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Natural Conditioner Recipe – Make 10 Herbal Hair Rinses

Posted by Kelly Essential Oils, Hair, Natural Beauty 51 comments
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You don’t have to switch to expensive organic shampoos and conditioners if you want to avoid the chemical overload. You don’t even have to commit to making full shampoo bars from scratch if you’re not ready for the soap making plunge.  You can accomplish the same healthy hair results simply by using an herbal hair rinse or natural conditioner recipe.

Here are 10 natural conditioner recipes or herbal hair rinses.

Natural conditioner recipes - 10 Herbal Hair Rinses by Simple Life Mom

This is an organic way to rinse your hair of extra oils and impurities. The goal of any conditioner is to balance pH, seal the hair shaft so that it’s silky smooth, and then release hard water minerals from the hair. All of this can be done with a simple herbal hair rinse or natural conditioner.

Even though there’s no conditioner bottle to use or even a conditioner bar, many people find that it gives them the shiniest, healthiest hair they’ve ever had.  I’ve put together these 10 herbal rinses for you so that you can choose the one you like the best (or already have the ingredients for) and give it a try.

For the few that have difficulties making the switch from commercially made hair conditioners to a natural conditioner, remember that your scalp needs a few weeks to adjust to not being completely stripped of all oils every few days.  It will over produce oils at first.  Also, experiment with different recipes and see what you like best.

Natural conditioner recipes - 10 Herbal Hair Rinses by Simple Life Mom

First – The Herbs (and other ingredients)

Nettle is a wonderfully strengthening herb for hair. It has a high mineral and vitamin content that is very nourishing. (Find Here)

Lavender and its essential oil is calming and helps normalize both dry and oily scalp conditions.  It is a known antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, which makes is great for sensitive scalps. (Find Here and lavender essential oil Here)

Rosemary is one of those herbs that your grandmother probably knows about when it comes to hair health. It brings circulation to the scalp and stimulates the follicles. (Find dried rosemary Here and essential oil Here)

Calendula flowers are a richer color and will bring out the natural auburn and red-highlights of hair (Find Here)

Chamomile flowers are a pretty golden yellow and are often used as a highlighter for blond or even brown hair (Lemon juice is also a natural highlighter) (Find Here)

Cocoa – The butter fats found in cacao nibs will naturally leave your hair feeling softer.  This tea below is also great for bringing out the richness of dark hair (Find Here)

Peppermint leaf and its essential oil is a real wake me up for your scalp.  Most people think the smell is invigoratingly. (Find leaves Here and oil Here)

Natural conditioner recipes - 10 Herbal Hair Rinses by Simple Life Mom

 

10 Natural Conditioner Hair Rinses

1) Rosemary Natural Conditioner

This is a general hair rinse that is soothing and nurturing to the scalp.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 8 ounce (1 cup) filtered water

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add herbs and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the rosemary rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

2) Chamomile Hair Rinse

This is also a general herbal rinse that is brightening to light hair, balances pH after shampoo bar use, and soothes the scalp.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cup filtered water
  • 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers

Directions:

  1. Bring water and apple cider vinegar to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add herbs and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the chamomile rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

3) Dandruff Mint Hair Rinse

Balancing pH and addressing dandruff with mint, this is a great hair rinse conditioner.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • About 5 fresh mint leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried peppermint

Directions:

  1. Bring water and apple cider vinegar to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add herbs and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the mint rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

4) Rosemary and Lavender Hair Rinse

A oil and pH balancing and scalp calming hair conditioner/rinse.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

Directions: 

  1. Bring water and apple cider vinegar to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add herbs and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the herbal rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

Essential Oil Natural Conditioner

6) Rosemary Essential Oil Hair Rinse

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cup  filtered water.
  • 5 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a jar, seal, and shake.
  2. After washing your hair, pour a small amount over your scalp and massage. Let sit for 2 minutes and then rinse out if desired.

 

7) Lavender Essential Oil Hair Rinse

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup filtered water.
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a jar, seal, and shake.
  2. After washing your hair, pour a small amount over your scalp and massage. Let sit for 2 minutes and then rinse out if desired.
Natural conditioner recipes - 10 Herbal Hair Rinses by Simple Life Mom

Herbal Tea Natural Conditioner

8) Rose-Chamomile Hair Rinse

Ingredients:

  • 2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon chamomile 
  • 1 tablespoon rosehips
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add herbs and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Add essential oil and stir.
  5. Shake before use.
  6. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the mint rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

9) Cocoa-Rosemary Hair Rinse

Larger batch.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups filtered water
  • 1 cup cacao nibs
  • 2 tablespoons dried rosemary leaf 
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add cocoa nibs and rosemary and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Add essential oil and stir.
  5. Shake before use.
  6. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the mint rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

10) Nettle-Lavender Hair Rinse

This is my favorite. Nettle does great balancing oils so that your hair isn’t too dry or too oily.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tablespoons dried nettle leaf
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a simmer and remove from heat.
  2. Add nettle and stir. Allow to sit until cool.
  3. Strain.
  4. Add essential oil and stir.
  5. Shake before use.
  6. Pour over clean hair after shampooing and let the mint rinse sit for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Natural conditioner recipes - 10 Herbal Hair Rinses by Simple Life Mom

I hope you find what suits your hair type the best and that you enjoy the organic benefits from using a natural conditioner hair rinse.

Leave a comment below letting us know what your favorite ingredients are. Enjoy!

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51 comments

About Kelly

Kelly is the author of number one best seller The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners and Easy Soap Making. She's also written multiple ebooks on herbal remedies and natural bath and body DIYs. Her journey toward better health has inspired her to make things in and around the home from scratch, start a homestead, and become more resourceful when it comes to health and home. She shares her recipes and DIYs here on Simple Life Mom and has a shop where she sells products for those who would rather buy than make (SimpleLifeMom.com/shop).

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51 comments

Leave your reply.
  • uberdish
    · Reply

    September 28, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    I love your homemade recipes for the hair. I’ve bookmarked this page. What a great project for my daughter on a quiet weekend. We’re thinking the softening hair rinse will be lovely, as we have very thick, coarse and wavy hair.

  • The Cooking Apprentice
    · Reply

    October 17, 2013 at 1:33 AM

    This is awesome! Thank you for sharing this…

    • simplelifemom
      · Reply

      October 17, 2013 at 1:48 AM

      I hope you enjoy. I love your blog. You are very talented.

      • The Cooking Apprentice
        · Reply

        October 17, 2013 at 2:50 AM

        Thank you so much (blushing)…I look forward to perusing your blog!

  • isleofazure
    · Reply

    October 19, 2013 at 3:09 AM

    Great recipes girl, cannot wait to try them, when I do, will let you know how it works. Thanks for looking out for all of us and keeping us healthy, that’s a true mom, always taking care of everyone. Keep the great posts coming!!!!
    Smiles!!!

    • simplelifemom
      · Reply

      Author
      October 19, 2013 at 11:59 AM

      You’re so sweet! Thank you. Kid’s did get me started on all this, that and our general lack of great health and energy. I hope you enjoy. 🙂

      • isleofazure
        · Reply

        October 19, 2013 at 2:22 PM

        I do, thanks for all the hard work because of all us need to eat healthier and just have a healthier lifestyle, so keep the great info coming and will be following your posts, have a great weekend!!!!!
        Smiles:)

  • Lucy
    · Reply

    May 22, 2014 at 6:19 PM

    These recipes look awesome, can’t wait to try some of them!

  • Adam
    · Reply

    June 6, 2014 at 9:13 AM

    Hiya, i died my hair 3 years ago and after I did I had tingling burning but 3 months after it started falling out and I was diagnosed with t.e 🙁 now I have a receding hairline and have read that castor oils and peppermint essential oil is good for that, also how much peppermint should i put In with my acv rinse?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 6, 2014 at 9:20 AM

      If you are using peppermint essential oil, I would use up to 10 drops per cup of apple cider vinegar. Rosemary is also excellent for rejuvenating hair follicles while they are still somewhat alive. I would also add 10 drops of rosemary essential oil. As always, proceed cautiously. I am in no way a doctor or expert. 🙂

  • Caroline
    · Reply

    November 5, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    Hi Kelly! Great post – thanks for the info!

    I apologize for my ignorance, but what does it mean to “brew strongly”. Do I just boil the ingredients for a while?

    Also I am going to make the Cacao-Rosemary Hair Rinse. Would it also be beneficial to add Apple Cider Vinegar to this mix (because I would like to rinse with that as well) or is it left out for a reason (maybe it doesn’t mix well with one of the other ingredients)?

    Thanks for the post 🙂

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      November 5, 2014 at 9:19 PM

      No, that’s a wonderful question. To brew strongly (in my head) means to brew the herbs as you would your tea, letting the herbs steep until the water is nice and dark. You can definitely add apple cider vinegar. I would add it after it cools. Enjoy 🙂

  • Barbara
    · Reply

    June 6, 2016 at 10:12 PM

    Could you use camomile and lavender together in a hair rinse? I may misunderstand but how do you make the shampoo?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 6, 2016 at 10:36 PM

      Yes, you can use them together. A lot of people don’t use soaps, but simply wet their hair, incorporate the hair rinse, then rinse or leave in. It nourishes the hair shafts and follicles and helps to rinse out any dirt.

  • Lily
    · Reply

    April 27, 2019 at 3:10 PM

    Can you do these rinses on dyed hair?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      April 30, 2019 at 1:49 PM

      Yes, no problems that I’ve ever seen and I’ve worked with a number of people with dyed hair (naturally dyed and otherwise)

  • Shoshana
    · Reply

    May 15, 2019 at 9:09 PM

    How long can you store these rinses? Is it possible to make a larger batch and use it for multiple washes?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 17, 2019 at 5:41 PM

      They last for much longer if kept in the fridge between uses. Anything with water tends to go bad a lot faster than pure oil mixtures because of the rapid oxidization.

  • sherrie
    · Reply

    July 17, 2019 at 1:42 PM

    my daughter and i both have very frizzy hair and i am trying to find the right mixture to rinse with that will leave our hair soft, shiny and actually help it lay flatter. What do you suggest? also do these have a strong smell to them?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 17, 2019 at 9:11 PM

      For frizzy hair I suggest a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse – 50% water 50% acv. You can add herbs listed above or exchange some of the water for acv to make a 50% ratio.

  • Cris
    · Reply

    August 9, 2019 at 2:02 PM

    Hello, you mentioned calendula being good for bringing out the “red” highlights out but didn’t provide a recipe for it’s use. Do you happen to have a recipe for that? I have a mid-tone red hair that if fine, uncut, curly, and a bit dry and brittle. But it gets weighted down very easily.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      August 11, 2019 at 9:25 AM

      You can just put the herbs in a pot with water and simmer lightly for twenty minutes and the cool. Use it as a wash for some weeks and it will slowly add highlights.

  • BARBARA
    · Reply

    September 2, 2019 at 12:52 PM

    Hi,
    great recipes, just started using a shampoo bar so far so good. I am going to try your conditioner bars. I have let my hair go naturally grey so I was wondering if you have any recipes for graying hair. My hair is still mostly dark with gray. Thank you.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 6, 2019 at 2:17 PM

      Grey and white hair can be more course so a softening herbal rinse would be beneficial. You can always combine that with a darkening or highlighting herbal rinse. Marshmallow, licorice, or elderflower can help soften hair and make it more manageable. You can find those in teas and make a quick easy rinse that way.

  • shakaya
    · Reply

    January 9, 2020 at 11:01 AM

    I have only been using healthy conditioner to was my hair for a long time. It works well and is better for my hair than shampoo. My hair is thin and gets flat when oily, So, the conditioner bars may be too oily for me. Will the rinses clean my hair?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 9, 2020 at 6:49 PM

      Some work as a clarifier. You’ll need to experiment to find out. Let us know how it goes.

  • Shakaya
    · Reply

    January 11, 2020 at 11:40 AM

    ok I will. thanks!

  • Cristie
    · Reply

    June 17, 2020 at 12:20 PM

    Hi. Great content you have there. Can it be used as a daily spritz on the hair without rinsing out?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 19, 2020 at 8:14 PM

      All the recipes are different, but I would use them as a rinse and rinse them out afterwards.

  • Manish Jain
    · Reply

    June 5, 2021 at 9:55 AM

    I have dried Butter Pea Flower and it gives blue color. What essential oil should I add to it and need what else?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 6, 2021 at 3:25 PM

      You don’t have to add an essential oil. Keep it simple with what you enjoy using and only use a small amount.

  • ian paul rowley
    · Reply

    November 18, 2021 at 12:06 PM

    Hi Kelly.
    What to do with chamomile dust!!
    After using all my flowers as tea (which I love) I am left with a large quantity of DUST.
    Can you please suggest any uses for it!?
    Kind Regards.
    ian.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      November 20, 2021 at 5:43 PM

      I would use it just as I would any ground herb. You can use chamomile in soap, hair rinses, put it in oil to infuse for lib balms, etc.

  • BJ
    · Reply

    February 28, 2022 at 12:31 PM

    Great suggestions! I can’t wait to try them. Any suggestions to brighten / highlight silver hair? I’ve earned every one of these silver strands and like to let them shine. LOL!!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      February 28, 2022 at 5:11 PM

      I think chamomile is good for silver hair. You can make a number of combinations with chamomile and even goldenseal.

  • Ginny Chambliss
    · Reply

    September 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM

    I have started using your hair rinses and love them! I have gray hair, and I am wanting to highlight it. I made the chamomile rinse, but there was half of the rinse left over (I have short hair). I am wondering if I can pour the leftover in a jar and keep it in the refrigerator?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 23, 2025 at 7:52 AM

      You can only keep water based herbal rinses for a few days. They grow things quickly :-/ just like water in a flower vase.

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