Below you’ll find a variety of natural, DIY essential oil based conditioners that you can quickly whip up.

There’s a recipe for pretty much all hair types, so you’re bound to find one that works for you.

Enjoy!

**Making a Lecithin Base for your conditioner

First, let’s cover a special ingredient.

For some of the conditioners below I recommend using a lecithin base. Lecithin is an important protein that plays a role within the human body. The lecithin we’re using here is extracted from sunflowers.

We use as an ingredient because of how well it emulsifies.

DIY Lecithin Base for DIY Conditioners

• 2 ounces liquid lecithin
• 2 ounces almond oil
• 2 tsp jojoba oil
• 1/4 ounce cocoa butter

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients
2. After blended melt them together (double-boiler / bain-marie method works well)
3. Pour your melted ingredients into a jar
4. Use as directed in DIY preparations

Conditioners for Dry & Damaged Hair

When you have dry hair it likely means that too little sebum is being produced be your scalp (sebaceous glands). This results in your hair not receiving enough protective lubricant (sebum), which makes your hair dry and potentially damaged, tangled, split, and broken.

This can easily be aggravated by chlorine, too much sun and sea water, and exposure to bleaching and tinting chemicals.

• Essential oils for dry hair: lavender, rosemary, geranium, birch, carrot, parsley, yarrow, sandalwood
• Thicker oils for dry hair: sesame, jojoba, evening primrose, borage, peach kernel, almond, cocoa butter, sunflower, avocado

DIY Conditioner for Sun-Damaged / Bleached Hair

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp lecithin base (recipe above)
• 1 tsp jojoba oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 6 drops evening primrose oil
• 5 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
• 2 drops carrot seed essential oil

Directions:

1. Heat up and blend all ingredients (double boiler / bain-marie method recommended)
2. Let cool a bit once all ingredients have blended
3. While the oil is still warm apply to scalp and massage well
4. Cover your hair with a plastic bag
5. Leave covered for at least 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly
6. Recommended: directly follow up with a vinegar rinse, leaving a small amount in the hair

DIY Conditioning Treatment for Dry Hair

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp sweet almond oil
• 1 tbsp peach kernel oil
• 1 tsp lecithin base (recipe above)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 drops avocado oil, borage oil, or evening primrose oil
• 4 drops parsley essential oil
• 3 drops geranium essential oil
• 2 drops carrot seed essential oil

Directions:

1. Use heat and combine all ingredients together (double boiler / bain-marie method works best IMO)
2. Once thoroughly melted/blended remove from heat and allow to cool just a bit
3. Apply all over hair and leave for at least 10 minutes before shampooing off

Alternative conditioner for dry & damaged hair: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made hair mask conditioner.

Conditioners for Normal Hair

• Essential oils for normal hair: lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, parsley, geranium, carrot, rosemary
• Thicker oils for normal hair: almond, peach kernel, borage, evening primrose

DIY Conditioning Treatment for Normal Hair

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp lecithin base (recipe above)
• 1 tbsp almond oil
• 2 tsp peach kernel oil
• 3 drops carrot seed essential oil
• 2 drops geranium essential oil

Directions:

1. Use heat and combine all ingredients together (double boiler / bain-marie method works best IMO)
2. Once thoroughly melted/blended remove from heat and allow to cool
3. Apply all over hair and leave for at least 10 minutes before rinsing off

Alternative conditioner for normal hair: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made conditioner with mint/lavender/tea tree/jojoba.

Rosemary Conditioner (for all hair types except oily hair)

Ingredients:

(good for one treatment)

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 2 drops meadowfoam, coconut or macadamia nut oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. In a small non-reactive bowl combine your egg, glycerin, coconut, rosemary and lavender oils (optional: add a small amount of skim milk powder for a paste consistency)
2. Mix ingredients thoroughly
3. Using your fingers massage your new conditioner into your hair after shampooing
4. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes then rinse hair

Simple EO Based Hair Conditioner for Normal Hair Types

Here is another basic recipe for making your own conditioner for normal hair. If you have oily hair, substitute birch or sage for lavender. If you have dry hair, substitute geranium or yarrow for lemon.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces water (or rose water/hydrosol)
• 2 ounces white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

1. In a dark-colored glass bottle add your water, vinegar and vegetable glycerin
2. Next, carefully add your rosemary, lavender and lemon essential oils. Shake well
3. Wash your hair, rinsing it out thoroughly
4. Pour your conditioner on your wet hair and comb it through
5. Leave it in for best results, or rinse after 1 minute or so

Alternative conditioner for dry hair: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made conditioner with mint/lavender/tea tree/jojoba.

Conditioners for Oily Hair

DIY Brandy Lemon Conditioner

This conditioner is recommended for those with oil hair primarily.

Ingredients:

(good for one treatment)

• 1/3 cup brandy
• 1 tsp unpasteurized honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 2 drops west indian bay essential oil
• 1 drop rosemary essential oil

Directions:

1. In  a small, non-reactive bowl combine all ingredients (optional: add a small amount of skim milk powder for a paste like consistency)
2. Mix thoroughly
3. Using your fingers massage your new conditioner into your hair after shampooing
4. Leave it on for a few minutes then rinse hair thoroughly

Alternative conditioner for oily hair: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made conditioner with lemon/tea tree/jojoba.

Conditioner pack for Greasy Hair

Greasy hair occurs for the opposite reasons as dry hair. Instead of under-active sebaceous glands, greasy hair is due to overactive sebaceous glands. There’s too much sebum created which gunks up the hair often making it look unwashed and unclean. Greasy hair needs to be conditioned just like all types of hair

• Essential oils for greasy hair: rosemary, lavender, cypress, lemon, eucalyptus, pimento berry, birch, basil, sage, thyme, yarrow
• Thick oils for greasy hair: evening primrose, sesame, borage, peach kernel

DIY Conditioner Pack Directions

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp lecithin base (recipe above)
• 1 tbsp green clay
• 1 tsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp vodka
• 3 drops birch or rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops yarrow essential oil

Directions:

1. Use heat mix your ingredients together (double-boiler / bain-marie method recommended)
2. Start with your lecithin, sunflower, clay and vodka (it should look pretty messy, but that’s okay)
3. Next add your essential oils and them all ingredients together well
4. Now smear the mixture over your hair, leaving it on for ten minutes
5. Shampoo it off when finished

Alternative conditioner for greasy hair: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made conditioner.

Conditioners for Fragile Hair

Fragile hair has often been abused by a history of perms, colors and excessive product in general. It is likely thin, split or breaking. It must be treated gently to avoid further damage. The scalp also needs healthy stimulation to encourage healthy, strong hair growth in the future.

• Essential oils for fragile hair: parsley, lavender, chamomile, birch, thyme, calendula, carrot, sandalwood, clary-sage
• Thick oils for fragile hair: jojoba, borage seed, evening primrose, peach kernel, almond, cocoa butter

DIY Fragile Hair Conditioner

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces almond oil
• 1 ounce cocoa butter
• 1 tbsp lecithin base
• 10 drops evening primrose oil
• 4 drops borage seed oil
• 5 drops birch essential oil
• 3 drops chamomile essential oil

Directions:

1. Using heat first melt the cocoa butter and lecithin together (double boiler / bain-marie method recommended)
2. Net add almond oil, stirring consistently, then add all other ingredients and blend together well
3. Pour into a storage jar until needed
4. After shampooing leave on the hair for at least 10 minutes before rinsing

Gradually this treatment will build up the remaining cells and help prevent breakage.

Conditioners for Hair Loss / Alopecia

Hair loss involves an unhealthy amount of hair coming out on a regular basis. There is always some hair fall when we brush our hair, but these recipes are intended to support the scalp and hair when it is seriously falling.

If hair loss is severe seriously consider a trip to the doctor. They can run tests to see if it’s related to a deficiency of the thyroid, pituitary gland or any other glandular issue.

Essential oils for treating alopecia: thyme, rosemary, lavender, carrot, sage, cypress, birch, palma rosa, rose, yarrow, calendula

Thick oils for treating alopecia: jojoba, borage, evening primrose

DIY Alopecia / Hair-loss Conditioner

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
• 10 drops evening primrose oil
• 3 drops palma rosa essential oil

Directions:

1. Blend ingredients together and massage into your scalp
2. Apply this conditioner about 30 minutes before shampooing

Alternative conditioner for hair loss: If you’re not up for making your own conditioner, here’s a good alternative ready made conditioner for hair loss and alopecia.

Conclusion

Hopefully these recipes have been helpful for you.

If you have any questions, comments, or recommendations of your own please let us know in the comment section below!