Best Detangler (silicone-free please)

[KarinUS]

Any recommendations in regards to detanglers (mane and tail)?
I don't care if it's made for horses, home-made or made for people. My only criteria is silicone-free please! :)

I used to wonder what the fuss was all about when I just had a TB and a QH to groom but now I have a draft cross with a massive, thick, wavy tail. So I need something affordable (because I might be using large amounts) and effective.

[pinkypug1]

I have used Mr sheen furniture polish on my horses tail and i know lots of others who use it too! Makes it soft, shinny tangle free and smells lovely :)

[RobaDob]

NAF detangler - works a treat on my boys thick, cobby type tail :D

[Stormin]

Dunno if you'll find one completely silicone-free but there are alternatives to Canter mane and tail which I personally find horrible.

I've already used (human) Schwarzkopf spray in detangler (for long hair), smells nice but I guess as costly as the equivalent quantity of horsey stuff.

I now use Stubben detangler which is blue. It smells "strong" the first time but great detangling (I have a QH and arab, both full manes !) and even calms summer itchy midgy manes. Exists in 500 ml spray or 1 litre refill - very good value for money.

Otherwise a weekly shampoo is often a bit help ;)

[Lubii]

oil =\ as in cooking oil vege based is best such as canola, sunflowed rice bran etc.

[KarinUS]

I think most furniture polish has silicone in it.
The Mr Sheen range contains a unique blend of silicones, waxes and solvents that work to provide easy cleaning and polishing to help deliver a lasting protective shine. Specially selected citrus and floral fragrances are used in the formulation to evoke the ambience of a freshly cleaned home.
I live in Texas (sun, sun sun). I only made the mistake of using silicone products on my horses tail for the first few years... until I figured out that sun on silicone (or mineral oil) just fries the tail hair on a bay horse into a crisp brown mess in a jiffy! :eek:
I actually had to dye it black to look halfway decent when we were still showing...

Don't know if I can get Schwarzkopf here but Stubben sounds promising!
Thanks :)

[Grace O'Malley]

Have you tried "Cowboy Magic" (http://www.cowboymagic.com/products-detangler-shine.html)? The ingredients are listed on the webpage and silicone is not included. A friend of mine had some of this and let my try it. The tangles just fell out of Morocha's tail. I've been using "Mane and Tail" detangler, but I think the Cowboy Magic is better.

[Gurnosstud]

Cowboy Magic is the best I've tried, and I like the idea that its in like a gel, not a spray as my horse hates sprays.

[coyote]

i use "mr sheen" all the time,especially for shows.
pig oil and sulpher is fab on manes and tails too,you can run your fingers through the thickest tail with it on,stops poos stains too .:D

[zippytys]

Another vote for Cowboy Magic!!! It's the best Ive ever used, and it smells nice too!! :)

ETA You can get it in a spray now aswell if your not keen on the gel.

[molly34]

Leovet make a "power detangler" specifically for dark hair and I love it. Smells quite nutty, and includes UV filters to help combat sun bleaching.

[eventerbabe]

another vote for cowboy magic. It's the best conditioner i've used for my horses thick manes and tails. Keeps then tangle free for several days too :)

[Tatooed Lady]

I've got a Percheron with super thick mane and (now) tail. I started using MTG the beginning of January, and although it's oily, it really seems to help cut through the tangles and the crud that builds up and dries to her tail. The one thing to be careful about is that the label states clearly NOT to apply it and then turn out immediately into sunlight. So, later in the day would work well, I think. It's applied once per week, if you follow directions.
It also works on the feathers, and keeps the skin from drying out. ;)

[Lucyad]

Have you tried baby oil (test for sensitivty first as is perfumed) or pig oil? I have been using these over winter, with success, though used Canter previously and found it very good (think it has silicone in it though).

[capalldubh]

Rather than spend $$ on Cowboy Magic, I read the ingredients, went to Walmart (called Asda over here) and read more labels. Alberto VO5 Leave-in Conditioner for long hair has pretty much the same ingredients, and costs (I would estimate) $4. My horse smells lovely as a result and his mane and tail only need doing about every two to three weeks, despite living out in a swamp and getting bits of gorse and twig caught in it all the time :D

[eventerbabe]

cowboy magic smells lovely too ya know ;) it's also excpetionally economical. In 5 years i've used only a bottle and a half! and that's with 2 native types.

[smaggi]

I mix baby oil, hair conditioner, and water. It works great.

[KarinUS]

smaggi,
maybe you could try some sunflower oil or something instead of the baby oil? Baby oil is generally just mineral oil. Mineral oil basically just sits on top and does not get absorbed. It's used so much because it's so cheap. In fact it's more expensive to dispose of than it is to buy. It's a waste product from making petroleum/gasoline, etc.
I wouldn't use it on my (human) baby and probably would look for another alternative for my horse.
I am afraid the mineral oil would just act like a lens on top of the hair and fry it in the sun similar to silicone. Not to mention how much of a dust trap it would be.

I do like the idea of having something with UV protection in it! But I've never seen Leovet stuff here... They do have Cowboy Magic though and it's relatively affordable.

Capalldubh,
how clever! We do have Alberto stuff here. I might check it out too!

[showjumper-zoe]

I mix baby oil, hair conditioner, and water. It works great.

I tried that once as an experiment it was disgusting, I'll stick to show sheen, canter coat shine/mane & tail and cowby magic lol

[Joyscarer]

i use "mr sheen" all the time,especially for shows.
pig oil and sulpher is fab on manes and tails too,you can run your fingers through the thickest tail with it on,stops poos stains too .:D


Another vote for the piggy oil treatment.

I did Joys mane about 3 weeks ago by dipping my brush in the piggy stuff and brushing through and am just thinking about doing it again now.

[molly34]

I do like the idea of having something with UV protection in it! But I've never seen Leovet stuff here...
I didn't think of that, sorry! :o

[holz]

I have used Mr sheen furniture polish on my horses tail and i know lots of others who use it too! Makes it soft, shinny tangle free and smells lovely :)

I use mr sheen aswell. Everyone laughs at me but its the same as the canter stuff and so much cheaper.

[coyote]

I use mr sheen aswell. Everyone laughs at me but its the same as the canter stuff and so much cheaper.

yep 86p a can.:D

[KarinUS]

I can see why the silicone would be less bothersome in a place less hot and sunny but does it not concern you that it has other solvents and chemicals in it?

[devonlass]

Must admit I would be worried about using anything like mr sheen,what if it got on their skin??
I guess it must be ok as so many of you have used it,I am probably a little over cautious about stuff like this due to my own VERY sensitive skin:rolleyes:

I have used tea tree oil leave in conditioner which worked well and had the added bonus of being a fly repellant!!

[KarinUS]

Two down. One to go. I took OH with me to the feedstore (he pays if I take him along :D) and got the whole Cowboy Magic set: Rosewater Shampoo (free with detangler purchase!) and Conditioner and the Detangler.
I only used the detangler today and started with the Percheron cross. It turned out nice. My TB is such a jealous boy so I had to do him do. The QuarterHorse was filthy and I need to wash her first. it was too alte for that so I will have a go at it Saturday...

[ariano15]

Eqyss detangler without doubt!

According to horse and hound it was the best showing product of last year!

It's expensive - about £8 a bottle I think - but amazing and completely silicone free which is the main thing :) You only use a tiny bit and the mane or tail stays detangled for ages...........

http://www.tailgator.co.uk/tg/pages/eqysssurvivorequine.html