Are you ready for some DIYing? Great! Do you know how to start? No…OK, we can work it out! I keep seeing so many bloggers discussing it and so many friends on Facebook already doing it. They are whipping, mixing, measuring and dicing away like seasoned chefs! They are making their own conditioners, shampoos and natural hair concoctions and you do not have to be a natural hair expert or a scientist to jump on the DIY bandwagon. All you need is the desire.
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Whether you are making a simple spray bottle concoction or your first deep conditioner there are a few rules to follow that will allow your mixture to turn out great and your creation to last as long as possible!
Start out small with DIY Hair Products
Rome wasn’t built in a day and becoming great at the whole natural hair DIY takes time. The best way to ensure you have a great experience is to start out small with a DIY mixture of two to three ingredients only. I always suggest a refresher spray or leave-in conditioner in a spray bottle as your first DIY mixture. My very first successful DIY mixture was distilled water, a few drops of lavender and some Kinky Kinky Knot Today conditioner in a spray bottle as a refresher to my hair. During winter, I added a few drops of glycerin and I adapted my mixture to all climates!
Starting out small for your DIY hair mixtures will give you some practice and find out if you even like doing it yourself. There no shame in going easy and some of the easiest mixtures are the best! Not everyone is down for a list of ten ingredients and many prefer mixtures with three or less ingredients.
Figuring out which ingredients to use
This is one of the hardest parts on creating your own DIY hair concoctions. What are ingredients to use and what DIY mixes to create? That depends on what your hair needs and what you are trying to do. That requires research and listening to your hair. You can find recipes all over the web (Pinterest is a great start) but decide what you need (like a deep conditioner or a hair rinse) so you can find the right recipe to get it. Books, vlogs, blogs and even just experimenting is a great way to find that perfect mix.
One of the best ways mixtures to create is simply adding a few drops of an essential or carrier oil to your favorite shampoo, conditioner or leave-in. Sometimes our holy grail just needs one more ingredient to be perfect or maybe you want to step up a shampoo’s strength by adding a few drops of tea tree oil. I have often made my favorite product better by adding a few drop of natural oil.
You can also pick up a copy of my book (above), 21 Natural Hair Growth Stimulators in paperback, audiobook, and kindle to get great hair recipes to try.
https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/shelf-life-essential-oils/
Know your ingredients shelf life of DIY Hair Products
Know the shelf life of your ingredients to ensure you are getting the best out of your DIY hair mixture. and knowing that items without preservatives have a shorter shelf life of around 1 to 2 weeks. Remember many of your mixes (if you have any left over) will need to be refrigerated to keep them from spoiling and used within a reasonable amount of time.
Many mixtresses use natural preservatives like Rosemary Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract or even Neem oil to prolong the life of their mixes.
Take notes – You want to make absolutely sure you do not make the same mistakes twice by not remembering what you used the first time around. You also want to remember what you used if it turned out amazingly well. Write down exactly what you used and how much until you have perfected your creation. Take clear and accurate notes so you can recreate or change up accordingly.
Also, you can find mixes from others and tweak them by adding more or less or replacing some items. Basically, make the mix your own and something perfect for your hair and/or needs. .
Keep a lid on it
It is vital for your mixes to be stored in the right containers, jars and bottles so they last. Keep the lids on tight to stave off oxidation and to keep your product from degrading. Dark containers (usually dark glass bottles or jars are best to store your mixes because the less light exposure the better.
Label it
label your creations and the ingredients and even add dates to ensure you are using it while it is fresh or still has potency. Do not just rely on your memory and know this is the best way to stay organized.
Now you are ready to mix so have fun with your diy hair mixtures and know what works for someone else may not work for you and finding your perfect recipe will take trial and error. Have fun!
What’s your favorite DIY hair recipe?
Sabrina
