10 Homemade Natural Hair Treatments
Sometimes I think of my hair as an accessory.
Styling it in different ways makes me feel more put-together. When my hair is healthy, I feel more confident about how I look.
Scraggly hair makes me feel sort of frumpy. Does it do that to you?
All that said, I don't like to spend a lot of time or money on my hair. And I certainly don't want to use a ton of chemicals on it to make it look good, even though I have done so on occasion. Hello, perm! (I was 16, OK?)
The following is a round-up of natural hair treatments you can make at home. Most are quick and easy to prepare, so try a few and let me know what you think.
10 Homemade, Natural Hair Treatments
These treatments are designed to nourish your hair, making it healthier and softer to the touch.
1. Hot Oil Hair Treatment
Create a hot oil hair treatment in just a few minutes by warming a few tablespoons of olive oil then massaging into the scalp and down to the ends. Find the full details here.
2. Homemade Leave-in conditioner
It's quick and cost-effective to make your own leave-in conditioner/detangler. I've been doing it for years and it works great. In fact, I like the homemade detangler better than any I've purchased at the store. All it takes is mixing a little conditioner and water in a spray bottle. Find the ratios in my post: Homemade detangler or leave-in conditioner.
3. Honey Hair Mask
This is super simple and will leave your hair feeling soft and smooth. Just massage honey into your hair from scalp to tip and leave for It is a little sticky to put on, but it's worth the trouble.
While you're at it, why not give yourself a honey facial? And maybe eat a little? Check out 10 ways to use honey (in your food and on your skin) for ideas.
4. Make a Vinegar Rinse
An apple cider vinegar rinse will help increase shine and cleanse the scalp.
Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water. After shampooing hair, pour the apple cider mixture over hair and massage into your scalp. Rinse with warm water.
Keep a mixture of this in a bottle in the shower for use at any time without the need to mix.
5. Mint Tonic
This mint hair tonic stimulates the scalp. Use it before you shampoo.
In a saucepan mix 3 tablespoons of dried mint, 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup vinegar. Simmer for 5 minutes. Then allow to cool. Strain and massage into the scalp. Let sit for 10 minutes, then shampoo as normal.
6. Avocado Hair Mask
Avocado adds moisture to hair. They are the perfect natural treatment for soothing frizzy or dry hair.
Simply mash an avocado and massage into hair. Wrap hair in a towel or shower cap for about 10 minutes. Shampoo as normal.
If you like to eat avocado, there are some good ideas here: The health benefits of avocado and 10 yummy ways to eat it. (and did you know you can freeze avocados? Here's how I do it).
FYI: Avocado makes a great face mask too.
7. Coconut Oil Hair Mask
A great way to deeply condition hair, just mix 3 drops of lavender essential oil with 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. Apply to hair, cover and leave for 20 minutes.
For further instructions see: DIY Coconut Oil Hair Mask.
8. Gelatin Hair Mask
A gelatin hair mask is a strengthening and conditioning hair treatment that repairs damage and adds shine to hair. It is extremely nourishing and moisturizing, smoothing out dry, damaged hair while restoring luster.
9. Mayonnaise Conditioning Treatment
Mayonnaise is an excellent choice for conditioning dry hair. Massage mayonnaise into hair (if you have long hair it may take a whole cup of mayonnaise). Cover hair with a shower cap or plastic bag. Leave mayonnaise on hair for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and shampoo. Follow with a vinegar rinse to remove any residual greasiness.
10. Rosemary shampoo, oil treatment, and vinegar rinse
Rosemary is one of the best herbs to use on hair. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo for everyday use. Or, add 6 drops of rosemary essential oil to the hot oil hair treatment above.
A rosemary hair rinse can be made by mixing 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary leaves with one quart of water, bring to a boil, cover and turn off the heat. After 30 minutes, strain and use as a hair rinse by pouring over clean, wet hair. No need to wash out.
Bonus:
Many people avoid toxins in their shampoo by using shampoo bars (like this one).
You may also like to try Baking Soda Shampoo and Hair Rinse.
It is possible to give up shampoo completely and use baking soda to clean your hair instead. I have only tried this for a week and didn't get past the yuck stage, but plenty of people have and find their hair adapts well.
Baking soda mixed with water also makes a good hair rinse. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water. Pour over wet hair after you have shampooed. Massage into scalp and rinse with warm water
If you'd like more information regarding natural hair care, check out this post: Why Natural Hair Care Is Important
Have you tried any of these natural hair treatments? Do you have any homemade hair treatment ideas to share?
If you like this post, you'll enjoy my FREE Natural hair Treatments eBook!
This is Day 17 in the 31 Days of Natural Beauty Series
Originally published on Feb. 26, 2013.
Stacy Karen
Latest posts by Stacy Karen (see all)
- How to Make Bath Bombs - December 10, 2018
- How to know if you have Diastasis Recti? (And what to do about it) - November 30, 2018
- DIY Cinnamon Spice Body Scrub - November 27, 2018
Great ideas. Will definitely try some of these out soon. BTW, I am hosting a blog link up and would love for you to come and share this post. In fact, you can post up to 3 a week! Hope to see you there!
http://countrifiedhicks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mondays-with-countrified-hicks-4.html
I have finally gotten to the place where I make every product I use on my hair ~ shampoo, herbal vinegar rinse, hot oil treatments, curl shaper and hairspray. I am so happy with them. My hair has never been healthier or looked better. I’ll never go back to store bought products.
Just found you on Wildcrafting Wednesday and have saved these tips in Evernote – many thanks. Following you now – let me know if you fancy guest-posting at Mumtopia any time.
These are some great suggestions here! Thank you for sharing them on Wildcrafting Wednesday! 🙂
I found that sunflower oil put in a spray bottle works just as well for a detangler as does mixing conditioner with water. For smell add a bit of pure vanilla. I spray it in my hands first and then rub through my daughters hair and work out all the knots. It also works for her hair when it is dry from the pool. I work a quarter size amount worth of oil through her hair and then have her shampoo as normal and it drys looking healthy and knot free.
Love this article! I am definitely going to try a few of these ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!!
thank you for the recommendation, it’s very useful, I also use pro naturals moroccan argan oil which helps me to have healthier hair. 😀
I love using home remedies for my hair, it’s super curly and frizzy. I also tend to splurge on good quality products like pro naturals moroccan argan oil hair mask, at least I know they work 🙂
Congrats on your feature on Wildcrafting Wednesday! I’m sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Thank you so much!
I will be honest, I have never tried any of these natural treatments but I really need to. My hair is so dry. I’m really digging the avocado hair mask.
Great ideas! I really like doing no-‘poo with rosemary essential oil mixed in with the baking soda and water. I feel like my scalp is healthier. The mint tonic sounds like a great idea to try!
I every time used to read post in news papers but now
as I am a user of net so from now I am using net for articles, thanks to web.
I have a question on #5. Would it work to use fresh mint??
This article will help the internet viewers for creating new blog or even a weblog from start to end.
For all the people saying that they want to try these because they have dry hair, need to STOP using “shampoo” from shampoo companies.
Any shampoo that is mass produced, which is virtually ANY shampoo you can care to mention – will just totally dry out your hair.
Here is the thing you need to know about your hair.
The oil produced from your head is your own personal, unique, conditioner, that can not be replicated, no matter what.
Stop using mass produced “shampoo” and use the natural methods listed up above, but do not wash your hair everyday, as you will take all the natural conditioner that your head produces out of your hair.
Learn to love your natural oil that comes from your head, because it is your own personal conditioner and use natural things like mentioned above like honey, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, eggs, REAL olive oil, and whatever else to clean your hair and it will improve. I promise.
Nature versus nourishment; nature ALWAYS wins.
Akvamin is one of the health market’s most well documented dietary supplement for bones, muscles and joints.
Akvamin is a natural treatment for osteoporosis, arthritis, joint inflammations, stiffness and pain.
Right here is the right webpage for everyone who really wants to find out about
this topic. You know so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that
I personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a new
spin on a subject that has been written about for a long time.
Excellent stuff, just great!
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or
suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
I want to read more things about it!
Some doctors report that young children who are obese will suffer from hemorrhoids by the time they are
teenagers. Left untreated, bleeding internal hemorrhoids can lead
to prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are
usually painless that are followed by bleeding.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you
writing this article and also the rest of the site is very good.
Greate pieces. Keep posting such kind of info on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
Hello there, You’ve performed an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally
suggest to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this website.
Imagine also if the panels are already upright and facing the west from the previous night’s sunset, and snow covers them in the night.
Snow blowers are very helpful in clearing your driveways after a blizzard.
The series comprises two models, the Ariens Compact 22 (920013) and the Ariens Compact 24
(920014).
Wall Clocks There is no end to the materials that are used
to create these fine pieces. Expensive furniture will be useless if the installation is not done properly.
We did not have a lot of money nonetheless we had learned
our lesson of what happens when you skip corners.
Prepare the hair for regrowth by rubbing olive oil inside the
hair just before you sleep. Some of the dandruff shampoos are especially
strong. It is important to note that my thyroid levels all tested normal.
Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s
on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design.
Great choice of colors!
Why not team up with your canine friend and get a dress that matches your theme.
If you’re shivering in the cold, chances are your dog feels
it, too. For something rather more unusual you might check out a pup sofa bed.
If you live in an region exactly where the temperatures turn into bitter chilly, your dog can put on coats and jackets over sweatshirts and sweaters.
Polar bears in the Canadian Hudson Bay area have lost weight and are losing their fitness due
to the ice breaking up two weeks earlier than usual in the spring months.
Getting everything started can be a daunting task the feels overwhelming, but if you
stick to it, then you will be rewarded in the end.
I’m more than happy to discover this website. I need to to
thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!!
I definitely enjoyed every part of it and I have you saved as a favorite to see new stuff on your
site.