How To Make Leave In Conditioner With Essential Oils

This leave in conditioner is formulated to be jam packed with hair loving ingredients. It is rich in hydrating ingredients, but not oil. Typically, I try to wash my hair about twice a week, so I need some extra conditioning but not the extra oil that some leave in conditioners bring. 

I have been on a mission to ditch the store-bought products to make my own. Im in love with the lightness of this leave in conditioner. I’ve seen some diy recipes that call for watering down conditioner. Which, you can do. However, without a preservative in a matter of days you will have some pretty nasty stuff growing in there. 

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Why make a leave in conditioner?

The best part about making your own leave in conditioner is that you are able to customize it to fit your needs.

Why use a leave in conditioner?

Typically, your hair will have about 10% moisture. People with dry hair often find it difficult to retain the moisture and their hair is dry and tangles easily. The goal is to seal in the moisture and keep your hair hydrated.

Detangling Spray

Another benefit of this leave in conditioner is that it doubles as a detangling spray.

How to Use 

Spray directly onto dry or damp hair. Then dry and style. 

Hydration

This detangle spray is packed full of hydrating ingredients that you hair will love!

Ingredient Overview

Distilled Water

Anytime you are using water, it should always be distilled. We do this for a few reasons, one being that all water is not created equal.

Some water has more minerals than other water. The change in the amount of minerals can affect the finished product. 

It is best to just start with distilled water that has no minerals and you can rule it out as ever being a reason for a formula not working. Honestly, it’s the least expense of all your ingredients too.

Chamomile Hydrosol

I really wanted all the chamomile benefits that I could get into this leave in conditioner. Basically a hydrosol is the leftover water from steam distillation of the plant when making essential oils. They are a lighter aroma than the essential oil 

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera powder is said to help to strengthen and repair your hair. If you don’t have aloe vera leaf powder, it can be replaced with water. The powder is 100x concentrated, so it does not require much in this formula.

Dl- Panthenol

Dl- Panthenol is able to penetrate into your hair, has moisturizing properties, and helps to give your hair shine as well as reducing split ends.

Colloidal oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is said to help with dead ends, preventing dandruff and is soothing for dry or itchy scalps. I have found that with regular colloidal oatmeal use on my hair, my hair feels silkier, smoother and more hydrated.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB)

Cocamidopropyl betaine is a fatty acid that is derived from coconuts. It is a very mild surfactant that is commonly used in hair care products. It can be used as a surfactant, thickening agent, foaming agent, viscosity increaser and emulsifier.

In this leave in conditioner, CAPB is used as an emulsifier that helps to reduce static and leaving your hair soft and smooth. It also is used because it is mild on the scalp and has a little bit of a moisturizing property.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is a humectant, meaning that it draws moisture from the air to itself. If you ever want to test this, leave a little bit on the side of your bottle. When you come back the next day, it will have attracted water from the air and what was just a drop yesterday, is now significantly more. It will do the same when you use it on your hair. It is going to draw that moisture and hold it to your hair.

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum to help to thicken the leave in conditioner. Although it is not technically an emulsifier, it does help with keeping the essential oils from separating in this spray. For the leave in conditioner, you will need to ‘hydrate’ your xanthan gum before adding it with the other ingredients. You do this by mixing it with the vegetable glycerin. The reason we do that is to prevent clumping, if you just popped it in with the rest of the ingredients, you would have little jelly blobs where the xanthan gum is not mixed in.

Broad Spectrum Preservative

You need to use a broad spectrum preservative is needed anytime you are creating a formula that has water in it. In this leave in conditioner, I am using Optiphen Plus for my preservative. The reason why it is so important to use a preservative is that without one, it will only take a few days to start growing mold and bacteria. 

Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile essential oil is said to add shine and softness to hair. It is also soothing for the scalp.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang Ylang essential oil is known for its ability to help with balancing and regulating your scalps oil production. It is also said to be able to help with strengthening hair and has a very relaxing aroma.