Category Archives: Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner

3 Simple DIY Moisturizing Sprays

Hello Maicurlies,

Today I have 3 DIY’s!

All of the three differ in ingredients but provide the same end result: moisturized curls/kinks/coils!

So I decided to throw together three recipes in one post/video because I frequently get questions about using different ingredients and writing a post/making a video of a mix with alternative ingredients so this way I hope there is something for everyone.

The main focus of change in the mixes is the use of humectants since they can be a hit or miss for many of us. For those that are unfamiliar with humectants, (putting it simple) they are ingredients and or chemicals that help to attract moisture in the air (e.g. humidity) to the hair. While this sounds awesome, it is important to note that the weather can play a huge role in whether our hair likes the use of them or not. You need to find a balance of “optimal” humidity because if you live in an area with high humidity this can cause the hair strands to swell up since they become over moisturized. This can cause frizz, can make the cuticle of the hair raise which can cause friction and thus cause tangles. On the other hand if you live in an area with low humidity, this can cause the opposite effect. The use of humectants would draw moisturize in the hair outwards and can cause dryness!

If you are unsure of whether or not your hair appreciates humectant based products check the back of your staple products to see if they include any humectants towards the top of the list. Here are examples of different humectants:

Honey, Agave nectar, Aloe Vera Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene glycol, Sorbitol, Hydrolyzed silk protein, Fructose, Sodium PCA, Panthenol.

Ingredients/Tools:

Clean & disinfected spray bottle
Spoon
Container
Gloves (optional)

Recipe 1 – Humectant Free

Humectant Free

2 oz Plain Water
1 oz Rose Water
0.5 oz Leave In Conditioner
0.5 oz Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (any Oil)
(Optional) 2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil (any oil)
3 Capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)

Recipe 2 – 1 Humectant

1 Humectant Recipe

2 oz Plain Water
0.5 oz Raw/Organic Honey
0.5 oz Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (any oil)
3 Capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)
(Optional) 2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (any oil)

Recipe 3 – 2 Humectants

2 Humectants Recipe

2 oz Plain Water
1 oz Fresh Aloe Vera Juice
0.7 oz Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (use any)
0.5 oz Glycerin
3 Capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)
(Optional) 2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (any oil)

Mixing Instructions:

You basically just have to add all the ingredient together in a bowl and stir really well (using a whisk can help) and then pour into your spray bottle.

Application/Use:

I like to use the spray to remoisturize my hair at night when I want to “reset” a style. E.g. if my hair was in a braid out for a few days and feels a little dry with the curls loosing shape and gaining frizz, I spray my hair with the spray and re-braid for the night. The next morning i take down my hair and voila, a new looking braid out! I choose not to use a styling product again because I feel like the spray helps to “reactivate” the styling/holding product (but this is a personal choice). Make sure to shake the bottle each time really well to ensure all the ingredients are stirred together.

Storage:

You MUST store the mixes in the fridge, regardless of which recipe you choose you have to store it in the fridge (maximum 2 weeks). I suggest making small amounts and remixing since each individual recipe is easy to make, this way you are not wasting anything with the mix going off before being used up.

NOTE: In the examples I used Virgin Coconut Oil; Coconut Oil solidifies in cold temperatures therefore if you use Coconut Oil and notice white lumpy blocks of solidified oil this is normal. My suggestion is to either take the mix out of the fridge beforehand so that the coconut oil melts (if your house is warm enough) otherwise hold the mix (while in the spray bottle) in a cup of warm water for a few minutes so the oils melts.

I have a compilation of benefits of each of the ingredients used in the recipes here.

Thanks!

Maicurls

DIY Boosted Leave-In Conditioner (Spray)

8 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

I am back with another DIY Update! This time it is my Spray Leave-In Conditioner.

This goodness is a modified version of my previous Spray Leave-In Conditioner which you can read about here. Similar to my updated Creamy Leave-In Conditioner I changed the recipe a little due to the fact that I no longer use the conditioner I use to use and the old mix was no longer as effective in moisturizing my hair as it use to be.

This recipe is quite simple, does not include too many steps and like I mentioned is a slight modification from the old one.

Ingredients

6 oz plain water (I use bottled water)
Hibiscus petals (optional) I use about 10 – 12 petals
0.8 oz leave-in conditioner (use any leave-in your hair likes)
2 oz Rose Water
0.1 oz Almond Oil (use any carrier oil your hair likes)
0.1 oz Glycerine (optional)
3 capsules vitamin E oil = roughly 0.15 oz

(Additional ingredients I sometimes use)

I sometimes add 0.8 oz fresh Aloe Vera Juice (from my garden) I didn’t this time.

Essential Oil (any oil of choice) – I like the rose scent so I skip the essential oil.

Mixing Instructions

I first add the hibiscus petals to the water and let it sit while I add the other ingredients. In the mean time I pour the leave-in conditioner, rose water, almond oil, glycerine and vitamin E oil in my container. I then pour the hibiscus water through a sieve to catch the petals and then whisk. I pour the mix into a spray bottle and shake it before every use.

Substitute Ingredients

Honey or agave nectar – instead of the glycerine (or skip this all together)
Any carrier oil of choice – instead of the almond oil
Arrowroot – can be added to the mix to give a little extra slip

Side Note:

This mix might be a little too light for those with coarser or thicker hair due to the fact that the ingredients I use are quite light weight. In case you do have thicker or coarser hair than I, you can either increase the amount of leave-in used, add a heavier carrier oil such as castor oil and/or double the amount of oil used in the mix.

When I use it/How I store it:

I like to use this mix when I want to lightly re-moisturize my hair or when I want to dampen my hair without getting it soaking wet before styling/restyling. The Leave-In is left out with the rest of my products (without needing to store it in the fridge). I have never had an issue with the mix going off or going rancid before I use it up, however, you can store it in the fridge just in case.

Do you use a spray leave-in? Do you make your own or use a store bought one? I would love to hear from you.

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Boosted Leave-In Conditioner (Creamy)

9 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

(Side Note: I have been having issues with my WordPress…trying to figure out how to fix it but hopefully you will see this new post without any issues!)

So back to the topic, my DIY Boosted Leave-In Conditioner.

DIY Boosted Leave-In Conditioner (Creamy)

Some of you who might have been following me for a while will know that I have a DIY Leave-In Conditioner mix already and might be wondering why another recipe Mai? Well, two reasons: 1. In the old mix I used a conditioner as the base of the recipe but I no longer use that conditioner and 2. my hair wasn’t responding as well as to the old mix as it use to. When that happens my hair is telling me “change the product mix Mai!” Since I do not use too many store brought products I do not have a stash of different leave-ins I can rotate I listen to my hair and rework the recipes instead.:D

I will put a link at the bottom of the post directing you to my old recipe, just so you can see what all I have changed. There are some subtle changes in the new recipe and a few ingredients that I add or omit depending on my mood at the time of mixing.

DIY Boosted Leave-In Conditioner (Creamy)

Ingredients

2.6 oz plain water (I use bottled water)
A couple petals of dried hibiscus (completely optional) – I use about 7
8 oz leave-in conditioner (use any moisturizing leave-in your hair likes)
2 oz Rose Water
0.1 oz Virgin Coconut Oil
0.2 oz Coffee Infused Almond Oil (use any carrier oil)
3 capsules Vitamin E Oil = roughly 0.15 oz
0.1 oz Glycerine

(Additional ingredients I sometimes use)

0.5 oz fresh home made Aloe Vera Juice to the water I use. When I add AVJ I increase the amount of leave-in my 2 oz.
Glycerine – I add glycerine if the leave-in being used doesn’t contain it already but mine did.
Essential Oil (any oil of choice) – I like the rose scent so I skip the essential oil.

Mixing Instructions

I first add the hibiscus petals to the water and let it sit while I add the other ingredients. First I add the leave-in conditioner with the rose water, virgin coconut oil, coffee infused almond oil and vitamin E oil. I then pour the hibiscus water through a sieve to catch the petals and then whisk. When I use glycerine I add it along with the leave-in and other ingredients. After whisking I transfer the mix into my containers.

Ingredient Alternatives

In case some of the ingredients I use do not play well with your hair they can be replaced by basically anything e.g. castor oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil or any other carrier oil in place of/along with the coffee infused almond oil I use. If glycerine is not your favourite you can use honey or agave nectar as a humectant. (The leave-in I was using in the video had Glycerine in it so there was no need to add any more.)

My next update will be a Spray Leave-In 😀

I would love to hear if you add any particular ingredients to a store bought leave-in to “boost” its properties!

(Previous Creamy Leave-In Conditioner Mix)

Thanks

Maicurls