According to Cristi Nunziata — The Herbal Education Coordinator at City Market in Burlington, VT — there are many items from your kitchen that you can use to make natural beauty products. And aside from saving money, there are many reasons to make your own, including taking better care of your skin and hair. I have picked out five easy recipes for homemade hair conditioners that treat dry or damaged hair, along with some excellent general advice from Nunziata's natural hair care workshops. (See also: 10 Budget Beauty Products You Can Make at Home)
While these are simple recipes, Nunziata does say it takes practice to get it right and that there are some important things to remember about using conditioners:
Conditioning lubricates the hair shaft, causing softness and preventing breakage and tangles. Most are applied after shampooing, but some are used prior and left on for 20 minutes or even overnight.
From "Herbal Hair Care" by Cristi Nunziata
Avocado Deep Conditioner
- 1/2 mashed ripe avocado
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 3 drops lavender or rosemary essential oil
Combine ingredients and apply to hair, focusing on the ends. Leave on for at least 10 minutes, then rinse.
From Beauty By Nature by Brigette Mars
Cost: Around $10 for two to three treatments. The essential oil will be the most expensive item here (around $8.50). You can always buy a small amount of olive oil in bulk if you don't already have it on hand. Unless you plan to eat the other half of the avocado, keep the pit inside the flesh of the avocado and store it in a container in the refrigerator; this will keep it from turning completely brown when you are ready to use it again. Use the other half within 24 hours.
Oil Hair-Conditioning Treatment
- Small amount of jojoba, olive, or coconut oil
- Herb mixture of choice (optional)
- Essential oils of choice (optional)
- Warm the oil to 100-105 degrees in a double boiler. If using, add herbs and essential oils.
- Dampen hair. For long or thick hair, use 1-2 teaspoons of the oil mixture, and for fine or short hair, use 1/4 teaspoon of the mixture. Massage oil into the scalp and work through the strands, covering all hair completely. Cover hair with a shower cap or plastic bag and if possible sit in the sun or by the woodstove. Heat facilitates the process. Leave the oil in for an hour or two, and then, shampoo and rinse.
From Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal
Cost: Less than $15 if you don't use jojoba or essential oils. This cost should include at least 20 treatments, since a jar of coconut oil lasts a long time if you use a moderate amount for each treatment. Same with the essential oils if you decide to use them, which will increase the cost to between $20 to $25, depending on which essential oils you choose (some are more expensive than others).
