I recently shared my homemade shampoo bar recipe on the blog, you can check that out here, so now is the perfect time to share my favorite coconut milk conditioner recipe. This recipe is simple and the perfect pairing to use after the homemade shampoo bar.

If you’re like me, conditioner is a must in my haircare routine. I have thick, wavy, and coarse hair that gets tangled very easily if I don’t use any conditioner which is why I created this coconut milk conditioner recipe. With most of the recipes I make, it comes from a need. Usually, that need is to find a natural alternative to most products on the market which is exactly what happened with this recipe as well.

Many conditioners have tons of ingredients, most of which I can’t pronounce, and even the ones that claim to be natural are not always natural. My coconut milk conditioner recipe is truly natural, you know every ingredient going into it, and it works on my thick hair!

Natural Ingredients Used in this Recipe:

Coconut Milk

Castile Soap

Sweet Almond Oil

Essential Oils

Coconut Milk for Hair:

Usually, you see coconut oil used in a wide variety of skincare and haircare products, but you don’t see coconut milk as an ingredient too often. That’s usually because it is only shelf-stable for about a month or two and most store-bought products are meant to last years on a shelf, hence the immense list of unpronounceable ingredients.

Coconut milk, like its counterpart coconut oil, has many benefits for hair. One of the main benefits of using a coconut-based product is the lauric acid found in coconuts. According to this article, “This long-chain/medium-chain fatty acid is known for its ability to penetrate hair easily and help strengthen the cuticle.”

Another benefit to using coconut milk in haircare products like this coconut milk conditioner recipe is less dandruff. Coconut milk is very moisturizing to the scalp and hair. Dandruff is typically derived from a dry scalp and using many products that include chemicals can contribute to drying out the scalp even more. The moisturizing properties in coconut milk are essential to stopping dandruff from a dry scalp.

Castile Soap for Hair:

Castile soap is not a normal ingredient found in a homemade conditioner recipe because it is usually used in shampoo, like my homemade shampoo bar recipe, however, using soap after any oil-based products is important. Most shampoo, homemade or not, has oil in it. Oil-based products are great for moisturizing however they can leave the hair greasy, therefore finishing up your haircare routine with a conditioner that has soap in it can take away any oily residue leftover from shampoo.

Sweet Almond Oil for Hair:

Almond oil is great for leaving hair feeling soft. According to this article, “Almond oil is an emollient, meaning it can fill in gaps in your hair at a cellular level. That makes your hair feel smoother to the touch. Using almond oil on your hair gives it a softer texture over time. Once almond oil is incorporated into your hair care routine, you may also notice that your hair is easier to comb through and style.”

The great benefit to using almond oil in hair care products is that it is not a temporary fix to dry hair, it works at a deeper level to repair and create smooth hair indefinitely.

Essential Oils for Hair:

Essential oils are great for so many things, including hair care products. Different oils hold so many different benefits to the hair. In this particle coconut milk conditioner recipe, I used lavender essential oil to pair nicely with my homemade shampoo bar that also uses lavender essential oils however, that is not necessary at all. The possibilities are close to endless when it comes to what oils can be used in this recipe.

Single Essential Oils for Hair:

Essential Oil Blends for Women’s Hair:

Geranium

Tea Tree

Lavender

Essential Oil Blends for Men’s Hair:

Cedarwood

Lemongrass

Thyme

How to Make Coconut Milk Conditioner:

What you Need:

1 Can Full-Fat Coconut Milk (see notes)
1/4 Cup Liquid Unscented Castile Soap
1 Tsp Sweet Almond Oil (see notes)
20 Drops of Essential Oil, I used lavender.

Directions:

If your can of coconut milk is in the fridge, take it out and allow it to come to room temperature. Once at room temperature, shake your can of coconut milk really well to ensure it is somewhat mixed.
Add the entire can of coconut milk to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the ingredients.
Once all ingredients have been added to the bowl, whisk vigorously until everything is mixed together and there are no clumps of coconut milk.
Pour this into a container and set it in your shower. This will last 1-2 months in the shower, just make sure to check periodically to make sure there is no mold since coconut milk is technically a food product.

Notes:

It is important to use full-fat coconut milk in order to get a thick conditioner. If you were to use regular coconut milk that comes in a half-gallon contained at the store the mixture will be pure liquid and nearly impossible to use.
I prefer sweet almond oil due to its benefits for hair however there are many other oils that can be used in place of this. A few great oils for hair are argan oil and jojoba oil.

Coconut Milk Conditioner Recipe

Equipment

Mixing Bowl
Whisk
Measuring Cups/Spoons

Materials

1 Can Full Fat Coconut Milk
¼ Cup Liquid Unscented Castile Soap
1 Teaspoon Sweet Almond Oil
20 Drops Essential Oils

Instructions

If your can of coconut milk is in the fridge, take it out and allow it to come to room temperature. Once at room temperature, shake your can of coconut milk really well to ensure it is somewhat mixed.
Add the entire can of coconut milk to a mixing bowl along with the rest of the ingredients.
Once all ingredients have been added to the bowl, whisk vigorously until everything is mixed together and there are no clumps of coconut milk.
Pour this into a container and set it in your shower. This will last 1-2 months in the shower, just make sure to check periodically to make sure there is no mold since coconut milk is technically a food product.

Notes

It is important to use full-fat coconut milk in order to get a thick conditioner. If you were to use regular coconut milk that comes in a half-gallon contained at the store the mixture will be pure liquid and nearly impossible to use.
I prefer sweet almond oil due to its benefits for hair however there are many other oils that can be used in place of this. A few great oils for hair are argan oil and jojoba oil.