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Two bottles of a homemade conditioner next to a wooden comb and a washcloth.

Easy DIY Hair Conditioner for Natural Hair

Last Modified: April 20, 2020 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // April 23, 2021 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

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Take control of the ingredients that go into your hair products by making them at home. This easy, DIY hair conditioner uses natural ingredients to leave your hair feeling soft and tangle free, and is light enough to use as a leave-in conditioner too. #DIY #Conditioner #haircare #natural #essentialoils

Take control of the ingredients that go into your hair products by making them at home. This easy, DIY hair conditioner uses natural ingredients to leave your hair feeling soft and tangle-free. It’s light enough to use as a leave-in conditioner too.

Two bottles of a homemade conditioner next to a wooden comb and a washcloth.
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When I first wrote this post, I had just recently taken the Dressing Your Truth® course. It’s a fascinating program that shows you how to dress for your energy Type (as well as ideas for how to wear your hair and makeup). In doing so, I started to let my hair do its curly/wavy thing for the first time in over 20 years!

As part of the Dressing Your Truth course, I watched a bonus video that gave tips for styling even (especially) unruly hair to get the curls that you might not even know you have. One of the tips was to not ruin your hair with shampoo. You can either wash with a co-wash or use some other “no-poo” type cleanser. Or, just use shampoo sparingly and less often.

They also recommended using a good conditioner (like this one) without silicones and other ingredients that may be problematic for wavy and curly hair.

I gave those tips a try, using this conditioner as a “co-wash” during the week and washing my hair with my homemade clarifying shampoo sparingly; once every week or so. Suddenly, I had new waves and curls I never realized I had! I no longer felt the need to constantly straighten my hair to make it look presentable.

The condition of my hair has since improved enough to allow me to let it do its thing. It’s so much less work, and I love the way it looks.

Why make a homemade conditioner?

There are a lot of reasons to make your own conditioner.

When you consider that the main ingredient of most conditioners and lotions is water, you begin to realize that you can save yourself a lot of money by making your own conditioner. That’s true even (or especially) when you are using high-quality ingredients.

You might be tempted to buy a certain product because it uses a certain oil or some other (supposedly) miracle ingredient. Most of the time, though, only trace amounts of the expensive ingredients are actually used. The rest of the product may include questionable chemicals (or might be just water).

By making your own, you can choose which ingredients you want to use which ones to avoid. I love making things myself so that I can control the ingredients. My goal is normally to reduce the number of toxic ingredients and to make more natural versions of the products I would otherwise buy. Staying in control of the ingredients will probably always be my main reason for making things myself.

In conclusion, making your own conditioner allows you to use high-quality ingredients, avoid toxic ones, and save yourself money in the process! (Plus, it’s generally more sustainable, because you can choose to reuse the packaging or at least use more sustainable packaging.)

A dab of homemade conditioner in a person's hand
This is the consistency. It looks and feels just like conditioner that you’d buy in the stores!

For those who want a super-sustainable option that doesn’t use any packaging at all, you can also try making a homemade conditioner bar!

The ingredients

A basic conditioner only uses a few simple ingredients. The main ingredients are water, oil, an emulsifier, and a preservative. You can then customize those ingredients or add in other ingredients like vitamins and/or essential oils.

To make a conditioner, we’ll be making a simple emulsion. It’s just like making a simple lotion. The main difference is the type of emulsifier used. In this case, we will use a cationic emulsifier, BTMS, for its conditioning properties.

What is BTMS?

The main, important, ingredient for making this conditioner is a cationic emulsifier called BTMS (aka. Behentrimonium Methosulfate). It’s really great for making hair products because it is a great detangler and makes hair feel silky smooth. At the same time, it’s light enough to use in leave-in conditioners.

BTMS is an emulsifier that is naturally obtained from rapeseed oil. The recommended dosage of BTMS is 2-10% of the final weight of the product, depending on the desired consistency.

I generally use around 5% in my hair conditioners. If you use less than that, you’ll end up with a thinner product. Using too little, though, may result in an unstable emulsion that might separate. Using more than 5%, you’ll end up with a slightly thicker consistency.

BTMS-25 vs. BTMS-50

When I originally wrote this post (in March of 2017), I didn’t realize that BTMS was sold in different formats with different percentages of Behentrimonium Methosulfate. My supplier only referred to my emulsifier as BTMS. After a bit more investigation, I found that I was using BTMS-25.

BTMS-25 ingredients

BTMS-25 is a combination of Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, a co-emulsifier. The percentage of Behentrimonium Methosulfate in BTMS-25 falls between 25-30% of the emulsifier, by weight.

Some people prefer BTMS-25 because it only has those 2 ingredients.

BTMS-50 ingredients

BTMS-50, on the other hand, is a combination of Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol and Butylene Glycol. The percentage of Behentrimonium Methosulfate is also higher, around 50%. Some people choose to avoid BTMS-50 because they want to avoid butylene glycol.

What is butylene glycol?

Butylene glycol is a type of alcohol that is sometimes used in cosmetics. While it is generally considered safe, some people avoid all glycols. They may avoid them because they are usually derived from petroleum or because they consider them synthetic ingredients.

Which BTMS should you use?

I formulated this recipe using BTMS-25, so I know for sure it works well with that emulsifier.

BTMS-50 has a higher percentage of the active conditioning agent, but less of the fatty alcohol that can help moisturize dry hair. From what I’ve researched, it may also make for a thinner final product. You should be able to use either effectively, but I haven’t personally tried this recipe with BTMS-50 as of yet. So, I can’t personally vouch for it.

My best-educated guess, though, is that if you use BTMS-50, you’ll end up with a wonderful, albeit slightly thinner conditioner. You can compensate for that by using slightly less BTMS-50 and then adding a small amount of co-emulsifier like cetyl alcohol or cetearyl alcohol.

If you do make this recipe with BTMS-50, I’d love to hear how it goes!

Overhead view of BTMS emulsifier on a small bamboo plate
BTMS is an emulsifier that is perfect for hair conditioners.

The oil phase

In the basic recipe, I chose to use 5g of argan oil. I used argan oil because it’s a great emollient oil that may add shine and reduce frizz. Don’t feel like you have to use argan oil, though.

When formulating your conditioner, you can sub out the argan oil for a different oil. You can also use a combination of different oils and/or butters. Just make sure that the final weight of the oils is similar to the amount of oil I used to get a similar type product.

What oils are best for hair?

My favorite oils for hair products are argan oil and jojoba oil. I often use a combination of the two when making a conditioner for my hair.

Other great oils for hair, especially dry and unruly hair, are coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.

Castor oil is said to help hair grow faster, so you may consider using it if that’s a concern for you. That said, it can also be drying and feel sticky when added in larger quantities. With that in mind, I’d suggest combining it with other oils.

Shea butter is also often added to hair products. It may be especially helpful for curly and/or coarse hair, but may be a bit too heavy for finer hair.

The water phase

The main ingredient in lotions and conditioners is water! That’s what helps keep their price down.

I use distilled water because it is a type of purified water that is free from minerals and impurities that may otherwise contaminate our product. You definitely want to use some sort of purified water when making your own cosmetics. If using regular filtered water, it’s best to boil the water shortly before making the conditioner with it.

Customizing the water phase

While you can make a great conditioner using only water, you can further customize your conditioner by substituting part of the water with a hydrosol or floral water. Using something like rose water or lavender water adds a nice, mild fragrance to the final conditioner. They may also add some of the beneficial properties of the plant from which they were extracted.

Apart from floral waters, you can also use other water-soluble ingredients like aloe juice or glycerin. Glycerin and aloe are both humectants that can help draw moisture into the hair. Aloe may also help soothe your scalp.

While I love adding floral waters and aloe juice, using too high a percentage of these botanicals may make your final product more difficult to preserve.

Natural preservatives aren’t generally as strong as the synthetic ones you are probably trying to avoid. Since you aren’t likely to do microbial testing on your homemade product, it’s best to use smaller amounts of those sorts of ingredients. To err on the side of caution, I also recommend making smaller batches so that you end up finishing your product within a few (2-3) months.

Should you use glycerin in your hair products?

Glycerin is a humectant that is often added to hair products to helps capture the moisture from the air and incorporate it into your hair. That helps keep your hair moisturized and also helps with curl definition and frizz reduction!

If you want to add glycerin to your conditioner, you can use it in place of part of the water component of your conditioner.

How much?

In the case of glycerin, you can definitely get too much of a good thing. When using too much glycerin, your product will likely feel sticky.

In extreme weather, it can also end up working against you. Rather than pull moisture into your hair, it may pull moisture from your hair instead. That can result in dry hair if used in extremely dry weather. It may also be problematic in extremely humid conditions.

For most people (in normal environments), I’d recommend using a small amount of glycerin, up to 5% of the final weight of your conditioner. If you are living in an extremely dry or humid climate, you may want to consider lowering that amount or leaving out the glycerin altogether.

Keep in mind, when adding other ingredients, that many extracts are glycerin based. So, when formulating how much glycerin to use, make sure to account for the total amount of glycerin in your recipe. Otherwise, you may end up with an overly sticky product.

Adding a preservative

Because this conditioner is an emulsion with water in it, it needs a preservative. Otherwise, it will be a breeding ground for microbes like bacteria and mold. While mold is normally visible, a homemade product can have unsafe bacteria without you being able to see it. (These microbes could give you a rash or an infection.)

If you are choosing to make your own products to ditch toxic chemicals, you don’t want to replace them with potentially toxic bacteria and molds, right?

Natural preservatives

Not all preservatives are “bad” (or toxic). There are several preservatives available for home use that have been accepted by natural certifications like ECO_CERT and the strict BDIH. They will allow you to make safe emulsions that will keep for several months, even out of the fridge. (I’d still recommend formulating small batches that you think you’ll use up within 3 months.)

When I originally wrote this post, I recommended Rokonsal, Leucidal ® Liquid, and Cosgard/Geogard because they were the first natural preservatives that I could easily find locally. I had successfully tested each of those preservatives without any visible issues.

In the last few years, though, many new options have become available. I now often use Sharomix™ 705 or Euxyl® K903.

All of the preservatives listed above are Ecocert approved, meaning that they are approved for use in making products that are certified organic.

Feel free to choose a preservative that is inexpensive and easy to find in your area. Just make sure that you use the proper amount. This will depend on the recommended dosage of your chosen preservative. It’s also important to make sure that the pH of your conditioner is within the effective range for your preservative.

The dosage and pH are important!

Most natural preservatives are effective at around 1% of the final recipe by weight. That means you should use around 1g of preservative for every 100g of the final product. Some preservatives, like Leucidal, need to be used at higher percentages (around 3-4%) to be effective. So, make sure to use the proper amount of preservative by checking on the recommended dosage for your particular one.

It’s also important to make sure that the final pH of the conditioner falls into the effective range for your chosen preservative. For more information, read about the importance of pH in cosmetics.

How long does it keep?

Without a preservative, you’d need to treat this conditioner as if it were food. It would need to be stored in the fridge to slow bacterial and mold growth. Even then, I wouldn’t recommend using it for more than 7-10 days.

Some people feel comfortable making fresh batches each week and storing their homemade lotions and conditioners in the fridge. They throw the old batch out and make a new one every 7-10 days. I personally don’t have the time and energy to do that.

By now, there are many preservatives available for home use that conform to Ecocert and COSMOS standards. I have covered many of them in my guide to natural preservatives.

Beginner’s Guide to Natural Preservatives

Check it out!
Several open glass vials surrounded by fresh flowers

Especially when making products with the more natural preservatives, I recommend making small batches. Don’t make more than what you think you will use within 2-3 months. In reality, the finished product will very likely keep for longer than that. Most people making homemade cosmetics, though, aren’t willing to spend money on microbial testing to determine their product’s shelf like. That’s why it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Making a new batch of conditioner takes me less than 30 minutes. So, I think it’s worth investing a tiny bit of time every 3 months to make a new, fresh batch.

You could use more potent preservatives, like parabens, to extend the shelf life further. I personally don’t recommend doing that, though.

One of the main reasons I make my own products is to avoid ingredients like parabens. Parabens can cause skin irritation and may disrupt your hormones. Not only that, without doing microbial testing, it’s still impossible to determine an accurate shelf-life for your homemade products. That’s why I recommend making smaller batches more often regardless.

Making a natural conditioner

For a while, I was trying to formulate all of my DIY beauty products and cosmetics using only “completely natural” ingredients. For me, that meant only using whatever I could find in my refrigerator or pantry.

With time, I came to the realization that I can live a healthy, natural lifestyle without feeling quite so “crunchy”. I’ve learned to make my own beauty products, with safe ingredients, that actually resemble the products I used to buy in stores (but without the extra chemicals).

Each person will have to decide what they consider “natural” enough for them.

We’ve already touched on using the more natural preservatives, the ones that are accepted for use in organic and certified natural products, but what about the emulsifier?

Is BTMS “natural”?

BTMS is an emulsifier that has wonderful conditioning properties. It’s what gives this conditioner the perfect slip in the hair, which makes it the perfect detangler.

Whether or not it is considered “natural”, though, is a bit controversial. Some argue that it is natural because it’s generally regarded as safe and it’s naturally obtained from rapeseed. Others argue that it isn’t natural because it isn’t generally allowed in products with an organic certification. (It’s not Ecocert or COSMOS approved.)

When I took the 2 courses in natural haircare formulation, one of the courses did talk about the possibility of using BTMS. The other, however, avoided it because they didn’t consider it natural.

I personally don’t have a problem using BTMS because I have no intention of trying to officially certify my homemade products as organic. That said, I have tried some other options. These other emulsifiers are more natural, but they don’t give the same amount of slip and detangling as BTMS, in my opinion.

Substituting BTMS

Those who have issues with Behentrimonium Methosulfate, or who want a truly organic product, can use a different emulsifier. Don’t assume that using just any emulsifier will work to make a similar product, though. Conditioners are generally different from lotions in that they use cationic emulsifiers that help reduce frizz and detangle hair.

If you are trying to avoid BTMS, there are a couple of cationic emulsifiers that you can use in its place. While you could theoretically use any emulsifier, those that aren’t cationic will not give the hair the same conditioning feel. They won’t have the same “slip” nor will they detangle in the same way.

Emulsense™ HC

Emulsense™ HC is a natural cationic emulsifier that is palm-free and Ecocert and COSMOS approved. Its ingredients are Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate and Brassica Alcohol.

It’s probably the most common natural cationic emulsifier, but can still be hard to find. I’ve made several homemade conditioners with Emulsense and it works pretty well. I like the feel of conditioners made with BTMS better, though.

If you plan on choosing this emulsifier, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, it’s highly recommended that you use Spectrastat G2-N as your preservative when using Emulsense. Also, because it tends to make an acidic product, it is likely that you will need to increase the pH slightly to get it into an ideal pH range of 4.5-5. To do so, this product is really only compatible with arginine for adjusting the pH upwards.

Varisoft® EQ65

Varisoft® EQ65 is one of the few Ecocert and COSMOS approved cationic emulsifiers available for making a totally natural conditioner. Its ingredients are Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride and Cetearyl Alcohol.

Like Emulsense, Varisoft is usually harder to find than BTMS. Also like Emulsense, it works relatively well, but not as well as BTMS (in my opinion). Conditioners made with Varisoft just don’t have the same slip and conditioning feel. Either, though, is much better than using a “regular” emulsifying wax to try to make a conditioner. (I did try to make one with Olivem 1000, and didn’t like it at all.)

Ways to use this conditioner

I’m really proud of this recipe because I really, really love the way it turned out. It leaves my hair feeling clean and soft. While I originally formulated it to be a rinse-out conditioner, you can use it in other ways!

Leave-in conditioner

While it might look a bit thick to be a leave-in conditioner, it’s actually quite light in my hair. I love that it’s light enough to allow my hair to curl as intended, all while conditioning it and keeping it untangled and frizz free.

To use it as a leave in conditioner, I rub some of it between my hands and then spread it over my towel dried hair.

I have also used it to give my curls a pick-me-up between washes. To do so, I spray a bit of water on my hair, and then apply the conditioner as I would to towel-dried hair. I then scrunch it through my hair to help revive the curls. (You can also add a bit of homemade hair gel (or flaxseed hair gel) to help refine them.)

If you plan on using this as a leave-in conditioner, you could consider slightly lowering the amount of emulsifier used to keep it on the thinner side. That would also make it easier to use in a spray bottle.

Two bottles of a homemade conditioner

Cleansing conditioner

Because these cationic emulsifiers are also really a type of surfactant, they can help gently cleanse the hair. They can bind to the dirt and oils in your hair, removing them when rinsed out.

Curly and wavy hair does especially well with using a co-wash (or conditioner only wash) to cleanse the hair. Not all hair types benefit from this.

I have been able to use this conditioner as a co-wash for around two weeks without needing to resort to shampooing. After about 2 weeks, I feel like my hair feels a bit heavy if I don’t use some sort shampoo to give it a deeper cleaning. (I use my gentle clarifying shampoo or my homemade shampoo bar every 1-2 weeks to provide a deeper cleaning and to remove any buildup.)

Storage containers

I photographed the conditioner in spray bottles because I wanted to use transparent bottles that showed off the conditioner. At the time, that’s what I had on hand. While it is possible to use it with the spray bottles, it’s a bit too thick for them.

I prefer using a pump bottle or silicone travel tubes instead. You can also use a flip-cap bottle.

I like using the silicone travel tubes because they hold up really well to being washed in the dishwasher. That allows you to thoroughly cleanse and sanitize the bottle between uses. (By reusing the packaging, you are able to make a much more sustainable product!)

  • A closeup of wavy hair from the back
  • A closeup a a girl's wavy hair
My hair has been a lot curlier with better defined curls since I’ve started using this and shampoo my hair less often.

Other optional ingredients

Apart from changing out the oils and waters, or adding humectants like glycerin, there are other ways to customize your homemade conditioner.

To add fragrance, I generally add essential oils. Lavendar and rosemary are oils whose fragrance I love and that are great for hair care products. Some essential oils may add other properties. Mint can stimulate circulation in the scalp, which can help prevent hair loss, but some people might find it irritating to the delicate skin there.

To further nourish the hair, you can also add vitamins like d-panthenol and/or other additives like rice or wheat protein.

Video

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Two bottles of a homemade conditioner next to a wooden comb and a washcloth.

Natural DIY Hair Conditioner

This easy, DIY hair conditioner uses natural ingredients to leave your hair feeling soft and tangle free. It can be used as a rinse-off, a leave-in, or a cleansing conditioner.
4.49 from 81 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep time: 10 minutes
Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 100 g
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Equiment

  • Immersion blender
  • silicone travel tubes
  • pump bottle
  • double boiler insert

Materials

  • 83 g distilled water
  • 5 g BTMS
  • 5 g glycerin
  • 5 g argan oil or other oil(s)
  • 1 g Sharomix 705 or other natural preservative, at its recommended dosage (3.5g Leucidal)
  • 1 g lavender essential oil or other oil(s)
Switch units back – Convert units

Instructions

  • Clean your work surfaces, utensils, and packaging. (You can use alcohol to better sanitize surfaces.)
  • Weigh out the distilled water.
  • Heat the water over a double boiler while you measure out the oil(s) and emusifier.
  • Weigh out the oil (or oils) in a double boiler insert.
  • Tare the scale and add the BTMS (or another cationic emulsifier) to the oil(s).
  • Heat the oil and BTMS mixture over the double boiler until the BTMS has melted. Fully stir the ingredients together until well combined and remove from the heat.
  • Add the hot water to the hot oil mixture. Ideally the water and oils should be at around the same temperature (around 70º-75ºC/160º-170ºF). Keep stirring until the mixture comes together and thickens slightly.
  • Allow the mixture to cool to around 90ºF/30ºC, and then add delicate ingredients like the preservatives, essential oils, or any other additives like silk or wheat protein that you may want to add. Combine well.
  • Test the pH of the conditioner. Ideally, you want the pH to be in a good range for both your hair (4.5-5)and for the effectiveness of whatever preservative you are using. (I'd suggest choosing a preservative that works at that range rather than adjusting the recipe to suit your preservative.) Adjust the pH down with a couple of drops of lactic acid (or, less likely, up with a solution of NaOH).
  • Bottle your conditioner. Wait until fully cooled to cap the bottle to prevent condensation from forming above the conditioner. You can now use it as needed!

Notes

Make small batches and use up within around 3 months.  
Feel free to substitute the argan oil for a different oil or a combination of oils. 
For a more natural conditioner that uses an Ecocert-approved emulsifier, BTMS can be substituted with either Varisoft® EQ 65 or Emulsense HC. If using Emulsense, you should use Spectrastat G2-N as your preservative and should adjust the pH up, if needed, with arginine.
While glycerin is a great humectant for hair, it may not be beneficial to all hair types in all environments. (It can cause issues in areas with extreme humidity or dryness.) You can exchange the glycerin for more water if you choose not to use it. 
 
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!

Customized homemade conditioner example

For those who want to see an example of how the above conditioner recipe can be customized, I have added another recipe below that uses aloe juice and a combination of oils. I’ve also incorporated wheat protein and d-panthenol to further nourish the hair.

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Two bottles of a homemade conditioner next to a wooden comb and a washcloth.

Customized, DIY hair conditioner recipe

Customize your conditioner to suit your needs. You can use a combination of oils and/or butters, different essential oils, or other nourishing additives.
4.91 from 21 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep time: 10 minutes
Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 100 g
Author: Tracy Ariza, DDS

Materials

  • 60 g distilled water
  • 20 g aloe juice
  • 5 g glycerin
  • 5 g BTMS
  • 3 g argan oil
  • 2 g jojoba oil
  • 1 g natural preservative Check recommended dosage for your preservtive and dose accordingly
  • 2 g wheat protein
  • 2 g d-panthenol
  • 1 g essential oil I used lavender EO

Instructions

  • Weigh out and mix together the water, aloe juice, and glycerin in a heat-resistant container.
  • In another heat-resistant container, weigh out the oils and BTMS. (You can also use a double boiler insert.)
  • Heat the oils and water mixture in a pot of water. Heat until the BTMS melts, stirring until the BTMS is fully incorporated into the oils. Once the BTMS has melted and the temperature of all of the ingredients is around 70º-75ºC/160º-170ºF, remove them from the heat.
  • Mix together the hot, water-soluble ingredients and the hot oil mixture. Ideally, both should be around 70º-75ºC/160º-170ºF. Stir constantly until all of the ingredients come together well and are emulsified.
  • During the cooling process, continue to whisk together the ingredients periodically. The mixture will continue to get thicker as is cools.
  • Once you've allowed the mixture to cool down to around 30ºC/85ºF, you can add in the more heat-sensitive ingredients like the preservative, the wheat protein, the d-panthenol, and the essential oil(s).
  • Check the pH of the conditioner and adjust it if needed. (You can use a few drops of lactic acid to lower the pH if necessary.)
  • Bottle your DIY hair conditioner.
  • Don't place the cap on the container until the mixture reaches room temperature. This prevents water from condensing on top of the conditioner. Once cool, you can seal the container and use or store the conditioner.

Notes

Ideally, use the conditioner within 3 months.
Tried making this? Tag me today!Mention @thethingswellmake or tag #thethingswellmake!

Other homemade hair care products

Hair butter recipe

Perfect as an intensive conditioner for dry and damaged hair, this hair butter recipe is simple to make and nourishing to many hair types.
Check it out!
A jar filled with a homemade hair butter next to a sprig of lavender and a wooden comb

DIY Clarifying Shampoo

Cleanse your hair gently with this DIY clarifying shampoo that uses natural surfactants to remove dirt and leave your hair clean and soft.
Check it out!
Cleanse your hair gently with this DIY clarifying shampoo that uses natural surfactants to remove dirt and leave your hair clean and soft. #shampoo #diyshampoo #naturalsurfactants #naturalshampoo

Shampoo Bar

An eco-friendly alternative to liquid shampoos, solid shampoo bars provide a great lather and are perfect for traveling.
Check it out!
A homemade shampoo bar in a stone soap dish next to a wooden comb

Easy Homemade Hair Gel (With or Without Aloe Vera)

This easy homemade hair gel can be made with or without aloe vera, and is the perfect natural hair gel for when you are on the go. It can be preserved with natural preservatives for up to 3 months.
Check it out!
Homemade hair gel squirted from a silicone tube onto a small wooden plate.

Nourishing DIY Flaxseed Hair Gel

Style and nourish your hair with this homemade flaxseed hair gel. It's perfect for defining curls and waves, but also helps style hair when straightening.
Check it out!
Overhead view of a jar full of homemade hair gel made out of flaxseed next to a spoonful of flaxseeds

Homemade Natural Root Concealer Stick

Cover up those gray hairs or dark roots with a simple, easy-to-make, homemade natural root concealer stick which won’t break the bank, at all.
Check it out!
Cover up those gray hairs or dark roots with a simple, easy-to-make, homemade natural root concealer stick which won't break the bank, at all.
Category: Face & Body, Hair, Make it Yourself

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna

    February 16, 2023 at 5:03 AM

    I have been making and using this recipe for some years now and love it. It makes my thick hair so soft. Thanks Tracy. I just reread your recipe and realize it can be used as a leave in conditioner. I can’t believe I never thought of it.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      February 24, 2023 at 10:47 PM

      Thanks, Anna!
      Yes, I have wavy hair and like to refresh my hair between washes- so I wet the hair and add a tiny amount between my hands and smooth it over the ends, etc. It works really well to freshen things up. (I generally only wash once a week.)

      Reply
  2. Francoise

    January 14, 2023 at 2:50 PM

    5 stars
    I have been making this hair conditioner for 2 years now and I love it. I have very fine hair so I rinse it out . It works very well and I use just a pinch, I travel with a little container that lasts quite a while. I do not sell a lot of it as my buyers don’t quite understand shampoo bars and concentrated products. I make your solid shampoo bars also and love it too. It makes you really aware that liquid shampoo and conditioners are just water with a bit of ingredients!
    I am looking for a dog coat spray, detangler and nice smelling. I already make a solid dog shampoo and paw balm.
    Thank you!!!!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      February 26, 2023 at 9:42 AM

      Hi Francoise,
      Thank you!
      I actually meant to make and post several dog care products, but then our dog passed away and we decided to take a break from dogs for a while. (I still have hens.)
      I did use this conditioner on my dog when I washed her, though, and it worked really well to help detangle!

      Reply
  3. Janina

    January 6, 2023 at 1:05 PM

    Hi! Is this effective for frizzy or very dry hair?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      March 11, 2023 at 4:32 PM

      Yes! I add a small amount with some water and smooth it over my hair when it gets frizzy or dry between washings and leave it in!

      Reply
  4. Nomsa

    August 17, 2022 at 9:32 PM

    5 stars
    Lovely recipe

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      September 5, 2022 at 1:40 PM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Molly

    August 3, 2022 at 3:19 PM

    Is there any way to make the shelf life longer?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      September 5, 2022 at 1:55 PM

      Hi Molly,
      In practice, the shelf life will be longer than this. The preservatives should allow for a product that keeps well for at least 6 months as long as you use good hygiene, etc. while making it (and follow the recipe correctly).
      That said, the reason I give a shelf life of 3 months is that I like to err on the side of caution. I don’t know what each person is doing with the recipe and know that most are not going to spend the money nor time on doing microbial testing on their homemade products to see how long they really keep before going bad. So, I give it a shelf life of 3 months which is the amount of time my supplier suggests for people who are making products at home without testing.

      Reply
    • Linda

      November 26, 2022 at 12:42 AM

      I was looking for a site to purchase the Sharomix 725 from, but can’t seem to find it. Has it been discontinued and replaced with another preservative? Could you please Share where you purchase it?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Tracy Ariza, DDS

        March 11, 2023 at 5:00 PM

        Hi Linda,
        I live in Spain so my sources will be different and you may need to look for a preservative that can be more easily found in your area.
        I buy from cremas-caseras.es and while they do send internationally, I don’t think it’s worth a large expense in shipping and/or customs fees if you can find something else similar locally.

        Reply
  6. Molly

    July 6, 2022 at 10:23 PM

    5 stars
    Have you ever used Linatural MBS-1 for your preservative? I know it would need an emulsifier if used with oil. I make oil and water based products so I would prefer to use just one preservative for both

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      March 11, 2023 at 5:41 PM

      I haven’t tried that one, no. I’m not familiar with it.

      Reply
  7. Alexa G.

    February 24, 2022 at 7:34 AM

    5 stars
    Boiled rice water is an excellent conditioner, so let’s figure out how to use it as one. Take a mug of boiled rice water and add a few drops of rosemary, lavender, or chamomile essential oil to it. Shampoo your hair and then pour the rice water over it.

    Reply
  8. moisture shampoo

    January 4, 2022 at 8:11 AM

    5 stars
    Honey is a humectant, so it captures and retains moisture to your hair. While your current deep conditioner does its job nicely, adding some honey will help replenish the moisture a lot faster by adding the necessary minerals and vitamins needed to achieve that result.

    Reply
  9. Kate

    October 13, 2021 at 10:36 PM

    Have you tried freezing the conditioner or shampoo in small batches? Would it work instead of preservatives?

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      October 15, 2021 at 3:56 PM

      Hi Kate,
      No, I’ve never tried that.
      These are safe preservatives, so it wouldn’t be worth the hassle for me.

      Reply
  10. Ciara

    October 13, 2021 at 7:06 PM

    Hi again!

    I’d also like to know if the ph can be adjusted with citric acid instead of lactic acid?

    Thank you!
    Ciara

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza, DDS

      October 15, 2021 at 3:59 PM

      Yes, that’s completely fine. I’d suggest making a 20% solution by mixing 4 parts distilled water and 1 part citric acid. Then, weigh out the amount you add, checking the pH after small increments. Once you get the right pH, you should know the amount of citric acid solution to use for future batches.

      Reply
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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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