November 26, 2019

Product Review: Equifuse Gleam vs Cowboy Magic Detangler

Earlier this year, Aimee convinced me to give Equifuse Gleam Moisturizer and Shine Serum a try.  I think the conversation was about how to keep his tail from getting tangled with the least amount of effort this winter.


I had used Cowboy Magic's detangler in the past, and I hated it.  It detangled all right, but it took a literal handful of product to work, it attracted dirt like mad, and it left my hands with this slicker-than-snot feeling that I could.not.get.off.  I left a slippery, slimy trail of gross doorknobs and brushes at the barn every time I used it, which drove me so crazy I eventually stopped using it.

Did not like at all

Equifuse Gleam is the polar opposite of Cowboy Magic's detangler in every way.  Connor's entire, massive tail takes 2-3 quarter-sized amounts, because you can just keep working it with your hands and it keeps getting distributed further and further throughout the tail.

Almost immediately I can run a comb through the tail.  No joke - this is a tail that without Equifuse Gleam takes me 45 minutes to hand-pick, but with it, it takes just a few minutes to detangle it to the point you can run your fingers through it. 

BEHOLD.  No filter.

It also keeps his tail detangled and feeling amazing for weeks at a time.  Just for one example, I pulled him out of the field for a saddle fitting without having touched or combed his tail in a week and I could still run my fingers through it.  If you know this horse, you know his tail typically devolves into dreadlocks immediately after I detangle it, so that's notable.

That tail is like a second being floating behind his body

On the surface, it appears to be more expensive than Cowboy Magic (Gleam is $16.95 for 8oz, Cowboy Magic is $22.95 for 16oz), but with how little Equifuse Gleam and how much Cowboy Magic it takes to do his whole tail, I estimate that the cost-per-use is lower with Equifuse Gleam.  Plus the Equifuse Gleam keeps his tail detangled for so much longer than Cowboy Magic, so I'm using it less often.

Closeup

It also doesn't build up in the tail.  I've used it multiple times since his last bath, which was six weeks ago, and it seems to just slowly fade away between uses.  That tells me it's probably water soluble, which means there probably aren't any silicones in it  (which slowly build up in the tail over time because they aren't water soluble and can only be removed by detergents - they're not bad in and of themselves, you just need to understand them to be able to use them effectively.)  Update: it does contain silicones and will therefore need to be washed out with a detergent-containing shampoo. However, it does not build up quickly like Cowboy Magic does, so I still think this is a great choice for the winter months This makes it a great choice for the five months out of the year we can't bathe here.

All in all, this is my new secret weapon for tail detangling.  I got it for easy winter grooming, and it's great for that, but I'm going to use it year-round for sure. 

Bottom line: This works better than Cowboy Magic, and is effectively cheaper even though it appears to be more expensive at first glance.  I can't live without it now.

Price: $16.95 for 8oz
Where to Buy: Riding Warehouse

27 comments:

  1. Cool - good info! I have a bottle of gleam kicking around, but I was trying to make myself use up the cowboy magic before trying the other one. I'm totally going to switch now and see if it works on Fred's 5ft long tail!

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    1. I'll be curious to hear what you think of it!

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  2. I am a huge fan of Equifuse Gleam...and it smells good too! Never used Cowboy Magic. Glad it is working for Connor's Fabio-like locks!

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    1. It does! My barnmate was walking through the barn when I was doing Connor's tail last week and he was like "Ooooh what is that good smell?" Not something you hear in the barn that often, lol

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  3. I will definitely try it. I do NOT like Cowboy Magic, I have okay luck with Mane & Tail but it builds up in his tail, which I do not like...

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    1. I've never tried Mane & Tail's detangler, but that's good to know

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  4. I LOVE this stuff!! It has also replaced Cowboy Magic for me which was previously the best detangler I’d used.

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    1. I have no idea how you would continue to use it after trying both, glad you like it!

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  5. I know what I'm getting for black friday

    (gleam. and a wide tooth comb.)

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  6. Thanks for the review. I didn't find Cowboy Magic to work well at all on my horses, and I felt pretty discouraged because it got such good reviews. Guess I'll have to check out the Equifuse. Your horse's tail is absolutely gorgeous!

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    1. I felt the same way, the reviews were so good but I found very little to like about it. The Equifuse would be a good thing to pick up on Black Friday if you're wanting to try it!

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  7. I've been a huge fan of Gleam since it came out, their product line is amazing. I used to use cowboy magic too but always hated how it smelled. Glad you love the product too!

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    1. I thought of you as I wrote this review. I think I'm about to spiral into a big rabbit hole of Equifuse products, lol

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  8. Replies
    1. Everyone who has a horse needs this! Happy black Friday?

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  9. I am SO glad you posted this! So many of your reviews have been super helpful for me (looking at you Savvy Feeder lol). I have bee using Equifuse shampoo and conditioner, but I have not tried the Gleam, thinking it was like Cowboy Magic detangler which I DESPISE.

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    1. I'm so glad they're helpful! I tend to dramatically overthink and over-research decisions, so I'm glad more people can benefit from that than just me. Definitely give this a shot, I can virtually guarantee you'll like it.

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  10. The cowboy magic stuff does not work on Carmen's tail at all. I have used equimist Canter mane and tail and it works really well. I'd like to try this stuff too.

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  11. I THOUGHT I wanted a magnificent tail until I realized how much work it is.

    Smartpak has the list of ingredients and the first three are silicones. Connor's shampoo should dissolve them just fine unless he's a curly girl, too.

    Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Macadamia Tenifolia Seed Oil, Fragrance

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    1. It's really no work at all, you'd be surprised! Good to know, I'll have to keep an eye out for buildup.

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  12. I still use old fashioned show sheen, so maybe it's time I try something new?

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    1. I would. This works just as well at getting them shiny as SS, but does a much better job detangling. There is also an Equifuse shine spray, although I haven't used it.

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    2. Eh, I don't use for the shine, just the ease of brushing. Will put this on the Chanukah list!

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  13. Thanks so much for another useful review! Val's tail is a twin to Connor's in abundance and color. I just finished my bottle of Manna Pro spray in conditioner, which didn't build up, smelled fantastic, detangled like nobody's business - and is of course discontinued. Or at least my research skills are not up to finding it anywhere on the internet. Putting this in my cart on Friday for sure!

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  14. I love all the Equifuse stuff. Have you tried the rehydrinse. It's amazing.

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    1. I haven't, but it's on my list for when it warms up!

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