If you've ever stood behind your daughter with a brush in one hand and a detangling spray in the other while she's crying, wriggling, yelling "stop!", or trying to run away, you're not alone. As a mum of two girls with long hair, I've been there. In fact, it's one of the reasons Bloom Squad® exists.
When my eldest daughter outgrew baby products, I found myself stuck between two worlds. On one side were baby shampoos and 2-in-1 products that no longer met her haircare needs. On the other were adult products packed with ingredients and fragrance systems that I wasn't comfortable using on a young child every day.
What I wanted seemed simple:
A detangling spray that actually worked.
That didn't leave greasy residue behind.
That didn't smell like a perfume counter.
That I felt comfortable using around sensitive skin.
That I felt comfortable spraying around her airways.
As it turns out, finding all of those things in one product wasn't so simple.
What Causes Tangled Hair in Kids?
Most articles will tell you that long hair tangles. That's true, but it's also an oversimplification. In my experience, children's hair tangles because children are busy being children.
They're running around at school. They're climbing, jumping, swimming and playing.
They drag their hair through face paint, craft activities, lunch, sand, dirt and whatever else the day throws at them. Then they spend 10 to 12 hours sleeping, rolling around their pillow all night. By morning, it's often a completely different hairstyle.
Tangles can also be made worse by:
- Dry or dehydrated hair
- Product build-up
- Chlorine exposure
- Salt water exposure
- Incorrect brushing technique
- Inadequate cleansing
- Overwashing with harsh detergents
One thing I've learned from speaking with hairdressers during the development of Bloom Squad® is that tangles are often a symptom, not the root problem. Dryness, build-up and poor haircare routines often sit underneath the surface.
Why Sensitive Skin and Scalps Change Everything
For many families, detangling isn't just about knots. It's also about skin. Over the years, I've spoken with countless parents whose children experience:
- Redness behind the ears
- Itchy scalps
- Fragrance sensitivity
- Eczema flare-ups
- General skin irritation
As someone who has personally suffered from eczema my entire life, this matters deeply to me. Even as I write this, I’m doing so with severe eczema on my hands.
We don't fully understand what causes eczema, but we do know that irritants and allergens can contribute to flare-ups in susceptible individuals. That's why, when you're choosing a detangling spray for sensitive skin (or any bath & body product for that matter) what isn't included can be just as important as what is.
The Mistake Most Parents Make When Choosing a Detangler
When a parent leaves a review saying: "This detangling spray is amazing!" They're usually talking about one thing: Slip. How quickly it removed knots. How easy it made brushing. And honestly? That's completely fair. A detangling spray needs to detangle. But here's the question I always ask: What happens after the first spray?
Because a detangling spray isn't usually a once-a-month product. It's often used every morning. Every school day. Every swimming lesson. Every dance class. Every sports day. When a product becomes part of your child's daily routine, I think it's worth considering more than just immediate performance.
Questions I'd be asking include:
- What ingredients are creating the slip?
- Does it leave residue behind?
- Is it contributing to build-up over time?
- How strong is the fragrance system?
- Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
- Is it helping the hair, or simply masking the problem?
My Personal Checklist for Sensitive Skin
Parents often ask me: "What should I look for in a detangling spray for sensitive skin?" The honest answer is that there isn't one magic claim you can trust.
For example, "Dermatologically Tested" simply means the product was tested. It doesn't necessarily tell you the outcome. Instead, I'd encourage parents to:
- Look beyond front-of-pack marketing claims
- Read ingredient lists where possible
- Be mindful of fragrance allergens if sensitivities are present
- Consider whether the product is intended for frequent daily use
- Monitor how your child's skin responds after use
Most importantly: Trust your observations.
If your child consistently experiences redness, itching, irritation or discomfort after using a product, don't ignore it.
What I Learned While Formulating Bloom Squad®
Creating a detangling spray was much harder than I expected. The biggest challenge wasn't creating slip. The biggest challenge was creating slip without relying on ingredients that didn't align with our formulation standards.
Many detangling products achieve their performance through heavy coatings, silicones, mineral oils or synthetic additives. We wanted to achieve exceptional detangling performance while taking a different approach.
Then there was the scent.
Children deserve products that feel special. That help improve the sensory experience. But I also didn't want a detangler that reeked of a perfume counter. As mums, we spend half our lives kissing the tops of our children's heads. I wanted something mild. Something pleasant. Something that didn't linger aggressively all day. Something children loved and parents loved too.
Then we had to balance:
- Performance
- Stability
- Australian manufacturing
- Ingredient philosophy
- Cost
And somehow make it all work together.
The Most Meaningful Customer Feedback Has Nothing To Do With Hair
Some of the most memorable stories I've heard from customers weren't about smoother hair. They were about calmer mornings. They were about children who used to cry when the brush came out. Children who would run away. Children who hated having their hair done. And then, gradually, those moments changed. Not because their hair suddenly became perfect. But because brushing stopped being a battle.
The best feedback isn't: "My daughter's hair looks amazing." It's: "My daughter doesn't cry anymore." Or: "Our mornings are much less stressful." Or: "She actually enjoys doing her hair now." Because at the end of the day, haircare isn't really about hair. It's about the relationship. It's about turning a moment of conflict into a moment of care.
If I Had 30 Seconds In The Haircare Aisle
If I was standing in a pharmacy today choosing a detangling spray for a child with sensitive skin, I'd keep it simple.
I'd ask three questions:
1. Where is it made?
Manufacturing standards matter. I personally prefer products manufactured in Australia, where I understand the regulatory environment and manufacturing expectations.
2. Does the ingredient list align with my values?
Every family has different standards. Know yours. Then choose products that reflect them.
3. Am I buying this because it's cheap?
Price isn't everything. But when something is dramatically cheaper than everything else on the shelf, it's worth asking why.
So, What Is The Best Detangling Spray For Kids With Sensitive Skin?
The best detangling spray is the one that achieves three things:
First, it actually detangles.
Second, it doesn't create new problems while solving the original one.
Third, it's something you feel comfortable reaching for every single day.
Because that's the reality of children's haircare. It's not about one brush. It's about thousands of brushes. Thousands of mornings. Thousands of moments.
As a founder, a mum, and someone who has spent years researching children's haircare, that's the standard I believe a detangling spray should meet. Not just fewer tangles, fewer worries, too.
