How to make the tail soft!

Alright my peeps, I have a question!

So, I've used so many different things to try to make my mare's tail soft, and it seems like they'll work for about a week and then her tail just dries out and gets all tangled up again. First off, I don't like to brush the tail, I usually just pick through it with my fingers because her tail's not all that thick to begin with and the last thing I need is a brush ripping out pieces of it!

Anyway, I have used:

Showsheen
Canter Mane & Tail
Eqyss Marigold spray
Eqyss Avacado Mist Detangler
My own concoction of diluted hair conditioner
Infusium 23 spray
Vetrolin detangler spray

The ones in blue above were the worst "offenders" for making her tail dry out after a few uses, and the best one out of all of them was the one in green...unfortunately also the most expensive!

I try to just rinse her tail off with water every day or so if it gets mud on it since the mud dries the heck of her tail too, but I try not to really shampoo it much since I don't want to strip it of its natural oils.

Anyway, anyone have any other product ideas for me?? (oh and tail bag isn't an option, she ALWAYS finds a way to get those out lol)

Cowboy Magic

All of the Xtreme products are wonderful - Saddle and Tack Warehouse – Xtreme Design Silky Shine And Detangler (Horse Grooming Supplies, Detanglers)

Have you ever tried to use conditioner on it after you shampoo it? Also leave in conditioner products work well..ones that you use on humans. You can also try warm olive oil, just put it in when it's wet and rinse it out.

But to keep the tail nice and soft you should brush it to get the tangles out.

Oh yes, I always condition after I shampoo, which makes it soft but it only lasts about a day ;)

Hmm warm olive oil, never heard of that! I'll have to look into that one!

Ya know, my friend was just putting some Cowboy Magic in her horse's tail the other day and I commented on how nice and soft it made it!! Why did I not think of this?? Ugh, brain must be frying in this heat lol

I use Loreal Kids Detangler on my guy's tail and occasionally will mix in some Showsheen on days I really want him to sparkle. It seems to work well and hasn't dried out his tail at all. Best thing is it's only $3-$4 a bottle.

I second the Cowboy Magic. Works like a dream.

If you have access to a regis salon they have a line called Designline there is an olive oil shampoo and conditioner I knew what it did for my color damaged hair (cosmetology school) I used it on all of mine it left them soft and full of shine very healthy looking coats mane and tails.

As you found with the Showsheen, anythign with Silicone in it will make the tail look and feel nice, but when it wears off the tail is in much worse shape.

I believe Cowboy Magic also has silicone in it (Which sucks, because we just got some in at work, and it looks so cool and smells so nice, but I won't use it because of the silicone :[).

I'm just about to drop a lot of $$$ on the range of Eqyss products - I'm lessening the blow because i'm going to try it on my own hair as well! It's all safe for human use as well as horse use. I'm getting the premier shampoo and cream rinse, the premier spray, the Mega-Tek rebuilder. Later on if I like it I will get the Mega-Tek shampoo, Survivor detangler, and maybe the marigold and avicado sprays.

Keep doing what you are doing with just washing it with water, concentrating on the roots.

I will never again use any product on my geldings tail. Its soft flowing, and gleaming now. Using your fingers is good as well for helping the natural oils slide down the hair, protecting and softening it.

For brushing it- brush it after you've washed it down. Hair stretches when it's wet, instead of just breaking. :)