If we neglect our hair or don’t treat it well, then chances are we’ll end up with split ends, breakage and other damage. Dry, damaged hair can leave us feeling helpless at times. It can be difficult to know which products we should use on our hair, and whether the ingredients used in these products will even help.
So, how exactly does a person go about taking good care of their hair?
Well, there’s no secret to this. The best thing you can do is to keep an eye out for what products work well for you, and avoid using anything that doesn’t seem like it would do any good.
In addition to looking for things that feel natural, it’s also helpful to look for things that have great reviews and positive feedback from others who have tried them.
However, if you are currently on a budget, or simply cannot justify spending a lot of money on hair products, you may feel that you are stuck at a dead end… or, a split end. How can you take care of your hair if you cannot afford to buy these products?
You’re in luck!
Today, we’re going to give you some recipes to create your own homemade, DIY leave-in conditioners! All of these recipes are very simple to put together, and they’re not only super affordable, but each one is also extremely beneficial for your hair.
We’ve taken a few different recipes, most of which include coconut oil as the main ingredient. Coconut oil has amazing properties when it comes to moisture retention, so it makes sense that it would be included in many leave-in conditioning formulas. There are plenty of other ingredients that can also help improve the overall quality of your hair.
We’ve chosen 10 recipes that focus on different types of hair, and provide different benefits. These recipes range from oily to dry hair, and everything in between. We hope that you enjoy trying out these recipes.
So, let’s get started!
The Easy, Basic Conditioner for Beginners
This recipe will create one of the most basic leave-in conditioners that you can make at home.
Aloe vera is a great product to use on damaged hair, as it is very gentle, and will make your hair look shinier and healthier. Jojoba oil and coconut oil both help strengthen hair, and are known to thicken hair and prevent hair loss.
The best part is, you get to customize this conditioner by selecting which scented oil to use! Your hair will smell great, as well as looking great.
Ingredients
Aloe vera gel (1.5 cups)
Coconut water (2 cups)
Jojoba oil (3 tsp)
Essential oil of your own choice (3-4 drops)
Directions
Before you use the conditioner, make sure to wash your hair thoroughly: you don’t want to ruin your hair’s natural oils!
Put the aloe vera gel and coconut water into a bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of jojoba oil and 3-4 drops of essential oil of your choice. Mix well, and pour into a spray bottle.
Shake the bottle, and apply generously over your hair and scalp. You can either brush it through if you have straight hair, or scrunch if you have curls.
Repeat once every week for optimal results.
The Honey and Coconut Conditioner
Honey holds many natural attributes that are great for your health. One of its most important properties is antibacterial activity. This property helps fight off bacteria and prevent infections.
It’s also been shown to promote healthier skin, and moisturize the scalp. If your hair tends to be more prone to dandruff, honey could be useful in fighting against it.
Coconut oil is also great for dry scalps and damaged hair, and it works well as an emollient. It keeps your hair soft and moisturized, leaving it feeling smooth and silky.
Ingredients
Coconut oil (2 tbsp)
Honey (1 tsp)
Aloe vera gel (4 tbsp)
Sweet almond oil (1 tsp)
Water (¼ cup)
Directions
First, heat up the coconut oil and honey together until both are a liquid consistency.
Mix the coconut oil and honey with the aloe vera gel, sweet almond oil, and water in a bowl until everything is thoroughly combined. Then, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake. Spray the conditioner lightly onto your hair and scalp.
You may find that the coconut oil will harden after a while, so it is a good idea to run the bottle under some hot water before using. This will melt the oil and turn the mixture into a liquid again, allowing it to spray easily.
The Olive Oil Conditioner
Olive oil is one of nature’s most powerful natural remedies. Besides its antibacterial and healing properties, olive oil stimulates the production of sebum, making it an effective treatment for oily hair.
It’s also the perfect solution for anyone who suffers from dry or brittle hair. The high content of vitamin E in olive oil provides antioxidant protection, helping repair damage caused by environmental factors like pollution and UV rays.
This conditioner is perfect for people who have combination or normal/dry hair types.
Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil (1 tbsp)
Natural conditioner (¼ cup)
Water (⅓ cup)
Directions
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly in a bowl before pouring into a bottle. Shake well, and apply lightly to your hair, brushing through with a detangler to ensure that it has been fully applied to every single strand of your hair.
Repeat once every two weeks until desired results are achieved.
Note: don’t spray too much onto your roots, as this conditioner can cause your hair to become greasier much faster due to the heaviness of the oil.
The Coconut Milk and Grapefruit Conditioner
Coconut milk is a little thicker than coconut water, and thinner than coconut oil, but contains the same natural, soothing nutrients that will create great results on your hair. When used alongside coconut oil, the results will double, treating your hair even further.
If you suffer from dry hair, grapefruit can add moisture to your strands without adding too much weight. It has long been used as a cleansing agent, and is now being recognized as an excellent conditioner due to its ability to cleanse without stripping the hair of its natural oils.
To get the best out of these ingredients, combine them all together to create this fantastic leave-in conditioner!
Ingredients
Coconut milk (⅓ cup)
Grapefruit (1/2, squeezed)
Coconut oil (1 tbsp)
Jojoba oil (2 tsp)
Water (1 cup)
Directions
Heat up the coconut oil if it is solid, allowing it to become a liquid before combining it with the other ingredients.
Mix the coconut milk, grapefruit juice, jojoba oil, and water with the melted coconut oil until well combined. Pour into a spray bottle, and apply to your hair, starting at the ends and making your way upwards.
For best results, use every 2 weeks.
The Avocado And Aloe Vera Conditioner
Avocado and aloe vera conditioner is one of the most popular hair products among women. These products help protect hair against damage and make it softer and shinier. With regular use, the hair becomes soft and shiny.
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts water molecules into the hair shaft. When applied to the hair, glycerin draws out moisture from the air, making hair soft and manageable.
Aloe vera juice is a natural remedy for dry scalp. It provides moisture to the hair and prevents dandruff. When used along with avocado oil, the combination works wonders for the hair.
Ingredients
Aloe vera juice (1 cup)
Avocado oil (2 tbsp)
Glycerin (1 tbsp)
Natural conditioner (2 tbsp)
Water (1/2 cup) – optional
Directions
Mix all the ingredients well until a creamy consistency is achieved. Apply evenly throughout your hair, combing through with a detangling brush, and leave on your hair for around 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
If you would like to use this conditioner as a spray, add half a cup of water to thin the mixture. Apply to a spray bottle, and spray all over your hair, starting with the ends and working your way upwards.
Use this conditioner every week to maintain soft and shiny hair.
The Marshmallow Root Conditioner
Marshmallow root will give your hair its shine and softness, and is also known to stimulate hair growth. The apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, will help remove buildup and restore moisture to your hair.
As we already know, avocado oil moisturizes and protects against frizziness, while the lavender essential oil adds fragrance and promotes relaxation.
Glycerin provides conditioning without weighing down hair. When combined, these ingredients create a fantastic leave-in conditioner that will leave your hair shiny and soft, removing frizziness.
The water is used to boil the marshmallow root, and become infused with all its nutrients.
Ingredients
Marshmallow root (3 tbsp)
Apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp)
Avocado oil (1 ½ tbsp)
Lavender essential oil (5 drops)
Glycerin (1 tbsp)
Water (1 ½ cups)
Directions
Boil the marshmallow root in a pan filled with the water, and simmer for around 20 minutes. After this time, strain the infused water into a bowl.
Once cooled, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, and mix together until fully combined.
Pour into your spray bottle, thoroughly shake, and then apply all over your hair and scalp.
The Rose Water Conditioner
Rose water is made from distilled rose petals, and is used in many beauty products to soften hair and skin. Its antifungal properties are also beneficial when used as a shampoo.
By combining rose water with aloe vera gel, it will create soothing effects on the scalp, leaving it feeling fresh and clean.
Rose water contains vitamin E, which strengthens hair follicles and leaves them stronger and healthier. Aloe vera oil is another ingredient that helps promote healthy hair by keeping it hydrated and preventing breakage, while the rose essential oil and sweet almond oil will help soothe any irritation or itchiness caused by dandruff.
When all combined, you will create a delicate leave-in conditioner that will not only make your hair look great, but smell great too.
Ingredients
Rose water (1 cup)
Rose essential oil (3-4 drops)
Aloe vera gel (½ cup)
Sweet almond oil (1 tsp)
Directions
To create the rose water, add a handful of rose petals to distilled water in a pot. Bring to a boil before simmering, allowing the water to infuse for around 20 minutes.
Once cooled, strain the water into a bowl, and combine the other ingredients. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly before pouring into a spray bottle. Shake well, and then generously apply the conditioner all over your hair.
Be sure to store this product in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
The Honey And Banana Conditioner
This conditioner smells amazing, and will leave your hair feeling soft, thick, and incredibly easy to brush through.
Banana is an excellent source of vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and manganese, being able to both strengthen and restore health by fully moisturizing your hair with its natural oils. While combined with the natural healing attributes of honey and olive oil, this conditioner will leave your hair feeling silky and smooth.
This leave-in conditioner is best used as a paste, directly applied to your hair and only left in for around 30 minutes. However, it can be transformed into a spray, leave-in conditioner instead.
Ingredients
Honey (2 tbsp)
Banana (1/2)
Olive oil (2 tbsp)
Water (1 1/2 cups) – optional
Directions
Using a blender, blend the banana, honey, and olive oil together until they have formed a smooth yet thick consistency. Apply the paste all over your hair, and brush through with a detangling brush. Wrap your hair in a towel, and leave the conditioner in your hair for around 25 to 30 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly.
If you would like to use this as a spray conditioner, add the water while blending, and pour into a spray bottle. Spray sparsely onto your ends and work your way upwards.
This mixture may be a little heavy, so beware if you would like to spray it onto your roots
The Detangler Conditioner
This conditioner specifically helps to detangle your hair without leaving it feeling dry and tangled. The soothing attributes of the aloe vera gel, glycerin, and lavender essential oil will detangle your hair without weighing down your tresses.
The aloe vera gel will also help relieve dryness and irritation, while the lavender essential oil helps calm skin irritations. The glycerin will bring moisture to the hair follicles as well as the skin on your scalp, ensuring that your hair will also become soft and shiny while using this conditioner, whilst getting rid of tangles.
Use this conditioner alongside a detangling brush for best results.
Ingredients
Aloe vera gel (1 tbsp)
Water (5 tbsp)
Glycerin (1 tbsp)
Lavender essential oil (10 drops)
Directions
Mix the aloe vera gel, glycerin, and lavender essential oil together thoroughly until it has all combined. Add the water, and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well to ensure all ingredients have mixed together.
Then, generously apply to your hair, using a detangling brush to get rid of any pre-existing tangles.
The Anti-Frizz Conditioner
There is nothing worse than having frizzy hair that seems to be untamable. This conditioner will help, soothing your hair and moisturizing your hair follicles to calm the frizz. You will need to use it once or twice a week to see results.
Aloe vera gel helps prevent dryness and split ends, while glycerin and jojoba oil both attract moisture to your hair, making it soft and manageable.
Lavender essential oil is a powerful anti-frizz agent that penetrates deep into your strands to protect against damage, promoting shine, and detangles your hair without weighing it down.
While combined, this conditioning mixture will help tame the frizz in your hair.
Ingredients
Aloe vera gel (2 tbsp)
Glycerin (1 tsp)
Jojoba oil (1 tsp)
Lavender essential oil (10 drops)
Water (½ cup)
Directions
Mix all ingredients together until well combined, before pouring into a spray bottle.
Apply to hair after shampooing. Spray all over your hair generously, and then brush through with a detangling brush.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we hope our guide to DIY leave-in hair conditioners has given you some inspiration to create your own homemade products.
Now that you are aware of many of the ingredients that aid hair nourishment – coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc. – and their attributes, you can even experiment and create your own leave-in conditioners!
Pick and choose which ingredients will work best for your hair type, and create your own powerful, deliciously scented conditioners at home.
Hi, my name is Hannah Shiftle, and I started using essential oils 15 years ago. At first, I was dubious of them, much like a lot of people. However, as I began to use them on a daily basis, I quickly discovered how much of a difference they had on both my physical and mental health.
Through Oil Health Benefits, I will be sharing my knowledge and passion for essential oils with you, providing readers with all the information they need to know. From the best oils to use for illnesses, to understanding what makes essential oils pure, I have covered all these topics.
