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This DIY leave in conditioner recipe is perfect for any hair type but especially helpful for damaged, dry hair. Whether you have straight hair or curly hair, this natural leave in conditioner will replenish moisture and shine. It contains only natural ingredients perfect for restoring the health of your hair. Add this homemade hair product to your hair care routine for healthy, shiny and soft hair after just one use!

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Other DIY leave in conditioner recipes are a liquid conditioning spray and contain water based ingredients. These recipes require you to store them in the fridge and use them quickly before bacteria overtakes the spray conditioner. I decided to make a solid balm like product that contains only oil based, organic ingredients with a shelf life of 6 months. No need to store in the fridge. This simple formula will lightly coat the strands, heal the hair cuticle and smooth frizzy hair. Simple ingredients make the best natural beauty products and this simple recipe is no exception.

You might be interested browsing all my homemade DIY hair care products as well as my homemade hair detangler.

This homemade conditioner is easy to make and highly effective, even after just one application! Your hair will feel silkier and stronger and shine will be restored! And of course, this hair conditioner is completely safe and natural! 

If you have brittle hair despite your regular conditioner and you feel like your hair needs more smoothing and moisture, this recipe is for you. With summer here sun and chlorine can wreak havoc on hair.

Benefits of Using Oil On Your Hair:

According to Healthline:

Hair can look dull and frizzy when it’s damaged. When the protective fat layer on the outside of the hair’s cuticle is removed, it loses its shine and becomes difficult to manage or style according to the Academy of Dermatology. A vitamin E-rich oil can help replace that protective layer and bring back shine. Oil in general also helps seal out moisture, reduce breakage, and protect the hair from damage.

When I first started using this homemade leave in conditioner the texture of my hair felt smooth and strong after just one week. There was a noticeable difference.  I could feel a difference in the texture of my hair after washing it. I have been using this conditioner ever since and been able to continue to grow long hair even in the hot summer months! The results are immediate!

DIY Leave In Conditioner Ingredients:

I’ve always experienced great results when using unrefined organic coconut oil on my hair. It’s solid consistency makes it much easier to apply. Coconut oil has been shown to reduce protein loss in hair. It is predominantly made up of a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid. This gives coconut oil a long, straight structure, which is more easily absorbed deep into the hair shaft.

Avocado oil is one of the most moisturizing oils. It is full of unsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids and will go a long way when it comes to restoring moisture to the hair. Avocado oil is a highly penetrating oil. It contains vitamins A and E which make it a great ingredient for skin care products since they both improve the skin texture.  

If you don’t have avocado oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, olive oil and macadamia nut oil are a few of my super nourishing, favorite oils for restoring healthy hair.

Vitamin E helps to strengthen hair strands. It is known for it’s its antioxidant properties that help reduce free radical damage and protect the body’s cells.

I chose a blend of lavender, rosemary and chamomile. Chamomile helps soften and restore shine so it’s the important one. Lavender oil also helps to soften the hair and if you’re planning on applying this conditioner to your scalp, rosemary helps bring blood flow to the scalp which in turn helps hair growth. I should mention how amazing this conditioner smells!

Tea tree oil is a great alternative and a good idea if you plan to apply this conditioner to your scalp. An itchy scalp is often a fungal issue and tea tree (as well as coconut oil) is a powerful antifungal. Plus, it’s a great tool to detox hair follicles.

What You Need to Make DIY Leave In Conditioner:

• 6 TBSP. Unrefined Coconut oil 
• 2 TBSP. Avocado Oil 
• 1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
• 5 drops Lavender Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
• 3 drops Rosemary essential Oil 
• 4 ounce glass jar
• Medium sized pot
• Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup
• Tablespoon & Teaspoon
• Stir stick or spoon

This DIY was formulated to be somewhat solid at room temperature. You can thicken it up by placing it in the fridge for a bit but I liked that it was soft and found it easy to apply this way.

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DIY Leave In Conditioner

Yield: 4 ounce Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes

This DIY leave in conditioner recipe is perfect for any hair type but especially helpful for damaged, dry hair. Whether you have straight hair or curly hair, this natural leave in conditioner will replenish moisture and shine. It contains only natural ingredients perfect for restoring the health of your hair. Add this homemade hair product to your hair care routine for healthy, shiny and soft hair after just one use!

Materials

• 6 TBSP. Unrefined Coconut oil
• 2 TBSP. Avocado Oil
• 1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
• 5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
• 3 drops Rosemary essential Oil

Tools

• Medium sized pot
• Glass Pyrex measuring cup
• Stir stick or spoon
• 4 ounce glass jar
• Tablespoon and Teaspoon

Instructions

1. Make a double boiler by filling a medium sized pot half way full with water.
2. Place a glass Pyrex measuring cup in the water.
3. Turn the stove to low-medium heat.
4. Add the coconut oil and avocado oil to the pot and allow to mix and melt.
5. Remove from heat and add vitamin E oil and essential oils.
6. Pour into a glass jar and allow to cool.

Notes

If you'd rather not heat the oils you can also scoop out your coconut oil, add the rest of your ingredients and stir.  This can be a bit messy and hard to control but your conditioner will be just as effective.

Another option to make it more pliable is to whip it!  Once you've mixed all your ingredients, place in the fridge until completely cold and solid.  Using a hand mixer, whip for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.  Then just spoon into a glass jar.  For me, this is too much effort because in my bathroom in the summer, the whip will fall flat due to the coconut oil not staying solid because of room temp.

This recipe makes about 4 oz. 

Did you make this product?

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Ways To Use:

1. Concentrate the conditioner on the ends of your hair but you can put it everywhere your hair is dry. Just remember, oil tends to travel up the hair shaft so if you tend to get an oily scalp, use sparingly.
2. You can treat this leave in conditioner as a hot oil treatment. Heat about a tablespoon of conditioner, apply to damp hair and leave on as long as needed. Shampoo as usual. I like to add a generous amount to my hair, tie it in a bun and sit in the sun.
3. Use as a hair mask by applying 1-2 tablespoons all over the hair and letting sit for as long as needed. Shampoo and lightly condition afterward.
4. This conditioner can double as a beard balm!
5. It can also be used as a body moisturizer believe it or not! Every surface of our bodies need oil!

You don’t have to store this conditioner in the fridge but it will keep it more solid and easier to apply. Because we’ve added zero water based ingredients, a preservative is not necessary and your conditioner should last a good 6 mos.

If you are experiencing hair loss and thinning, you might want to try my DIY hair loss oil recipe. It is also nourishing but it addresses hair loss. I also have a hair loss spray that is water based for those who experience oily scalp.

Making your own homemade leave in conditioner really is as easy as combining all the ingredients together and stirring. Melting and whipping isn’t necessary. I highly recommend using this type of conditioner because commercial conditioners are full of water and even the natural conditioners contain questionable ingredients and fillers. You don’t get any more natural then PURE high quality oils!

Making your own leave in conditioner is the best thing you can do for your hair’s needs!

xx, Jenni

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