This article contains affiliate links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to make 80% of my beauty products. As I run out of beauty products, I’ve been creating my own versus buying new items.  It’s saved me so much money, and been a lot of fun because I love a challenge.  One of my best recipes so far has been my simple leave-in conditioner.

I suggest using a small 2 oz. spray bottle that you can buy at a drug store instead of a larger one.  This way your conditioner stays fresh and you are able to change the recipe if you decide without wasting products.

What you will need…

• 2 oz. Spray Bottle

• Aloe Vera Gel

• Rosemary Essential Oil

• Lemongrass Essential Oil

• Jojoba Oil

• Vegetable Glycerin (optional)

• Purified Water

Fill up 50% of the bottle with aloe vera gel leaving space to add the essential oils, jojoba, glycerin, and water.  Next add 10 drops of rosemary and lemongrass essential oil and three to five drops of jojoba oil.  Add a very tiny amount of vegetable glycerin if you air dry your hair. I noticed that the vegetable glycerin wasn't helpful when used with a flat iron.  Either use only a teeny bit or omit completely.  Lastly fill the rest of the bottle with purified water and shake up.

Aloe Vera moisturizes the hair and keeps it soft.  It is packed with vitamin B12, vitamin C, amino acids, minerals, and salicylic acid.  It has been used for general hair health, hair growth, and also as a hair shampoo and conditioner.

Rosemary Essential Oil stimulates hair follicles, therefore increasing hair strength, hair growth, and for dry and flaky scalps.  It has also been used as a remedy for mental fatigue.

Lemongrass Essential Oil stimulates hair follicles and also adds a refreshing citrus fragrance to the leave-in conditioner.  It has anti-bacterial properties and is calming and soothing to the body.

Jojoba Oil is the closest oil to skin's sebum.  Therefore, is extremely healing and moisturizing for the hair.  It is a non-greasy oil absorbing immediately into the hair.  This will help with hair frizz and dryness.

Vegetable Glycerin is known for being a humectant.  It is an amazing ingredient to add when air drying hair.  It is amazing for curly hair and really dry hair.  It should be used very sparingly so that it doesn't create a sticky film.

I’ve used some of these same ingredients in other DIY beauty products that I have made.  By creating my own beauty products I’m not concerned about what’s in my cosmetics.  I find it best to use only 100% essential oils and organic ingredients if you can.   This leave-in conditioner is great as a hair refresher and has a wonderful refreshing fragrance.  I love it most when I have my hair in two strand twists as it’s perfect as a daily moisturizer and scalp refresher.

If you enjoyed this simple recipe, you may also love the DIY Curl Conditioning Serum!  Let me know if you try it.

Image by Dawn Michelle