Image: @ohleighann
I don’t know about you, but for me wash days can be quite the project. So much, in fact, that I typically have to set aside about three hours if I want to do a really good job. It’s not because my hair is super long or anything (I’m actually still working on that”>. It’s because, whenever I cut corners in any way (especially if I don’t deep condition for an hour or I don’t use a thermal heat protectant”>, I can almost immediately see the fall out that comes from that.
I will say this, though. Once I started using homemade hair sprays more often, not only did that give me about five more days in between washes, it also cut my wash day time by about a half hour or so. That’s because, when you maintain your hair with certain ingredients, they can keep your tresses soft, smooth and healthy to the point where you don’t need to deep condition quite as long as you normally would. You also tend to notice less shedding and breakage too.
If all of this sounds good to you, do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of plastic spray bottles. Make sure to get yourself a gallon of distilled water too (it’s the kind of water that is purified so that it’s softer on your hair”>. Then, check out the following recipes, select one that’s ideal for your curly locks and set aside 15 minutes to make a DIY hair spray. They’re one of the best ways to “love on your hair”. They truly are.
Lavender Texturizing Spray
Lavender oil is awesome for a few reasons. Its antimicrobial properties are great at tackling dandruff and any other scalp issues that you might have. Plus, the properties in this oil not only help to soothe scalp inflammation, but they also help to promote hair growth. Avocado oil is good for natural hair, thanks to its rich in oleic acid and monounsaturated fats that are able to deeply penetrate your hair shaft. A pinch of sea salt is it’s a wonderful scalp exfoliant. Vegetable glycerin is both a humectant and a reliable natural curl pattern definer.
1 cup of distilled water
½ teaspoon of avocado oil
1 teaspoon of sea salt
½ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin
5 drops of lavender essential oil
Put everything into your plastic bottle, each ingredient at a time, gently shake and then apply. Make sure to store in a cool dry place.
Aloe Vera Moisturizing Hair Mist
You can’t really go wrong by using Aloe vera on your hair. Due to its 75 potentially active constituents (including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and even sugars”>, not only does it hydrate your hair shaft, it also supports your scalp with maintaining its natural pH balance, repairs your hair follicles, nourishes your scalp, and combats frizz. The vitamins B, C, E, copper and zinc that are found in jojoba oil will strengthen your hair follicles while your favorite hair conditioner can offer an additional boost of moisture.
½ cup of distilled water
¼ cup of pure Aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon of jojoba oil
1 teaspoon of hair conditioner
Extra step: Add a few drops of any essential oil scent you’d like
For this, it’s important that you use Aloe vera juice and not Aloe vera gel. Also, avoid adding more than a teaspoon of hair conditioner. Otherwise, your mist could end up becoming too thick and hard to come through your spray’s nozzle. Store in a cool dry place.
Sweet Cuticle-Smoothing Hair Spray
We’ve already touched on what Aloe vera is able to do. Honey is a hair favorite because it’s a humectant (it pulls moisture from the air into your hair”> and an emollient (which means it smooths out your hair’s cuticles while keeping your hair nice and soft in the process”>. Also, honey contains enzymatic and also antioxidant properties that will help to keep your scalp and hair follicles healthy and strong. Sugar is added to this recipe because it is able to prevent dead skin cells and even product build-up. Vitamins A, C and E, along with the fatty acids in apricot oil gives your hair nutrients while providing sheen to it as well. Cedarwood oil is a smart hair spray addition because, not only does it have antifungal and antibacterial properties in it, it also balances the hair glands on your scalp so that you’re able to maintain length and strong beautiful curls.
½ cup of distilled water
3 tablespoons of Aloe vera gel
2 tablespoons of honey
½ teaspoon of granulated sugar
½ teaspoon of apricot oil
5 drops of cedarwood oil
Just so that all of your ingredients can easily dissolve into your spray bottle, make sure the distilled water is warm and that you warm up the honey too. Once everything is mixed together, shake the bottle and it will be ready for use. Just make sure to shake before each use so that the gel and sugar do not settle at the bottom of the bottle.
Olive Oil Shine Spray
If you’re looking for the kind of oil that will “feed your scalp” as it increases blood flow to your hair follicles, olive oil is exactly what you’re looking for. Thanks to all of the antioxidants that it contains, it’s also an oil that works to prevent hair damage at the cellular level while nourishing your hair strands. Sweet almond oil is a great ingredient if you’re looking to add more shine to your hair because its Vitamin E content provides hair with a natural glistening effect as the vitamins B1 and B6 will strengthen your hair’s cuticles.
½ cup of distilled water
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of Aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil
After mixing everything together, store in a dry place. Also, if you want to “downplay” the mild scent of olive oil, add a few drops of your favorite smelling essential oil. Store in a cool dry place.
Witch Hazel Hair Smoothing Mist
We’re huge fans of rosewater at Naturally Curly (check out “4 Ways to Use Rose Water for Damaged Hair””>. One of the reasons why is because it’s able to maintain your hair’s natural porosity levels which can make your strands appear soft and smooth. Witch hazel helps to increase blood circulation to your scalp while reducing hair shedding and breakage. Jamaican black castor oil nourishes your hair follicles as it coats, moisturizes and thickens your hair strands. As far as vanilla essential oil goes, not only does it smell sweet and delightful, it also helps to seal your ends so that you can avoid having split ones.
½ cup of rosewater
2 tablespoons of non-alcohol witch hazel
1 teaspoon of Aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon of Jamaican black castor oil
3-5 drops of vanilla oil
The main thing to remember here is to make sure that you use the kind of witch hazel that doesn’t have any alcohol in it. Alcohol dries hair out and can lead to brittleness and breakage over time. Once this mist is made, store in a cool dry place.
Rosemary Hair Growth Spray
By far, one of my favorite oils for my hair is rosemary. It’s an “herb oil” that has an impressive reputation when it comes to reducing scalp inflammation, increasing blood circulation to the scalp and even promoting nerve growth. A few other things that rosemary oil does is fight dandruff, relieve an itchy scalp and even help to stop premature greying in its tracks. The many antioxidants in Vitamin C fights off free radicals and builds the collagen needed to reduce hair breakage. Since a lack of iron is one of the main culprits in hindering hair growth (especially in Black women”>, you can see why it is a part of the recipe. And finally, Vitamin E not only assists with preventing tissue corrosion, but it aids in building the tissue that’s required for healthy hair too.
½ cup of distilled water
10 drops of rosemary essential oil
1 teaspoon of Mango & Lime rosemary essential oil
½ teaspoon of liquid Vitamin C
½ teaspoon of liquid iron
2 Vitamin E capsules
You will get the most out of this particular hairspray if you use it to lock in moisture on your wash day (after you shampoo and condition it”> and then refresh your hair every 2-3 days. That way, it will remain soft without becoming greasy and your curls can be shiny, bouncy and super soft to the touch.
Enjoy!
