8 Best Detangling Shampoos For Black Hair – Our Top Picks Of 2023

Managing unruly and overly intertwined tresses has never been easier.

Reviewed by Khamis Maiouf, Hairstylist
Written by Krati Darak, Certified Skin Care Coach
Edited by Medha Deb
Fact-checked by Shiboli Chakraborti, Certified Skin Care Coach  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

Tired of your crunchy and tangled 4C hair? You can check out the best detangling shampoos for black hair that are readily available and are worth the money. It is always better to get your hair detangled and frizz-free before combing it to avoid unnecessary hair fall, and detangling shampoos can help you with it. These shampoos prevent the formation of any knots in your hair and leave it smooth and shiny. The small amount of conditioner in the detangling shampoos detangles the hair as you wash it. They have a gentle formula and are suitable for kids as well. So, if you are wondering which detangling shampoo might suit your hair type, take a thorough look at the 8 best detangling shampoos that work wonders for African-American hair.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best For Hydration:Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best Alcohol-Free Formula:Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Super Detangling Conditioning ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best For Reducing Hair Fall:Nairobi Exquisite Hydrating Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best With Natural Ingredients:The Mane Choice Easy On The Curls Detangling Hydration ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best Long-lasting Formula:Avlon Kera Care Hydrating Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best for 3C-4C Hair:Shea Moisture Hi-Slip Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best For Colored Hair:Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration And Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon
Best For Hair Growth:SO Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration & Detangling ShampooPrice on Amazon

Top 8 Detangling Shampoos For Shiny Black Hair – Reviews

1. Best For Hydration:Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo

4.5
Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing And Detangling Shampoo Image: Mielle Organics

Want shampoo for tangle-prone black hair? The Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Shampoo is a sulfate-free moisturizing product that detangles and smoothens thick curly hair. It has been primarily formulated for type 4c hair. The shampoo cleanses the hair and rebuilds the moisture. The unique blend of pomegranate extracts, honey, and babassu oil makes the hair feel strong and smell amazing. This detangling shampoo with added slip for black hair prevents excessive hair loss during the washing phase and defines the curls that look healthy and attractive. It also contains Polyquarterium-7 which adds extra volume to the hair and makes it look fluffy and full.

To get the best results, pour a generous amount of shampoo onto your palm and massage it into your hair, especially near the scalp. While washing, you can gently finger comb and detangle your hair without much effort and then rinse your hair.

Key Ingredients- Pomegranate extracts, Honey, Babassu Oil, and Polyquarterium-7

Pros

  • Sulfate-free
  • Non-greasy
  •  Pleasant smell

Cons

  • Not ideal for low-porosity hair
  • Thick consistency

protip_icon Pro Tip
Consider emulsifying the shampoo. Do not pour it directly on your head. Rather pour it on your palm and rub your hands to create some lather.

Why It’s Worth Buying: It has gained over 1,278 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
Price at the time of publication: $9.99

2. Best Alcohol-Free Formula:Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Super Detangling Conditioning Shampoo

4.6
Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Super Detangling Conditioning Shampoo, 32 Ounce Image: Design Essentials

Are you looking for a detangling shampoo with essential oils for black hair that can be used daily without causing any damage to your beautiful curly hair? The Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Super Detangling Conditioning Shampoo is one of the best. The product detangles all types of natural hair. It is a quick lather formula that deep cleanses and detangles while restoring the moisture balance to your hair. It is a sulfate- and alcohol-free formula that is gentle and is suitable for all men, women, and children. The honey creme promotes healthy hair growth, seals the cuticles, and makes the hair more manageable and shinier. The shampoo can also detangle colored and gray hair without stripping moisture away from them. You can use this shampoo daily without worrying about losing the glossy texture of your hair.This honest YouTube review will help you understand this product better.

Key Ingredients- Honey Creme and Polyquaternium-7

Pros

  • Suitable for color-treated hair
  • Lightweight formula
  • Ideal for 3A to 4C curls
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Silicon-free
  • Petroleum-free
  • Mineral oil-free

Cons

  • Might leave a sticky residue
  • Unpleasant smell
Price at the time of publication: $20.0

3. Best For Reducing Hair Fall:Nairobi Exquisite Hydrating Detangling Shampoo

4.5
Nairobi Exquisite Hydrating Detangling Shampoo Image: Nairobi

The Nairobi Exquisite Hydrating and Detangling Shampoo is a unique product that provides superior hydration and detangling for your hair. It is made with natural ingredients like polymeric proteins to nourish your hair from root to tip. This nourishing shampoo for natural black hair contains vitamins A & E, which can help strengthen the strands of your hair while retaining moisture. This formula also helps protect against future damage due to its antioxidant properties which fight free radicals in the environment around us daily.

Key Ingredients: Nairo-Plex, silk amino acids, polyquaternium- I, and dimethicone copolyol.

Pros

  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Moisturizes
  • Fixes split ends
  • Detangles and smoothes cuticles

Cons

  • Contains alcohol
Price at the time of publication: $9.99

4. Best With Natural Ingredients:The Mane Choice Easy On The Curls Detangling Hydration Shampoo

4.4

Want to get rid of the never-ending hours in the shower? With The Mane Choice Easy On The Curls Detangling Hydration Shampoo, you can reduce the time required to wash your curly hair. Enriched with biotin and vitamin E, this herbal and botanical detangling shampoo for black hair helps develop healthier and detangled smooth hair. It also promotes hair growth. The formula is gentle on the scalp and is great for cleansing away the impurities without stripping down the hair strands. The product also adds the right amount of moisture to dry hair. You will only need a small amount of the product as it lathers well. However, to get the best results, thoroughly wet your hair with water, massage the product on your wet hair and rinse it with cold water.

Key Ingredients- Biotin and Vitamin E

Pros

  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Contains natural ingredients
  • Mind scent
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Petroleum-free

Cons

  • Not ideal for 4A hair
Why It’s Worth Buying: The extensive 745 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are vouching for this product.
Price at the time of publication: $12.34

5. Best Long-Lasting Formula:Avlon Kera Care Hydrating Detangling Shampoo

Are you troubled with excessively entangled dry hair? Then, you must try the Avlon Kera Care Hydrating Detangling Shampoo which detangles hair without causing excessive hair loss. This protein-infused detangling shampoo for black hair removes excess oils from the hair while adding the necessary moisture. The shampoo is best known for repairing split ends and improving the overall health of relaxed black hair. It is pH-balanced and is filled with natural botanical extracts. In addition, the product provides definition and shine to your hair that will last a long time. Check out this video review to understand the full scope of this product.

Key Ingredients- Wheat Protein, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • pH-balanced formula
  • Contains natural botanical extracts

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Strong smell
Why It’s Worth Buying: The overwhelming 572 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.
Price at the time of publication: $9.01

6. Best For 3C-4C Hair:Shea Moisture Hi-Slip Detangling Shampoo

4.4

The Shea Moisture Hi-Slip Detangling Shampoo works miraculously for the 3C to 4C hair types. The cocoa butter contains nourishing oils that replenish dry and dull hair. The red palm oil, rich with vitamins and antioxidants, provides balanced nourishment and strengthens your curly hair. And the flaxseed oil improves the elasticity of the hair. In addition, this strengthening shampoo for black hair is infused with an anti-shrinking formula that gives your locks a fuller and elongated look. You will need only a tiny amount of the product to turn your thick and coarse black hair into soft, shiny, and bouncy tresses.

Key Ingredients- Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Red Palm Oil, and Flaxseed Oil

Pros

  • Suitable for 3C to 4C hair types
  • Cruelty-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalates-free
  • Petrolatum-free
  • Mineral oil-free

Cons

  • Might leave your hair greasy
  • Lathers easily
Price at the time of publication: $6.9

7. Best For Colored Hair:Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration And Detangling Shampoo

4.5
Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration And Detangling Shampoo Image: Sunny Isle

The Sunny Isle Hydration And Detangling Shampoo cleanses, hydrates, and detangles your hair. Enriched with high-quality natural ingredients, humectants, and conditioning agents, the shampoo adds the necessary volume, strength, and shine to your otherwise lifeless hair. The main ingredient of this detoxifying shampoo for black hair is Jamaican black castor oil, which is known for promoting hair growth and cleansing the itchy scalp. The shampoo is sulfate-free, making it safe for color-treated hair. In addition, the panthenol and hydrolyzed wheat protein keep the color vibrant and strengthen it from the root to the tip. So, if you wish to do away with the constant struggle to detangling your hair, the Sunny Isle Detangling Shampoo is the best choice.

Key Ingredients- Natural Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Panthenol, and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein.

Pros

  • Best for colored hair
  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $9.99

8. Best For Hair Growth:SO Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration & Detangling Shampoo

4.2
SO Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration & Detangling Shampoo Image: So Hair And Skin Care

So Jamaican Black Castor Oil Extreme Hydration & Detangling Shampoo thickens and adds volume to thinning hair. With this shampoo, you can happily bid goodbye to your hair loss days as the shampoo promotes healthy hair growth. The Jamaican black castor oil provides optimum nourishment to the hair follicles and boosts the volume of your hair. This hydrating shampoo for kinky hair contains castor oil that removes dandruff from your hair and increases blood circulation which helps in new hair growth. In addition, the rose-hip and sesame seed oil also cleans your scalp and reduces hair breakage. The shampoo also is infused with coconut oil that shields your hair from damaging UV rays and prevents discoloration of your curly locks.

Key Ingredients- Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Rose-hip seed oil, Sesame seed oil, Coconut oil.

Pros

  • Promotes hair growth
  • Nourishes hair
  • UV Protectant
  • Pleasant smell
  • Prevents hair discoloration
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free

Cons

  • It does not lather easily
  • Might give a squeaky effect to the hair
Price at the time of publication: $9.99

What To Consider While Choosing Detangling Shampoo For Your Black Hair

  1. Avoid sulfates. Check the ingredient list and pick a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate can easily strip down your hair, causing further damage to your fine and fragile black hair.
  2. You will want a detangling shampoo that leaves your hair hydrated and adds essential moisture to your curls. So, look out for the hydrating shampoos that have listed water as their first ingredient for reducing breakage in black hair.
  3. Look for shampoos that will provide you with a lot of slip. Look for oil ingredients like coconut and argan oils that will detangle your hair while adding moisture to the strands.
  4. If you have dry hair and want a detangling shampoo that can give you intense hydration and get rid of the product/dirt buildup, buy shampoos with high acidic content for transitioning hair into smooth and lucious locks.
  5. Shampoos having mostly natural ingredients restore the natural look of your black hair and leave it shiny and bouncy. Therefore, while finding your most suitable detangling shampoo, ensure to buy those with more natural ingredients that also help with promoting healthy and manageable black hair.

Infographic: DOs And DON’Ts Of Using A Detangling Shampoo In The Shower

Detangling your hair can sometimes feel like a nightmare, especially if it is prone to breakage. You need to be patient and know how to brush a knot away with minimal pressure on the scalp. The infographic below lists a few dos and don’ts of detangling your hair while in the shower to make the process much easier and less stressful. Give it a read.

DOs And DON'Ts Of Using A Detangling Shampoo In The Shower (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

The Bottom Line

A detangling shampoo is essential for people with curly, kinky, and coily hair. Yet, simply detangling will not help. You will need a shampoo that can both detangle and moisturize your hair. You can get detangling products for textured hair with deep conditioning properties. With so many brands in the market, selecting the best fit for your lovely curls is challenging. Thus, this article aims to introduce you to the best detangling shampoos for black hair that will not only smoothen your frizzy curls but also add the right amount of moisture. The Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo tames stubborn tangles and adds moisture to dry and damaged curly hair, while the Shea Moisture Hi-Slip Detangling Shampoo is an anti-shrinkage formula that helps you flaunt your lustrous and tangle-free hair. The listed shampoos will increase hair growth and cleanse the scalp while successfully gently detangling the tough knots of your curly hair.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of the article, Krati Darak, is a certified hair care expert. She spends a lot of time researching the needs and requirements of various hair types. She understands the issues associated with black hair and has listed the best detangling shampoos that can not only leave your hair tangle-free but also retain its natural moisture and health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use detangling shampoo for black hair regularly?

While it is preferable to use a detangling shampoo once or twice a week, there are specific shampoos that can be used daily. It depends on the kind of shampoo you are using. Detangling shampoos that are sulfate-free can be used daily without having to worry about excessive hair loss.

Do detangling shampoos for black hair promote hair growth?

Not all detangling shampoos promote hair growth. Those with oil ingredients, such as castor oil can help increase blood circulation and result in positive hair growth. You can use such ingredient-rich repairing and restoring shampoos for damaged black hair.

Can Detangling shampoos be used as a standalone product?

No, detangling shampoos will give the best results if you apply a detangling conditioner after it. Detangling shampoos can relieve your curly knots during the washing stage, and the conditioner can help to retain the smooth texture of your hair for a long time. Detangling conditioners also add extra moisture to balance the moisture loss during washing.



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