We’ve rounded up the best plaiting products, including sprays, gels, mousses and waxes, to help you avoid stray hairs and keep your horse’s plaits tidy.
A good plaiting spray will provide the perfect grip to make plaiting a horse’s mane easier without leaving the hair tacky or greasy. Most can be applied to wet or dry hair, and will add volume and shine as well as saving you valuable time.
Best plaiting sprays for horses
Supreme Products Easy Plait
Sizes: 500ml, 5l
Keep plaits looking neat and pristine with this spray from Supreme Products, even when plaiting up the night before or when doing back-to-back competitions.
It’s quick and easy, non-tacky and non-greasy, and can be used on wet or dry hair. It can also be used on the tail to help aid grip when pulling.
Smart Grooming Plaiting Gel
Sizes: 100g
This plaiting gel from Smart grooming is great when you want a bit more grip and control while plaiting. It helps keep the hair manageable as you plait, with a light tackiness that makes it easier to hold sections neatly and keep everything in place.
The clear gel works well for taming stray hair and unruly manes. It also adds a nice shine without leaving the mane sticky or attracting dust.
Hy Equestrian Magic Hold Plaiting Spray
Sizes: 500ml
A time-saving formula that every horse owner needs, this formulation from Hy leaves a non-greasy finish, while giving extra grip for plaiting, making it an easier job. It can be used with either a damp or dry mane and combs out easily after use.
Leovet 5-Star Braiding Gel
Sizes: 200ml
This Leovet gel helps plaits stay in place for longer while caring for the mane. It is specially developed to detangle long hairs, giving the mane better body and more hold for braiding without stickiness. Rub a small amount in the mane before plaiting to encourage grip.
NAF Plait It Up Mousse
Sizes: 500ml
This easy-to-use mouse ensures a sleek finish that is formulated to hold firm and helps to keep the wisps and strays at bay for perfect show-stopping plaits every time.
Smart Grooming Plaiting Wax
Sizes: 75g
This easy-to-use plaiting wax is designed to make plaiting easier, helping you achieve a neater, more professional finish with less effort. It works by smoothing down flyaways, adding subtle shine and keeping the hair tidy and easier to manage, without leaving it too slippery to plait.
It’s enriched with argan oil to condition the hair and leave the mane looking healthy.
Nettex Plaiting Spray
Sizes: 200ml
This formula from Nettex gives the perfect grip to make plaiting manes and tails easier, which makes plaiting quick and easy without damaging the hair.
It doesn’t dry out or split the hairs, just simply brushes out easily after plaits are removed leaving hair soft and manageable. If someone has recommended “Lynn Russell Quick Plait”, this is the product they mean.
Quick Knot Braiding Wax Stick
Sizes: 40ml
Whether prepping for competition the night before or maintaining a tidy look, this compact push-up wax stick delivers professional results every time even controlling the finest, most unruly mane hairs.
Formulated with shea butter, beeswax, and jojoba oil. Its lightweight yet effective formula not only secures plaits in place but also nourishes and moisturises the mane, ensuring a naturally healthy shine. Easy to apply and mess-free.
Shapley’s Mane Mousse
Sizes: 14oz
This mousse from Shapley’s will really help to save you time. It gives you more control without being sticky, allowing you to grip the hair easily. It helps to keep plaits tight and neat, with stray hairs at a minimum even in humid or windy weather.
This product can also be used to train manes over and keep long unplaited manes and tails in place. It can be applied to wet or dry hair and will add volume and shine to hair. It can also be used on feathered legs to create fullness.
What you need in a plaiting kit
Whether you prefer to plait using a needle and thread or use rubber bands for convenience, you need a lot more than that in your plaiting kit to make the process quick and easy.
We recommended the following, but if you’re just starting out you can also buy a complete plaiting kit (like this one) with everything you need:
- waxed plaiting thread
- large flat needles with large eyes
- a small sharp pair of scissors
- pack of strong rubber plaiting bands (like these, which are available in a range of colours)
Once you’ve added plaiting spray or gel, coat shine spray and mane and tail detangler to your grooming kit bag, you’re ready to head to the show.
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