The organic ingredients used in the preparation of these natural leave-in conditioners are gentle on your hair and suit all hair types. This article explores the top 15 DIY leave-in conditioner recipes and how you can use them to boost your hair health. Keep reading to know more.
Why Use DIY Leave-In Conditioners?
DIY leave-in conditioners are safe, cheap, and rarely have any side effects. Most of the ingredients used are available in your kitchen pantry. You can customize your DIY leave-in conditioner as per your hair concerns. They are free of preservatives and toxins and do not weigh your hair down.
The next section gives an insight into the ingredients used in the DIY leave-in conditioners. Keep scrolling!
Which Ingredients In Leave-In Conditioners Help Smoothen The Hair?
Let’s now discover how to use simple ingredients from your kitchen to prepare DIY leave-in conditioners.
17 Effective DIY Leave-In Conditioner Recipes
1. Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of coconut oil 1 capsule of vitamin E 150 mL distilled water
Directions Khushbu Shakyawar, a beauty YouTuber, used olive oil, water, and a store-bought conditioner to prepare a DIY leave-in conditioner. She suggests you can use coconut oil as well. She further added, “It makes the hair soft and manageable (i).”
2. Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of castor oil 2 tablespoons of olive oil 150 mL distilled water A spray bottle
Directions
3. Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
1 tablespoon of shea butter 10-15 drops of rosemary oil 1 tablespoon of olive oil ⅓ cup of water
Directions
4. Aloe Vera Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 1 tablespoon of glycerin ⅓ cup of water
Directions
5. Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of argan oil 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel ⅓ cup of water
Directions
6. Jojoba Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of jojobai An evergreen shrub bearing seeds containing oil with healing properties. This oil is often used as a natural lubricant in many cosmetics. oil 1 tablespoon of coconut oil 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel ⅓ cup of water
Directions Note: Warm the coconut oil if needed as it is a solid at room temperature.
7. Sweet Almond Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of jojoba oil 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 tablespoon of glycerin ⅓ cup of water
Directions
8. Grapefruit Seed Extract Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of grapefruit seed oil 1 tablespoon of argan oil ⅓ cup water
Directions
9. Vitamin E Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 capsules of vitamin E 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 1 teaspoon of olive oil ⅓ cup of water
Directions
10. Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of coconut milk 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 1 tablespoon of honey ⅓ cup of water
Directions
11. Coconut Water Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
Equal parts of coconut water and distilled water
Directions
12. Rooibos Tea Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
½ cup of rooibosi A flowering plant whose leaves are plucked, dried and fermented to make aromatic herbal tea. tea ½ cup of water
Directions
13. Olive Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of olive oil 4 tablespoons aloe vera gel ⅓ cup water
Directions
14. Avocado Oil Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
2 tablespoons of avocado oil 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel 1 tablespoon of coconut oil ⅓ cup of water
Directions
15. Marshmallow Root Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
3 tablespoons of marshmallow gel 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 1 tablespoon of olive oil ⅓ cup of water
Directions
16. Honey Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
4 tablespoons of coconut oil 8 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 2 teaspoons of honey 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil ½ cup of water
Directions
17. Green Tea Leave-In Conditioner
You Will Need
½ cup of steeped and cooled green tea 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel Juice from 1 lemon 2 teaspoons of jojoba oil 12 drops of any essential oil
Directions Apart from these recipes, you may also try using homemade banana hair conditioner. Bananas are known to soften the hair and are exceptionally good for dry, frizzy hair. So, do give it a try. If you are wondering how to apply the DIY leave-in conditioners the right way for smooth, frizz-free hair, scroll down to the next section.
How To Use Leave-In Conditioners Effectively
Say, one of the formulas caters to your skin like no other and you want to use it again and again. Wouldn’t it be more cost and energy-efficient to make the formula in a big batch? If so, you will benefit from knowing how to keep the conditioner fresh for a longer time. Scroll down to know more!
Tips For Storing DIY Leave-In Conditioners
Store leave-in conditioners in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight to preserve their effectiveness. Keep the container tightly sealed to prevent contamination. Refrigeration can also extend shelf life.
Always label the container with the preparation date for freshness tracking. Plus, do not forget to check the freshness before applying it to your skin each time. Is it safe to include essential oils in my DIY leave-in conditioner? Yes, you can add essential oils to your DIY leave-in conditioner. Choose oils like lavender or rosemary for added nourishment but ensure proper dilution to avoid irritation or sensitivity. How do you make a creamy leave-in conditioner? To make a creamy leave-in conditioner, you can refrigerate your mixture of nourishing ingredients like coconut milk, honey, and aloe vera. Is a leave-in conditioner just a watered-down conditioner? No. The formulation of a leave-in conditioner is different from a regular conditioner as the former is free of oils and doesn’t contain any ingredients that may weigh your hair down. Can honey be used as a leave-in conditioner? Yes. Honey has humectanti A water-absorbing substance that helps retain moisture and keep the skin healthy and supple. and emollient properties, so you can use it as a leave-in conditioner after diluting it to reduce its stickiness (10).
Illustration: Easy DIY Leave-In Conditioner Recipes For Smooth Hair
Learn how to make your own DIY leave-in conditioner with simple ingredients! Get ready to have soft, manageable hair with this easy-to-follow tutorial. Watch the video to know more.