How to Make Leave in Conditioner

Leave-in conditioner is a popular hair care product that smooths frizz, reduces tangling and helps define curls. It is an especially good product for dry hair, since it provides additional moisture throughout the day. Most brands are simply a very lightweight conditioner packaged in a spray bottle. Making your own leave-in conditioner will save you money and gives you the option to customize the dilution to suit your hair type.

Things You'll Need

• Empty mister bottle
• Regular conditioner intended for everyday use
• Lemon juice or vinegar
• Water, preferably distilled

Instructions

1. Fill the empty mister bottle 1/4 of the way to the top with regular (rinse-out) conditioner. You should use a light conditioner for this unless you hair is very dry, in which case you may want to use a conditioner for dry hair.

2. Add a small amount of lemon juice, depending on the size of the mister bottle. For a standard 16 to 20 ounce mister bottle, add 1 tsp. lemon juice. Vinegar will also work, but may give your hair a slight odor.

3. Fill the bottle to the halfway point with very warm water, and close securely. Distilled water is preferred, since the mineral content of tap water may increase the amount of buildup on your hair. This is especially true if you have hard water.

4. Shake vigorously until the conditioner is completely dissolved in the water. This may take a few minutes, depending on the type of conditioner you used.

5. Add additional warm water to fill the bottle. Shake again to thoroughly mix.

6. Lightly mist your hair with the leave-in conditioner after each time you shampoo. Your hair should be towel dried and slightly damp before you apply the leave-in conditioner. Blow dry and style as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• For best results, continue to use a rinse-out conditioner each time you shampoo your hair.

• Leave-in conditioner can be used to reduce frizziness on the go. Simply put some of the mixture into a purse-size spray bottle and bring it with you.

• Avoid spraying the mixture in your eyes.