For years now I've been making my own moisturizing shampoo yet for some reason, when it came to conditioner, I've been quick to go to the store.
My hair is thick with a combination of spiral curls, coils and waves. It takes a lot and I mean a lot of moisture to keep me from looking like I'm sporting a scraggly lion's mane. Conditioner is not something to be taken lightly.
About three months back, an Ayurvedic client of mine with a similar hair type requested a DIY daily conditioner. I had a ton of recipes for a variety of hair types but nothing that I could stand behind to address the unique needs of thick, curly hair.
So I went into mad scientist experiment mode. I tested formulas on my kids and on myself, I added this and I added that, and I came up with a DIY daily conditioner blend I can stand behind.
First, can we talk about the smell? Your hair will smell divine. The lavander is so fragrantly floral and blends perfectly with the earthy sweetness of myrrh.
Second, did I mention all day moisture of not only your hair root to end, but of your scalp as well. Castor, coconut, and olive oils combined with the essential oil myrrh, pack a powerful moisturizing punch. If you have curls, they will spring into shape. The castor seals your coils like a serum.
Finally, you can whip up a batch in minutes. I prep mine the day before and store in a 2 oz glass jar.
You can make single batches or double up. If you're going to double up, I recommend adding a few drops of Vitamin E oil as a preservative.
Here's what you'll need:
3 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon castor oil
10 drops essential oil of myrrh
5 drops essential oil of lavender
Here's what to do:
I combine my ingredients directly in my storage container. If your coconut oil is hard, soften it by running the jar under warm water so that your items blend easily and evenly.
I mix with a small whisk and ta-da!
It's so easy!
A few things to consider:
One batch is usually enough for my hair (shoulder length thick and wavy) and both of my son's hair (in pictures). This means that I whip up a quick batch daily before each use. You can make a big batch if that suits your lifestyle better, but if you're planning to keep the conditioner longer than a week, I'd add a few drops of vitamin E oil to serve as a preservative.
Also, this recipe is for daily conditioning. Even though it's moisturizing, it's relatively light. Once a week, I do a deep conditioner using the same foundational recipe only adding 1/2 cup of melted shea butter. For deep conditioning, I leave in my hair for 15 minutes before rinsing, for regular daily conditioning, I leave the basic recipe (without shea butter) in for 2-5 minutes.
Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out! You may also like my DIY Shampoo recipe.
For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.