How to Make Conditioner with Minimal Efforts
Some posts back I shared my simple DIY recipe to make conditioner. This post carries a follow up with a little-advanced conditioner.
Do not get me wrong. The simple apple cider vinegar one is my all-season favorite. I use it after each routine of once in a week hair wash.
But at times I get a little bored with its simplicity. Yes, at times, I wish for some extra flavor in my usual after shampoo routine.
So, at times I spice up my conditioner recipe with some added elements. The mention of spice makes me think of adding wonderful spices to the recipe. Though cinnamon makes a wonderful add on spice to hair products. But I thought of bringing in various herbs as well.
Carry on with me to know how the inclusion of herbs creates a wonderful hair conditioner recipe.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary is my favorite herb. I am an excessive user of its intense aromatic leaves.
I made an attempt to grow it in my backyard. But it did not grow. The climate in my region can be the culprit.
I was a failure at growing it myself. But that did not lessen my monthly consumption of this herb.
Now I buy dry leaves of rosemary in bulk. I use them in my potato wedges and Italian cuisines.
Though the bulk of my rosemary purchase goes into making hair conditioner.
Rosemary helps with balding issues. Compounds in it trigger the inactive hair follicles. Thereby increasing the chances of hair recovery.
This herb is abundant in vitamin A precursors.
2. Nettle leaf
Leaves of Nettle are popular as hair growth enhancers. Many hair care brands have these leaves as ingredients.
Its Indian name is Bichua Patti. The stinging thorn-like structure of its leaves gives that peculiar name. Bichua refers to the Scorpio or the bichu in Hindi.
I never got to see this plant in real. Although I have been in a lookout to source it for a long time.
The leaves are a good source of vitamin A precursors; b-complex and iron. Thus proving their worth for promoting good hair.
It is a fortune to find a source to these hair friendly leaves online. It is a dried pack of nettle leaves. That solves the purpose to make conditioner out of it in a jiffy.
3. Guava leaves
Fresh Guava leaves from a local fruit vendor
It was a few months back that I got to know of the potent power of guava leaves. The leaves of guava are a boon for thinning hair. Compounds in the leaves prove beneficial for the growth of new hair follicles.
I sourced these leaves from a local fruit seller in my locality. Moreover, that person gave me the leaves for free. Yes, he did not charge me a single rupee for them. In fact, he was thankful that now he found an easy way to discard them.
So, now I got a huge supply of guava leaves that will last for an entire year.
If you cannot find these leaves in your area. Then, you can find a link to a resource at the bottom of this article.
4. Green Tea
I am familiar with this one since my childhood. My mother was regular with using tea water as the last rinse on her hair.
Tea prevents oxidation. It helps in getting rid of the toxic compounds from the body. Thus, it ends up removing compounds from the body that may cause hair to fall.
Tea water gives a reddish tinge to the hair. It also adds a nice sheen too.
During my childhood days. I was regular with black tea. Today I have upgraded to using green tea.
Within green, I am specific on using Spearmint tea.
That is because spearmint has its unique tingling feel. Also, it is good for regulating hormone related issues in women. That includes dealing with hair loss on the head and getting rid of superfluous hair.
Therefore, I drink a cup of spearmint tea once a day. And also use the tea to use as a last rinse leave-in conditioner on the hair.
5. Curry leaves
This one is a no-brainer.
If you are from the southern part of India. Then, you do not need to read this part. You would know more than me about this wonderful herb’s utility for hair.
I use the curry leaves to make a herbal conditioner. I also use them in my DIY hair growth oil.
Curry leaves boost the natural hair color. They also strengthen the hair roots.
The leaves are abundant in a wide variety of nutrients. That includes b-complex and vitamin A precursors, antioxidants and few minerals.
Most of the households grow these potent leaves in their house. I have one at my place as well. If you do not grow them. You can buy them from your local vegetable vendor too.
You also have the option to buy dried curry leaves online.
Recipe with dried herbs/ leaves
The recipe is simple and as follows:
- Take about a liter of distilled water.
- Add about 250 g of individual dried herb leaves to the water.
- Let the water boil for about half an hour.
- By this time the quantity of water will reduce to half.
- The leftover olive colored water is your conditioner base.
It is ready to use the moment it cools down.
How to use the conditioner
Dried leaves extract forms the hair conditioner base recipe. While apple cider vinegar forms the secondary ingredient.
My simple conditioner recipe uses apple cider vinegar and water in 1:5 ratios.
For the herb conditioner recipe. You replace the water with the herb base. Yes, it is that simple.
Also, similar to the ACV method. You do not wash it off. The conditioner is good as the last rinse. This allows the nutrients in it to stay longer on the scalp and hair.
But in case you are not comfortable with the idea of leaf extracts on your hair. Then you can wash it off with water. The similar way you do with the regular commercial conditioners.
Important pointers
As you make the conditioners. You will notice that each herb gives away its unique color.
Rosemary has an olive hue. While the guava leaves give a deep brick red color. This red color may stain your towel and clothes. It colors my towel every time I use it as a last rinse.
I have made a truce with the fact that my towel discolors after I use a herbal conditioner. It is a small bargain for getting nice hair in the process.
So, I am fine with it. In case you do not approve that. Then, please feel free to wash off the conditioner with plain water.
Resources
The post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.
You can use the same exact resources that I use to make a conditioner with herbs. It will help to lessen down your research time.
The list is as follows:
1. Rosemary – This is an organic, non-GMO, non-pesticide resource
2. Nettle leaves – Organic leaves sourced from the Himalayan region
3. Guava leaves – If you cannot find it offline. Then, use this source
4. Spearmint tea – I drink this one, and also use it on my hair
5. Dried curry leaves – This is an organic source of dried curry leaves
In Conclusion
A hair conditioner is essential to tame the flyaway hair. It also makes the scalp cells supple.
That is why conditioners include oils for the smoothness. But the same oils also make the hair strands heavy. That leads to limpness and lack of body.
Though if the conditioner uses elements that help with the frizz. But do not add grease. Then, such a recipe is a sure success.
This article lists down 5 such recipes to make conditioner. None of the recipes dumps oil/ oil-like products on the mane.
Each recipe has a herb extract base. The other ingredient is apple cider vinegar.
Both the ingredients work in tandem to help align the hair shafts. They nourish the roots as well.
Also, making them up is easy. Half an hour and some basic cooking skills. That is all you need for a month full of reserves.
So, try to make conditioner yourself with these recipes. You will never want to go back to your regular one.
Image Courtesy: Pixabay
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