What is the best natural hair conditioner? A good conditioner is an integral part of growing natural hair. It coats the hair cuticle, moistens and detangles making hair manageable by removing curls and frizz. Below is a better understanding of what the best natural hair treatments can do for your hair with homemade recipes and tips on how to make natural hair conditioner for dry and black hair types.
Best Natural Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioning is an important part of natural hair treatment. All curly girls should deep condition at least two times a month. For women with tighter curls, I recommend deep conditioning once a week for extra moisture.” A leave-in treatment, like Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Crème Serum, will also add an extra layer of moisture to help fight frizz.”
Natural hair treatments, unlike the crème rinses, have a thicker consistency and work by coating the hair cuticle and shaft to moisten and remove frizz. Most hair treatments are moisture enhancing with deep conditioning properties. They help detangle curls and frizz while softening the hair without adding weight and residue to the hair.
The best natural hair conditioner should be able to seal in moisture and protect against heat and styling damage from blow dryers and flat irons. It should also soothe the scalp and create an ideal foundation for healthy hair without knots and tangles making it easy to comb through when styling.
This reduces breakage and increase the growth rate cycle. Making homemade organic conditioner among the best practices for healthy, strong and break resistant hair.
Other than keeping your scalp clean and stimulating the roots, hair growth can be maximized by using natural hair conditioners which infuse essential elements without depositing unwanted residue onto your hair. These products are inexpensive and save you lots of the time at the salon while skipping the heat treatment part.
Depending on the needs of your hair there are different types of natural hair conditioners; moisturizing conditioners, protein conditioners and deep conditioners. Here is a better understanding of what these moisturizers can do for your natural hair.
Moisturizing conditioners
These type of conditioners are meant to hydrate hair and retain as much moisture to improve on the texture. If your hair feels dry and fragile, this is the best option for you. They contain ingredients such as coconut oil, castor oil and olive oil that are good in deep conditioning. These oils deposit proteins and coat the hair shaft to protect against moisture loss. Examples of natural moisturizing conditioners that can be found at the store include;
- Sofn’free Gro Healthy’s Milk Protein & Olive Oil Really Deep Conditioning Treatment
- Sheamoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
- Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Deep Conditioner
These moisturizers can be used regularly as often as daily to help in detangling the hair and keeping it hydrated. This makes it easier to style and reduces the rate of hair breakage due to dryness. They also reduce split ends and dandruff, a common problem with African American hair. Using these moisturizers will leave your hair soft with a natural sheen and also promotes the rate of hair growth.
Protein conditioners
Protein natural hair treatments are meant to treat the cuticle and replace lost proteins. They also protect the hair from external damage by coating the shaft and hair follicle. These all natural hair conditioners are good for natural hair, relaxed hair and transitioning hair. It can also be used to revive damaged hair by strengthening hair strands and preventing further damage.
Protein hair treatments need not be used on a daily basis. Use a mild protein once a month for natural black hair as opposed to a stronger protein meant to rebuild damaged hair strands in chemically treated hair. When considering hair protein treatment, hydrolyzed proteins like wheat, soy or silk are the best. They are moisture binding and easily penetrate the cuticle.
Silk amino acids are the best proteins for natural hair treatment. They come from silk worms. These proteins are water soluble and bind hair keratin creating a protective layer against moisture loss. They also strengthen hair making them the best protein conditioners for dry damaged hair.
Examples of natural protein conditioners sold at stores include;
- Giovanni – Smooth as Silk Xtreme Protein Hair Infusion
- Aubrey Organics GPB Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner
- Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise Treatment
- Queen Helene Cholesterol Cream
- Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor
Deep conditioners for natural hair
Deep conditioners come in a thicker consistency than the other types of conditioners as discussed. These type of treatments penetrate the hair cuticle to repair and restore damaged hair. They should be used at-most, once in a month to prevent build up and extreme dryness.
Unlike other types of conditioners, for maximum effectiveness, using this treatment takes a longer time and a plastic cap is required to aid in the penetration and maintenance for a longer time. When buying these products from the store, check out for hydrolyzed proteins and sealing agents such as lanolin and Shea butter. Here are two intense hydrating conditioners you can buy at Walmart;
- Eden’s Body Works All Natural Deep Conditioner
- Elasta QP Soy Oyl Ultra Hydration Deep Conditioner
Whether homemade or bought at the store, the difference between deep conditioners and other types of natural hair conditioners is the penetration. This determines how deep it is going to stay on and the extent at which it repairs damage and infuse the hair follicles with essential elements. There are those conditioners which penetrate the hair shaft while others do not. Most professionals recommend a deep conditioner with both ingredients to penetrate the shaft and also rejuvenate the hair strands and ends from the outside.
Deep conditioning also depends on the porosity of your hair. According to moknowshair.com, “If you have higher porosity, deep conditioning may take just 10 to 15 minutes, if you have low porosity, this time may increase to 30 minutes.”
All Natural Hair Conditioner
There are many recipes for homemade conditioners that allow you to use easily accessible ingredients that are beneficial depending on the needs of your hair. Dry hair types require deep reconstructive conditioners that moisturize the hair strands while stimulating the oil production from the scalp. On the other hand, a conditioner for the oily hair type should be cleansing and lightweight with oils such as tea tree oil that help absorb the excess oil from the scalp.
All natural hair conditioners infuse the hair with lots of nutrients and vitamins, the presence of coconut oil, castor oil, avocado oil or any other good oils for hair is a plus when checking out ingredients in the best deep conditioners for natural hair. Essential oils such as tea tree oil help to cleanse, regulate oil production and stimulate blood flow to the scalp.
Natural Hair Conditioner Recipe, Homemade, How to Make Natural Hair Conditioner
There are so many commercial conditioners in the market, a factor that makes it a little harder to choose the right product for your hair. Best all natural hair conditioners are versatile, chemical free and make use of natural foods and ingredients such as yogurt, bananas, eggs and mayo to enrich the hair with proteins and oils. A proper understanding on the composition and the essential needs of natural hair should make it easy for you to decide what ingredients to use in what proportions.
While there are hundreds of products in the stores with promising benefits for your hair, you can easily make one at the comfort of your home at a lower cost and with no side effects from chemicals that can ruin your hair structure. There are many recipes that allow you to be flexible with what you decide to use depending on the type of your hair and the needs of your hair.
One thing I love about these recipes for homemade natural hair conditioner is the fact that they are all organic and have no side effects on your hair. The use of special carrier oils ensures that dryness typical of natural hair is taken care of. They deeply condition, moisturize and leave your hair with a natural sheen. Here is some info that will help you choose the best oil to use in homemade hair treatments depending on the type and needs.
- Normal Hair- Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil
- Dry, Damaged or Frizzy Hair- Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil
- Oily Hair- Grape seed Oil, Jojoba Oil
- Thinning Hair- Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Grape seed Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil
- Dandruff- Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil
With a little imagination and some pop of organic love, you can now drop the store bottle and get a little messy in the kitchen with these top recipes for homemade natural hair conditioners.
Natural hair conditioner- with egg
What you need:
- Whole egg
- A cup of plain yogurt
- A cup of mayo
- Coconut oil or castor oil
Directions:
- Mix up all the ingredients to a smooth paste
- Apply the paste on your hair focusing on the oldest part of your hair- ends
- Do not forget to coat the strands too
- Massage your scalp if you have any paste left in the bowl
- Let it sit for 30-45 minutes and wash off
This treatment will leave your hair feeling very strong with an intense color. It might feel a little drier when you rinse off. This only means that you let the conditioner stay on for long. Moisturize and style as desired.
Natural hair conditioner with vinegar for dry thinning hair
Requirements:
- Water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Mixing bowl
Method:
- Mix apple cider vinegar with water in the ratio of 1:1
- Add an essential oil of your choice such as lavender or rosemary
- Carefully apply this mixture to your hair strands
- Let it dry on for about 15 minutes and rinse off
Note:
- This recipe is very good for those with dandruff and psoriasis.
- Vinegar can however make the scalp feel very oily- use sparingly
- Vinegar has a strong smell, rinse thoroughly
- Essential oils make the smell a little bearable
- Be careful not to get vinegar into the eyes and open wounds
How to make a natural moisturizing hair conditioner
Ingredients: 1 cup rose water, half a cup of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon jojoba oil, 10 drops vitamin E oil
Directions:
- Gently warm rose water
- Add in jojoba oil
- Pour in half a cup of plain yogurt and stir to form a smooth paste
- Apply it to the hair massaging the scalp, stands and ends
- Allow it to dry on for 20 minutes
- Rinse off with warm water
How to make a deep conditioning natural hair conditioner
Ingredients: Plain yogurt, egg yolk, lemon juice and eucalyptus oil.
Procedure:
- Pour natural plain yogurt into a bowl
- Add in egg yolk
- Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- Slowly add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil
- Stir until you get a creamy texture
- Apply the mixture to damp hair and massage gently
- Wear a plastic cap and wrap your head with a towel for deep conditioning
- Let the paste dry for 30-45 minutes
- Rinse off with cool water, gently towel dry and style as desired
Considerations:
- Yogurt forms a creamy base for your conditioner. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties that gently wash the hair
- Egg yolk deeply conditions hair making it smooth and silky. It also reduces breakage
- Lemon removes build up and regulates the PH of the hair
- Eucalyptus has a minty cool effect that stimulates the blood flow to the scalp stimulating growth
This natural hair conditioner recipe will cleanse to remove build up, tighten the hair shaft and give you healthy sheen while stimulating hair growth. Your hair will feel soft and well-conditioned.
Natural Hair Conditioner for Dry Hair
Dry hair conditions can be caused by many things including weather changes, over shampooing, using the wrong products and heat styling. Depending on your approach, dry hair can be easily managed with moisture restoration reducing formation of split ends.
Natural hair conditioner for dry damaged hair should penetrate the hair cuticle, moisturize and seal the cuticle from the surface. This reduces the rate at which our hair gets weathered by external factors like in the winter. It strengthens dry damaged hair reducing the rate of breakage and hair fall.
A good store bought hair conditioner for dry hair should be able to mend brittle ends. They are natural and free of harsh chemicals that can further damage hair.
Try out these great store natural hair conditioner to treat dry damaged hair.
- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
- Curls Ecstasy Hair Tea Deep Conditioner
- Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Deep Conditioner
- Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner
- African’s Best Hair Mayonnaise
- Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner
While buying a bottle of hair treatment for dry hair sounds like an easy to go thing, making your own dry hair treatment at home is the best as it gives you the liberty to make mix up any ingredient with benefits to your hair. After all, the world is going organic and home remedies for dry hair are fast rising in popularity. Make your own concoction at the comfort of your home with inexpensive ingredients.
Homemade treatments for dry hair should be rich in deeply moisturizing and conditioning ingredients such as avocado, mayo, cocoa butter, honey and eggs. Remember that oils such as coconut and castor oil are very rich and help to seal in moisture giving your hair a glossy appearance.
Natural Hair Conditioner for Black Hair
African American hair is prone to dryness and tends to be a little tough to manage. A conditioner is meant to make its management easier by moisturizing and detangling the little hair tufts and frizz. A natural hair conditioner for black hair should be a good detangler while hydrating hair making combing and styling easier.
Leave-in conditioners for black hair are the best if you want instant results. They restore shine and make hair color even better. Leave in conditioners also protect the hair from heat and wind. The problem with these treatments however, is that they coat the hair cuticle and strands sealing in the little moisture there is while preventing moisture penetration.
Leave in conditioner can also be made at home with ingredients such as coconut oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and jojoba. They add shine and restore moisture instantly.
For better long lasting results, a balance between leave in conditioner and a moisturizing conditioner for black hair is what your hair needs. Make one with rich ingredients that penetrate the shaft distributing moisture, vitamins and minerals. This will boost growth, restore strength and improve color intensity.
A good natural hair conditioner for black hair should:
- Be an effective detangler
- Improve manageability
- Strengthen the hair shaft
- Intensify color
- Seal in moisture
- Simulate growth
Tips for Natural Hair Conditioning
If you opt for natural hair conditioning whether store bought or homemade;
- Avoid products that contain Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethylparaben, Petrolatum and Mineral Oil and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This is because these products dry up the hair and are not suitable for curly hair
- Always use a cream based conditioner instead of a gel based conditioner which can dry out curly hair. Moisture is extremely important for curly black hair and hence, cream based conditioners for African-American hair are the best option.
- Alternate between leave in conditioner and cream based conditioners. This is because leave in conditioners act as a protection from heat, wind and also keeps the moisture locked in.
- Always check for oils such as lavender, jojoba, rosemary and olive oils. These oils are very beneficial when used in any natural hair conditioner.