If you would have told me five years ago that I would be making my own health and beauty items .. I really would have said “NO way.”
Fast forward … to 2016, and I can’t imagine “not” making my own items. We make our own body wash, shampoo, body powder, facial wash and more. And it’s liberating – exciting, and so much better for us, and even better, helps us save more than we ever would have saved before.
But saving money is not the driver behind our obsession though – knowing what is IN our products is the reason we prefer to make our own. But the money saved is also just as amazing.
This recipe below will blow you away. And it’s so terribly easy, but one of our favorites.
I absolutely LOVE this conditioner — my oldest daughter and I have VERY long hair and this conditioner works amazingly well. We sure hope it does for you, too!
Why make your Own Conditioner?
Knowing exactly what you are applying to your hair is one of the biggest reasons. Not to mention it’s just easy – and great for your hair. This recipe is good for all hair types – before you assume that it’s not going to work for you, try to have an open mind and give it a try. You might be surprised.
The Truth about Real Conditioners
If you mention to your friends or family that conditioner is bad for you, they’ll probably think you have really lost your marbles. Silicone is a popular ingredient in everything from hair conditioner to the caulk you put around your tub in the bathroom.
It’s also used in hair care products. It provides shine, and can help smooth your hair to make it feel conditioned. Silicone is not just “one” item though.. but a battery of items ending in the term “cone”.
When you use commercial conditioners, you have the illusion of shine – but it’s a fake shine. The shine you get is from the plastic – you want a real shine from having healthy hair.
Silicone weighs your hair down and over time, will make it very dull and lifeless. It prevents moisture from penetrating the shaft of your hair – so while you might get a nice shine for a few days, it will act like a magnet to attract dirt and yuckies which create hair build up. Your hair will continue to build up that silicone and sit on the surface of your hair – it won’t allow the conditioner to really penetrate your hair due to the silicone build up, leaving the hair to become brittle and frizzy.
These conditioners can trick you into making your hair feel soft and shiny, very smooth and healthy – but eventually the conditioner will build up and make your locks feel heavy. Eventually you will find a clarifying shampoo to strip your hair of the build up, and then it’s back to where it was before: dry and limp.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar Instead
Your hair & the oil that comes from your scalp has a pH level of 4.5 – 5.5. When kept at this level, the scalp is protected against fungal and bacterial growth – and thus your hair stays healthy (as does your skin) Src. Shampoo and conditioner on the shelf in commercial retailers can disrupt this pH. That’s when you see dandruff and flakiness, and hair that is dull/lifeless.
Apple Cider Vinegar has a pH level that is close to human hair.
Not to mention, ACV is antimicrobial – it kills bacteria and fungus (which is the cause of hair loss and dandruff) – and it’s great to use at least once a week especially if you have dandruff.
Easy 2-Ingredient Hair Conditioner:
- 8 oz. Water
- 1 Tbsp Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
- Optional: 10 drops Essential Oil of choice (we use Young Living – see below for our picks)
Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle (we use THIS one here) or, you can use a squirt bottle – if you are using Essential Oils, I would use caution if you are using plastic.
We have one bottle that is a squirt bottle with ONLY ACV and Water (my daughter uses that, since I don’t have to worry about her squirting anything with Essential Oil in her eyes by accident). I use the spray bottle for my own long hair.
Obviously the recipe is for an 8 oz bottle – so double it up and use the glass bottles pictured above. They spray a heavy stream, and they’ll allow you to have a generous amount on hand without having to make a batch every few days.
To use this conditioner, wash your hair as normal – then squeeze out all of the water in your hair, and spray this conditioner liberally (or, squirt through your hair). Use your fingertips to quickly work it into your scalp and hair, then let it sit in there while you wash the rest of your body. After 1-2 minutes, rinse out – I promise you will NOT smell like vinegar 🙂
You might want to keep your mouth closed too — unless you want a good dose of vinegar in your mouth if you stick your head under the shower.
This recipe is effective, yet gentle – the apple cider vinegar smoothes out your hair cuticle and brings a more balanced pH to your hair and scalp. This mixture conditions your hair without the build up that commercial conditioners have.
About the Oils
Using Essential Oils in the recipe is completely optional. We used Cedarwood because it’s great for supporting healthy hair.
Some of the best oils for Dry hair are Lavender, Rosemary, Sandalwood and Geranium. If you have Oily hair, on the other hand, you will want to use Lavender, Rosemary, Lemon, Peppermint or Cypress.
If you experience occasional flakiness, try Lavender, Cedarwood, Melaleuca, or even Rosemary Essential Oils.
Did you recently give birth to a new baby? If you did, you might want to go with Cedarwood for healthy hair.
How to Get Started with Essential Oils
- See more Essential Oil recipes HERE and HERE
- Find out how to buy Essential Oils at Wholesale Cost (24% OFF) + earn $40 in Bonus Goodies, too!
[…] Support Healthy Hair & Scalp: Combine 3-4 drops of Cedarwood to your Shampoo to support a healthy scalp. OR, Add 2 drops to a quarter size amount of coconut oil and massage into your scalp – let sit for 15-20 minutes then rinse out. You can also use Cedarwood in your hair rinse. […]