Natural Hair Conditioners

Coconut Oil

Posted by Della (Inland Empire, California USA) on 01/30/2013

I hope this will help me. My hair comes out in combs full. It is thin and has broken out very short on the right side. The left side grows out very long.

Buttermilk

Posted by Elembe (Uppsala, Sweden) on 11/15/2012

Buttermilk Hair Conditioner (finally, a non-oily natural conditioner! )

½ cup organic buttermilk
2-3 Tbsp. Plain organic yogurt (full-fat, not lowfat)
1 egg yolk (no whites)
2-3 drops of a complementary essential oil (e.g. , lavender, rose, ylang-ylang, peppermint or tea tree)
-----

My hair is more fine than coarse, and a lot of homemade hair conditioners contain oil that leave me with greasy hair. I have treid several of these oil-based conditioner recipes over the past year, and my hair remains oily after 3, 4 or 5 washes especially since I shampoo only with homemade soapnut liquid, which is gentle compared to most store-bought (even "natural") shampoos.

This buttermilk conditioner works great for me. My hair is soft, shiny and full after I use it. It can be used daily although it's not necessary for me to use it that often.

The essential oil is optional, primarily included so your head doesn't smell like buttermilk afterward.

If you have coarse or especially dry hair and really want some oil, you could of course add a bit of coconut or olive oil to the mix.

To use: Mix together buttermilk, yogurt and yolk. Warm the mixture by setting the glass/jar of it in a bowl of very hot water for a few minutes, stirring well once or twice. Then add the drops of essential oil. Massage into hair from scalp to roots, covering entire head. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and (optionally) natural shampoo.

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Farrah (Middletown, California Usa) on 09/05/2012

I am no expert, however, we did a wild harvest of horsetail last summer and gave it away to the women at the goddess temple with the disclaimer that it was NOT for internal consumption... if anyone knows it to be safe internally I would like to know...THANKS!!!

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 09/06/2012

Hi Farrah, Yes, horsetail is safe to take internally. It dates back to ancient Roman and Greek medicine. Mainly it is used to strengthen bone because of its silicon content. It can also be used as a diuretic. It can be taken as a tea, a tincture or capsules. Hope this info helps, Lisa

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) on 03/09/2012

Right, well I have been experimenting with castor oil for a month now, and one of the things I've been doing with it is rubbing it into my scalp 2-3 evenings per week. I leave it on overnight (putting a towel on my pillow so it doesn't get it oily) and shampoo it out in the mornings and condition, etc as normal. I mix it with a little sweet almond oil as it's very thick and gloopy, but olive oil or any cold-pressed oil would be fine. You don't need much!

I've been doing this because my hair is very thin, especially at the crown, where my scalp can easily be seen. Apparently it's meant to thicken hair, promote new growth and grow hair faster after a couple of months' use.

So after 4 weeks.. There's been no new regrowth alas but it has made my hair feel a little thicker and stronger. The biggest thing has been the growth, which isn't really what I was after! I got my roots coloured blonde at the hairdresser the same day I started with the castor oil, which ended up being a complete waste of money because after two weeks of using the castor oil treatment I had regrowth of about an inch. Doh! :)

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Cat (Tauranga, New Zealand) on 01/25/2012

Does anyone have any tried and true remedies for faster hair growth? I have fine, blonde hair that breaks off easily on the ends (due to some bleaching which I've now stopped) but my rate of hair growth is also very slow and wonder if there's anything that would speed it up and maybe thicken it. I'm 46 years old, consume a lot of organic foods, rarely ever eat processed, weight 55kg, very clear skin, drink alcohol only occasionally, don't smoke etc etc.

At the moment, I'm taking Folic Acid, Evening Primrose capsules, Fish Oil, Spirulina, Kelp and tissue salts. I have previously taken Biotin but found it did nothing except cost me money. I have also started using Castor Oil mixed with Organic Coconut Oil (which I use for pulling) and massaging it into my scalp... I'm yet to notice a difference... Any other answers would be appreciated. THANKS (great website)!!

Cat

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nv) on 01/25/2012

I've had excellent results regrowing my hair using a laser therapy pen. The 660nm wavelength stimulates ATP withing the hair cells and scalp. NASA and Russian scientists have done a lot of research on hair growth and wound repair with lasers.

Faster Hair Growth

Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 03/12/2012

An, I had heard of lemon juice in hot water to detox the liver and being great for the skin, never heard about the cayenne pepper though! I tried it but I got diarrhea and a coated tongue, maybe I should have stayed with half a lemon instead of a whole one? I only did it for maybe a week, first half a lemon and then a whole lemon but I didn't see any changes in my skin, maybe it was too short but I couldn't put up with the diarrhea anymore, it didn't seem right.... Maybe it was a detox sign, no idea!

General Feedback

Posted by Kellie (Syracuse, Ny) on 01/16/2012

I was searching your site and found that coconut oil was good to use in your hair so I found a product in my grocery store called Blue Magic Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner. The ingredients in it are: petrolatum, coconut oil, and fragrance. I am a white woman and believe this product is supposed to be for a black woman's hair! It feels so disgusting and I was wondering if you could give me some tips on what might finally get this out of my color treated hair. Thank you in advance!

General Feedback

Posted by Susan (Thomasville, North Carolina Usa) on 01/16/2012

Use baking soda mixed with water after you shampoo, run the baking soda mixture thru your hair then do a final rinse. This will remove any product from the hair leaving it clean.

General Feedback

Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa - USA) on 01/16/2012

Kellie - Petroleum the same stuff they make gasoline out of if I am not mistaken.

The first ingredient in anything it what it contains the most of, and so on. The first two or three ingredients listed are are the most important. (They are all important, but the first few are the very most important! )

I would trash it. Yuck.

Carly

General Feedback

Posted by Kellie (Syracuse, Ny) on 01/18/2012

Thanks guys! I tried the baking soda trick but it wasn't working. I appreciate your tip though. I finally got it out.. Along with some of my color, with dish soap and several shampoos. :( I also brought it back to the store and hopefully won't ever be making that mistake again!

General Feedback

Posted by Cryssyhoneylove (Toms River Nj) on 05/02/2016

I had the same thing happen to me . It was horrible... Head and shoulders shampoo will strip the oil... Good luck... Also you could go to a salon and they can remove it with a special shampoo ;)

General Feedback

Posted by G (Las Vegas, Nv) on 10/28/2017

I would not recommend Blue Magic Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner for African American or Caucasian hair.

Egg Yolk, Olive Oil

Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/07/2012

Thanks Clarity and Linda. Actually my hair is not dry, as a rule. It got very dry because I had a too light perm, as it was almost my daughter's wedding the hairdresser insisted on redoing it and it dried my hair out big time. That was a few months ago. Now it was getting better but I decided to try washing with baking soda and that was the reason why it was looking so dry and lifeless. I dyed it a few days ago, so I had to use their cream but today I washed it only using my fingers and water, like someone suggested here. It is till drying to I don't know what it will look like. Right now I always wash my hair in the pool, so putting something in and waiting for a few hours isn't an option but when we move, at the end of May I might try. Do you first wash the hair before applying the mayonnaise or the egg yolk and olive oil? At home I wash my hair in the bath so a bit annoying to have to wait a long time but I might try it, leave it on for less time and then rinse before I get out of my bath. Right now I go to the sauna before showering so I might just take a tube of mayonnaise with me and if there isn't anybody around rub it in my hair and sit in the sauna for a bit.

By the way, the fact that someone does something and has lovely hair doesn't always mean the world as you can just have good genes. Too bad I don't have them.... So maybe these methods will help me!

Egg Yolk, Olive Oil

Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/08/2012

Hi Linda, thanks for all the explanations! Anyway, in a few months we will be in our house and then I can do whatever I feel like more easily! For the time being I am going to try it for a shorter time and see what happens.

You are right saying that one shouldn't use anything on our body that one wouldn't eat, meaning, wherever you use it it should be of good quality and free of preservatives! I have discovered two health food shops here in Zug, not big ones but I suppose they must have mayonnaise! The mayonnaise I have at home right now, Thomy, doesn't seem to have anything too suspect anyway! And maybe when I am at home I try just with the egg yolk and the olive oil which right now are a bit difficult to take to the pool! Although.... I could because I can mix them and take in a small jar! The trouble with this system at home is that one showers or takes a bath and then has to shower again but well, if it gives me beautiful hair..... Worth trying! Thanks!

General Feedback

Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/04/2012

I have shoulder length hair, dyed. I am trying to bring my hair into better condition. Although I have enough hair it is quite thin (has always been) and has no life! Right now I have a perm to give it a bit of volume. After using a herbal mix oil for a while it has stopped falling and it looks healthier so I decided to try to go without shampoo. I have now washed it twice with baking soda but it looks dry and it doesn't shine anymore. In between washes (I wash it twice a week) I rub my scalp with the herbal mix oil. Some people seem to have a very good result with the baking soda.

Maybe I could use the baking soda once a week and the other time only wash the scalp with my fingers as some people suggested here lately? I did use a bit of rinse aid because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to comb my hair after washing. Any suggestions? Does it get better after quitting the shampoo for a while? Or doesn't it work in dyed hair?

Cedarwood, Juniper, Rosemary, Flower Water

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 07/19/2011

I have found this recipe for a hair tonic in one of my books but I am not sure whether it is good to use spirit for the hair. The recipe is as follow: 50ml of surgical spirit (or flower water if the hair is very greasy but mine is not), not carrier oil or lotion, 10 drops of Cedarwood essential oil, 10 drops of Junpier EO and 15 drops of Rosemary EO. Anyway has ever used such a tonic? I don't know whether to try it or not.....

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Virgodee60 (Las Vegas, Nevada, Usa) on 02/16/2011
★★★★★

Years ago I owned two Edgar Cayce books that I loved and cherished. The Sleeping Prophet and a very well known when whose title slips my memory right now. Does anyone know what it could be? Very famous book. Well anyway, I think I still have the Sleeping Prophet. It had a remarkable remedy for hair thickening in it which I used for years and worked every time.

This was suggested by Cayce as he was sleeping and gave out this cure. The first one was the crude oil. The one I used was a combo of castor oil, olive oil, I'm not sure if it was cod liver oil or mineral oil, that's what I would like to look up and confirm. Also you would use white iodine after the applications of the oils. Sectioning hair and dabbing on with a cotton ball. My aunt would apply it to my scalp every weekend, fri. , sat. and sun. dab on the white iodine after each application. Washed my hair sunday night. My hair not only got thicker and thicker, but grew very well. Kept this up for a full year until I just got tired of having it done. Has anyone ever read this? I'm trying to remember which book it was I read it in. Can anyone help me. I'm going to check my Sleeping Prophet today and it was chaptered thickening hair or something like that.

So if anyone knows or knows the combination please let me know. Thank you

Denise

Mayonnaise

Posted by Ida From Texas (Somewhere In, Texas) on 05/08/2013

Could you please tell me which mayonaise you used?

Argan Oil

Posted by Francine Case-Shore (Playa Del Rey, CA) on 04/26/2009
★★★★★

I have been using an oil from Morroco that is made from argan, indigenous to Morroco. It is amazing, there are a few products out there with this oil. I cannot tell you how my damaged hair has repaired itself, this oil will not make your hair oily and speeds up the drying time.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Christine (Pittsburgh, PA) on 03/20/2009
★★★★★

I use coconut oil about every other week for conditioning my hair. I put it on before shampooing until it's nice and greasy :) then I leave it on for at least 20 minutes though I prefer an hour. Then I wash and style normally. But for everyday use you can use just a small amount in your hands and kind of work it in but be careful not to use too much or you'll have a nice greaser look :)

Coconut Oil

Posted by Sandy (Atlanta, GA) on 02/16/2009
★★★★★

LT from NC : Use two tablespoons of coconut oil on dry hair. Work the oil from the top to the bottom. If you have thin hair you may only need one tablespoon. My daughter has very thick hair so she wraps her hair in plastic wrap or a shower cap for an hour. Then you wash and condition as usual.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Leeloo (San Jose, CA, USA) on 01/16/2009

I too have damaged hair so I started making my own coconut oil; however, I'm not sure if the boiling process has the same benefits as the process without heating the coconut oil. So I'd like to know from the professionals if the boiling the coconut milk to get the coconut oil is still a good remedy for hair treatment. Does it have the same vitamins as the coconut oil that hasn't been exposed to boiling heat?

01/16/2009: Leelo writes again: "Sorry but I left out the part that I do not drink the coconut oil, I massage it on my hair and skin, so I was wondering if using the boiling process to get the coconut oil from coconut milk is a good process for hair treatment. Will it have the same vitamins as those that has been processed without heating? Will the coconut oil still be good to use for massaging onto scalp and moisturizing the skin even when it's been boiled?

Coconut Oil

Posted by Leeloo (San Jose, CA, USA) on 01/18/2009

I posted a question earlier, but it seems like everyone else's got answered except mine. I thought it was an overlook so, I'm re-posting my question. Hopefully, I'll get an answer from Ted.I'm very interested in your answer so Thanks in advance!

Nettle Tea

Posted by Laurie (Sudbury, Ontario) on 01/09/2009
0 out of 5 stars

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of taking or using nettle tea for hair.

Long ago I went into the health food store and was told nettle tea in rinse water helped your hair thicken. I just used it a couple of times and hated it as it was like tea all over the shower and you and stuck in the hair and had to be rinsed well. It was a pain. Now I bought nettle tea again and was wondering if anyone at all has any stories about it.

Thanks.

Nettle Tea

Posted by Rosy (Orlando, Fl) on 01/09/2009
★★★★★

Try a spay bottle, I used to use that with chamomile tea I put in my hair.

Nettle Tea

Posted by Dianna (Austin, Tx) on 01/09/2009

i've used nettle tea on my hair. both as a hair 'wash' and as a last rinse.

personally, i like other herbs better (lavender is my favorite) - but try straining the herbs out of the tea before you pour it on your hair - or you can buy (or make) a little muslim bag to keep all the herbs together in while brewing. to use a strainer simply put the strainer over a plastic bottle and pour the tea with the nettles into it. then you can add water as needed to the rinse.

djh/austin, tx

Nettle Tea

Posted by Dorotka (Apopka, Florida) on 01/09/2009
★☆☆☆☆

For me the herb Fo-ti , or the other name is Ho-Shou-Wu ,worked much better then nettle tea.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil

Posted by N.B.N (Charlotte, NC) on 01/04/2009

Thank you so much for sharing really i needed to hear this in this season of my life

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil

Posted by Laurie (Sudbury, Ontario) on 01/12/2009

Hi , first of all you need to specify amounts as a few people are now mentioning the side effects. How much "undiluted ACV" do you use (as wouldnt that burn your scalp). Then how much BS and what do you mean by a "warm egg" you mean room tempature. Thank you

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil

Posted by Kay (Destin) on 05/17/2014

Cautionary note about conditioning with Raw Eggs; be sure to rinse out egg very well with COOL/COLD water (or you may get a rotten egg odor that lasts weeks)!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn. ) on 05/18/2014

HI U KAY, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , your post is strange to me because as a vain young man I frequently resined my hair with the yoke of an egg. As you know the white of an egg will starch your hair like a board. The yoke leaves it smooth, shinny and silky. Please explain how you got a rotten egg smell from a fresh egg. Egg yoke has been used for eons as a hair conditioner.

========OLE ROBERT HENRY==============

Coconut Oil

Posted by Laurie (Sudbury, Ontario) on 01/11/2009

Hi, what I want to know, is do you put the Coconut oil on wet hair or dry? It is not stated with anyone at all. Thank you.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Gopio (Georgia) on 02/15/2014

In my culture, we use oil a ton in our hair. We actually coat our hair in a thin layer of coconut oil before bed and wash it off in the morning. It's better to leave it on for more than 20 minutes.

Borax, Baking Soda, Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by L (South Portland, Maine) on 05/24/2008
★★★★★

I put two glass jars in my shower. One filled with a mix of borax and baking soda. (More borax for dry hair...more baking soda for greasy... half and half for normal.) I get in the shower and sprinkle approximately 2 tablespoons in the empty jar and fill it with water and shake it around. I then dump that over my head and rinse it out.

I keep a bottle of ACV in the shower as well and pour approximately 1/4 of cup into the now empty jar add water pour over my head and rinse. The drying process looks a little funky but my hair is clean, shiny, flake free and dare I say fabulous. I'm actually a little dismayed that I have spent so much money over the years on toxic products that didnt make my hair look half as good. I switched to white vinegar for a week once and my hair became much blonder. The ACV brings out more amber highlights. Good Luck