By Chinwe of Hair and Health
For some of us, going natural did not stop with our hair. It continued with a move towards mixing our own “natural” products. While numerous recipes exist on the internet, few are actually both simple AND effective in meeting the needs of our natural hair. If you are new to making your own products or are a current mixtress searching for an easy-to-make recipe that actually works, you can start with these homemade conditioners, which are my three favorites:
1. For Manageability – Bananas, olive oil, glycerin, and honey
This homemade conditioner improves the manageability of my hair for post-rinse styling. The secret is in the banana, which has a way of minimizing shrinkage and softening the hair when mixed with the other ingredients. Meanwhile, glycerin and honey, which are both humectants, and olive oil, which is known to penetrate the hair, all contribute moisturizing benefits. Do not be alarmed if you notice a loosening of your coils or curls with this conditioner; the effect is temporary until your next wash day. This recipe is ideal for naturals who want to achieve easier blow-outs or better stretched styles.
Ingredients:
1 large overripe banana (sliced) OR 7 oz banana baby food
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp pure vegetable glycerin
2 tbsp pure honey
Instructions:
Place the sliced banana, extra virgin olive oil, glycerin, and honey all in a blender. Blend the ingredients thoroughly making sure no lumps or banana bits remain. (Depending on your blender quality, you may or may not have to then sieve the mixture. Another option is to use banana baby food, though the conditioner may not be as effective.) Apply to hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.
2. For Detangling – Avocados, olive oil, shea butter, and apple cider vinegar
This homemade conditioner is lubricating, thick, and heavy, all of which give my kinks slip, moisture, and hang for detangling. The avocado’s meatiness and fatty acid content contribute to the effectiveness of this mixture. Additionally, the fatty acids in the olive oil combined with the emollient properties of shea butter add even more lubrication and moisturizing benefits. Lastly, the acidic pH of the apple cider vinegar helps to flatten the cuticles for easier detangling. This conditioner is ideal for those with thick, dense hair and major shrinkage.
Ingredients:
1 overripe avocado (sliced)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup unrefined shea butter
2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
Place the sliced avocado, unrefined shea butter, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a blender. (There is no need to melt the shea butter ahead of time.) Blend all the ingredients thoroughly and add more EVOO, if necessary, until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. When done, apply to the hair and let sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.
3. For Strengthening – Coconut oil and honey
This conditioner is ideal for naturals whose hair dislikes protein conditioners but needs a bit of strengthening. The key is the coconut oil, which binds to the hair thus reducing keratin loss. Honey, a humectant, is also added to the mix to impart moisture retention. I get the best of both worlds – moisture and strength – with this conditioner. I personally use two servings of the recipe because my hair is really thick, dense, and naturally dry.
Ingredients:
4 tbs of extra virgin coconut oil
2 tbs of pure honey
(depending on hair density or length, you may use two servings of this recipe)
Instructions:
Place the coconut oil and honey in a small cup and place the cup in a large bowl of hot water. Allow the cup to sit in the water for a few minutes until the mixture is warm. Pour the mixture onto freshly washed but towel blotted hair. Put on a shower cap, and wrap with a towel to prevent mixture from dripping onto face. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse out 80-90% of the conditioner, and style as usual.
Do you have any homemade conditioner recipes? Share below!
thank you!I am intrigued by the banana one. I’ve been interested in using banana lately. I know Coconut oil can strengthen your hair a little bit, but I don’t know about replacing protein with it.
Her name is LOO?????
Love this post! These recipes use some of my fave ingredients. I use this recipe every so often, or when needed:
Triple Phat Coconut Custard Hair Masque
-4 oz pure coconut cream
-1 oz unrefined coconut oil
-1 oz goat’s milk
-1 tbs black strap molasses
I mix all all of this together, slather it thick on my hair (after cleansing), leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse out. Hair is butter soft.
how much in tsp/tbsp are the ounces, and where can can I purchase these items
I am a big fan of homemade conditioners especially using advocados (although I have to fight with my husband because he feels like I am wasting a perfect pear). My recipe is 1 ripe advocado, 1 cup of coconut milk and 1/4 cup of olive oil. I swear my hair feels like silk the only thing is I have to wash it out very well.
Banana baby hair food yields amazing results on my hair. I also love full fat greek yoghurt mixed with honey and evoo….10 points!!
This is wasting food items. I will not use these items on my hair sorry. I will eat the banana, avocado, olive oil etc.
Lmao!!!
Hahahhahaahhaha, you know you can do both right? Lol. :-)
I think folks who use avocado on their hair must either be upper- or middle-class (lol) and/or live in California or someplace else where they’re super-cheap. Out here in the Midwest they’ve been going for around $2 apiece or a little more. That’s too much money for something that’s really much better for your insides (avocado is full of healthy fat and keeps you satiated) than your outsides.
So I agree with you on the avocado BUT note that it’s a single-use product (most of the time). Everything else listed is pretty cheap by comparison. You’re not going to use that entire jar of honey in one sitting. (Right? Right?? lol)
Honey, avocado, bananas, apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil are expensive where I live. One Avocado can cost you $25.00 (equals 4 USD), bananas are $12.99 per pound, natural honey is $20 for 20 fluid oz bottle. Apple cider vinegar & EVOO are imported so they are pricey. Coconut oil is the only cheap product on this list. Hence the reason I said I would rather eat the products. it’s all good though.
I am just curious where are you from because with those prices I don’t blame you. I am spoiled where I am, in Orlando I am able to buy 3 avocados for 1.99.
LOL. I don’t mind doing it on occasion.
I guess it’s fun (almost therapeutic) to make natural hair care produts and take care of your hair but some people take it way too far. Why would you put baby food in your hair? How did you discover that and why is that necessary at all? Wouldn’t the baby food have the oh so harmful preservatives in it? Just go around passing on ideas that have no scientific basis or proof that they work other than hearsay.
Actually, you can get organic baby food….just like any other food. And baby food is already pureed so it tales the work out of mushing up a whole banana….don’t be so judgemental, especially of YOU don’t know what you’re talking about.
Why is this even an arguable debate? Before we had conditioner on the shelves this is what our ancestors did mix stuff to put in there hair. Baby Food is actually good for your hair and body it dosen’t contain a lot of preservs as one might think..Baby Banana food has worked on my hair. I’m a no heat,no color, I don’t put anything I cannot eat on my hair Natural and I’m Proud of it…My hair is Thriving! Let’s have an open mind.You might be surprised. I rather know what is going in my hair than having to read and dicipher Scientific facts on the back of a conditioner that was tested on rats and monkeys thats shocked full of preservatives and whatever man made material..
Boom! +1
Amen!
AGREED!!!!!!!!
+1
Take*
PERFECT timing, I have pear in my fridge now, that has turned a little brown, and I don’t like to eat it that way. I’m going to mix it w/some honey, some olive oil, some mayo, some egg and see what happens.
Hi, I recently did a video on youtube featuring an avocado and coconut milk homemade conditioner and I had AMAZING results. In my BGLH style icon interview, I mentioned not having a go-to conditioner…well, I have it now! I dont think I’ll ever spend tons of money on pricey conditioners. 5 days later, my hair is still soft without adding additional oils/product.
Check it out! http://youtu.be/hihqyuUge_M
And here’s a pic of my results
Huh? Bananas are generally cheap, like $.89/lbs. Avocados I’ve seen $1.99 and this is in the south and the west coast. Maybe on the east coast, not counting Florida it’s more pricey.
Anyways. When I first went natural, I would make these mixes. They’re useful when you run out of product but too time consuming right now. Very helpful though.
This is a brilliant article. I love mixing up my own products because in the UK it is cheaper than shop bought products. I have been wanting to try the banana one for ages. Definitely gonna try it soon. Thanks for posting!!
I’m with the other ladies… I”m In Atlanta and the avocados don’t just fall off the trees here. You pay at least $2 on a good day. I’m going to try to baby food and coconut oil. As for now, I have two jars of manmade DCs that make my hair leap for joy. My hair likes cones and I use them in great moderation… so… until I use up all my “scientifically enhanced” DCs, lol, no kitchen mixtures for a while. I might make some flax seed gel though.
Dang y’all need to stop complaining and take this article for what it’s worth. Jeez
Avocado and banana deep conditioner
Half a ripe avocado
Half a banana
One third of coconut milk one third of a tin 400ml.
Two table spoons of honey
Two table spoons of Jojoba oil
Blend the above ingredients for a couple of minutes or so until in a consistent paste.
My hair is always super soft and moisturised after this treatment. I Love it.
OMG bANANA CHUNKS IN MY HAIR Never again, that is all
I experienced this as well the first time a used bananas in my hair. I realized I should have blended them. I am going to try it again, this time I will blend the bananas until smooth.
Yeah, it does say blend it. I will use my little personal blender if I try this!
my fav comes from friend and natural vlogger allienicole. everyone i’ve passed it onto has been incredibly happy with the results. http://youtu.be/JTdLA-_YYos
Adapted Banana Deep Conditioning Mask from LolaZabeth.com.
1 semi-overly ripe banana
3 tablespoons of EVOO
3 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil
1 tablespoon of rosemary oil
1/2c moisturizing conditioner
Blend to puree mixture and shingle through hair. Great as an overnight leave-in!
I have just went natural for about 10 months I am so excited I have went throught the transition stage now I am going through learning my hair embracing my natural and I LOVE IT! I want to thank everyone for the natural homeade remedies for the are excellent and I look to learning more I LOVE MY NATURAL!
I want to thank BGLH ……for all these wonderful receipes although I’ve only been natural for 10 months these have been the best 10 months of natural I’ve ever experienced OMG… LOVE U GUYS HERE ARE MY RESULTS
how often do you have to wash your hair? please help me people i really need this help me i am having a lot of breakage every time but how do i stop that?
I wash my hair once a week with a natural shampoo and vinegar rinse and then do the avadcado conditioner and u must cut your ends and u will have shedding
The recipe with the measurements are listed above.
Wow! Your hair looks so lovely and soft, Patrina