Enjoy silky soft hair with this homemade leave in conditioner! This 3-ingredient recipe is kind of like a hair mask and contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter to give your locks a super soft, healthy feel to them.
Skip the fancy salon products (and prices) and whip up this shea butter hair mask instead. With only 3 ingredients you can have a super effective, leave in conditioner ready in minutes.
This all-natural hair mask is perfect for curly or thinner hair as a little goes a long way. Nourish your locks and take pride in cutting out icky ingredients from your self-care routine with this leave in conditioner recipe (all-natural deodorant is a great swap too!).
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: With only three ingredients this hair mask whips up in about 7 minutes.
Nourishing: All of the ingredients in the conditioner are nourishing for both your skin and hair.
Customizable: Add in your own essential oil blends to give this recipe a new scent each time you make it.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Below is a shot of what you need to make a shea butter hair mask. Know that you need fractioned coconut oil (not regular), or the recipe will solidify too much to be able to use.
Expert Tips To Make It
Make sure to keep an eye on the shea butter as you melt it so that it doesn’t burn.
Add your essential oils (if using) in order so that they’re not going directly into something hot which can damage them.
Once hardened, the homemade leave in conditioner can be stored in your bathroom cupboard.
How To Make It
Step 1: In a double boiler or the microwave, heat the shea butter over low until it just melted.
Step 2: Stir in the coconut oil and honey until combined.
Step 3: Add any essential oils you’re using and let the mixture sit in the fridge until it hardens (about 3 hours) and then store it in a cupboard until you use it.
How To Use It
After you wash your hair and get some of the water out of it, use a wooden spoon to portion out about 1 teaspoon of leave in conditioner. Rub and massage the mixture into your wet locks and brush through. Dry your hair as normal and that’s it!
Take care not to put wet hands into the jar. Getting any water into a DIY recipe will result in it molding (learn more about the do’s and don’ts of homemade products).
Essential Oil Blends
Personally, I love the natural honey smell of this homemade leave in conditioner. However, if you want to dress up with a bit of scent, below are a few aromatic oil blends. I add in only a few drops of each.
- Citrus + lemon
- Peppermint + lemon
- Lavender + rosemary
Honestly, any essential oil you love can be added in. So, mix and match to create ones that make you feel great.
FAQ's
The homemade mask does contain oil however, you’re using it in suck small amounts that it should blend into your hair easily and not leave a greasy feeling once your hair dries. Plus, it’s a great way to protect your hair from heat-based styling techniques.
This DIY recipe works well on both curly and fine hair. If you have natural curls that are very thick, you may need to use more than one teaspoon though.
Other Easy DIY Recipes
- DIY sleep salve
- Honey lip scrub
- How to make homemade bath bombs (expert secrets)
DIY Leave In Conditioner
Equipment
- Mini Mason Jar
- Glass measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup Shea Butter
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 teaspoon Fractionated Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Melt the shea butter. You can melt this on the stove using a double boiler. I used the microwave. It takes about a minute and a half, at 30 second intervals, to see when it is fully melted as microwaves are at different strengths.
- Add coconut oil and honey.
- Stir the mixture together and transfer to an airtight container.
- Let sit in the refrigerator for about 3 hours or until hardened.
Notes
Add your essential oils (if using) in order so that they’re not going directly into something hot which can damage them.
Once hardened, the homemade leave in conditioner can be stored in your bathroom cupboard.
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