Homemade hair conditioners are great for keeping your hair soft and shiny. And while many commercial products contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and dyes that can damage your hair over time, this homemade hair conditioner contains minimal, natural ingredients to nourish and strengthen hair.
This post was originally published on July 7th, 2020, and has been updated with more relevant information and a revised recipe.
Making these homemade conditioner bars was certainly a process of getting the perfect recipe nailed down.
In the end, though, I think we finally have the perfect solid conditioner bars to moisturize and repair damaged hair.
Beginning my hair care journey years and years ago with a simple dry shampoo, I had made it a goal to convert all the hair products I used at the time (and ones I’ve added since) over to a more natural alternative.
What is a hair conditioner bar?
A hair conditioner bar is essentially a hair conditioner in a solid form. They are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons, including they are great for travel and are inexpensive to make.
Homemade conditioner bars are straightforward to make and will last forever! Well, not quite forever, but a little goes a very long way compared to liquid conditioner.
Why make your own hair conditioner bars?
Let’s face it; it would be a whole lot easier to go the natural route by simply buying natural, organic hair care products.
But as you probably know, without your personal money tree, it’s hardly practical.
In addition, many products labeled ‘natural’ often turn out to be not all that natural after all.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
Conditioner bar recipe
What You Will Need
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- Emulsifying wax
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin E oil
- Essential oils (optional)
- Double boiler or a small glass bowl and saucepan
- Silicone molds
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the cocoa butter, coconut oil, and emulsifying wax to a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can place a glass bowl over a pot of water and bring it to a boil.
Once the ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. You don’t want it to ‘set up’ just cool enough to work with.
Finally, add the remainder of the ingredients in with the oils and stir well.
Transfer the melted conditioner into silicone molds to harden.
They should be ready to pop out of the molds in just a few hours but definitely allow the conditioner bars to harden for 2-3 days before using to receive the maximum life out of them.
How to use conditioner bars
Rub your homemade conditioner bar between your hands and apply it to the hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to evenly distribute the conditioner for curly or thick hair.
Leave the conditioner in the hair for several minutes before rinsing with warm water.
For tangly hair, follow up with a hair detangler spray.
Why I chose these ingredients
Each of the ingredients listed below are necessary for making a long-lasting, effective hair conditioner bar.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter smells as good as it sounds. It is very versatile with incredible benefits for the skin and hair.
With its fantastic moisturizing properties, cocoa butter works excellently at conditioning the hair. In addition, it provides shine, protects against split ends, and softens hair.
And best of all, any leftover cocoa butter can be used to make homemade chocolates!
Coconut oil
Oh, the superfood coconut oil! You probably would be more shocked if it didn’t appear in this conditioner bar recipe. I buy coconut oil in bulk and use it daily for skin care, hair care, and even in the kitchen.
Coconut oil is very moisturizing, and can help with dandruff, dry scalp, split ends, and hair breakage. I even have a coconut oil hair mask which is ideal when your hair needs a little extra TLC.
Essential oils (fragrance)
Essential oils are a great way to add a beautiful scent to your conditioner. And the sky is the limit when it comes to which oils to choose. In this case, I went with the refreshing citrus aromas of tangerine and lemon.
Give this combination a try, make up your own blend or give one of the blends below a try.
Choosing the fragrance
Wild Forest for men
- 6 drops sandalwood
- 3 drops rosemary
- 3 drops lemongrass
Floral Fresh for women
- 5 drops lavender
- 3 drops of clary sage
- 2 drops of wild orange
- 2 drops lime
Gentle and Calm
- 3 drops lavender
- 1 drop of Roman Chamomile
Why you will love these conditioner bars:
Have a super long shelf-life. Homemade conditioner bars are one of my favorite products to make. I love that they can last for years with very little money out of my pocket.
Little to no impact on the environment. These conditioner bars are made using eco-friendly ingredients naturally derived from plants.
The recipe can be adjusted even after the bars are made. So while this conditioner bar recipe will work for most hair types, If you do find the need to fine-tune some of the ingredients, simply melt it back down, make your adjustments and let it reharden back in the molds.
A travel-friendly hair care product. Your hair deserves so much more than a travel-sized hotel shampoo/conditioner. Bring your conditioner bar with you for your next holiday travels or last-minute work trip.
P.S. Don’t forget your travel-friendly shampoo bar to take along with you.
FAQs/Tips
- The conditioner bars will last between 60-100 washes. Remember, less is best.
- These bars are very effective, perfect for anyone who washes their hair once or twice a week.
- Shelf life is right around 2 years when stored properly. I.e., a cool, dry place.
- Cocoa butter can be substituted for shea or mango butter. Note: using mango butter will result in a softer bar.
- Coconut oil will melt at temperatures over 76°. If that is the case, you will need to store these bars in the fridge or a cooler area in the home.
Wrapping up
As with any natural conditioner, if you are making the switch from conventional products, there will be an adjustment period as your hair adapts to the new routine.
Be patient and trust me; it is totally worth it, and you will be thrilled with the results!
During this transition time, remember that dry shampoo is your friend and washing with a natural shampoo is a must.
Please note, that this is an updated recipe. I have had many readers comment that their hair felt greasy after using.
And while training your hair to adapt to natural products or more infrequent washes, the hair is going to be more greasy. I was able to make a few adjustments to help with it.
Thank you for reading. I hope that you found this hair conditioner bar recipe to be just what you were looking for. And if you love natural hair care products, be sure and check out some of these popular products below!
- Homemade nourishing hair serum
- All-natural hair spray
- Natural clarifying shampoo
- Hair growth shampoo or hair growth mask
- Simple liquid conditioner recipe
HOMEMADE CONDITIONER BARS
Homemade Conditioner Bars
Equipment
- Double Boiler
- Silicone molds
Ingredients
- ½ cup of cocoa butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of emulsifying wax
- 1 teaspoon of vitamin B5
- 10 drops of vitamin E oil
- 8 drops of tangerine essential oil
- 4 drops of lemon essential oil
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter, coconut oil, and emulsifying wax in a double boiler. Or make your own double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a pot of water and bringing it to a boil.
- Once the ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. You don't want it to 'set up' just cool enough to work with.
- Finally, add the remainder of the ingredients to the bowl and mix well.
- Transfer the melted conditioner to the molds to dry.
Billie says
Can you use beeswax as an emulsifying wax? I have lots of it and don’t want to have to buy something else if possible.
Laura says
That should work without any issue!
Emily H says
Is there a good substitute for coconut oil in this recipe (and your other recipes)? A family member is allergic to coconut via contact, so I can’t have it around the house.
Dianne D'Bos says
Thanks for this recipe! I’ve been looking for a solid conditioner in an effort to use less plastic packaging. Haven’t made it yet, but it looks good, and I m betting your choice essential oils added to it smell just delicious.
Heather Thompson says
Can’t wait to try this! How many bars does it make and do you have a silicone mold you recommend? Thank you!
Laura says
This recipe makes two bars. I have several molds linked in my Amazon shop.
Lindsay says
does the wax make this too heavy for curly hair?
Laura says
It should be okay, just make sure to rinse out.
Elke says
Hello, I tried the Conditioner Bars the first time e and sorry to say that, my hair is extremely oily. Could you tell me plea se why?
Laura says
If you are transitioning from conventional products to natural products, this is common. There is often a transition period while your hair adjusts. I would suggest using a natural dry shampoo and natural shampoo as well.
Asha says
Aloha Laura, quick question – are you using liquid or solid coconut oil in this recipe? Does it make a difference if we use one versus the other?
Thanks in advance!
Asha
Laura says
Solid 🙂
Geraldine Pontes says
Good evening Laura, and thank you so much for all those wonderful videos on soaps and lotions. I have a quick question concerning the hair conditioning bar, can you please tell me if the vitamin B5 I is in liquid form or powder form. I can only find it on Amazon with a raspberry flavor and in liquid form.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Laura says
Liquid form. I have a direct link in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Laura Ryan says
Could you include links for the ingredients,? Specifically the emulsifying wax, the cocoa butter, the vitamin E, and vitamin B5? Thank you 😊
Laura says
Of course, if you go to the very bottom of the page, I have everything linked.
Karen Erickson says
I have tried several recipes for conditioner bars and none of them will harden into a bar. They are still soft and sticky. I placed them in the fridge for a couple of days, but when I took them out, they softened up again. What am I doing wrong or what causes this.
Thanks for your help.
Laura says
You can store them in the fridge if you prefer a harder bar. I find that I like it a little softer as it makes easier to apply.