3 DIY Conditioner Recipes Using All Natural Ingredients

Many ingredients needed for hair growth, thickness and moisture can be found in nature.  So, for some naturals, hair maintenance involves using natural products for the care of their hair.  Here are a few homemade conditioner recipes that require all natural ingredients.

1. Banana, Olive Oil, Glycerin, and Honey

This conditioner helps to improve the overall manageability of hair.  The banana minimizes shrinkage and softens the hair when mixed with other ingredients, improving the manageability of the hair for styling. The other ingredients– glycerin, honey, which are humectants, and olive oil, which penetrates the hair, all contribute moisturizing benefits.

Ingredients:

1 large overripe banana (sliced) OR

7 oz banana baby food,

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp pure vegetable glycerin

2 tbsp pure honey

Instructions: Place the sliced banana, extra virgin olive oil, glycerin, and honey all in a blender. Blend the ingredients thoroughly making sure no lumps or banana bits remain. (Depending on your blender quality, you may or may not have to then sieve the mixture.  Another option is to use banana baby food, though the conditioner may not be as effective.) Apply to hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.

2.  Avocados, Olive Oil, Shea Butter, and Apple Cider Vinegar

This homemade conditioner is lubricating, thick, and heavy, all of which give hair slip, moisture, and hang for detangling. The avocado’s meatiness and fatty acid content add to the effectiveness of this mixture.  The fatty acids in the olive oil combined with the emollient properties of shea butter add even more lubrication and moisturizing benefits.  Lastly, the acidic pH of the apple cider vinegar helps to flatten the cuticles for easier detangling.  This conditioner is ideal for those with thick, dense hair and shrinkage.

Ingredients:

1 overripe avocado (sliced)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup unrefined shea butter

2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Instructions: Place the sliced avocado, unrefined shea butter, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a blender. (There is no need to melt the shea butter ahead of time.)  Blend all the ingredients thoroughly and add more EVOO, if necessary, until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. When done, apply to the hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.

3.  Coconut oil and honey

This conditioner is great for naturals whose hair doesn’t like protein conditioners but needs some strengthening.  The coconut oil binds to the hair and reduces keratin loss. Honey, also a humectant, is also combined to the mix to provide moisture retention. You get both moisture and strength with this conditioner.  Use two servings of the recipe because if your hair is really thick, dense, and naturally dry.

Ingredients:

4 tbs of extra virgin coconut oil

2 tbs of pure honey (depending on hair density or length, you may use two servings of this recipe)

Instructions: Place the coconut oil and honey in a small cup and place the cup in a large bowl of hot water.  Allow the cup to sit in the water for a few minutes until the mixture is warm.  Pour the mixture onto freshly washed but towel blotted hair.  Put on a shower cap, and wrap with a towel to prevent mixture from dripping onto face. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse out 80-90% of the conditioner, and style as usual.

What homemade conditioner recipes do you use?