6 Homemade Leave-in Conditioners Using Natural Ingredients

Leave-in conditioners are a sure way of keeping your hair shiny and moisturized. To protect your hair from damage, or rescue it from frizz or dryness, try out these six homemade leave-in conditioners with all-natural ingredients.

Unlike normal conditioners, leave-in conditioners do not get washed out (hence the name). They are applied after you wash your hair but before you style it. The products will help keep your hair detangled, glossy, and damage-free by providing an extra moisture boost.

Every hair type can use leave-in conditioners and benefit from them. But, if you are going through a particularly dry, frizzy, or damaged hair period, these homemade and DIY all-natural leave-in conditioners are for you.

Benefits of Homemade Conditioners

Making your own all-natural beauty products at home is much cheaper, more health-conscious, and far more eco-friendly than store-bought products.

There are no added chemicals, colorings, or preservatives. Plus, homemade leave-in conditioners are more cost-effective than store-bought products, as most of the ingredients you’ll need can probably be found in your pantry.

Homemade beauty products are also more environmentally conscious, as you prevent the unnecessary packaging and plastic that goes into the production of store-bought products.

To help support the environment and protect your health, choose organic ingredients whenever possible.

1. Aloe Vera Leave-in Conditioner

Ingredients:

• 1 cup aloe vera juice
• 1 tbsp organic avocado oil
• 5-10 drops essential oil of choice

How to make a homemade leave-in conditioner with aloe vera:

1. Pour the aloe vera juice into a spray bottle.
2. Add the avocado oil and essential oil.
3. Shake the bottle well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
4. Spray onto damp hair and massage well.

Benefits:

Aloe Vera is best used for dry and damaged hair. The gel softens the hair, is very moisturizing, and is also said to promote hair growth. And the best thing: You can easily grow and propagate aloe vera at home.

2. DIY Green Tea Leave-In Conditioner

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup steeped green tea (allow to cool before using)
• ¼ cup organic lemon juice
• 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
• 5-8 drops essential oil of choice

Instructions: how to make green tea leave-in conditioner

1. Pour the steeped and cooled green tea into a spray bottle.
2. Add the lemon juice, aloe vera gel, and essential oil.
3. Shake the bottle well.
4. Spray onto damp hair after washing.

Benefits:

Green tea contains antioxidants and is especially good for dry and sun-damaged hair. A green tea leave-in conditioner will replenish hair follicles and give your hair the extra nutrients it needs to restore its shine. We at Utopia strongly encourage you to buy organic and fair trade tea only – to support sustainable agriculture and avoid products made from exploitation.

3. Coconut Oil to Leave in Your Hair

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp melted organic coconut oil
• 1 tbsp organic castor oil
• 1 cup green tea
• 2-5 drops essential oil of choice

How to use coconut oil for hair:

1. Pour melted coconut oil into a glass jar.
2. Add castor oil, green tea, and essential oils.
3. Mix all the ingredients together until combined.
4. Apply 1 to 2 tbsps of the leave-in conditioner and comb through washed, wet hair.

Benefits:

Broken and split ends will love this homemade coconut oil leave-in conditioner. The exotic oil is great for moisturizing hair, as well as sealing in that moisture once applied. It is also perfect for a scalp suffering from dandruff. Coconuts are, however, often imported over long distances and grow in monoculture. So be sure to use this remedy in moderation and buy organic coconut oil.

4. Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner for Moisture

Ingredients:

• ½ cup shea butter
• 1 tbsp organic jojoba oil
• 1 tsp melted organic coconut oil
• 10-15 drops essential oil of choice

Shea butter conditioner recipe:

1. Melt the shea butter and jojoba oil together in a pan.
2. Let the mixture cool until it becomes cloudy, but do not allow it to become solid.
3. Whip the mixture using a hand-held mixer until the ingredients are light and fluffy.
4. Add the melted coconut oil and essential oil.
5. Store in an airtight container.
6. Use 1-2 tablespoons of this homemade leave-in conditioner on washed, wet hair.

Benefits:

Shea butter leave-in conditioner is best used on frizzy hair. Shea butter is rich in vitamins E and A, reducing dryness and protecting your hair against split ends.  It is also high in fatty acids, which may help keep your hair healthy. We recommend using unrefined, organic, fair-trade shea butter for this recipe.

5. Honey as Natural Homemade Leave-In Conditioner

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 10-15 drops essential oil of choice
• 3 drops of geranium oil (optional)

Instructions for leave-in conditioner with honey:

1. Combine all ingredients well.
2. Store in an airtight container.
3. Use 1-2 tbsps on washed, wet hair.

Benefits:

Honey’s soothing qualities mean this leave-in conditioner is best for damaged and broken hair. It is also especially gentle on the scalp, so if you suffer from sensitive skin, this leave-in conditioner is for you. Make sure to buy honey from within the US, that’s been harvested sustainably.

6. Avocado Oil as a DIY Leave-in Conditioner

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp organic avocado oil
• 3 tbsp melted organic coconut oil
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 10-15 drop essential oil of choice

How to make avocado homemade leave-in conditioner:

1. Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle.
2. Shake until well combined.
3. Spray 2-3 times on washed, wet hair.

Benefits:

If you have knotty-prone hair, then an avocado oil leave-in conditioner is the one for you. Detangling is what it does best, and avocado oil is also full of antioxidants and vitamins, so it works to protect hair from breakage. It also helps prevent future damage from the sun and heat.

However, despite all its benefits, avocado and avocado oil products are not very sustainable: Growing one single avocado requires a whopping 60 gallons of water – and this is in hot, dry places where water shortages aren’t uncommon. So don’t buy avocado products too often and choose organic quality.

Read more:

• Greasy Hair? These Home Remedies and Tips can Help!
• DIY Dry Shampoo: Homemade Dry Shampoo for All Hair Types
• How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair Care: Benefits and Hair Rinse Guide

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Tags: beauty DIY Guide Natural Recipes