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natural conditioner
I am trying to rid my life of chemicals (to the best of my ability.) That means no commercial conditioner. How do you ladies use coconut oil as a conditioner? Do you mix it with something and use it in the shower like regular conditioner? or do you just apply it straight? before or after you shower?
Any other tips would be appreciated!
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23 Replies
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Avocado hair mask for a deep condition: http://www.livestrong.com/article/95683-diy-avocado-hair-mask/
I tried straight conconut oil but it was too heavy and I couldn't get it to wash out… took me about three thorough washings over two days to get it out. That's just my hair though… I read reviews from some people that totally loved it.
If you are going for minimal chemical you might want to consider lushusa handmade cosmetics. That might be out of the question based on your goals but wanted to mention just in case you might find some of their products useful.
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One thing I hear a lot is to use Apple Cider Vinegar… however, if you are using a shampoo that is not a lot of harsh chemicals, then you shouldn't really need much conditioner – I use Burts Bees shampoo and conditioner, but I only condition my hair about every other shower, with just a dime-sized amount on my ends.
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Hi!
I stopped to use regular (hair-) cosmetics when my hair started breaking andere looking all messed up. Fortunatly, in Germany, natural cosmetic id a really big thing and you can buy it almost everywhere. But sometimes, I like mixing my own conditioner. Here’s my recipe:
1 teaspoon it honey, stirred into
3 teaspoons of warm oil (almond, avocado, argan, coconut, sheabutter, … You can mix them)
1 teaspoon of hydrogenated keratine
1 teaspoon of concentrated aloe vera
1 teaspoon of panthenol
Plus, if you like, add a little bit of your favorite conditioner, but one without silicones!
You should get the ingrediants at any pharmacy.
The conditioner works better with heat, that will Open the hair structure and make it get deeper into it.
For extra shine, use, after rinsing, a so called “sour rinse”:
1 part of a mild vinegar (Apple for example)
9 parts of cold (!!!) water
This will close the hair structure and will give really nice shine! -
I have totally done the olive oil conditioner (haven't tried CO but I'm sure it would be the same) and like JeHanne, it took me SO LONG to wash it out. A little goes a long way! I seriously used way too much and my hair was crunchy. LOL.
I use the very mild Dr. Bronner's liquid as shampoo and then an apple cider vinegar rinse . I think may hair is decent. haha. I love your conditioner recipe, tacha! Unfortunately, here in the US we really have to seek out some of those ingredients, but I want to try it. 🙂
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AG, you KNOW I am going to rip on you. There is no such thing as chemical free…you would cease to exist!
I have heard great things about Lush also, I have a really hard time justifying their cost though. Although looking at their ingredeint list I would not call them all natural. But they are minimal in their ingredients.
I have never had luck with coconut oil but I know someone who used to use coconut milk with good results. You want the stuff in the can that is in the international food section. You may also want to look into either henna, amla or cassia for your hair. A treatment really changes the quality of your hair and gives it incredible shine. I would only recommend the stuff from Henna For Hair, though. http://www.mehandi.com/
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Olive oil as a once a week mask is nice, also better if you can plastic cover/hairdry while its on your hair. Takes a lot of rinsing, I use my kitchen sink because of the sprayer hose thing. I do not like apple cider vinegar as a cold rinse or shampoo option, it burns my scalp, but that’s just me. Tried the mayonnaise thing, waste of time in my opinion. But I liked the olive oil. Left my thin hair feeling full, and very shiney but not greasy at all.
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Jojoba oil is *apparently* the oil most similar to natural sebum. When I had hair down to my thighs I used to oil the ends of it with that and brush through to try to keep it from getting dry and brittle, it was pretty good, but slightly awkward to get the right balance between enough to be useful, and too much making the hair look greasy.
Bit easier to coat the hair in it and leave for a couple of hours, then wash it without using so much shampoo you completely undo the effects.
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Reyn – my hair is such a weird texture, so the only way it feels soft is to condition it. I got a weird hybrid between my mom's corn silk hair and my dad's curly head. Hahaha. It left me with a sorta thick, sorta course, now starting to get wavy hair.
Chem – yeah, you got me. At least you know what I meant though. I am trying to figure out a way to battle these migraines, so I wantt o eliminate any chemicals that screw with your hormones, like ones that bind to estrogen recepters, etc.
Jehanne, Miraine, D Luxx, sparrow, tacha – do I just pour some in my hand and use it in the shower like i would regular conditioner?
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Aubrey, Natures Gate and Giovanni are pretty good lines too. You can get them at whole foods.
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If you use an oil as a deep conditioning treatment pre-shower, do it on dry hair, spread it through as evenly as you can, and wrap it against your head to try to get some warmth to help it absorb. Then wash off the excess, basically.
If you are brushing it in post-shower, put a tiny bit in the palm of your hand, spread it between your hands, then try to spread just a little on all your hair from the nape of the neck downwards (e.g. not on your scalp). Brush a lot with a bristly brush to spread it evenly, so you don't have any greasy clumps.
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Looks like Aubrey would be the only one I could use. I'll pick it up today (and maybe some jojoba oil).
Miraine – Thanks! I'll try that!
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I don’t use oil in the shower because my bath surface is really smooth and don’t want to slip. I rinse off hair covered in oil in a big kitchen sink.
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I don't do oil on my hair at all generally, but sometimes I'll take some almond oil in the palm of my hand (just a a few drops or more if your hair is long) and sprinkle a few drops of water, rub palms together and run through my dry hair.
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I have so many oils in my house (olive, coconut, almond, walnut, hazelnut, hemp…) I better put them to use!
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now I gotta change my toothpaste too. I'm wondering if it is okay for my teeth to get flouride free…
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