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Equate

Baby Tear-Free Detangler Spray

Leave-in / Light leave-in, lightweight

  • Leave-in
  • spray
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
Size10 fl oz
Price$2.73 Good valueseen at one store · 10 oz
Price / oz$0.27/ozat 10 oz
Where to buy1 store

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Listing used for research: walmart.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.

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  • Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.

$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates

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Lower cost than most leave-ins

$0.27/oz at 10 oz, less than 100% of the 749 leave-ins , which mostly run $1.31–5.50/oz.

Price and stores

Great for

Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Cuticle-smoothing pHa pH adjuster brings it to the acidic range hair prefers
Tight budgetsit sits in the lower price tiers

Maybe skip if

this product has a scent
Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
Coarse, very dry hairthis is a light formula for its category
Picking it up locallywe’ve only seen it sold in one channel

Whether this weight suits your hair depends on density, porosity and how much you already layer. That is what the consultation looks at.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Slip and detangling High

Conditioning agents sit high in the list, so this is a detangling formula.

Water-binding (humectants) Low

Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Needs detergent to remove Yes

Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.

Fragrance Present

Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
Water solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Dimethicone silicone Smooths the cuticle and adds shine Buildup
Behentrimonium Methosulfate conditioning agent Conditions and softens so hair combs through Detangles
Sodium Benzoate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Hydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride conditioning agent Adds slip, lower in the list Detangles
Polysorbate 20 solubilizer Helps dissolve the oils Stabilizes
Cetearyl Alcohol fatty alcohol Body and a little conditioning Softens
Trisiloxane silicone A little smoothing and shine Buildup
Fragrance fragrance The scent Fragrance
Potassium Sorbate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Cyclotetrasiloxane silicone A little smoothing and shine Buildup
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates or drying alcohols. No protein: a moisture formula, not a repair one. Fragrance is on the label. Water-insoluble silicones that need a detergent wash to remove.
Full ingredient list (16)

In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.

  • 1 Water
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Dimethicone
    General function

    The most common conditioning silicone. It coats the strand for shine, slip, and frizz control, and needs a detergent (not just water) to wash out.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Lays a smooth film along the cuticle, which lowers combing friction and flattens the surface irregularities that read as frizz.

    May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Dimethicone does not disperse in water. On a routine that skips detergent it stays on the hair and accumulates wash after wash.

    • silicone
    • emollient
    • conditioning agent
  • 3 Behentrimonium Methosulfate
    General function

    A mild cationic conditioner known for heavy detangling with a light rinse-out feel. Common in curly-hair conditioners.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    A C22 conditioning quat, the chain length that deposits most heavily in electrokinetic testing. It is the slip coarse or porous hair usually needs, delivered by chain length rather than by charge alone.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    The class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science
    • conditioning agent
    • emulsifier
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 4 Sodium Benzoate
    General function

    A food-grade preservative that works only in acidic formulas, which is why it usually appears alongside citric acid.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 5 Hydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride
    General function

    A positively charged conditioning agent. Damaged hair carries a negative charge, so it deposits where the damage is and makes wet hair comb through.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    • conditioning agent
  • 6 Polysorbate 20
    General function

    Keeps fragrance and oils dissolved in a watery formula so it stays clear.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    • solubilizer
    • emulsifier
  • 7 Cetearyl Alcohol
    General function

    A waxy fatty alcohol - nothing like drying alcohol. It gives conditioners their body and leaves a soft, smoothing film on the hair.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    The waxy solid that gives a conditioner its body. It deposits a soft lubricating layer, which is most of what makes hair feel smooth after rinsing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Deposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.

    PubChem
    • fatty alcohol
    • emollient
    • thickener
  • 8 Trisiloxane
    General function

    A very light silicone that spreads instantly and evaporates, used for slip without weight.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    It leaves the hair by evaporating rather than by being washed off, so it is not part of what accumulates.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    A cyclic silicone evaporates after it has spread the formula, so it carries the other ingredients without leaving weight behind.

    PubChem
    • silicone
    • emollient
  • 9 Citric Acid
    General function

    Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    The acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.

    May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator
  • 10 Fragrance
    General function

    An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.

    • fragrance
    • declared fragrance
  • 11 Ceteth-10
    • emulsifier
  • 12 Laureth-4
    • emulsifier
  • 13 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 14 Hexylene Glycol
    General function

    A solvent that keeps other ingredients dissolved and helps preservatives work.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    PubChem
    • solvent
    • humectant
  • 15 Phenoxyethanol
    • preservative
  • 16 Cyclotetrasiloxane
    General function

    A very light evaporating silicone used as a spreading agent.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    It leaves the hair by evaporating rather than by being washed off, so it is not part of what accumulates.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    A cyclic silicone evaporates after it has spread the formula, so it carries the other ingredients without leaving weight behind.

    PubChem
    • silicone
    • emollient

What the whole list adds up to

  • 4 emollients
  • 4 emulsifiers
  • 3 silicones
  • 3 preservatives
  • 2 solvents
  • 2 conditioning agents
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 solubilizer
  • 1 fatty alcohol
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 pH adjuster
  • 1 hard-water chelator
  • 1 fragrance
  • 1 declared fragrance

Ingredient list captured 2026-10-03. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 10 oz

Seen at $2.73 1 store · checked Oct 22
Good value under $8 Under $0.80/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 7 products we score as doing the same job

Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $8 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $12 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 10 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Seen at $2.73 is the price we have observed for the 10 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $8 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.80/oz; at 10 oz that is $8. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $12 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 10 oz.

Formula

Formula score
9 of 10

It carries the working systems a leave-in needs and still sits in the lower part of the price range for leave-ins per ounce.

How the score is counted
  • Costs less per ounce than 100% of the 749 leave-ins we’ve priced
  • Covers 5 of the 6 things a leave-in should do
  • Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
  • Value tier, sold at Grocery / mass
  • Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.2 pts
  • A light baseWater or a volatile carrier first, so it does not weigh hair down.2 pts
  • Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
  • No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job

Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.

SuaveLowest cost per oz Kids Purely Fun Jojoba Oil Hair Detangler Spray $0.70/oz $0.43/oz more
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
· Close function
Function
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Oils and butters
Also
  • Floral scent
  • Cruelty-free
  • Drugstore tier
Compare
SuaveClose function Kids Detangler with 100% Natural Marigold $0.72/oz $0.45/oz more
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
Function
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Oils and butters
Also
  • Drugstore tier
Compare
Paul MitchellClose function The Detangler $3.20/oz $2.93/oz more
  • Protein-free
  • Alcohol-free
  • Medium weight
Function
  • Oils and butters
  • Weight on the hair
Also
  • Cruelty-free
  • Drugstore tier
  • 2.5 oz bottle
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Good for the right person
Best user

Hair that stiffens on protein, for a protein-free formula and real detangling slip

Biggest tradeoff

Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, curly-method routines, or soft, over-stretchy hair that needs protein

Best alternative if not

Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
0
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Equate Baby Tear-Free Detangler Spray gently helps untangle your child's delicate hair while keeping it soft and manageable. This no-tears formula is carefully tested to be mild enough for daily use on newborns and older children, providing a gentle, effective way to manage knots and prevent breakage. Simply spray on wet or dry hair and comb through to make brushing easier. Equate Baby Tear-Free Detangler Spray keeps hair silky, smooth, and tangle-free, so your child can enjoy soft, healthy hair and you can enjoy stress-free grooming every day. Making the right health decisions can be challenging. With a complete range of products and simple solutions, Equate allows you to take care of your family with confidence. Equate Baby Tear-Free Detangler Spray, 10 fl oz Compare to Johnson's No More Tangles Detangling Spray No-tears, paraben-free, and carefully tested for mildness Helps prevent knots, tangles, and hair breakage Can be used on wet or dry hair Provides silkier, tangle-free hair

No parabens appear in the ingredient list.

—

Supported

Preserved without parabens.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.

Many reviewers find knots easier to brush out, including adults and children with curly or coarse hair.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

Reviewers frequently describe good value compared with higher-priced detanglers.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

Hair feel varies: several describe lightness or no residue, while one reports greasy hair after using a large amount.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

More from Equate

How this page was made

  • Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 3 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 2 retailer, 1 editorial), last checked 2026-10-22.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 6 of 8 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
  • We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-10-22.

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