Short answer: On a price-per-ml basis for the ready-to-use product, Groom Professional Knot A Problem (500 ml, €25.05) comes out around 34% cheaper per ml than Artero Matt-X Spray De-Matter (300 ml, €22.65) – the largest per-ml difference among the sprays in the table, comparing ready-to-use against ready-to-use, with no dilution on either side.
How to compare detangling sprays
The first step is to check whether a product is ready-to-use (ready-to-use) or a concentrate that gets diluted before spraying. For an ready-to-use spray the comparable price is simple – the price divided by the stated ml in the bottle. For a concentrate you need to multiply the volume by the number of parts in the label's dilution ratio (water plus 1 part product) to get the volume of ready spray, and only then divide the price by that volume. For example, Bugalugs Tangle Tame 3-in-1 (500 ml, €15.95) is ready to use and can be diluted up to 10:1 – at 10:1, 500 ml makes 5.5 L of ready product, which works out to €2.90 per ready litre – a very different sum from simply dividing price by the bottle's ml. The second step is to check the format: a leave-in spray that stays in the coat solves a different problem from a shampoo or conditioner that gets rinsed out, so the two should not be compared on price alone. Finally, check what the label says about use on a dry or wet coat, since not every spray is meant for both.
Comparison
| Need | Artero product (size, price) | Our product (size, price, dilution) | Comparable measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working out knots and mats – leave-in spray (ready-to-use vs ready-to-use) | Matt-X Spray De-Matter, 300 ml, €22.65, no stated dilution | Groom Professional Knot A Problem, 500 ml, €25.05, ready-to-use | €0.0755/ml vs €0.0501/ml – GP is around 34% cheaper per ml |
| Working out knots and mats – smaller size | Matt-X Spray De-Matter, 300 ml, €22.65 | Groom Professional Knot A Problem, 200 ml, €12.73, ready-to-use | €0.0755/ml vs €0.0637/ml – cheaper in this size too |
| Fragrance-free detangling | Matt-X Spray De-Matter, 300 ml, €22.65 | Bugalugs Fragrance Free Hydrating Detangling Spray, 200 ml, €14.20, ready-to-use | €0.0755/ml vs €0.071/ml – around 6% cheaper per ml |
| Detangling with a probiotic formula | Matt-X Spray De-Matter, 300 ml, €22.65 | Bugalugs Probiotic Detangling Spray, 200 ml, €15.99, ready-to-use | €0.0755/ml vs €0.080/ml – here Matt-X is around 6% cheaper per ml |
| Detangling shampoo for the bath – rinse-out format, not directly comparable to a ready-to-use spray | Artero has no rinse-out detangling shampoo in this category – its only product here is the ready-to-use Matt-X spray | Bugalugs Tangle Tame 3-in-1, 500 ml, €15.95, ready to use, can be diluted up to 10:1 | €2.90 per ready litre at 10:1 |
Prices in Bulgaria as of 02.10.2026; dilution per the manufacturer's directions.
What to check before buying
- Price per ml as sold (for ready-to-use) or price per ready litre after dilution (for a concentrate).
- The dilution ratio the manufacturer states on the label – do not assume a ratio that is not written down.
- Format: leave-in spray versus a shampoo or conditioner that gets rinsed out.
- The label's instructions – for dry coat, wet coat, or both.
- Whether it is fragrance-free or scented, if the animal has sensitive skin or a sensitive nose.
- The date the price was checked – prices change over time.
Our picks by need
For tangles in a long coat: Groom Professional Knot A Problem is an ready-to-use leave-in spray-conditioner that, in the 500 ml size, works out to €0.0501/ml – the cheapest ready-to-use detangling spray we carry.
For a matted coat: with more serious knots, work them out first with a spray and a brush, then bathe with a detangling shampoo that makes the next brush-out easier – water and shampoo tighten mats, so do not leave them until after the bath. Bugalugs Tangle Tame 3-in-1 is ready to use and can be diluted up to 10:1, and Chris Christensen Ice on Ice Detangling Shampoo dilutes at 4:1 per the manufacturer's official data – both are economical per ready litre with regular use.
For daily brushing: for upkeep between baths, Bugalugs One in a Million is an ready-to-use spray with a designer scent that, at 200 ml, works out to €0.071/ml.
For fragrance-free needs: for coats sensitive to perfume, Bugalugs Fragrance Free Hydrating Detangling Spray is an ready-to-use, unscented spray at a similar price per ml.
If you are mainly comparing bath-shampoo cost rather than leave-in sprays, see our cost-per-bath calculator as well.
Suitable products
The full range of detangling sprays is in the Bugalugs – detangling sprays collection.
Read more: Groom Professional: which line is for what and Bugalugs: which line is for what.
Frequently asked questions
Artero or Groom Professional – which detangling spray works out cheaper per ml?
Comparing two ready-to-use sprays – Artero Matt-X Spray De-Matter (300 ml, €22.65, €0.0755/ml) against Groom Professional Knot A Problem (500 ml, €25.05, €0.0501/ml) – GP is around 34% cheaper per ml. Against Bugalugs Probiotic Detangling Spray (200 ml, €15.99, €0.080/ml) it is the other way around – Matt-X is around 6% cheaper per ml.
Can Artero Matt-X be diluted?
The manufacturer states no dilution: Matt-X is a ready-to-use spray-on conditioner sprayed directly onto the matted areas – on a clean wet coat after the bath, or on a dry coat while brushing.
What is the difference between a detangling spray and a detangling shampoo?
A detangling spray is a leave-in product sprayed directly onto the coat. A detangling shampoo, such as Bugalugs Tangle Tame 3-in-1, is applied during the bath (it can also be diluted up to 10:1) and rinsed out like an ordinary shampoo – a different format and a different step in the grooming routine, so their price is not directly comparable per ml.
How should you approach a badly matted coat?
First work the knots out with a detangling spray and a brush or comb (for dense mats, see a groomer), and only then bathe – water and shampoo tighten mats. Detangling shampoos such as Bugalugs Tangle Tame 3-in-1 and Chris Christensen Ice on Ice Detangling Shampoo make brushing easier after the bath. Artero Matt-X is a dematting spray which, according to the manufacturer, is used on a wet coat after the bath or on a dry coat while brushing.
