Last time we taught you how to make homemade shampoo and decided we couldn’t leave you hanging so today we’ll show you how to make homemade conditioner for your hair. Don’t worry, it’s as easy as the shampoo. :)
How to make conditioner
Again, you will only need 2 ingredients and one of them is free. Any guesses what it is?
Once again I am compelled to say never mistake simplicity for ineffectiveness. This conditioner works very well and is safe for all hair types. Make it with confidence, an open mind, and an adventurous heart. Did I mention it will save you boat loads of money over the years? If you think the idea foolish perhaps you’d be more interested in making your own granola.
- 1 Tbsp ACV (Apple cider vinegar) - I suggest always using the raw kind “with the mother”. We buy Bragg’s in bulk 1 gallon jugs.
- 1 cup water – Like I said, one of the ingredients is free. Use whatever kind of water you wish – we use tap which is English for “out of the sink.”
I suggest using an old bottle since they’re free. Double up on ingredients until you fill your bottle – the recipe above makes 8 ounces.
How to use
Simply shake the bottle before each use and gently massage into the hair and scalp for a minute or two and rinse. After rinsing your hair will not smell like vinegar. Trust me.
How much does it cost?
It costs more than the shampoo but is still inexpensive compared to store bought conditioner, especially if you have been buying organic brands.
- Cost = approximately $0.13/ounce depending on how much you pay for your vinegar.
If you use a 16 ounce bottle you will pay right around two dollars per bottle, and the cost is but one benefit. Now you know how to make your own and you know exactly what you’re putting on your scalp, something you can rarely say when using conditioner from the store.
Safe for all hair types
This conditioner is safe for all hair types and gently condition hair without stripping the natural oils, unlike most commercial conditioner.
Always question the safety of store-bought personal products, never assume they’re safe, and always understand the ingredients.
If you have any other questions please read through or leave a comment below. Happy conditioning… and share this recipe with everyone you know!
Coconut or olive oil conditioner
Another option is to use straight olive or coconut oils as conditioners. Simply lather in a few tablespoons of your oil of choice, let sit a minute or so, and rinse out thoroughly. If rinsed well it will hydrate your hair without leaving it oily.
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{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Is this conditioner an effective detangler? I have really thick hair that gets really tangled.
I have short hair but Betsy has long hair that is very thick and said it worked great as a detangler. Give it a shot, it’s very easy to make so what do you have to lose?
$0.13/oz really isn’t that great of a price. I can buy Suave Naturals for $0.05/oz or even TRESemme for $0.11/oz. They aren’t all natural or organic, but if you’re just looking for cost savings, you’ll need to find some really inexpensive vinegar.
If you think those are your best options then you should buy them. Everyone should make their own choices.
I recently read that Suave is very toxic.
I have tried Suave Naturals and it left a really gross film on my hair that felt like wax.
it’s not about product per ounce. it’s about HEALTH and QUALITY per ounce. You end up paying for those toxic ingredients in your health care insurance.
Agreed.
I’ve been using plain ol’ white vinegar for the last year or so, and it has also worked well.
Interesting, I use vinegar as a rinse once in awhile because I like how it makes my hair feel. I was diluting by half, I will dilute more for cost saving. I too use white vinegar. It’s super cheap.
Wow – you guys rock! I have been searching for a natural shampoo and conditioner that was easy to make and here it is!! I cannot wait to try them out! Thanks a lot
@Heather and Susie – good advice ladies, we’ll have to give white vinegar a go, it’s definitely a lot cheaper!
@Jenni – you rock!
Does anyone know if this conditioner help with frizzy hair? I live near the KY/TN border so it is hot and humid ALL summer and a good part of spring & fall!
I have natural curly hair that would get frizzy. I put @ 1tbs baking soda in my regular shampoo. Then use the ACV conditioner and now I get so many compliments on how good my hair looks. No frizz.
Thanks for the great feedback Stephanie!
it’s always cheaper to buy in bulk. there are places like whole foods or chucks produce in vancouver, wa where you can do so. things like olive oil, honey and apple cider vinegar are much much much cheaper in bulk :]
Amen Kesondra, you’re exactly right!
What is the best way to apply the ACV conditioner? I have really thick hair, and with the watery solution i end up just having to pour it on my head. I feel like I’m wasting a lot, but maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be done. Any suggestions?
We suggest grinding some oatmeal into flour and adding until you have a desirable consistency. The oat flour thickens the mixture and is great for your hair.
Not 100% sure since I haven’t tried it, but having somewhat thick hair, it would seem to me that oat flour (or any flour) might get caught in thick hair or at the very least be somewhat difficult to rinse completely out since it doesn’t dissolve like the baking soda. I put the ACV mixture in a spray bottle and spray into my hair until it feels somewhat wet, but not dripping wet, let it sit for at least a minute or so (some people I know who use it let it sit for at least 5 minutes and I have also on occasion it feels good in your hair once you use it awhile) and then rinse well careful not to get into my eyes…though I’ve read comments on that being possibly beneficial also, lol. Just remember dilute is your friend, always better to err on the weak side and strengthen the mix later if you need to.
Sorry for my run-on sentences, I am tired, lol…hope that I still make sense and that it’s useful.
People should try the oat flour to see if it works for them, I suggest grinding the flour very fine – another great reason to own a Vitamix. Thanks for the spraying tip D… that is a great idea.
I had an empty spray bottle so I tried and it works great. Saved a lot from running down the drain. Thanks for the tip…I’m also going to try the oat flour.
Glad you’re having success Stephanie!
How much does it cost?
It costs more than the shampoo but is still inexpensive compared to store bought conditioner, especially if you have been buying organic brands.
•Cost = approximately $0.13/ounce depending on how much you pay for your vinegar.
Anyone can buy a gallon of apple cider vinegar at Walmart for 3.83. There are 128 oz. in a gallon. That would be $0.03 per oz for the vinegar.. A tablespoon is a 1/2 oz, so a cup of mixture would be $0.015 per cup. Figure the cost after adding the ingredients. You are not putting 100% ACV in your hair. I use a palm-full of vinegar mixture in my hair daily, that is 9 palms-full per 1/4 cup and a cost of $0.0004166 or less than .042 cents per use.
A 16 oz bottle at $2.00 would yeild 32 cups of mixture would be $0.0625 per cup of mixture. You shouldn’t say that’s how much the product cost, because the water you add to the vinegar brings the cost per oz way down. I doubt the water used would add to your water bill.
Interesting longtail. That $0.0625 per cup translates to $0.0078125 per ounce! Extremely cheap!
Sweet, thanks for the breakdown!
What do you mean by “with the mother?” What is a mother in the organic ACV?
“The mother” is generally speaking a sediment that forms naturally from the process of organically making the vinegar. You can read about it here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_vinegar – “The mother” is considered to have health benefits.
I’m in the kitchen right now concocting both the un-shampoo
and the conditioner! As a wife and mother of four, I am so tired of buying these products and feeling as if I’m literally dumping my money down the drain!! I can’t wait to see how they work!! Thank you so much!!
Awesome Amber, congrats on taking positive steps for your family, you rock!
I am a hair stylist and single mother in need of cheaper way of providing for me n my daughter. I am very interested in how this will make my hair feel. Super excited to try and see the results!! *all about the savings*
Any suggestions for how to scent the shampoo? I love the way my shampoo smells and would love to make something at home that was as pleasing!
Just use enough drops of your favorite essential oil until you have a scent you like. I suggest Lavender.
Thank you! I can’t wait to try this and the shampoo recipe. I too hate buying the store bought stuff, it seems like 30% of my grocery budget now goes towards non-food items and lots of chemicals getting dumped down my drain and into our groundwater. I’m also very frugal and this just sounds wonderful cost wise!
I’ve even been saving shampoo and conditioner bottles, hoping to find some recipes just like these. I’m going to plan a trip to costco to pick up some the ingredients in bulk.
I tried the ACV conditioner, and the prob I have is my daughter’s hair isn’t smooth and shiny with this. She has flyaway hair, and I don’t like all the stuff in store-bought conditioner. how can I make conditioner that leaves hair shiny and smooth?? HELP!
I ordered your book, just wondering when i will get it?
Is there anything else to mix into the vinegar and water rinse to make like a creamy consistency besides grinded oat flour? I tried the grinded oat flour and I had little lumps of it stuck in my hair even after rinsing it out a very long time.
Try mixing everything in a blender until well mixed.
Hi Maria,
My comment posted below was meant to be a reply to you – it’s my first time, so I’m still learning the ropes. Anyway, if you’ve had any luck with other alternatives, I’d love to hear them!
I’ve spent many hours researching different recipes for shampoos, conditioners and face wash. In one of the recipes I’ve come across (for a shampoo) it was suggested that xanthan gum could be used as a thickener. I’m on my way to the store right now to buy the ingredients. I’ll try adding the xanthan gum to the ACV conditioning rinse and report back.
Thanks for the information Sarah, I will try adding the xanthan gum, because the ACV conditioning rinse does not seem to soften my hair which is on the frizzy coarse side and maybe it’s because I need it to stay on the hair and not run off.
Regarding the cost of this recipe, Matt, I think your original calculations must be off: Even if you use Bragg’s ACV, buying a single 32-oz bottle at $5.00, that’s 15.6 cents per oz for the vinegar. With your recipe, you use 1 oz vinegar for 16 oz of conditioner, which makes the final cost only 1 cent per oz. If you buy Bragg’s in bulk, it can come out to much less. Nowhere near the 13 cents per oz you mentioned.
You can make your own apple cider vinegar – for free, using scraps and cores from apples that you would be throwing away otherwise, and water. I’m doing it right now, because I’m tired of paying a fortune for Braggs (and cheap brands just aren’t as good). Takes several weeks to make, but I think it’ll be worth it. I use ACV in my hair and it’s amazing. My hair hasn’t looked this good in years.
Awesome Christine, congrats on taking things into your own hands. Next year when me and Betsy make applesauce we’re planning to make ACV too.
can you tell me the recipe? i would love to know!
I purchased Bragg organic apple cider vinegar (approx 1 1/2 liter) for under $3 I can make several bottles of shampoo with that. You don’t shampoo your hair everyday so it lasts a long time so you are saving $$!
I was wondering if anyone tried mixing coconut/ olive oil with the acv mixture. I thought that maybe the acv would do the conditioning while the oil made the hair hydrated and shiny. Just wondering.
I think I will try this one next! The first one I’ve made is Milk and honey conditioner from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pggi8ELWWNU&feature=plcp&context=C46995faVDvjVQa1PpcFO9-467sJiV5M0e6sfWfEnF1o_PZwiW0gc=
I have natural white/gray hair and was wondering if the ACV conditioner will discolor my hair. Would white vinegar work just as well? I know I have to be careful what I put on my hair. My stylist told me not to put any thing with color in it, clear or white products only. What are your thoughts?
Does your current conditioner have any color? I have not heard one report of discoloration from using ACV as a conditioner. God bless.
My current conditioner is white. I did try using the white vinegar and water. It made my hair soft, didn’t do anything for the small area of frizz I have on the sides of my hair, but it seemed to remove the shine from my hair. Thank you for any suggestions you have.
Try adding 10-20 drops of sweet orange oil and a cinnamon stick to the mixture.