How to Make Hair Conditioner

Co-authored by Patrick Evan

Last Updated: March 5, 2023 References Approved

Conditioner is used to balance the pH of your hair and return essential oils and shine to your hair after shampooing. Making your own conditioner at home is a great way to save money while still treating your hair with quality, natural ingredients. The best part, though, is that you probably have all of the ingredients in your house already! By mixing certain combinations of various household products, you'll be able to make a homemade conditioner that works just as well as products you'd buy at the store or a salon.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Common Ingredients

1
Mix 1/2 cup plain yogurt, mayonnaise, and one egg white together for a quick conditioner. While some people are little turned-off by the idea of using a condiment for conditioner, mayonnaise is a great way to add a healthy shine to your hair. The egg whites contain proteins that help damaged hair, and the vinegar helps restore a balanced pH to your scalp.^{[1]
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Research source} This little mixture spreads easily and can be used just like normal conditioner. Simply whisk them together in a bowl and apply like normal.
- Do not use hot water to wash your hair or you risk cooking the egg whites on your head.
- Substitute vanilla yogurt for plain for a light vanilla scent.^{[2]
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2
Mix together a tablespoon of honey, half cup of whole milk, and a few drops of olive oil in a bowl or cup. Stir the mixture well and apply it to your head.^{[3]
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- Add a teaspoon of cinnamon for a wonderful, spiced scent.
- Some people believe that adding one pureed banana can also help prevent hair breakage.^{[4]
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3
Try aloe vera or shea butter conditioner to fight split ends. Mix either aloe or shea butter with 2–3 tablespoons (29.6–44.4 ml) of olive oil to make it easily spreadable, then mix it over your hair after shampoo. You can also skip the olive oil for a simple and effective leave-in conditioner.
- You won't need a lot-- simply put a little on your fingertips and focus on the ends of your hair to fight split ends.^{[5]
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4
Coat your hair with warm coconut or olive overnight. Oil is essential for healthy hair, so this overnight conditioner is a great way to get your hair happy and healthy. Be sure to cover your hair with a shower cap to prevent the oil from getting on your sheets. This is particularly useful for dry, damaged hair. Repeat 2-3 times a week, or as often as you hair requires.^{[6]
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- Heat the oil up until it is warm, but not hot, to the touch.
- Massage the oil into your hair, spreading it from the scalp up to the end of the hair.
- Rinse the oil out in the morning.
5
Use avocado as the base of a deep-cleansing conditioner. The following recipe combines many of the principles of homemade conditioners to make a deep cleaning, dandruff fighting conditioner. Use a blender to mix the following ingredients and reap the homemade-rewards:
- 1 fully ripened avocado,
- 2-3 teaspoons honey,
- 1 tsp coconut oil,
- 1/4 cup aloe vera juice, (available at most health stores and specialty grocers)
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice.^{[7]
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- If the mixture is too thick, add more aloe vera or some water.
6
Add herbs, oils, or scents to your mix to customize your conditioner. The basics of conditioner are actually pretty simple: a base (like yogurt, avocado, honey), a pH balancer (vinegar, lemon juice), and some oil (coconut, olive, mayo). From there you have free reign to mix and match ingredients to get the right balance for you. Try adding:
- Ground flax seeds.
- Lavender, lemon, sage, bergamot, or rosemary extract.
- Milk or cream to thin the mixture and make it easier to apply.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Apple Cider Vinegar

1
Know that apple cider vinegar is great at balancing the pH of your hair. This classic liquid is the basis of many home remedies and is an all-natural way to keep your hair clean and shiny.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.} It is mixed with water, so don't fret about your hair smelling vinegary. A quick rinse will get rid of any odor.^{[10]
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- It closes the cuticles and creates a glass-like surface.^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Patrick Evan
  Professional Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
2
Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar and mix well. Simply combine the liquids and shake them until they are well mixed. Your basic conditioner is done. Shake the bottle before using it to make sure it is still well mixed.
- This simple mixture is a good base that will help customize your conditioner.
3
Add essential oils like lavender or bergamot if you have greasy hair. These oils will clean off your hair and return essential oils to hair follicles. This prevents your hair from overcompensating and producing a lot of oil shortly after you get out of the shower, which leads to greasy hair. Add 6-7 drops the following essential oils:
- Bergamot
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Rosemary^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lorena Barcal
  Clinical Herbalist & Clean Beauty Specialist
  Expert Interview. 28 June 2020.}
- Sandalwood
- Tea tree^{[13]
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4
Add dandruff fighting oils if you are having trouble with flakes. Apple cider vinegar conditioner can be quickly adapted to deal with dandruff. Simply add 6-7 drops of the following oils and extracts to help fight off flakes:
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Thyme
- Rosemary^{[14]
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5
Soak sprigs of rosemary or lavender in your mixture for 1-2 weeks to get scented conditioner. Simply add the springs after mixing up the conditioner and leave them in for a few weeks. Strain out the branches when you are done for conditioner that leaves your head smelling wonderful for 1-2 hours after using it.^{[15]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

How to Use Your Conditioner

1
Wet your hair with cool or cold water. Hot water damages your hair by opening up pores on the hair shaft, allowing moisture and oil to escape.
- If you love hot showers, try dosing your hair with cold water for 30 seconds right before getting out to mitigate some of the effects.
2
Squeeze the water out of your hair before applying conditioner. Your hair is already soaking with water, making it harder to get the conditioner into the hair strand. After rinsing, dry out your hair a bit by lightly squeezing it. You can even lightly blot your hair with a towel to get rid of surface water.^{[16]
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3
Apply conditioner to the tips of your hair. You don't want to massage the conditioner into your scalp where it won't do you any good. Spread the conditioner along your palms and then, starting in the middle of your hair, work it out towards the tips.
- You only need a half-dollar sized dollop of conditioner -- too much may weigh down your hair and make it appear flat.
- The purpose of a conditioner is to nourish and soften the hair.^{[17]
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  Expert Source
  
  Patrick Evan
  Professional Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.}
4
Leave the conditioner in for 2-5 minutes before rinsing out. This gives your hair time to absorb the conditioner and leaves it clean and happy.
5
Try using conditioner before, not after, you shampoo. Most people naturally shampoo their hair and then apply conditioner, but a recent "reverse wash" trend promises shiny, high-volume hair. Simply apply conditioner, leave it in for several minutes, and then rinse it out before applying shampoo.^{[18]
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- Don't worry if your hair feels greasy after the conditioner -- the shampoo will deal with this.
- Try out the reverse routine for a week and see how it feels. It is easy to go back if you aren't satisfied with the results.
6
Use conditioner even when you don't shampoo. Shampoo strips essential oils from your hair, and should really only be used every 2-3 days. But you should always use conditioner, as it restores your hair's pH balance and lends it a gorgeous sheen.
- People with greasier hair may need to shampoo more often.
- You can use a small amount of conditioner without showering too. Just use your fingertips to massage it into the tips of your hair -- it will soak it up.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you make a good homemade conditioner?

Lorena Barcal
Clinical Herbalist & Clean Beauty Specialist
Lorena Barcal is a Clinical Herbalist, Clean Beauty Specialist, and Writer for IslandBeauty.co, a blog dedicated to sharing the benefits of using all-natural beauty products and recipes created by herbalists. Lorena specializes in studying and developing natural alternatives for beauty products. After finishing her herbal studies, Lorena managed an herbal lab in Barcelona developing natural beauty products. As a writer for IslandBeauty.co, she shares knowledge and insights to promote the natural beauty industry.

Lorena Barcal

Clinical Herbalist & Clean Beauty Specialist

Expert Answer

Add in some rosemary essential oil! This ingredient is very anti-inflammatory and may help your scalp heal.
Question

Does it matter what kind of vinegar I use?

Community Answer

Yes. Apple cider vinegar, with "the mother", has all the nutrients needed and balances the pH in your hair.
Question

Can I blend coffee, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil to make a hair darkening conditioner?

Community Answer

Yes you can, but it will make your hair smell like caffeine. It should also be noted that it will likely come out in one wash.