Homemade hair conditioners

Homemade hair conditioners are prepared at home to condition hair, usually from plant based ingredients. Like commercially prepared hair conditioners the objective of homemade hair conditioner is to strengthen, add shine and body to the hair. With rising concerns about using products which have chemical ingredients that might harm our health or the health of the planet, the popularity of homemmade options have been increasing.

Why should I be aware of this?

• It is inexpensive compared to commercially prepared products.
• It has no chemicals. In fact we are aware of all ingredients, their proportion, quality and quantity.
• It helps us have a smaller carbon footprint.
• We are not harming the environment and our planet by adding plastic ( used in packaging, harmful emissions or chemicals in our waterways.

All about homemade hair conditioners

In homemade hair conditioners, ingredients such as avocado and olive oil act as humectants. They trap in the moisture and keep it locked so that the hair shaft can admit the moisture it requires.

Nourishing hair conditioner is particularly used for dry hair and dry scalp. It has oils which don't leave a greasy remnant, but still provide enough moisture for hair to shine and look healthy. The best conditioner is the one which provide the best results when used on your hair. The hair conditioning treatment also helps to counterpoise dryness. Dry hair and spilt ends can benefit by regular conditioning

Some recipes for preparing hair conditioners at home

• Avocado hair conditioner
  • Take one cup of avocado paste.
  • Egg yolk of two yolks.

Beat the egg and mix avocado to get the mixture. Apply for half an hour and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

• Jojoba oil hair conditioner
  • 1 teaspoon jojoba oil.
  • 1 cup warm beer.

Mix all ingredients. Apply to hair and massage through.

• Sunflower hair conditioner
  • Take one cup of sunflower oil.
  • One cup of wheat germ oil.

Mix the two oils and warm the mixture. Massage it on the head and wash off with lukewarm water in which one tablespoon of lemon juice has been added.

• Coconut milk hair conditioner
  • 1 avocado.
  • Coconut milk.

Peel and pit avocado. Add coconut milk until smooth and the consistency of hair conditioner. Apply to hair and massage through.

What can I do?

Most people though keen to do away with commercial hair conditioners end up opting for it because well meaning home remedies are time consuming and require effort, both in great shortage in the era of time poverty. Here are some quick alternatives which give good results.

Some quick natural alternatives

• Cider vinegar -- Put one or two tablespoonfuls into a pint or more of water. This helps the acidity of hair, leaving it shiny and silky.
• Treatment with oils helps the softness and manageability of hair.
• Rosemary oil is also useful. Add one or two drops of rosemary oil to your final rinse.
• Lemon Balm (Melissa) can also be prepared as an infusion to add to rinse water.
• Tea is another slightly acid hair rinse which has a conditioning effect.
• Henna powder is also good for the condition of hair. Buy the kind which has had the natural colourant removed if you don't want to end up with red hair.

References

• Homemade Hair Conditioners