How to Naturally Condition Hair

If you’re tired of commercial shampoos and want to switch to something without harsh chemicals, naturally condition hair instead! With simple ingredients like apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, yogurt, and bananas, these tips will naturally condition hair and are cost-effective and perfect for most hair types. 

There are many ways you can naturally condition your hair without the use of store-bought natural hair conditioners. Bottled hair care products can often contain ingredients we don’t need even when they claim to be natural. 

Instead, you can make your own hair conditioner! Adding a conditioning treatment to your hair care routine will protect damaged hair, reduce split ends, and stimulate hair growth.  

I’ll explain the supplies needed to make a homemade conditioner. These recipes will make your hair hydrated, silky soft, and free from tangles!

HOW CONDITIONER WORKS

First, do you remember those old Pantene commercials?

You know, the ones that showed you what “normal” hair looked like under a microscope (a stick with tiny little sticks coming straight off the sides) and then a side-by-side to what hair looked like with Pantene conditioner (a smooth, straight stick without any other sticks coming off of it)?

For those who don’t remember the Pantene commercials, imagine two trees, each with bark. On one tree, the bark sticks up and out from the tree. That’s shampooed hair.

On the other tree, the bark lies flat. So flat that you can barely tell there’s even bark. That’s conditioned hair.

The purpose of the conditioner is to close the cuticles (bark) of the strand of hair (tree), making the cuticles lie down close to the strand and, in turn, create smooth, supple, and manageable hair. 

NATURAL HAIR CONDITIONER OPTIONS

Regular conditioner relies on all sorts of weird and unnatural ingredients (such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates) to do this, but fortunately, you can achieve soft, pretty hair naturally with a few items that you likely already have in your kitchen:

1. Acids. Specifically apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or whey.
2. Oils. Nourishing natural oils like olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil are the most common. Butters like shea butter and cocoa butter work as well.
3. Foods: Surprisingly a lot of everyday foods nourish the hair as well! Honey, Coconut Milk, Yogurt, and bananas can make your hair silky soft. 
4. Cold Water.

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH NATURAL CONDITIONER IS BEST FOR ME?

I’ve broken this potentially complicated question into three simple questions. Your answers to these questions determine which conditioner is best for you.

1. What do you have on hand?
2. What can you afford?
3. What’s easiest for you?

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for a homemade hair conditioner that will really truly fit 100% of everyone, so it boils down to having to test out a few options to see which works best for you. And if the above-mentioned oils, butters, and kitchen ingredients all do the same thing, then it just seems logical to start with what you already have, right?

Plus if you use an ingredient that has more than one purpose, you’re doubling your savings! 

Lastly, and what I consider most important, what’s easiest for you? Adding a homemade conditioner to your routine does no good if it’s difficult to make. We want this natural living baby step to be effective, yes, but it needs to be easy in terms of practicality.

DIY CONDITIONER RECIPES

Hair conditioner is typically used after shampooing the hair. A few of these methods are for deep conditioning on dry hair before washing. Read the directions on each to see the correct order needed to wash and condition your hair. 

You can use a no-shampoo method to wash your hair, or a natural shampoo without sulfites or parabens (this is the brand I like). 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR RINSE

SUPPLIES 

• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (how to make it at home)
• scant 16 oz water
• 16-ounce glass jar or spray bottle

METHOD

Combine the ingredients in a 16 oz glass jar and shake well to combine. To apply, shake well and pour directly on the hair after shampooing. Rinsing is optional.

RECIPE NOTES

You might need less or more acid, depending on your hair type. If your hair tends to be dry, rinse out the vinegar with cool water. You can also detangle with a slight amount of coconut oil on the ends of your hair. 

Turn this simple conditioner into a nourishing conditioner by infusing the water with herbs like marshmallow root or flaxseed. Simply use the herb infusion technique described in this post and swap it in place of the plain water in this recipe.

This recipe can be used 2-3 times per week. 

COCONUT MILK DIY HAIR CONDITIONER

SUPPLIES

• 1 Tbsp Coconut Milk
• 1 Tbsp shampoo

METHOD

Mix Coconut Milk and shampoo in a small bowl. Apply to wet hair as you would plain shampoo. Work into the hair and massage into the scalp. Rinse with warm or cool water. Condition with an apple cider vinegar rinse or other conditioner if desired. If needed, apply ½ Tbsp of coconut milk to your hair as a leave-in conditioner. 

RECIPE NOTES

Coconut milk is a natural conditioner for hair that helps to soften and smooths the hair while reducing itchiness or dryness on the scalp. Using a natural shampoo like Kristin Ess will help clean and condition the hair naturally.

This recipe can be used 2-3 times per week. 

Homemade Hair Conditioner with Banana

SUPPLIES

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp honey
• Shower cap (optional)

METHOD

Mash the banana in a small bowl. Mix in olive oil and honey and stir until smooth. Apply to your hair, working in sections if needed, until everything is covered. Allow to rest for 20-30 minutes. Use a shower cap if desired to prevent drips. Rinse with cool water and a mild shampoo. 

RECIPE NOTES

Bananas will help make your hair shinier and give hair extra bounce. The olive oil deeply moisturizes the hair and scalp. 

This recipe can be used once a week.

ALOE VERA BANANA HAIR CONDITIONER

SUPPLIES

• 2 Tbsp aloe vera gel
• 1 ripe banana

METHOD

Mix aloe vera and mashed banana until smooth. Apply to clean damp hair. Massage deeply into the scalp. Let rest for five minutes. Rinse with warm water. 

RECIPE NOTES

Aloe vera promotes hair growth and strengthens your hair. It soothes the scalp, adding necessary moisture without being greasy. Bananas help make hair shiny and soft and smooth curls that tend to frizz. 

This recipe can be used once a week. 

Natural Conditioner with YOGURT 

SUPPLIES

• 1 egg
• 1 tsp coconut oil, melted
• 2 Tbsp Yogurt
• Shower cap

METHOD

Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. Apply to damp hair and massage into the scalp. Cover with a shower cap and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Wash off using cold water. 

RECIPE NOTES

Yogurt rejuvenates rough hair and helps reduce hair loss. The coconut oil works as a deep conditioning treatment for dry hair. 

This recipe can be used every two weeks. 

Honey Olive Oil Hair Mask

SUPPLIES

• 2 Tbsp honey
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• Shower cap (optional)

METHOD

Mix honey and olive oil in a small bowl. Apply to hair, working in sections if needed, until fully masked in honey mixture. Allow to rest on your hair for 20-30 minutes. Use a shower cap if desired to avoid the mask from dripping on you. Rinse with warm water and a mild shampoo. 

RECIPE NOTES

This recipe is best as a deep conditioner to hydrate and nourish your hair. It works to help prevent dandruff as well as it moisturizes the scalp. 

This recipe can be used 2-4 times per month. 

FAQs to Naturally Condition Hair

Naturally Condition Hair

There you have it! Now you have everything you need to naturally condition hair! Say goodbye to toxic ingredients and hello to a DIY hair conditioner that will give you the smooth, healthy hair you’ve always dreamed of! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think in the comments!

More Natural Hair Care Tutorials

• How to Wash Your Hair Without Shampoo
• Simple DIY Liquid Herbal Shampoo
• DIY Homemade Herbal Shampoo Bars