Can this conditioner replace a detangling spray for morning knots on dry hair?

This product is designed to be applied to wet, freshly washed hair, left for about a minute, and then rinsed out thoroughly. The conditioning agents work by depositing a thin smoothing film while the hair cuticle is still open from washing; they are not formulated to stay on dry hair without leaving residue or a stiff feel once the water evaporates.

For morning tangles on dry hair, the practical approach is different: lightly mist the hair with plain water (or a water–conditioner dilution in a spray bottle — roughly 1 part conditioner to 10 parts water), then comb through with a wide-tooth comb starting at the ends and working upward. This reactivates some slip without the heaviness of a full leave-in product. If knots are a daily battle, a dedicated children's leave-in detangling spray (formulated to stay on the hair) will be more effective and less messy than adapting a rinse-out conditioner.

Using a rinse-out conditioner as a leave-in on dry hair can also make the scalp feel itchy or the roots look oily by midday, since the product isn't designed for prolonged contact without rinsing.