DIY leave in conditioners too fall under the category of cool hair care stuff you can make at home in order to save or simply make sure you aren’t putting any of those harmful chemicals in your precious hair! And if you enjoy collecting recipes for homemade hair care products, I’m sure you’ll want to know how to make a DIY leave in conditioner as well. But, why wait? Here are some cool recipes you can try right now:
In case frizz and flyaways are to blame for most of your bad hair days and you happen to have a package of coconut oil just lying around in your kitchen you can simply grab some of that and use it as a leave in conditioner! When applied on wet hair coconut oil will help smooth out hair, giving it amazing shine, softness to die for and that perfect dose of heaviness healthy hair should have. Give it a shot – it’s one of the simplest recipes for DIY leave in conditioners out there and… well… you do notice that there is no mixing and blending involved- right? Piece of cake!
DIY leave in conditioners are a great way to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy without having to buy expensive products. Coconut oil is one of the easiest and most effective ingredients for a DIY leave-in conditioner. It helps smooth out frizz and flyaways, adding shine and softness to your hair. It also adds a healthy dose of weight to your hair. Coconut oil is easy to find and use and is a great natural alternative to commercial leave-in conditioners. You can also use it as a pre-shampoo treatment to help nourish your hair and scalp. With a few simple ingredients, you can make a variety of leave-in conditioners that are perfect for all hair types. From nourishing oils to herbal infusions, there are plenty of recipes to choose from.
Speaking about piece of cake homemade hair care products, here’s a wonderful mixture any DIY savvy girl should try! Take a larger spray bottle (an old leave-in conditioner bottle will do) and add 60mls (2 oz) of jojoba oil, double amount of water (120mls or 4 oz) and a few drops of Peppermint essential oil. Mix well, spray on your wet hair and voila- works just as great as any pricy leave in conditioner, smells amazingly fresh and nurtures your dry tresses root to end!
Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a moisturizing leave in conditioner that also happens to be an ally in your battle against dandruff as well as other common scalp problems such as itching and flaking? Well, guess what? I have managed to find a recipe for you! The list of ingredients is a bit long so take notes and make sure you obtain the following:
1 cup of distilled or purified water
½ cup of Aloe Vera Juice
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1 Tablespoon lime juice
5 vitamin E capsules
2 Essential Oils (Thyme and Tea Tree) 20 drops of each
½ can of coconut milk
Got that? Well, mix them all well, pour your mixture into an empty spray bottle and don’t forget to shake well before every use.
Ever tried upgrading your standard conditioner or simply stretching a good yet pricy product by using it as a base for DIY leave in conditioners? Well, why not give it a shot? Add a very small amount of your regular conditioner into a spray bottle, pour double amount of the chosen carrier oil (it can be olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, almond oil…), add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and fill up the rest of the bottle by adding filtered water. Yup, making a fantastic, great scented daily moisturizer and detangler is that easy!
This homemade concoction not only saves you money, but also leaves you with a heavenly scented mane that's both soft and manageable. It's the perfect remedy for those rushed mornings or post-gym touch-ups when your hair needs a quick moisture boost. Get creative and experiment with different essential oils – each with their own unique benefits – such as lavender for a calming effect or peppermint for a refreshing tingle. Simply shake your bottle before each use, spritz onto damp or dry hair, and comb through. Voilà! You're equipped with a custom-made elixir that keeps your locks luscious and hydrated all day long.
Okay, well this may sound totally strange but –did you know that you can use a fabric softener to make your DIY leave in conditioner? Now, it’s not something I’d suggest people to use on daily basis but you never know… this might even save your life (or at least your looks) someday! So, in case you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and in dire need of something to keep your hair shiny, soft and tangle-free, you can always mix ¼ of a cup of fabric softener with 3 cups of water to create your very own leave in conditioner.
Just remember, this is a hack for desperate times only! Fabric softeners contain chemicals that aren't typically formulated for your hair, so while it might look like a quick fix, you should definitely rinse it out thoroughly when you can. Also, if you have sensitive skin or scalp, such conditions might not react well to this method. But hey, if you're stuck at a last-minute overnight gathering and your mane needs a miracle, this wild trick could be just the temporary charm!
In case shiny and frizz-proof is exactly how you want your hair (and I know you do) and you happen to be totally into homemade hair care products, you can always whisk up your own leave in conditioner by mixing together 15mls (0.5 oz) of each jojoba and sweet almond oil, adding 7mls (0.25 oz) of vegetable glycerin, 10 drops of rosemary essential oil (or other essential oil of choice) and adding water to fill the spray bottle up. It’s a wonderful not to mention quite budget-friendly and easy to make solution for dry frizzy tresses and it will certainly do wonders in terms of both appearance and health of your hair.
Mixing your conditioner in a clean spray bottle makes application a breeze – just spritz it on damp hair after your usual washing routine. Jojoba oil, being incredibly similar to our own skin's sebum, works to balance oil production, while sweet almond oil moisturizes and softens the hair. The addition of vegetable glycerin helps in drawing moisture from the air to your hair, keeping it hydrated. Meanwhile, rosemary essential oil not only adds a soothing fragrance but is also known to promote scalp health and hair growth. Shake the bottle before each use to ensure the oils are well-blended with the water, and enjoy your homemade creation that rivals even the fanciest salon brands.
In case your skin is a bit on the sensitive side and allergies and breakouts are a potential risk whenever you’re trying out a new product (even if it’s natural), you might want to give vegetable glycerin a shot! This natural product you can find in any pharmacy can be used to make DIY leave in conditioners and will not cause any of the usual problems your skin is prone to! It smooths out hair, detangles it, allows it to retain that much needed moisture and can be used with essential oils and other natural ingredients or alone diluted in purified water. So, in case none of these other conditioners seems like something you’d risk trying do whip together a basic hypoallergenic glycerin leave in conditioner by simply adding one part vegetable glycerin and four parts of water.
For radiant locks without the worry, your homemade detangler could benefit from a touch of lavender or rosemary essential oil – both are known for their calming properties on the scalp and enchanting fragrance that will linger throughout the day. If you're dealing with extra dry or brittle hair, adding a small amount of aloe vera juice to the mixture might just be the miracle your hair was waiting for. It's particularly soothing and hydrating, making it ideal for those who need a gentle yet effective solution. Just remember to do a patch test before fully incorporating it into your routine to ensure it's the perfect match for your sensitive skin.
Perhaps one of the simplest conditioners of all is a clarifying conditioner that you make with only one ingredient. Apple cider vinegar has long been touted to do just about everything you can possibly think of, from cleaning your home, to clearing acne, to helping digestion, to aid in weight loss, and even cleanse and condition your hair. I have to say, after using it myself on my hair, I'm on board with this simple trick. All you need to do is place equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a large glass and rinse your hair with it after shampooing. It removes buildup, dandruff, and helps increase your hair's natural shine as well. It also makes your hair softer. Just be sure to condition afterwards with a regular conditioner, and rinse well to get out the smell. Rinsing in cold water is also recommended.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) works wonders due to its natural acidity, which helps to balance your scalp's pH, promoting healthier hair growth and scalp health. It's the perfect low-effort, high-reward solution for those busy mornings or when you're in need of a quick detox for your locks. The tangy scent is short-lived, so don't worry about any lingering odors; your hair will simply smell fresh and clean once dry. Remember, if you've got sensitive skin, do a patch test first to ensure you don't have a reaction. And mixing in a few drops of your favorite essential oil can mask the vinegar scent and add additional benefits.
Another great tip for making your own hair care conditioning product at home is to use a storebought version and stretch it out with other ingredients you have on hand. My favorite way to do this is to buy a shea butter conditioning cream that you can buy for about $4-$5 on the ethnic aisle at any store that sells hair products. It is usually a peach color and is super soft. I put about 1 cup of this in a large water bottle and fill up the bottle to the top with water. Then I shake it up and make this my leave-in conditioner spray. It lasts so much longer than store-bought leave-in sprays, is much cheaper and is also more natural. It also leaves your hair super soft, which is great!
This simple DIY treatment is also really simple and one of the oldest around. Take 2 avocados and remove the pit. Put them in the blender with 1 tbsp. melted coconut oil and blend into a thick paste. Spread this all over your hair and allow it to sit for about 2 hours. Then, just rinse your hair, and it will be incredibly soft and silky. The fats in avocado and coconut oil are great for repairing damage, split ends, and giving your hair a boost of shine.
Have you heard of Vitamin E capsules for your hair? This is a wonderful trick that also works very well. Buy a bottle of Vitamin E capsules at any store where supplements are sold. When you get home, open about 15 of them up and place them in a small jar. Apply this paste to your hair and allow it to sit. Be sure you rub it all over your head and let it sit on your hair for about 2 hours. Rinse and you'll have an incredible shine that is simple to do anytime you get some spare time. You can even leave this on overnight, but just be sure to wear a cap so your pillow doesn't get oily and rinse your hair very thoroughly in the morning. Vitamin E is an excellent moisturizing agent. You can also buy the plain oil, along with the capsules if that would be easier for you.
I don't eat butter, but I do think it makes a great moisturizer for your hair! Plus, if you don't have anything else on hand, most people at least have butter or something like butter in their fridge. Even those plant-based butter replacements work nice. Just mash butter in a bowl, or use an alternative, and apply it all throughout your head, letting it soak about 30 minutes to an hour. It is incredibly moisturizing, but try not to get hungry in the meantime. For some reason, everytime I do this at home trick, I always crave biscuits and pancakes due to the buttery smell all over my head!
Lastly, I'm not sure if you've ever heard of pouring chilled tea on your hair, but it works like a charm! The best tea to use to moisturize and clarify your hair is roobios tea, also known as red tea. Brew about 2 cups or let a tea bag steep for about 30 minutes in some cool water. Add a squeeze of lemon and remove the tea bag. Then, just pour the chilled tea all over your hair while in the shower, letting it sit about 5 minutes before you rinse it out. I like to do this after shampooing for the best effects. Then, condition your hair as normal. Roobios tea has a wide range of benefits, starting with being amazing for clarifying your hair, along with enhancing the shine and moisture. It is also great to drink since it clears acne, brightens the skin and it cures a sweet tooth almost instantly. Full of antioxidants and containing no caffeine, roobios tea is always something you can find in my pantry, and I hope you'll try it too!
Budgeting on your hair care products and having wonderful, healthy hair do not and should not be mutually exclusive! And in case that’s not enough of a reason to give DIY leave in conditioners a shot, let me just add that they are completely natural which means you’re actually getting all that benefits nature has to give without having to pay top dollar for it! Homemade hair care products definitely have my vote! But… what about you? Are you going to experiment with some of these recipes?