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DIY leave-in conditioner is simple to make and will leave your hair feeling well moisturized. Learn how to make a leave-in conditioner with coconut milk or aloe vera, as well as a DIY  leave-in conditioner for hair growth. Each recipe is made with natural ingredients that are very cost-friendly.

A bottle of leave-in conditioner next to dried flowers and a hair brush.
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I used to struggle with dry, brittle hair. I would use a nourishing homemade shampoo and always follow it with homemade conditioner, but that just wasn’t cutting it.

Finally, I decided to up my hair care game and started using a DIY leave-in conditioner a couple of times a week. It worked amazingly well! I could feel my hair getting softer, healthier, and stronger.

If you are experiencing dryness, breakage, thinning, or you just feel like your hair needs extra TLC, you may love leave-in conditioner just as much as I do.

I am going to share 3 different leave-in conditioner recipes that can help with strengthing the hair, moisturizing the scalp, and promoting healthy hair growth. You can choose which recipe to use based on your hair type and needs.

Making your own leave-in conditioner will take you less than 5 minutes and will cost you next to nothing. Plus, it can be made with natural ingredients! 

Need a quick pick? My go-to recipe is the coconut milk leave-in conditioner!

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

  • Leave-in conditioner spray is an easy way to moisturize and nourish your hair. A quick spritz after your shower is all it takes!
  • I have found leave-in conditioner to be very effective on my hair. It has left it healthier, stronger, and softer. The conditioner spray also helped as a detangler and anto-frizz product! You may have similar results with continual use.
  • With just a few ingredients and a minute or two to make, this leave-in conditioner couldn’t be easier. Pour all of the ingredients into a bottle, shake, and you have yourself a simple DIY leave-in conditioner.

What Goes Into These Recipes

Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Ingredients for coconut milk leave-in conditioner: coconut milk, filtered water, essential oils, and jojoba oil.

Aloe Vera Leave-In Conditioner

Leave-In Conditioner for Hair Growth

How to Make Leave-In Conditioner

Mixing ingredients in a glass bowl to make leave-in conditioner.

Step 1. Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk until they are well combined.

A glass bottle with a metal funnel in the top, full of DIY leave-in conditioner.

Step 2. Using a funnel, transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and store in the refrigerator.

How to Use Leave-In Conditioner

Typically, you will want to apply a leave-in conditioner to the hair after it has been washed and conditioned. You can apply it to wet or dry hair, but it is best if your hair is slightly damp. 

Spray the leave-in conditioner generously over the hair and then style it like normal.

Expert Tips

  • These leave-in conditioners last for about a week in the fridge. The batches are small so you can make a fresh one each week.
  • If you have greasy or oily hair, avoid spraying the leave-in conditioner on your roots. Spraying it on the ends will moisturize the hair without making your scalp more oily.
  • Limit use of the leave-in conditioner to 1-3 times per week. I like to wash my hair twice a week and use the conditioner right after each wash.
A bottle of leave-in conditioner next to dried lavender and a hair brush.

What Essential Oils are Best for Hair?

  1. Lavenderโ€“ Studies have shown that lavender produces more hair follicles to help thicken and strengthen hair.  Lavender has a beautiful floral smell that can promote calmness and reduce stress; stress can be a major reason for hair loss.
  2. Rosemaryโ€“ Rosemary essential oil is the top oil for hair growth and thickness. It helps to treat dry hair as well as overly oily hair and can help prevent split ends.
  3. Tea treeโ€“ Tea tree promotes a healthy, clean-looking scalp. It can be used to help with a dry, itchy scalp and protect against lice.
  4. Cedarwoodโ€“ This woodsy oil is excellent when you are making products for men because it has a very masculine smell.  In fact, I use cedarwood in the DIY products I make for my husband, and he approves.  It stimulates hair follicles and increases circulation to the scalp, making it a top oil for hair loss.
  5. Peppermintโ€“ Peppermint oil is known for the cooling effect it has on the skin when used topically and for its refreshing minty scent.  Peppermint is also great for the hair as it promotes hair growth and thickness.

Recipe FAQs

What is leave-in conditioner?

Leave-in conditioner is a product that is applied to the hair after youย showered and is meant to stay in. It can be especially beneficial for curly hair and dry hair.ย 

Leave-in conditioners will moisturize the hair leaving itย softer, smoother, and shinier. It can also be used as a hair detangler or a hair styling product.ย 

What are the benefits of leave-in conditioner?

Leave-in conditioner gives the hair and scalp an extra boost of moisture and nourishment. Because it’s left on the hair rather than rinsed out, it has longer to soak in and hydrate the hair.

Moisturizing and nourishing a dry, itchy scalp can enable hair to grow stronger and thicker, which may help with thinning hair.

If you are experiencing hair loss or a lot of hair breakage, try using a leave-in conditioner a few times a week.ย 

How often should I use leave-in conditioner?

You shouldn’t use a leave-in conditioner on your hair daily. In fact, you should only condition your hair 1-3 times a week, depending on your hair type.ย 

Overconditioning the hair can cause build-up and make the hair look greasy. If you have super fine hair that is oil-prone, then you may need to consider less conditioner or use a homemade dry shampoo to help absorb excess grease.

Which of these recipes should I use?

That depends on your hair type and what you’re dealing with! The coconut milk conditioner is ideal for dry hair, while the aloe vera conditioner is ideal for those with oily hair as it’s a lighter recipe. The hair growth recipe is perfect for anyone who wants thicker, stronger hair.

Of course, all of the recipes are made with moisturizing and nourishing the hair in mind, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Related Content

If you tried this DIY Leave-In Conditioner or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐Ÿ“ comments below. Thanks for visiting!

4.32 from 60 votes

DIY Leave-In Conditioner

Prep: 2 minutes
Active: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 8 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Yield: 1 bottle
You will love this simple hair conditioner recipe made with natural ingredients. This easy recipe lets you create a leave-in conditioner for soft, manageable hair. Made with ingredients to target frizz, dryness, and curls!
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Ingredients 

Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Aloe Vera Leave-In Conditioner

Leave-In Conditioner for Hair Growth

Instructions 

  • Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl.ย 
  • Whisk the ingredients together until they are well combined.ย 
  • Using a funnel, transfer the liquid to a 4-ounce glass spray bottle.ย 
  • Shake well before each use.ย 

Video

Notes

  • To use: Spray generously onto damp hair and style as normal.ย 
  • Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • Find a full list of essential oils for hair in the above post.ย 
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.32 from 60 votes (60 ratings without comment)

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40 Comments

  1. Winnie says:

    Hi there

    Thank you for your sharing
    But May I know the instruction how to keep after making?

    How long of it shelflife ?

    Thank you

    1. Laura says:

      Keep it in a glass spray bottle for up to a week in the fridge.

  2. Cyndy says:

    Love your hair recipes. I’m gonna give them a shot, and maybe modify a bit to make them my own, and then pass them on to others.
    With the coconut leave in conditioner, what’s the shelf life for that? I saw that your shampoo said about a week, maybe longer with Vitamin E oil, but I would need a 4oz leave in spray to last a lot longer, since I don’t usually need a lot of it.

  3. Tara says:

    How is the leave in conditioner stored in the fridge or in a cool fry place

  4. Sandhya says:

    Thank you for these recipes. I am very sensitive to many chemical and avoid them as much as possible. Is it ok if we use home made coconutmilk as it is very commonly used ingredient in our cooking.

  5. Letha T Tobias says:

    what is the shelf life on the growth leave-in-conditioner?

  6. Jacky says:

    I read that you use the leave in conditioner after shampooing and conditioning your hair. Can I only use the leave in conditioner to condition my hair without using the other conditioner that you wash.

    1. Laura says:

      Yes, you can!

  7. Christine Dorn says:

    is there a substitute for the filtered water like distilled water?

    1. Laura says:

      Yes