DIY Recipes for Taking Care of Curly Hair

DIY Shampoo for Curly Hair

What You’ll Need

• ¼ cup canned coconut milk
• ¼ cup liquid castile soap 
• 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
• ½ tsp olive, almond or jojoba oil (optional, add for extra moisture)

Instructions

Mix all ingredients and combine in an old shampoo bottle or soap dispenser. Shake well before each use, and condition and style as usual. Keep in mind that because this shampoo doesn’t have the same preservatives used in store-bought styling products, this will only be safe to use for about one month.

DIY Deep Conditioner for Curly Hair

What You’ll Need

• 2 tbsp Greek yogurt (sub for coconut cream or coconut milk if you are vegan)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until you achieve a smooth consistency. Saturate your hair with the mixture, then leave on for 30 to 45 minutes. Rinse and style your hair as usual. This recipe was adapted from the below video by @DutchessGabrielle, whose YouTube channel is full of DIY recipes that nourish natural hair.

DIY Curl Cream

What You’ll Need

• 6 tbsp mango butter
• 6 tbsp aloe vera gel
• 3 tbsp grapeseed oil
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil
• 1 tsp organic honey

Instructions

Break up the mango butter in a blender until it turns completely smooth. Next, add aloe vera. In the video below, @Lotus Flower Life uses fresh-cut gel from her aloe plant, but she recommends using a store-bought aloe vera gel with preservatives to make your curl cream last longer. Finally, add the grapeseed oil, vitamin E oil and honey. Cover the mixture in a jar and use on freshly washed hair for soft, bouncy curls with tons of definition.