Natural homemade hair treatments can do WONDERS for you hair.
And, honestly, I’ve seen no other hair treatments that aren’t homemade work as well. The thing that makes natural homemade hair treatments so effective is that they’re natural, they’re unprocessed, and they have no extra ingredients that aren’t necessary.
Things like added alcohol for fragrance, silicones and other things only work against your hair, often even weighing it down.
Related: DIY Homemade Face Toner With Essential Oils
So what kind of hair treatments out there are the most effective?
The BEST oils for your hair without question
Maybe right now all you know is that you’ve heard oils are good for your hair. But which oils exactly? Which oils take the cake and make it in the top ten? I’ve listed a few below!
Black Castor Oil
Black Castor Oil has long been known to be an oil that is excellent for helping hair growth and strengthening your hair. One of the best oils I found that is excellent to rub in your scalp a day before your wash day is Jamaican Black Castor Oil. It’s not an oil that you have to use frequently. One to three times a week should do the trick and you’re bound to see improvements in your hair quality overall.
Besides coconut oil, this is one other oil I use religiously, especially after going through hair trouble with stress and breakage.
It also seems to be good for not only hair but skin too!
Jamaican Black Castor Oil is FULL of health benefits. Castor oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from the castor bean (hence the name) and is packed with Omega 9 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which make it wonderful for the hair.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is built in a way that makes it easy for it to actually absorb into your hair shaft in a way that oils like olive oil cannot. It packs Oleic Acids and Monosaturated fats which make is wonderful for your hair. It’s also another great oil to work into your hair routine.
Out of all the oils listed below I’d say to choose your top three to start with and go from there.
Black Seed Oil
Black Seed Oil is another great oil that does an amazing job with nourishing and moisturizing your hair. And its not only good for your hair but for your health too.
Black Seed Oil is the type of oil that you can rub in your scalp diluted with a carrier oil the night before a wash 2-3 times a week to start seeing the difference in your hair.
It contains anti-fungal properties and can help with hair loss and thinning tresses.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil, when diluted with a carrier oil, can also have refreshing results for your scalp. While coconut oil and avocado oils are great for lathering on the ends and middle of your hair, tea tree oil can be great as a rub in for your scalp.
Tea Tree Oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that make it a soothing oil for the skin.
Almond Oil
Almond Oil carries a TON of beneficial properties for the hair, like Vitamin E, fatty acids, and magnesium. You can definitely use it in your hair oiling routine throughout the week.
Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil
Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil is the oil that most of us know is really good for our hair. Just like avocado oil, coconut oil is built to be able to deeply penetrate the hair shaft and actually moisturize your hair. Even only after a few uses you start to see major difference in how shiny and soft your hair gets. And best of all it works for all hair types.
What makes coconut oil SO good is the fact that it contains fatty acids that are great for dandruff problems and penetrating and nourishing your hair and scalp.
Red Pimento Oil
This is one of the lesser known oils that are known to be amazing for your hair. It is known to improve circulation in the scalp and reduce frizz and broken hair shafts.
The Jamaican Red Pimento Oil Shampoo and Conditioner combo is a great repair shampoo that I’m currently trying out and loving. It works on just about any type of hair, but especially curly and kinky hair. Though it is a bit on the pricier side, the red pimento benefits for your hair can be well worth it.
Aloe Vera
The benefits of aloe vera are endless and way too many to list here. But basically aloe has soothing and calming properties that are both great for your hair and skin (and even ingesting, if processed correctly).
It is full of vitamin E and C and has anti-inflammatory properties that are great for both your skin and your hair. Using aloe at least once a month in your hair care routine can make sure you’re keeping your hair as naturally shiny and healthy as possible.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar’s PH balancing abilities make it an excellent hair rinse. Though most people avoid it because of the smell, it actually doesn’t smell at all once you rinse it out well and allow your hair to dry.
Even after just one ACV rinse you can tell the difference in the shine and softness in your hair. I included the ACV method as part of the three DIY hair masks that you can use below.
Related: How To Make Your Home Smell GOOD With These 17 Genius Tips
Different types of hair require different types of care
And that’s probably all I have to say about this part of the hair care routine. It goes without saying that everyone has different hair types that vary WIDELY on a huge spectrum of hair types.
So you have to have the patience, and sometimes go through some trial and error, to see what type of hair care and natural hair treatments are right for your hair care routine.
You can try the natural hair remedies I’ve listed above. And if they don’t work so well on your hair, feel free to switch it up a bit and try other kinds of hair masks.
For example. My hair tends to curl, but it isn’t kinky curly. It’s more of a semi curly hair (like the curls will go straight if I don’t take care of them and fluff them up the next day). This type of hair is often referred to as 3B.
Finding out exactly what type of hair you have can help make sure you you get the shampoos and hair treatments that go well with your hair.
You can take the Naturally Curly Texture Quiz here to see what hair type is yours!
Change that sulfate filled shampoo!
Yes they smell good. But no, they’re still terrible for your tresses.
It wasn’t until recently that I realized just exactly HOW much the artificial and bad ingredients in shampoos like Pantene and L’Oreal can be for your hair.
When it comes to shampoo, I’ve gone through everything from baby shampoo (as an adults) to the Garnier shampoo products, to L’Oreal, Patene, Herbal Essences, OGX, Suave, Tresemme…the list goes on and on.
And while some weren’t as terribly stripping to my hair than others, they definitely weren’t the BEST and most NATURAL things I COULD be putting in my hair (notice how I emphasized all those words because I think it is SO important. I see the light now!)
So, very recently I started using Bounce Curl Shampoo. I don’t quite remember how exactly I stumbled upon it but kept seeing it everywhere, especially with hair Youtubers talking about it and talking about how much its helped their hair.
I’ve only used it for a handful of washes, and I can tell you I’M IN LOVE WITH IT!
It has no harsh chemicals, no synthetic fragrance, no silicones, no parabens, no Sulfates, no DEA/MEA, and is color safe and vegan.
Hows THAT for all natural?
It cleaned my hair to the point where it clarified it and I saw a major difference from only one wash. It was noticeably lighter in color.
No, I’m not an affiliate or a paid advertiser for their product. I simply love it that much and I think more people with curly hair that are struggling to keep their hair hydrated and soft should know about it! It’s simply THAT good.
I saw a major difference in my fried and limp hair after only one use. So, if you have any type of curly hair and you’re interested in them make sure you check out their selection here.
Your hair needs time to heal itself!
Ok. So you’ve figured out you need to take better care of your hair for it to actually start showing results and real signs of health. Usually this is where people get stuck in thinking that they’ll see results overnight and that it shouldn’t take more than three to four sessions of natural hair treatments to see results.
And this couldn’t be further from the truth! Think about it. If you’ve malnourished your hair for years and have constantly used products and heat that strip it from it’s natural oils and texture, it would only make sense that it takes you just as much time to see real repair and real progress in your hair.
So as an added ingredients in all your natural hair home remedies, I’d add patience, and lots of it.
You have to have patience with your hair, and overall patience with your healing process so you can arrive at healthier and stronger, shinier softer hair.
It also needs a hair care routine
One good and EASY rule of thumb for, really anyone who wants to work on their hair and keep an ongoing and constantly healthy head of hair, ONE rule to follow is to oil before shampoo.
Go back and read that again. Oil before you shampoo. It will do WONDERS for your hair health and hair growth. Especially if you use the ingredients and oils I recommended above. Lots of people in Spanish and middle eastern countries use the oil technique before washing as an everyday habit. As in they don’t even think twice about it, because it’s a way of life.
The results? They end up with beautiful and strong manes (even if yes, genes play a part in your hair game too).
So establish a hair care routine that includes oils and sulfate free shampoos, and reap the shiny and strong haired benefits.
4 natural hair treatments
DIY Hair Mask: Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera
This mask is a pretty basic one but one of the strongest one you can use. It’s best to use it at least once a week. Even less for people with hair that tends to be greasy.
Directions:
Take 2-3 tablespoons of Coconut Oil and warm it in a bowl over boiling water. When its fully melted, pour it into another bowl so you don’t burn yourself. Cover your hair in the oil, concentrating and starting with the ends first. It is optional if you want to rub it in your scalp, but just note that it will be harder to wash out.
Take a medium aloe leaf and peel it so you are just left with the gooey insides. Use a blender and grind it up into a paste. Use that paste and lather it all over your hair after the coconut oil.
Use an old towel to sleep on if you leave the treatment on overnight. Otherwise allow at least two hours to let it really penetrate your hair. You can use an old t-shirt to twist it around your head and sleep for the night.
Wash out and rinse hair thoroughly. And voila! After your first hair mask, you’ll be well on your way to better hair.
TAKE NOTE: It isn’t recommended that you microwave coconut oil (I used to do this ALL the time) because that breaks down the nourishing properties in the oil apparently. So stay on the safe side and melt it over some heated water.
Deep Conditioning Hair Mask: Almond Oil, Honey, And Turmeric Hair Mask
Almond Oil is AMAZING for you hair and when you use it as a hair mask, its even better. The same with turmeric and honey. To make this hair mask, use 2-3 tablespoons of Almond Oil (depending on how long and thick your hair is) along w a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of turmeric. Mix it well and add it to your hair.
Once great way to add your oil mix to your hair is to keep it in a bowl and start dipping sections of your hair in the bowl. Its less messy and practical.
Deep Conditioner For Natural Hair: ACV Rinse
The ACV Rinse is pretty easy to do and doesn’t take long at all. All you have to do is take one part vinegar and one part water in a cup and use it as a rinse in the shower on a hair wash hair.
It’s completely up to you if you want to do the rinse between your shampoo and conditioning or at the very end. I personally like to do it at the very end, and your hair doesn’t smell once it’s dry. ACV rinses are different for everyone, so you definitely don’t want to overdo it. I’d say to start with a rinse once every two weeks for starters.
DIY Oil Treatment: Black Castor Oil and Red Pimento Oil Scalp Rub (optional coconut oil)
Take your Jamaican Isle Living Black Castor Oil and Red Pimento Oil and rub it generously all around your scalp. For the ends of your hair you can use coconut oil warmed in heated water.
leave on overnight in an old t-shirt turban and wash out the next day. Repeat every time you are about to wash your hair the night before. Lots of people see results right away and others take a few months to see the long term results kick in.
Deep conditioning hair naturally takes time
Remember, it’s all about patience. Be patient with your hair and your hair care routine, follow through, treat your hair nicely, avoid constant heat, and your hair will flourish like a well watered plant.
Fried hair sucks, but what sucks even more is not doing anything about it. Make sure you’re giving it all the nutrients it needs both inside and out. Meaning adopting a healthy diet also does wonders for your hair quality.
I’ve poured out my best hair care routine to you. Do you have any that are your favorite? Leave a comment below!
Like this homemade hair treatment? You’ll LOVE these too!
How To Use Essential Oils For Beginners: An Essential Oils Guide
DIY Face Masks: How To Make Your Own Face Masks For Soft Glowing Skin
DIY Bath Bombs: How To Make Bath Bombs That FIZZ
DIY Lip Scrub: 27+ Easy Homemade Lip Scrub Recipes
DIY Tone With Essential Oils- Thayer’s Witch Hazel Face Toner
Jennifer I love that you’re being proactive about your own hair journey! I’ve been using the Jamaican Black oil religiously and I’ve seen a massive change in how much hair fall I get and how nourished my scalp feels.
When it comes to the difference between the extra dark and the regular, the extra dark oil’s beans are roasted longer when it’s being processed. This causes an ash to form which is mixed in with the oil and gives it that darker color. I’ve heard that because of this black castor oil tends to be better for your hair. Though I’m sure that differs from person to person, so you just have to see what works for you and experiment some.
And thank you for pointing out I didn’t link the hair quiz! I meant to link to the Naturally Curly Texture Quiz for finding your hair type if you have wavy or curly hair (I’ve linked it in the blog post). Hope this helps! And good luck with your hair journey! 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this, all the information is so great and I am so excited to be starting my new healthy hair regimens!! About a month ago I bought Jamican Black Castor Oil, Almond Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Organic Coconut Oil because I had already learned how good these oils are for our hair, skin and body, but I wasn’t too sure on how to go about using them correctly, but now I do thanks to your blog post!!
I have my own Aloe Vera plant, and up until recently I only knew it to be good for burns to the skin and other skin related conditions. I am happy to credit you on your view about the Jamican Castor Oil-after reading the box it came in at the store I bought it because I accidentally frizzed off some loose strands in the front over a flame, oops LOL!!! I used the Castor Oil twice in one week and that was all it took to get the frizzed strands growing back healthy and not looking like an obvious mess up! The start of the second week I was able to work the strands into my hairstyle for the day.
I was thrilled to learn all of Castor Oil’s benefits from your post, I have a thyroid condition that effects a women’s hair and as I am getting older I am noticing that side effect on my own hair!
I have a couple questions that you may be able to answer. My first is, What is the difference between extra dark Jamican Castor Oil and regular Castor Oil, and which one is best for each different kind of hair types?
My second question is, Where/How can I find out exactly what type of hair I have?
In this blog post, you briefly talked about learning what your own certain kind of hair type is, and I am interested in doing the same?