This article is shared with permission from our friends at paleohacks.com.

Making your own natural homemade conditioner is a great way to provide your locks with much-needed nutrients. These homemade conditioner recipes rejuvenate your hair and scalp without stripping them of natural oils or overloading them with chemicals.

Plus, many of the ingredients in these DIY conditioner recipes are already stashed away in your kitchen cupboard. So, making them is not only easy but saves you money in the long run.

 

It’s vital to remember that the health of your hair starts from within. Eat wholesome, nutritious food, allowing the outside to radiate (i.e. your hair, nails, and skin). Foods rich in Vitamin A, C E, iron, calcium, and zinc will help to prevent dry, damaged and oily hair. Try sweet potato, lettuce, kale, broccoli, mango, papaya, tomatoes and pumpkin seeds to start. [1] 

Here are five DIY conditioner recipes for healthy hair that you can start using in your weekly hair care regime.

Coconut Oil DIY Conditioner

Coconut oil is a fantastic solution for dry, damaged hair, as it soothes the scalp and softens the hair. Honey is a natural humectant, a substance that attracts and retains moisture. [2, 3] 

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted
• 3 Tablespoons coconut milk

Instructions:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix together until fully combined.
2. Pour the mixture into an air-tight container. Store in a cool, dry place. (If you’re not using it all in one application, don’t worry. It keeps for a couple of weeks).
3. Apply the mixture to wet hair and massage into the scalp, working your way to the ends of the hair. Leave for 2 to 5 minutes, then rinse with water.

Lavender Moisturizing Paste

This is a great recipe for cleansing and moisturizing the hair. Sometimes referred to as the “no-poo” method (don’t worry this has nothing to do with your gut), since it also replaces traditional shampoo.

When you first start to use it, you may find your scalp and hair are oily. This is simply due to the transitional phase as your hair rids itself of the chemical build-up from commercial products. This is short-lived, so you’ll have to persevere in order to see your natural hair transform. Feel free to change the lavender for another essential oil to suit your preferred fragrance, or you can skip the oil altogether.

Instructions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together. Add more water if the mixture becomes too stiff.
2. Pour into a lidded jar or bottle. Shake the mixture then apply to your wet hair. Start at the scalp, work through to the ends and massage fully into the hair. Rinse with water.

NOTE: If you have sensitive skin you may want to try this on a small patch of skin to test if it’s irritating, as baking soda can cause irritation in some people. 

Apple Cider Vinegar to Balm

The acidity of apple cider vinegar helps maintain the pH balance of your hair and removes the build-up of dirt, dead skin cells and chemicals without stripping the hair of its natural oils. [4] 

This cider vinegar hair rinse is great for balancing the condition of hair, leaving you with smooth shiny hair cuticles. This works really well after the Lavender Moisturizing Paste.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 4 Tablespoons water, more if required
• Optional: a few drops essential oil

Instructions:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a lidded jar or bottle and shake well together.
2. Apply to wet hair. Massage into the scalp through to the ends of the hair. Rinse the hair with water.

Banana Hair Mask

Bananas are a rich source of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese, all of which are fantastic nutrients for supporting healthy hair. [5] This is a quick and easy recipe that’s ideal for when you have extra bananas leftover. Use ripe bananas to get the best of the creamy nutrients which will maximize moisture.

Instructions:

1. Mash the banana and avocado in a bowl.
2. Add the coconut milk and mix together until fully combined.
3. Massage into dry hair and leave for 15 minutes. You can put your hair in a clip or towel to lock in as much of the hair mask as possible.
4. Rinse the hair mask from the hair with water then wash as usual.

Cocoa Butter Balm

Cocoa butter (also known as raw cacao butter) is a natural emulsifier and softener for skin and hair. Cocoa butter works wonders for reviving dry and damaged hair thanks to the nourishing fat content. If you have any leftover after applying to the hair, use the rest as a natural lotion for your skin (the aroma is heavenly). [6] 

Instructions:

1. First, melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil over a pot of lightly steaming water.
2. Drop the essential oils into a separate boil, then add the melted cocoa butter, coconut oil, and almond oil.
3. Stir everything together with a spoon, then pour into a small jar.
4. Apply the hair balm to damaged ends then finish at the scalp. Leave for a couple of minutes then rinse with water or leave it in overnight, then rinse.

Which DIY conditioner will you try this week?

Give these natural hair recipes a try – 3 Egg White Hair Masks and Pumpkin Conditioner!

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is for information only. Essential oils are very highly concentrated and potent and it is important to always check the specific safety data provided. Keep out of reach of children, the elderly, and pets. For external use only. Avoid contact with mucus membranes and eyes. If any essential oils have contacted your eye, wash out with a vegetable oil such as olive oil, not water.

Some oils may cause skin irritation in people with sensitive skin. It is recommended to perform a patch test before use. To patch test, place one drop on the back of your wrist and leave for an hour or more. If irritation or redness occurs wash the area with olive oil then cold water and do not use the oil.

We do not recommend the ingestion of essential oils except while under the care and direction of a qualified health practitioner.

Sources:

[1] Lewin, J. (n.d.). What to eat for healthy hair. Retrieved from https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-eat-healthy-hair

[2] Rele, A. S., & Mohile, R. B. (2003, March 01). Research and Development Department, Nature Care Division, Marico Industries Ltd., Mumbai, India. Retrieved from http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/12715094

[3] Burlando, B., & Cornara, L. (2013, December 04). Honey in dermatology and skin care: A review. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.12058/full

[4] Organic Authority. (2012, September 29). How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Beautiful Hair and Skin. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/organic-authoritycom/apple-cider-vinegar-beauty_b_1924171.html

[5] Van Duyn, M. S., PhD, MPH, RD, & Pivonka, E., PhD, RD. (2000, December). Overview of the Health Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption for the Dietetics Professional: Selected Literature. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000282230000420X

[6] Adkins, J. S. (2016, November 27). Why Your Skin Needs Cocoa Butter. Retrieved from http://skincare.about.com/od/spa/a/Benefits-Of-Cocoa-Butter-To-Your-Skin.htm

Hughes, R. (n.d.). 5 Homemade Hair Conditioners to Try Next Time You Shower. Retrieved September 15, 2016 from http://blog.paleohacks.com/homemade-hair-conditioner/

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