Treating dry, brittle hair doesn't require an expensive trip to the salon for the latest blowout or glossing treatment. Homemade conditioners can often nourish the scalp and hair shaft as well or better than store-bought conditioners. Instead of multi-syllabic chemicals, home remedies use plants, fruits and oils as natural sources of hair-enriching protein and moisture.
Identification
Home remedy hair conditioners nourish the hair and scalp with a combination of oils, herbs and common grocery store ingredients such as fruit and honey. You can customize your conditioner with oils that treat specific conditions such as dry scalp, dandruff or oily scalp. Many conditioner recipes include aromatherapy ingredients such as essential oils to turn the home-conditioning process into a spa-like experience. Natural beauty books and websites offer numerous recipes targeting specific hair colors and types.
Base Oils
In "Naturally Healthy Hair: Herbal Treatments and Daily Care for Fabulous Hair," author Mary Beth Janssen distinguishes between four types of hair and scalp conditions that require different base oils, the foundation of a home conditioner. Sesame, almond, canola and safflower oils work well for oily scalps; normal, dry and sensitive scalps work well with coconut, castor, olive, almond or sunflower oil.
Herbs and Essential Oils
Many home conditioner recipes call for small amounts of essential oils and herbs. For oily scalps, Janssen recommends lemongrass, mint, thyme, basil, eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary. You can help ease dandruff and inflammation with bay leaf, oregano, clary sage, juniper, peppermint and tea tree oil.
Other Common Ingredients
According to author Janice Cox in "Natural Beauty for All Seasons," natural humectants such as pure maple syrup, honey and molasses can moisturize hair, improving its fullness and healthy shine. Acidic ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice can help treat dandruff-prone scalps. In "Face Creams, Hair Rinses, and Body Lotions: Recipes for Natural Beauty," author Gill Farrer-Halls uses oat plant milk to soften and moisturize, and Greta Breedlove chooses ultra-rich mayonnaise in "Herbal Treatments for Healthy Hair."
Benefits
Buying conditioners, hair masks and leave-in treatments in a salon can cost between $10 and $85, depending on the brand. A bottle of olive oil and a lemon can cost less than $10 at most supermarkets. Another benefit of homemade hair conditioners is the lack of harsh chemicals. According to Farrer-Halls, these chemicals strip the hair of its natural sebum coating, leaving it dry and brittle. Often, people with itchy or flaky scalps don't even realize it's caused by their shampoo or conditioner, she says.
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