This deep conditioner recipe will give that extra “umph” to your hair healing journey! But what makes it so effective?
We all go through times where our hair feels like it could use a little TLC. And that’s okay!
Bring your dry, damaged hair back to life with little to no hassle using ingredients you probably have at home already. Plus, the occasional DIY deep conditioner also doubles as a great form of self-care!
A good DIY deep conditioner should be no more than a few ingredients that you can apply to your hair the night before or even up to 20 minutes before you shower.
And there’s a “master recipe” for every hair type! So let’s get into the ingredients and find the best recipe for you!
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What is the Best Combination for Each Hair Type?
There’s really no “ultimate” DIY deep conditioner recipe because there are so many different hair types!
I know for a fact that a recipe for thick hair would go terrible for me and my ultra-fine hair. But that’s okay! It’s just a matter of trial and error to find the ingredients that work best for you.
All of the ingredients I’m going to talk about in this post are fully of nutrients that you hair will soak up like a sponge and seal the cuticle, preventing further breakage!
I know it sounds silly that your hair will eat the nutrients from the food you’re about to apply to it, but it’s true!
Depending on your hair type and whether or not you’ve bleached it, your hair is actually very porous! Bleached hair is the most porous because it’s been made to absorb any color treatments.
But don’t worry if your hair isn’t bleached. It’s still got plenty of absorb-ability. But what exactly can you give your hair as “food?”
The Deep Conditioner “Master List”
Luckily, most of the ingredients for a good deep conditioner can be found in your fridge or pantry, with a few exceptions. Here’s some of the best options that you likely have in your house ready to go:
- Eggs—Helps hair resist further damage, and the vitamins A and E in the yolk help with growth. Be careful you don’t rinse it out with hot water so you don’t cook the egg!
- Bananas—Rich in silica, which helps strengthen hair and make it thicker. It also helps soothe an itchy scalp!
- Coconut oil—Great for a flaky scalp and helps lock in moisture while promoting faster growth. An all around fantastic deep-conditioning oil! Just be careful if you have fine hair like me, that it doesn’t make up the majority of your deep conditioner concoction.
- Apple cider vinegar—A great moisturizing agent when diluted. It also coats your strands to prevent further damage.
- Plain yogurt—The protein adds strength to your hair, and the lactic acid will cleanse your scalp of dead skin cells and any other gunk.
- Avocados—The fatty acids in avocados will provide intensive moisture and nourishment so your hair can bounce back quickly. The vitamins also provide great shine!
- Raw honey—An overall moisturizing and antimicrobial ingredient for hair and skin. Honey is great for soothing your scalp and moisturizing your ends without leaving your hair feeling heavy.
I’ve made masks with all of these ingredients and had great results! I personally think you could pick a few of these and make a quick mask in a pinch.
Otherwise, here are some common DIY deep conditioner ingredients that you can find at your local health food store:
- Shea butter—An intensive moisturizing agent. It provides a protectant layer over hair, making it great for heat-damaged hair. It’s too heavy for fine hair, but great for thick to heavily-damaged hair.
- Castor oil—One of the heaviest oils on this list. But it’s fantastic for growth and moisture. Only those with medium to thick hair should use!
- Various essential oils, like:
I like to use the essential oils as a little boost for hair growth and scalp health.
Invigorating or calming essential oils are best because they will bring your scalp to life and promote some extra growth. You can get high quality essential oils for a fraction of the price at REVIVE Essential Oils!
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Can Any Normal Conditioner Be Used as a Deep Conditioner?
Yes, but it won’t be as effective. You can’t find all of those live nutrients in the food or essential oils in traditional conditioner.
Always make sure that you use a clean conditioner without toxic chemicals!! Even then, a nontoxic conditioner can’t replenish and nourish your hair like a deep conditioning treatment can.
The nutrients from these foods and oils just can’t be bottled up!
You can certainly add something to your current conditioner, like a tablespoon of raw honey or half an avocado for a super quick fix. But I personally like the ritual and intention behind making your own deep conditioner recipe.
Can’t I Just Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioner?
You certainly can! But I like to tell people that it greatly depends on your hair type.
Because nine times out of ten, there’s a better option out there. Coconut oil has gained a reputation in the beauty space for fixing absolutely everything.
And that includes being one of the best deep conditioners! But it really only works to a point.
If you have very fine hair like me, I would avoid putting it in your deep conditioner altogether. It’s a medium-weight oil that might weigh down your hair after all that work you put into conditioning it earlier.
I noticed that if I ever did a coconut oil hair mask, I would have to shampoo my hair twice to get it out, which would leave my hair feeling a little frazzled from the extra wash.
If you have medium to thick hair, you should be all good! Just be mindful of how easily your hair can get weighed down. If it feels gunky without much effort on your part, I would maybe steer clear of it if you can.
Play around with it and see how your hair reacts to it. You might be surprised!
With that said, I’ve got some DIY deep conditioner recipes for every hair type below! You don’t have to follow all of these recipes to a T if you don’t like all of the ingredients.
Consider it as more of a base that you can modify for your unique hair type. Like adding essential oils for scalp health. Let’s get into it!
Homemade Deep Conditioner for Damaged Hair
If your hair is damaged but you don’t want to chop it all off, this will save you! I’ll admit that it’s probably better to chop it off for your hair’s health long-term, but sometimes, it’s better this way.
I also love using this DIY deep conditioner to prolong the health of my hair when I’m growing it out.
You will need:
- 1 over-ripe banana
- ½ an avocado
- 2 tablespoons raw shea butter
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Combine all ingredients until you achieve a smooth texture, so your hair won’t be full of banana and avocado chunks. I highly recommend using a hand mixer if you can!
If you have fine hair, try switching out the coconut oil with a lighter oil, like jojoba oil.
No need to apply this to your scalp. Concentrate your application on your ends where the damage is at its worst.
If you need some intense rejuvenation, apply this deep conditioner recipe the night before you shower and cover with a shower cap. That way, your hair can drink in all those nutrients while you sleep. Then wash out with shampoo like normal.
DIY Deep Conditioner for Hair Growth
I regularly applied this mixture to my hair and scalp every week when I first started my clean beauty journey!
I was determined to get long, thick hair and this definitely helped. If it can make a difference with me, it can make a difference with you!
You will need:
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons castor oil (sub in jojoba oil for fine hair)
- 10 drops rosemary and lavender essential oils
Whisk all ingredients together to get a fine consistency, then apply to your hair and tie back in a bun to let it work its magic. Wait at least two hours to overnight before washing it out.
DIY Deep Conditioner for Dry Hair
My hair may be very fine and silky by nature, but it also gets very dry and staticky as well during the colder months. I love to make this mask for my hair when it just can’t seem to keep up with my regular conditioner routine.
You will need:
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (sub jojoba oil for fine hair)
Combine all ingredients with a whisk so the egg is evenly incorporated into the mixture. Apply on the entire length of your hair, focusing on the ends when dryness is worst. Leave in for at least two hours before showering, or overnight.
DIY Deep Conditioner for Curly Hair
I don’t have curly hair, but I did some research, and this is a master list of all the most popular ingredients I could find for a curly hair mask! The key is lots of moisturizing ingredients that won’t weigh down your ends.
You will need:
- ¼ cup plain yogurt
- ½ an avocado
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Combine all ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth. Apply to the entire length of your hair and let sit for two hours to overnight before washing it out. Make sure you tie your hair back in a bun!
Before You Go!
No matter which DIY deep conditioner recipe you pick, you’re doing your hair a huge favor! It will come out feeling soft and smooth like never before.
And it should last for several days! Conditioner that you use in the shower every day usually only lasts for a day or so, at least for me.
And if you need some non-toxic conditioner recommendations, I’ve got you covered! Check out my favorite natural conditioners that will actually nourish your hair long-term below.