Blog - 3 Easy DIY Deep Conditioning Treatments
July 7, 2018 by Swirly Curly
Wondering if DIY deep conditioning treatments will help you grow healthy, long hair? You may already be doing some experimenting on your own with positive results, but it can be time-consuming to figure out which ingredients will help you soften, detangle, and grow natural hair.
Before you read this article make sure you're NOT making these 10 Natural Hair Mistakes!
Adding a few of your own ingredients to a store-bought brand will work just fine to create healthy hair. But you may find that making your own concoctions will take your hair to the next level.
In this post, you’ll find three recipes you can use to improve your natural hair’s strength, moisture, and manageability.
Why You Should Deep Condition 2-4 Times Per Month
Aim to deep condition every time you wash, or at least twice per month. It may sound excessive, but it can actually save you time and energy by making your hair easier to detangle and style.
Detangling your hair is one of the most difficult things about being natural. It takes a long time and it can be a real struggle. And if you do it wrong, you come out with broken strands at the end of a long wash day.
Here's a video Keziah shot on How To Detangle Your Hair In Less Than 15 Minutes.
You may have already invested in a detangle spray or leave-in-conditioner, but why not use a good deep conditioner too?
When you use deep conditioners, your hair becomes more manageable so that you don’t have to spend a long time physically detangling. It’s like spending more time with a plastic cap on your head, and less time raking a comb through your tangled hair.
Deep conditioning treatments always win over styling tools because they improve your hair, instead of damaging it. Plus, you’ll be less tired on wash day because deep conditioners don’t take as much physical effort as combing and detangling does.
Besides the detangling factor, deep conditioned hair looks and feels smoother and shinier. Deep conditioning every time you shampoo will help you grow a long and healthy mane faster.
Recipe 1: Detangling Deep Conditioner for Natural Hair
This DIY recipe will help to greatly reduce the time you spend detangling. Avocado packs on the nutrition, while apple cider vinegar and shea butter help to detangle.
Grapeseed oil adds vitamin E and shine. The essential oils in this recipe will help to grow your hair and retain length.
Consider using this deep conditioner with a hooded dryer, especially if you have low porosity hair. Heat will help to open the cuticles and increase penetration into the hair shaft.
Ingredients
1 avocado pitted
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup shea or mango butter
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
5-15 drops peppermint, lavender, or rosemary essential oils
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup shea or mango butter
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
5-15 drops peppermint, lavender, or rosemary essential oils
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a container.
3. Part your hair into 4-6 sections and apply the conditioner.
4. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and let it sit 20-60 minutes.
5. Rinse and style.
6. Save and freeze any leftovers for the next wash day.
2. Pour the mixture into a container.
3. Part your hair into 4-6 sections and apply the conditioner.
4. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and let it sit 20-60 minutes.
5. Rinse and style.
6. Save and freeze any leftovers for the next wash day.
Recipe 2: Coconut Milk Deep Conditioner for Smoothing Curls & Reducing Shrinkage
Coconut milk is 3-4 times more beneficial for your hair than coconut oil. While both penetrate the shaft well, the milk contains water, electrolytes, protein and vitamins that the oil doesn’t have. Plus, the milk has moisturizing fat too.
So, why isn’t everybody using coconut milk instead of the oil? It may be because using the milk is more complicated and time-consuming. Plus, it goes rancid when not refrigerated. This means you have to rinse it out after application, unlike coconut oil which can be left in the hair for the entire week.
You’ll find that making a big batch of your DIY conditioners will save you time and energy. This recipe makes 4-5 servings. Separate and freeze the servings to use whenever you want.
Ingredients
1 can coconut milk
3 tablespoons honey
5-15 drops eucalyptus or rosemary essential oils
3 tablespoons honey
5-15 drops eucalyptus or rosemary essential oils
Instructions
1. Pour coconut milk into a medium-sized bowl.
2. Stir in honey.
3. Add essential oils and mix well.
4. Divide the mixture into 4-5 servings, depending on the length of your hair.
5. Part your hair into 4-6 sections and apply the mixture to your scalp and hair.
6. Cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
7. Rinse and style.
2. Stir in honey.
3. Add essential oils and mix well.
4. Divide the mixture into 4-5 servings, depending on the length of your hair.
5. Part your hair into 4-6 sections and apply the mixture to your scalp and hair.
6. Cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
7. Rinse and style.
Recipe 3: Hair Growth Deep Conditioner for Natural Hair
Banana contains biotin, a B vitamin that aids in hair growth. It also has potassium, other vitamins, and a host of nutrients for hair. Banana must be thoroughly blended when you use it in recipes, so you’ll need a powerful blender. If you don’t have a high-wattage blender, use a jar of banana baby food instead.
Avocado oil is one of the only oils that penetrates through the cuticle to reach the hair shaft. If you have trouble finding avocado oil, feel free to use extra-virgin olive oil instead. These penetrative oils do not stimulate the scalp, but they do help you retain the hair you’ve worked hard to grow.
Yogurt softens and conditions hair, while combating fungi and other bacteria that attack the scalp. Greek yogurt is especially good for hair because it is thick and less runny. Be sure to buy full fat yogurt to get the extra moisture.
Glycerin is a humectant that will help draw in water from the air into your hair. Not all hair reacts well to glycerin and the effectiveness often depends on your city’s humidity level. It’s okay to leave it out of the recipe. You can also try honey instead.
This recipe contains 1-2 servings, depending on the length of your hair. Be sure to freeze any leftovers for another wash day.
Ingredients
1 ripe banana or 2 4-oz jars of banana baby food
1/4 cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon glycerin
1/4 cup plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon glycerin
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair.
3. Cover with a plastic cap and let it sit 20-60 minutes.
4. Rinse and style.
Using a weekly deep conditioner will give your curly hair the moisture it craves, and it will help you save time and energy on wash day. Of course, use your Snappee hair ties so that you don't damage your hair using old regular hair ties.
2. Apply the mixture to your hair.
3. Cover with a plastic cap and let it sit 20-60 minutes.
4. Rinse and style.
Using a weekly deep conditioner will give your curly hair the moisture it craves, and it will help you save time and energy on wash day. Of course, use your Snappee hair ties so that you don't damage your hair using old regular hair ties.
Which DIY deep conditioners do you like to use on your natural hair?
