We all know that natural hair needs much TLC. Sometimes co-wahsing or cleansing just isn’t enough. Natural hair strands require deep moisture and conditioning in order for it to grow long and healthy. And because the hair strands aren’t necessarily straight as they are when relaxed, it’s important to make sure that every strand is properly coated with whatever treatment you’re choosing to apply to your hair. Being able to experiment with different products is key as what might work with one texture of hair may not work for another. For example, for me, I love coconut oil, however I usually have to top it off with a heavier oil like castor oil because my hair is so dense. Castor oil is thick enough to penetrate through my hair cuticles as opposed to coconut oil.

So this is where DIY hair treatments come in. YOU are the creator of your own hair treatment. YOU know the ingredients, YOU have the control to add, to remove, to do just about anything that suits the characteristics of your hair. Though it may be a little more time consuming than squeezing some product out of a store-bought bottle, in the end your hair will love you for it. And whatever is left over, you can just store in your freezer. When it comes to deep conditioners, be it DIY or store-bought, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of deep conditioning at least once a week. You will see a huge difference in your hair once you adopt this practice.

So let’s get started! I’ve listed a few recipes that I have used and that I have recommended and made for some Naturalistas. The cool thing about these recipes is that you can tweak them to your liking (r your hair’s liking). Some things I want to mention, know your ingredients! I customize my recipes based on what my hair is doing. If I’m having issues with frizz, then I may add more macadamian oil to my mix as it’s known to be a frizz fighter. If my hair looks dull and lifeless, I’ll up the honey as it’s known for it’s shine properties. If I’ve applied a little too much heat to my hair or it’s been in a protective style for quite some time, I’ll make sure I add enough protein ingredients to my treatment to get my curls poppin’ again. Another thing I’d like to add is essential oils are to measured in drops. They are highly potent, so you don’t ever want to use more than necessary to your mix. A couple of drops, in most case is all you’ll need and will go a long way. Please feel free to comment and post your favorite DIY recipes on this site or on our Facebook Page!

TWO of MY FAVORITE DIY DEEP CONDITIONERS

“THE WORKS” (great for an extra boost of protein!)

1/2 can of coconut milk

3 tablespoons of mayonnaise

1 egg

1/2 avocado*

1 large banana*

1/4 cup of aloe gel

1/4 cup of conditioner of your choice

4 tablespoons of honey

blend, strain, and indulge!

*For a thicker consistency, use 2 bananas and 1 avocado

freeze any left-overs

“QUICK CONDISH” (perfect for reviving dull, dry, brittle hair!)

1/2 cup of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)* 4 tablespoons of honey cover hair with a plastic cap and towel for 30-40 minutes or plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer on LOW heat of 20-30 minutes

*1 cup of EVOO for longer hair

TWO of MY FAVORITE DIY SCALP/OIL TREATMENTS

“TJCC TREATMENT” 6-10 drops of tea tree oil

6 tablespoons of jojoba oil 4 tablespoons of coconut oil 1/4 cup of castor oil section hair apply to scalp 2-3 times a week, style as usual for deeper penetration, cover with plastic cap and towel for 30-40 minutes

for daily maintenance mix with water and spritz as needed!

“DEEP OIL TREATMENT” (great for added shine and softness while giving your scalp some TLC!) 1/2 cup of EVOO 4 tablespoons of honey 4 tablespoons of coconut oil apply to hair and to scalp cover with plastic cap and sit under hooded dryer on LOW heat for 20-30 minutes

images from pinterest