This homemade hair conditioner recipe is actually a leave-in conditioner that uses all-natural ingredients to promote soft, shiny, healthy hair, and repair split ends.
One of the questions I was recently asked on my YouTube channel was if I could recommend any hair conditioner recipes, other than apple cider vinegar (which has been my go-to for years now), that would help to nourish hair.
Homemade conditioners can vary hugely from apple cider vinegar to coconut oil. I’ve even heard of smearing egg whites and/or avocado on hair to repair and restore damaged hair. While these DIY options may prove quite effective, they can be really messy to use.
Some even find that apple cider vinegar (ACV) can dry out their hair if used too much, so this homemade leave-in hair conditioner can be a really great alternative.
It’s really simple to make and moisturises dry hair naturally, leaving soft, silky, shiny hair as a result.
Why Conditioner is So Important for Hair
The reason why conditioner is so important when it comes to hair care is it helps replenish hair of its natural oils after the shampoo has stripped these oils away during the cleaning process. Our hair follicles make sebum (oil) which moisturises and repairs damaged hair and split ends. However, too much sebum gives hair that greasy look. Not what we want.
Typical store bought conditioners have a thick, lotion-y consistency to them but wash away and don’t result in build-up on hair. While some homemade hair conditioners can leave build-up on the scalp and hair cuticles, making hair feel greasy when it’s just been cleaned. Not what we’re after.
I wanted to create a recipe that didn’t need replacing every couple of days, and that didn’t leave build-up on hair.
As we all have different hair types, this recipe can be customised so it meets your specific hair needs. It may take some time (and a little trial and error) to find your perfect conditioner recipe, but the base is the same.
Ingredients Used in this Conditioner
The following ingredients have been specifically chosen for their hair nourishing properties.
Castor Oil
This oil is great for the scalp and helps encourage hair growth while reducing breakage, and dandruff, along with many other benefits.
Argan Oil
This oil helps to repair dry, damaged hair and reduce frizz (plus adds shine).
Jojoba Oil
Technically a wax, not an oil, jojoba closely mimics our own sebum (oil). It helps to moisturise without leaving an overly greasy look on hair, and may help reduce frizz.
Glycerin
Glycerin helps capture moisture and incorporate it into the hair. However, in extreme weather conditions such as extremely dry or humid climates, it can be problematic and can either pull moisture from the hair, leaving it even more dry and brittle, or leave hair feeling sticky. But, for those living in more stable environments, glycerin (in small amounts) should be okay.
Emulsifying Wax
This ingredient enables the oil and water to mix together properly, creating a thick, creamy consistency.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are wonderful for giving a beautiful scent to the conditioner (and in turn, your locks), but also provide an array of benefits for hair, too. Our Oily House shares the ten best essential oils for hair here.
Choice of Preservatives
If you’re wanting to use a preservative in this conditioner recipe to increase the shelf-life, Leucidal Complete is highly recommended as it contains all-natural ingredients. It needs to be used at two to four percent to be effective, so I’ve included it at four percent in the recipe below. Leucidal has also been approved by ECOcert (a certification for organic products). The shelf-life of this conditioner is hard to pin-point exactly as it’s not sent to a lab for testing, however, adding a preservative and minimising contact with water will help it to last up to several months. If excluding the preservative, I do not recommend keeping it for more than a week.
As this recipe calls for water, the water used needs to be clean and microbe-free. Distilled water is best, but boiled filtered water is also fine.
Mommypotamus also shares a wonderful natural leave-in hair conditioner using just coconut milk.
Before we get started in learning how to make this natural homemade hair conditioner, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!
Homemade Leave-in Hair Conditioner
By using a pump bottle or a squeeze bottle, it will help reduce unnecessary contact with the conditioner, increasing the shelf-life.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup distilled or boiled filtered water or peppermint or tea tree hydrosol
- 1 tsp jojoba oil
- 1 tsp argan oil or castor oil
- 1 tsp cocoa butter
- 1 tsp glycerin (optional)
- 3 tsp emulsifying wax
- 1 tsp leucidal complete preservative (optional)
- 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
- 20-40 drops essential oils (optional)
To make:
- In a heat-proof glass bowl placed on top of a saucepan filled with water (making a double boiler), add in the jojoba oil, argan oil, cocoa butter, glycerin, and emulsifying wax, and bring the water to a boil.
- Stir the mixture occasionally until completely melted, then remove the bowl from heat and stir in the water or hydrosol. Once the mixture is warm (and no longer hot), stir in the preservative (if using), vitamin E oil and essential oils (if using).
- Stir together until the mixture has cooled to room temperature, then transfer the conditioner to a pump bottle and store in a cool, dry place out of sunlight and away from excess heat. To increase its shelf-life, keep it in the fridge. If not using a preservative, this conditioner will only keep for up to one week.
As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you made your own hair care products before? What did you make? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
Vanessa
