Do you have an avocado, yogurt, or honey? Or maybe some eggs and aloe vera gel? Whether you need a leave-in conditioner or a styling product, you can probably whip them up in your kitchen.
Crafting your hair products can have several benefits, including the ability to customize your formulations to meet the needs of your curls and coils. It also enables you to avoid the chemicals found in many products. By using products you already have – like eggs and yogurt – you can save money while still getting the benefits of fancy products. And it can be fun to mix up products at home.
Some of the most popular ingredients used for DIY products:
- Coconut Oil: Great for moisturizing and conditioning hair. It can be used as a hair mask or added to homemade hair products for added hydration.
- Olive Oil: Similar to coconut oil, olive oil is moisturizing and can help improve the condition of dry or damaged hair.
- Honey: is a natural humectant, which means it helps attract and retain moisture in the hair. It can be added to homemade hair masks or used as a conditioning treatment on its own.
- Avocado: Rich in vitamins and healthy fats, avocado can help nourish and strengthen hair. It can be mashed and used in hair masks or mixed with other ingredients to create a conditioning treatment.
- Aloe Vera: Soothes the scalp and promotes hair growth. It can be used as a leave-in conditioner or mixed with other ingredients to create a hydrating hair mask.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps to clarify the hair and scalp, removing buildup and balancing the pH level of the scalp. It can be diluted with water and used as a rinse after shampooing.
- Egg: Rich in protein and vitamins, eggs can help strengthen hair and add shine. They can be beaten and applied to the hair as a mask.
- Yogurt: Contains lactic acid, which helps to cleanse the scalp and promote healthy hair growth. It can be used as a conditioner or mixed with other ingredients to create a nourishing hair mask.
- Essential Oils: Many essential oils have benefits for hair health, such as promoting growth, reducing dandruff, or adding fragrance. Popular options include lavender, rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree oil.
- Herbs: Certain herbs, such as rosemary, nettle, and chamomile, can be infused into oils or added to homemade hair products to provide additional benefits for the hair and scalp.
Because they’re fresh and free from preservatives, you’ll probably want to use your concoctions right away. Yogurt and aloe vera probably won’t smell as nice as store-bought products. And you may want to patch-test them to make sure you’re not allergic to the ingredients.
However, the benefits can outweigh any of these drawbacks. So get out of your mixing bowl! Here are some tried-and-true faves.
Leave-In Conditioners
1. Aloe Vera & Hibiscus Leave-In
- Ingredients: 2 tea bags of hibiscus, 1 cup boiling water, ¼ cup aloe vera juice, ¼ ayurvedic oil, 1 tsp xantham gum. Optional: 1 tsp glycerin, lemongrass essential oil.
- Instructions: Put the tea bags in 1 cup boiling water. Mix the aloe vera gel and tea until well combined. Add 1 tsp xantham gum and mix, using a whisk, mix until creamy. Apply onto damp or dry hair, focusing on the ends, and gently comb through. Do not rinse out.
2. Coconut Milk and Aloe Leave-In Conditioner:
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup Coconut milk, 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel, 1 tablespoon Shea butter, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 teaspoon Castor oil, Contents of 2 Omega 3 fish oil capsules, Contents of 2 Biotin capsules, 1/4 teaspoon Citric acid (as a preservative)
- Instructions: In a small mixing bowl, combine the coconut milk, aloe vera gel, shea butter, olive oil, and castor oil. Using a spoon or whisk, mix the ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined. Pierce the Omega 3 fish oil capsules and Biotin capsules with a pin, then squeeze the contents into the mixture.
- Add the citric acid to act as a preservative. Stir well to ensure it’s evenly distributed. Transfer the mixture into a clean, sterilized container with a lid for storage. To use, apply a small amount of the leave-in conditioner to damp or dry hair, focusing on the ends. Style as usual. This conditioner can be used daily or as needed to keep hair moisturized and nourished.
3. Green Tea and Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-In Conditioner:
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed green tea, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
- Instructions: Mix the brewed green tea, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil until well combined. Add essential oil (if using) for fragrance. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle for easy application. Spray onto damp or dry hair, focusing on the lengths and ends, and gently comb through. Do not rinse out. Green tea helps to strengthen and condition the hair, while apple cider vinegar balances pH and adds shine.
Hair Gels
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup flaxseeds, 2 cups water, essential oil (optional for fragrance)
- Instructions: Boil the flaxseeds in water until it forms a gel-like consistency, then strain out the seeds using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Let it cool, add a few drops of essential oil if desired for fragrance, and store in a clean container. This gel provides hold and definition for curly or wavy hair.
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup aloe vera gel (fresh or store-bought), 1-2 tablespoons of water (adjust for desired consistency), essential oil (optional)
- Instructions: Mix the aloe vera gel with water until you reach your desired consistency. Add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance if desired. Store in a clean container. This gel is great for providing moisture and light hold to all hair types.
Hair Masks
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 egg
- Instructions: Beat the egg and mix it with the yogurt until well combined. Apply the mixture to damp hair, focusing on the scalp and roots. Leave it on for 30-45 minutes, then rinse with cool water followed by shampoo and conditioner. This mask helps strengthen hair and promote growth.
7. Aloe Vera and Olive Oil Mask:
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup aloe vera gel (fresh or store-bought), 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Instructions: Mix the aloe vera gel and olive oil together until well combined. Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair, focusing on the lengths and ends. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. This mask helps moisturize, condition, and add shine to the hair.
- Ingredients: 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon honey
- Instructions: Mash the banana in a bowl until no lumps remain Mix in coconut oil and honey until well blended. Apply the mixture to damp hair, covering from roots to ends.
Styling Cream
9. Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Styling Cream:
- Ingredients: 2 tablespoons shea butter, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel, 5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
- Instructions: In a double boiler, melt the shea butter and coconut oil until they are completely liquid. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly. Stir in the aloe vera gel and essential oil (if using) until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a clean container and let it solidify. To use, take a small amount and rub it between your palms, then apply it to damp or dry hair for styling and frizz control.
10. Flaxseed Gel Styling Cream:
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup flaxseeds, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil, 5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
- Instructions: In a saucepan, combine the flaxseeds and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens into a gel-like consistency. Strain the gel using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth and let it cool. Once cooled, mix in the aloe vera gel, sweet almond oil, and essential oil (if using). Transfer the gel to a clean container and store it in the refrigerator. Apply a small amount to damp hair for styling and definition.
Clarifying Rinses
- Ingredients: 1 part apple cider vinegar, 3 parts water
- Instructions: Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle or container. After shampooing and conditioning your hair, spray or pour the mixture onto your hair and scalp. Massage it into your scalp for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the pH of the scalp and remove buildup, leaving your hair shiny and clean.
- Ingredients: 2 green tea bags, 2 cups hot water
- Instructions: Steep green tea bags in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature. After shampooing your hair, pour the cooled green tea over your hair and scalp. Massage it into your scalp for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. Green tea contains antioxidants that help to remove buildup and soothe the scalp, leaving your hair feeling clean and refreshed.
Here are some other recipes for DIY deep conditioners, leave in conditioners and flax-seed gels.
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