Homemade conditioner for dry, damaged hair

Why not create your own hair care set?

Do you wish your hair care routine was entirely made up of natural, eco-friendly products that really work AND leave your locks looking gorgeous? You’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re sharing our new hair conditioner recipe. Its unique formula combines hydrating and nourishing ingredients that your split ends and mid-lengths desperately need. Thanks to its light but creamy texture, it’s quickly absorbed by your hair, leaving it looking fresh, shiny, and silky.
Conditioner is so crucial! So it’s a great first step in your hair care set. If you want to take the next level, we recommend trying our clarifying solid shampoo recipe next; it gently cleanses your scalp and protects your mane.
With this creamy conditioner, you’re already off to a great start! Get ready to have plenty of good hair days ahead of you.

Before you begin

Before you begin your recipe, it’s important to make sure that your workspace and equipment are carefully cleaned and disinfected. This is essential to protect your DIY creations from microbes and ensure they last as long as possible.

We strongly advise you to always wear suitable clothing when making your own products. Wear close-toed shoes and long sleeves and pants, and use the appropriate protective gear when handling potentially dangerous ingredients.

How to make your own conditioner

Ingredients

Aqueous phase

119 g (79.3%) demineralized water
1.5 g (1%) lactic acid (an AHA)
0.8 g (0.5%) organic apple cider vinegar

Oil phase

15 g (10%) BTMS-25
5.3 g (3.5%) argan oil
3 g (2%) olive squalane

Cooling phase

0.8 g (0.5%) vitamin E
2.3 g (1.5%) elderberry extract
2.3 g (1.5%) essential oil(s) or aromatic essence(s) of your choosing

Tools

Scale, accurate to 0.01 g
Components to make a double boiler
Two small stainless steel bowls
Two ramekins
A few spoons
A few pipettes
Mini-mixer with frothing attachment (the small wheel)
Large bowl or basin filled with cold water
Thermometer
Tottle-style bottle, 120 ml
Piping (cake decorating) bag or a Ziploc-style bag with a piping tip (optional)

Good to know!

You can replace the demineralized water with the same quantity of the hydrosol of your choosing. Filtered or distilled water will also work in this recipe.
Lactic acid is a gentle exfoliant that will help slough off dead skin cells from your scalp while strengthening your hair fibres. It’s also excellent for softening your hair, reducing frizz, improving texture, and adding shine to your locks.
Apple cider vinegar offers many hair care benefits. Its acidity balances the pH of your scalp and softens your hair while adding shine.
BTMS-25 is an essential ingredient in hair conditioners and highly valued for its ability to improve your hair’s texture, shine, and softness. This emulsifier also helps stabilize your product, making it easier and more pleasant to apply.
We opted to include argan oil in this recipe because it’s suitable for all hair types but particularly useful for dry, damaged, and curly hair. You can replace it with the same quantity of another vegetable oil. For tips, check out our article on which vegetable oils are right for your hair type.
Olive squalane is a moisturizing ingredient that restores elasticity for dry, dull hair while helping to prevent breakage. It serves as a protective barrier against pollution and improves your hair’s texture, leaving it looking soft and shiny.

Steps to follow

Prepare and disinfect your equipment and workspace.
Weigh the water in the small bowl and heat on the double boiler until it reaches 70 to 80°C.
Weigh all the oil phase ingredients in the second small bowl and heat on the second double boiler until it reaches 70 to 80°C.
While these two phases are heating, weigh the lactic acid and apple cider vinegar in a ramekin. Mix and set aside.
Weigh the cooling phase ingredients in a second ramekin. Mix and set aside.
When both have reached 70 to 80°C, remove them from the heat.
Add the lactic acid-apple cider vinegar mixture to the water and mix to combine. Your aqueous phase is now ready!
Pour the oil phase into the aqueous phase and use the mini-mixer to begin the emulsification process.
When the mixture begins to whiten, place the bowl in the cold water bath while continuing to mix with the mini-mixer. Continue until it has cooled to 45°C.
Remove the bowl from the cold water bath and add the cooling phase. Continue to mix with the mini-mixer until the emulsion is creamy and homogeneous.
Transfer to a Ziploc-style bag or piping bag. Cut a small hole in one corner of the Ziploc bag; it should be smaller than the opening of your container. Place the cut corner of the Ziploc bag over the opening of your container and squeeze the bag gently to transfer your conditioner to the container. This will help conserve the creamy texture of your conditioner.

Use and conservation

This homemade conditioner is suitable for all hair types, but is particularly good for dry, damaged hair.

After shampooing and rinsing your hair, apply a dab of conditioner, concentrating on your mid-lengths and tips. Leave on for about 10 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly. Dry your hair and take a moment to appreciate how soft it feels!

For a deep treatment, you can also use this product as a no-rinse conditioner. Just apply to the mid-lengths and tips of damp hair and allow it to air dry. This product works especially well as leave-in care for people with kinky, curly, or frizzy hair as it will help define your curls, by providing deep nourishment without weighing them down.

When made in optimal sanitary conditions, this DIY conditioner will keep for at least six months.