Hair can get dry and brittle, especially in the summer months during time spent outside, at the beach, or swimming in a chlorine laden pool. Use of harsh chemical products can also damage hair, but this conditioning treatment helps nourish hair and strengthen it.
Try this easy and inexpensive home treatment that will naturally improve your hair. I even use this on my four year old to make her hair more manageable and easier to brush (she is very tender-headed). This recipe is so simple, it is hard to call it a recipe, but it works really well so I thought I’d share it anyway. Please note that it will leave hair oily and need to be washed/rinsed well as to not leave residue.
If you’re looking for other natural hair care recipes, check out my homemade coconut shampoo, DIY Beach Waves Hairspray and Dry Shampoo for Dark or Light Hair.
Too busy to DIY? Try my Wellnesse brand shampoo and conditioner for all hair types — or try this formula if you have curly hair.
Nourishing Hair Oil Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 TBSP coconut oil
- 1 TBSP honey
- 1 tsp Epsom salt (or magnesium flakes)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients and whisk or blend well (I used an immersion blender). You may have to heat the coconut oil slightly to soften it. The Epsom salt will still be somewhat gritty but will dissolve and work in to the hair once applied.
- Over a sink or shower, massage the oil through the hair and scalp. Put a shower cap on (or old towel) and leave on for up to 30 minutes.
- In the shower, rinse well, then shampoo.
Notes
Have you ever used oil on your hair? How did it work?
i have fine thin hair and coconut oil makes it really dry. it’s been a week since i tried it and it seemed to change my hair…i can barely comb through it. it’s not quite to my shoulders. it’s not really tangled but just…weird. I don’t know what it did to my hair. I feel like i should cut it off now.
surprised at your comment, and glad you mentioned that. i’m new to coconut oil and have been using on skin for fabulous results, but on the hair, i have also noticed it’s not quite tangled but weird is exactly the word. it’s not dry, not oily, but it’s just not the result i was expecting or hoping for. not happy, healthy looking or feeling hair :/
Your hair may be sensitive to protein. I have read that coconut does not contain high levels of proteins, but it helps keep protein in your hair. My hair always felt dry after using it, but everyone has always claimed how wonderful it was for their hair… So I decided to leave an ayurvedic herbal
blend in a base of coconut oil on my hair overnight to really see the benefit. Upon washing it out, my ends felt like straw, I trimmed 3 inches off and tried all kinds of clarifying treatments. Nothing helped; I eventually had to cut another 6 inches off. Looking back I should have known – when I would use commercial high protein shampoos and conditioners, my hair would feel great for one or two uses – and then it would start to take on a hard feeling and I would have to stop using the product, I did not realize that it was protein sensitivity at the time. Protein Overload… I have learned my lesson well – no matter how
good something works for one person, does not guarantee it will do the same for me or anyone else. I now proceed with caution with anything new that I try. One of the reasons I love this site and making my own products – I know exactly what goes into my products, and if I have an adverse reaction, it is much easier to pin-point.
We have the problem at the salon when a client is using drug store bought shampoo & conditioner. The non water soluble silicone in them make it impossible for penetration so, the hair gets gummy from the extreme build up. There is hardly any protein but it is possible you do not need protein & causing the dry feeling as well!
Can I use fractionated coconut oil?
Or even shea butter?
This sounds lovely… but is the honey a necessary ingredient? I’ve heard that it can bleach hair, and I don’t want to lose my natural red color faster than I already am!
You can leave it out 🙂
I oil my hair and scalp regularly (every other day) and my hair is still dry.
Don’t oil your scalp, you will cause your pores to become blocked. Oils do not moisturize the hair so you won’t get moisture by oiling the hair. It will only cause build up. Using the oils as a hot oil treatment before washing is a better idea if you are going to use oils or just put a little in your palm from time to time just to add a little sheen to the hair. You can try avocado. It’s also dependent on the products you are using in your hair. Avoid products with petroleum/petrolatum, mineral oil etc. Those just seal the hair so nothing can penetrate it. Try deep conditioning maybe every two weeks or so and get a mild shampoo that is sulfate free. Maybe you also need to get your hair stripped to get rid of any buildups
Coconut oil does inside the cuticle of the hair & moisturizes the hair. Also- Paul Mitchell’s new marula oil. The oil molecules in both are tiny enough to penetrate into the hair shaft. Most oils have silicone in them- these do not. That’s why you can use coconut oil on the skin and its moisturizing! 🙂
I love using home remedies for my hair, it’s super
curly and frizzy. I also tend to splurge on good quality products like pro
naturals moroccan argan oil hair mask, at least I know they work 🙂
I’m curious. Have you ever tried this without applying to your scalp/head? I am wondering if this would be a good recipe only for hanging hair. [I have below-waist length curly/wavy hair. When I’ve tried oil masks I have SUCH a difficult time getting the oil out!]
thank you for the tips, I’ll try that, I also use argan oil from pro naturals which is really good for hair, leaves it soft, shiny and healthy.
I’ve experimented with oils on my hair in the past and found olive oil hard to wash out but coconut oil seems to absorb better. The honey sounds like a nice touch. Presently, I warm a bit of coconut oil between my palms after every shower and lightly apply it to the dry ends of my hair while it’s still wet. Absorbs right in and you hardly know it’s there once your hair’s dry, except that it’s healthier looking!
I do that too — I don’t use shampoo, or any other non-food products, on my body. So putting in too much oil and then having to use soap that dries in order to get out the oil makes no sense to me. I use coconut or avocado oil on my face and hands, then use a little left over to rub through my hair. If I accidentally get too much (rare), I rub it with a clean towel.
I am curious what you do use to clean your hair? Anything other than the oil?
I don’t wash my hair- even if you od use shampoo -you hair shouldn’t be actually washed with a soap product but once -maybe twice a month.. I use a conditioner I made everyday in place of soap. Do a baking soda detox on your hair to get all the product off and you don’t need shampoo– even oily hair can use cornstarch on their roots/scalp to adsorb excess oil..
I have dry curly hair and often use oils. Coconut is my favourite for dry hair, but you must wash it out properly afterwards. You can
Use any oil on your hair that can be used on your skin. I also sometimes use an Indian almond oil mix on my hair instead of product as it gives me awesome, sleek curls.
could I have your recipe as I have curly hair too !!!
My toddler has a brownish cradle cap layer under her thickest part of hair and behind her ears. I was going to rub some olive oil on it today to see if it would come of easily. It worked well on my other daughter when she was small, but she had oily hair for a few days because I couldn’t get it to rinse/wash out. I tried some of the Morocco Method hair oil once and could not get it out of my hair. By the time I was done trying to get it out my hair was anything other than softer than when I started! Maybe I’ll experiment on my husband–he has very curly hair that absorbs anything.
I think it does depend on hair type somewhat, so probably a good idea to experiment on a small piece of hair or on his hair first…
I tried it last night and the olive oil/coconut oil blend worked great. I was able to use a soft brush to get rid of the build-up. I just washed her hair as usual and it came out super soft and shiny! Hooray for a clean head!