DIY Deep Hair Conditioner

 
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The summer sun can do a number on our hair! We get plenty of damage from the sun's UV Light plus chlorine in our tap water. Adding to that may be pool or ocean water -which can leave your hair dry & brittle. Freshening up your locks is always good. -Rebecca McClelland

Before you get started find the carrier oil and essential oil combination that works best for you. Tailor your recipe to your hair needs:

  • Dry or frizzy hair: Argan oil

  • Oily scalp or limp hair: Grapeseed oil

  • Extremely dry or damaged hair: Macadamia oil

  • Sensitive or flaky scalp: Almond oil

  • Flakes and dandruff: Shea butter

  • Boosting growth: Olive oil

Essential Oils:

  • Cedarwood: said to help balance oil-producing glands in the scalp, so hair looks less greasy

  • Lemongrass: may relieve scalp irritation and itchiness

  • Thyme: an antimicrobial oil that helps keep bacteria at bay [source]

  • Tea Tree: antimicrobial and antifungal making it ideal for dandruff-prone hair

MATERIALS

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

  • 1 tablespoon shea butter

  • 1 teaspoon Argan oil (or carrier oil of choice)

  • A few drops of essential oil. Good ones for deep hair conditioning are rosemary, lavender, peppermint, geranium, and clary sage. Add in any of the ones listed above for specific needs.

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Melt coconut oil and shea butter together in microwave or double boiler (a Pyrex measuring cup in a saucepan of hot water works well.)

  • Let mixture cool until almost room temperature, then add the carrier oil of choice.

  • With a hand mixer, whip mixture together for 3–5 minutes (transfer to a larger bowl, if needed, to accommodate the hand mixer). You'll get a creamy texture that's much easier to apply than melted oil.

  • Pour into a small bowl or lidded container. Use fingers to apply to the ends of your hair.

  • Comb through clean, dry hair and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse hair and shampoo as normal.

Notes:

  • This conditioner is pretty oil-heavy, so oils may linger in your hair after you use it. It’s more noticeable in fine hair, but any hair type can be affected. Just use shampoo after your deep conditioning treatment to get rid of lingering oils and leave hair feeling soft and clean. You can also consider doing a citrus or vinegar rinse to cut the extra oil and add in some extra shine.

  • These are rich oils so you might need to shampoo more than once to remove all of the residue. If you prefer to condition without added oils, try a honey hair mask or one with pumpkin or avocado.

  • If you have seriously dry hair, feel free to double or even triple this recipe and store the extra in an airtight container in the bathroom for weekly use. It should stay good for a year as long as you're careful not to get any water in it. If you do, your conditioner may go bad within a few days and you'll need to make a fresh batch.

Do you prefer the pool, beach or lake?

 
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