by hand.
WOW! I’m amazed. I don’t like using commercial products and this works wonderfully on my long curly and frizzy hair. My hair feels so soft and manageable. And you’re right, it’s not greasy at all. But so SHINNY Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m gonna pass along your site to everyone.
Best to you,
Heather
I used the 1 1/4 cup of water as directed. But, after about 15 min. there was no more liquid left in the pot. I had it on low heat. I added about 1/2 cup more water and simmered for another 10 min. I squeezed the root using a tea towel and only got about 1/4 cup of liquid from it. What am I doing wrong?
I”m having the same problem. No clue what I’m doing wrong 🙁
No worries 🙂 You can simply add a bit more water. Try adding an additional cup of water and if you feel like you need more don’t be affraid to add more.
I tried this last week and it’s fantastic! As somebody stated above, a lot of the water seemed to evaporate, so I’m using more water this time AND leaving the pot covered so the water stays put. I used Marshmallow Root tea that I found at the health food store, and I think it made the straining a bit easier, though one of the bags broke and some of the sludge got in the spray bottle. grr. Anyway, love the detangeler, and so does my daughter! Thank you! I’m fairly new to your blog, and loving every bit of it! 🙂
Jeannine, how many marshmallow root teabags did you use to make the detangler spray?
Thanks!
The box I bought came with 20 and I used 10 and followed this recipe. The next time I made it I just doubled it, and used the whole box with 3 cups water, partially covered the pot while it boiled. Had to use a bigger spray bottle, but it works.
Because the root is cut finer and dehydrated, you may need less when you use tea. I would start with one tea bag and increase as needed. When you make a pot of tea, you are actually making “an infusion”, so just make it as you would a pot of tea. I use my coffee maker and either put a tea bag in where you’d normally put the coffee grounds or I put about a tablespoon of loose tea leaves in a coffee filter, in the same place. If the tea is not strong enough, often letting it just sit will strengthen it but you can always put the tea bag into the coffee pot, too!
For those using capsules, I’d also try less at first and increase as needed. The capsules will be the purest form available if there are no other additives present.
Hi!
I adore this blog – you are an inspiration & I look forward to your posts! I just received my MRH order & tried out this recipe. I have a few questions:
How much liquid should remain (approximately) after straining off the marshmallow root?
Do you leave the lid on or off while simmering?
Thank you so much for your time!
I just had to make some of this today, found you from Pinterest.
Well, just made some up with some organic Throat Coat tea, Peppermint tea, some tea tree oil, peppermint oil and vanilla oil (the rest of the mix was the same as yours).
5 year old daughter says it smells like “old toothpaste” LOL
I sprayed my hair with it and let it dry a bit, then she thought the smell was ok.
Her hair looks great now too.
Thanks!
This sounds great! Thank you!
A tip for making this: Read up on herbal infusions. Basically, you heat the water by itself and then pour it over the herbs in a separate heat-safe teacup, mug, or bowl and cover for 15-20 minutes. You can use a teaball for the herbs, so straining is easier, or pour through a coffee filter or cheesecloth (double layer) or muslin, etc.
Thanks for the recipe. I made it yesterday and like it. I just had a question- would lemon juice work in place of the apple cider vinegar? I noticed that they are pretty close to the same acidity. Is there a reason you have to use apple cider vinegar or would lemon juice (or grapefruit juice even though it is slightly more alkaline) work?
@ Holly, seems like the lemon/citrus juice would be quite harsh and probably lighten the haircolor as well. Remember the 80’s? It wasn’t pretty….
Hi, I made this last week and really like it other than the fact that it seems to have gone bad already. It kinda smells funky. How long does it generally last for you?
thanks for this – I also have 3 girls with long hair – I don’t currently have marshmallow root on hand, but do have slippery elm, do you think that may work?
I made some, used it for my daughter this morning to brush her hair, and could not believe how beautiful it looked all day long, even after swimming! Then I used some on my son after bath. He is the skeptical type, but as soon as I started brushing he said, “Wow Mom, it works!” I told him I made it, and he told me, “Good job.” I have been trying many home made bath and hair products, and this recipe is by the far the best for us so far. Thanks so much.
I just made this yesterday, and used it on my hair after my shower last night, and it is absolutely fabulous. My hair is practically impossible to comb out when its wet, but this made it so much easier, and it took only a fraction of the time to comb out. It also didn’t make my hair greasy, which I was worried about because almost everything makes my hair greasy.
Do you think Marshmellow root tincure would work in place of the the raw root?
Just try a very small amount first and increase as needed. Let us know!
Thats a great recipe! I just made it..just one question..the oil cannot mix in, can it? I can see the oil layer floating on the top of my mason jar which I filled in with this solution. Am I doing something wrong? I actually left the herb solution to cool for the whole day..is this why? It was cold, not ‘cool’..
where do u buy marshmallow roots?
Thank you for this recipe. We have a very tangly haired two year old and this will solve all our problems!
Thanks for sharing and it worked really welll! My hair felt sooo soft and it made detangling my extremely curly hair so much easier! I used Grape seed oil in place of the olive oil, 1/2 tbs ACV, and added some lemon essential oil.
I also ran some Argan oil through after my hair dried.
This stuff looks amazing! My daughter & I both have very thick naturally curly hair, and getting a comb through it can be a nightmare. Add to that the fact that my husband has long thick hair, and I can foresee all 4 of us loving this! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks a lot Andrea for this homemade natural spray! I have couple of questions, I use anti-frezz spray and was looking for a homemade one, would that work?! Plus can you use coconut oil instead, cause I heard it helps with hair loss which I have a problem with?! Also is it safe for colord hair( I use henna)?! I think once I make this recipe, I will make some for my cat he gets a lot of hair mats but I won’t use essential oils cause I heard they are not good for pets! Sorry for the many questions!!
I just bought MARSHMALLOW LEAFS by accident! Will they work instead of the root?
Try it and let us know! 😀 Start with small amounts and increase as needed! It won’t hurt you!
:3 Looks like a wonderful recipe to try since my nieces have hair tangle trouble also. I got all the ingredients to make the recipe now but am curious about the shelf life of the finished preparation. Does it spoil after some time, and if so for how long? I also read that the essential oils or even vitamin e may help preserve diy recipes, but have trouble finding the amount needed and how much time it adds.
We made a smaller batch to fill our single 4 oz spray bottle tonight and my daughter is very excited to use it in the morning!
To all the people who asked if marshmallow root will work on black and/or biracial hair , yes, it will. The Kinky Curly has marshmallow root in one of the products.
Hello there..
Great post. What is the purpose of using the ACV?
Thanks
Using the powder is that okay?
i boiled it in water as ya stated and applied on hair and body and drank some as well…
after 5 minutes i took shower and rinsed my hair with water….
amazing result…
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of putting marshmallow root in your hair. In fact, I had never even heard of marshmallow root before! Judging by all these comments it sounds like it really works well.
Common mallow is a relative of Marsh mallow with similar properties, and is a widespread weed. I tried making the detangler with it (fresh, just picked it out of the yard! All parts of the plant have the mucilaginous quality, so you don’t specifically need the root), and it worked well. So that’s an even more frugal and sustainable option!
That is good to know. I was wondering about using ground mallow (which is maybe what you call common mallow over there) which is a “weed” we have in abundance. I might give it a try 🙂
I just made this… I’m so excited!
couldnt find it locally fresh or powdered. could only find it in the capsules. is this the same stuff? a little more expensive but worth it if it works. not sure how many capsules to open and use. 480 mg per capsule. can any one give me some advise? thank you!!
I notice that the ingredient in the marshmallow root is also in oats. I wonder if boiling and straining oats would get the same result, and much more cost-efficiently?
Amazing! My new favorite!! Just used it tonight on my daughters hair – it worked wonders.
I was curious if this has any effect on staticky hair? I live in the desert with low humidity, and my hair constantly getting full of static (especially when it get long). I’ve tried leave-in conditioners, oil-based serums, dryer sheets, low-static brushes… I’m going to try this and am hopeful it will help.
Wow have to try this for my grand daughters hair! Thanks for sharing!
I have long thick fine oily hair. Perfumes are a migraine trigger for me. I have found it really difficult to get commercial Shampoo and conditioner without perfume, that isn’t really expensive. I have seen some bulk product in like 5 gallon containers online for people who want to make and sell their won product, but I really don’t want a 5 gallon bucket of shampoo. I like your idea for the above and would love to see more of the like. One thing I do to help, is I brush my hair before I get in the shower and I find the combing afterward to A LOT easier.
Hi!! I tried this recipe but it still doesn’t untangle my waist length hair…Should I add more jojoba? Thank you!!
I made this about a week and a half ago and have a question. It seems to leave hair a little crunchy, like a light gel. I am not entirely opposed to this and maybe even a little intrigued by it. Is this normal. Do you just plan to brush it out again once it’s dry? Should I try adding more water to it?
When I try to use this recipe, my sprayer gets clogged. Anyone else had this problem? I even added water. Perhaps I need to restrain it? I could really use this if I can get it to work though with my curly hair…and I think my 16 month old is going to have the same hair as I do. Oh dear!
Me, too. I just got my marshmallow root and tried this today. Sprayer clogged once the chemical junk cleared and the new stuff loaded in.
I’m going to try infusing next time in the mason jar since I’m pretty sure I lost a lot of water simmering -even with the lid on. I added a cup of hot water, strained it again with a tea strainer and it seems to work better. It’s not clogging my second bottle and works great. HTH and good luck.
Approximately how long will the detangler last in frig? 1 month? More? Thank you very much for the recipe and your time. -Beth-Ann
I have a large bag of Marshmallow Root purchased for this purpose. As with other writers, my spray bottles clogged almost immediately. I tried three different sizes, figuring that perhaps the viscosity required a stronger draw from the spray tube. I eventually tried a watered down version, but that wasn’t producing satisfactory results–it needs the slip offered from the marshmallow root. If distilled water is not being used, but instead tap water, then the concoction appeared to go bad rather quickly, too (less than two weeks). However, all that being said, I like the recipe. It was one of the first recipes I had found for “homemade hair detangler” that didn’t immediately suggest the use of water and ones favorite conditioner. So, thank you!
Interestingly, as another writer pointed out, I also experienced that one batch gave my hair a slight crisp texture, like a gel. It was beneficial for curl formation (I have light waves to curly hair mix), so I might aim for that again. I intend to make another batch soon, but instead of using a spray bottle, I am going to use something I can sort of glop on, something similar to a condiment bottle (more specifically, a washed out Sriracha sauce bottle). I have high hopes that this will be an adequate adjustment, as it will be applied on wet hair. For times I want to mist it on dry hair, I will need to play with the formulation again, and strain it two or three times. I really want this to work!
I just used this on my daughter this morning, and I love the way it tamed her hair. She is only 4 but has waist length hair that is almost ALWAYS tangled up in knots. I sprayed her hair very thoroughly after washing it and it combed right through. It felt a little heavy in her fine hair, but I think that was a plus because it helped her hair from tangling back up throughout the day. I caught myself looking at her hair all day because I couldn’t believe how much it helped her hair to lay flat and smooth. This is great stuff, better than the higher end detanglers that I have bought at beauty supply stores. Thank you so much for this DIY!
Oh, and I used chamomile and orange oils- good for blondes and smells great 🙂
How long does this keep? Should it be refrigerated?
I did try this a few months ago. It didn’t work so well for me. I don’t know if I didn’t get enough of the mucilage but what happened was when I added the vinegar, tiny flecks of a waxy like substance floated to the surface and clog the spray bottle. What remained was mostly just apple cider vinegar and water.
Any tips on what I could do differently next time?
For those of you having problems with the boiling of the marshmallow root…In actuality, you SHOULDN’T boil the root!! Cold water extraction or just hot water extraction works best. LearningHerbs.com have a great page on this. http://www.learningherbs.com/marshmallow_root.html
I agree with Gretchen, the web pages I looked at to order Marshmallow root said to soak four hours or overnight; this would help a lot with those people experiences very little water retained after boiling. I am keen to try this recipe – it may just save Miss 9’s hair being lopped off to avoid blasted ‘rats nests’ 😉
Hi, I’m wondering why your etsy shop detangler has more ingredients than your recipe above. Thanks
This is a nice base recipe…one easily made at home. I like to “spice” things up in my Etsy shop 🙂
Thanks Andrea, I’m making my first batch. I’ve simmered the MR for about 25 minutes and have very little liquid left. Is this normal or should I add some more?
Thanks for everything.
KimE
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I’m wondering if this is normal or not, but when I simmered mine for 20 minutes there’s barely 1/4-1/3 cup of liquid left to mix with the ACV and oil. Did I simmer too long?
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This is just a warning for all of you with blonde hair (especially if it’s cool-toned). ACV may stain your hair darker and redder – even if used in small amouns. I know this from personal experience which is why I use white vinegar instead. 🙂
Can I use marshmallow root liquid I found instead and if yes how mush
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I love this recipe! Having hyperthyroidism my hair has gone to the dogs. I would be interested in purchasing this bar of shampoo soap you have listed in your Etsy shop. Is that possible to do without having to sign up for Etsy. I am not interested in doing that 🙂
Thanks,
Cathy
I have several questions,
1. can you use a hydrosol instead of distilled water?
2. Could you do this in a double boiler?
3. Could I infuse the herbs into the vinegar instead?
4. How long does it keep?
I also noticed that the version in your shop has a few other ingredients than this recipe. Mostly curious about the Aloe Vera Juice and the Glycerin. What are their benefits to the mix? and if I wanted to add them how much would I add?
Hi! I found this recipe and am making it tonight. Does this mixture have to be kept in the fridge? Thank you!!!
I too would like to know if this has to be refrigerated.. Thanks
Warm HEllo 🙂
i have been using basil tea with T. of avc
how do u keep your detangler from going bad?
making some now….how much liquidddd should be left over after simmering?
How important is it to use “distilled” water?
And could you use another oil, like almond instead of the olive/jojoba?
would this work without the vinegar? My hair doesn’t need to be washed often and I currently use straight body lotion to control the frizz. I’m not worried about my hair being oily or greasy but more worried about it drying out…
hi.. If may I ask, how long this spray last?
Can you use marshmallow root powder? I used your recipe for the henna shampoo bar, so I have some of the powder left over.
How long will a batch of this conditioner stay good for?