4 Natural Hair Softener Recipes and Products that Every Girl Should Know

Although natural kinks and curls are gorgeous, some naturalistas like to take advantage of the cooler months by flat ironing or pressing their hair. There’s nothing better than stepping out of the house with freshly flat ironed hair whipping in the wind, making you feel glamorous.

For many of us however, after an hour or two of being outside, you may be left disappointed with frizzy, reverting hair. The cool air during the winter may help with keeping your hair straight, as compared to humid summer months but other elements such as the wind and rain will certainly wreak havoc on your hair if you give them a chance.

Recently, there have been natural hair straightening systems have become popular amongst the natural hair community. However, women are discovering that those systems aren’t always natural or organic. The systems also don’t protect their hair from being heat damaged, leaving them with stringy ends and straight pieces at times. Don’t fret, there’s hope!

There are a few homemade recipes and products that you can buy to keep your hair straight when you want it. I can honestly say that I’ve tried each one of these methods and they’ve worked for me. Some worked better than others in regards to keeping my hair straight after flat ironing, however, they all gave my hair extra moisture and protection after using them.

Even if you don’t plan to flat iron* your hair, these natural hair softeners work great at adding that extra moisture to your kinks and coils. Check them out…

The Caramel Treatment

Made with real bananas and honey*, the Etae Caramel Treatment conditions and softens your hair. It can also restore damaged hair due to its high concentration of vitamins*.

For just $19.99 a bottle, you can use this product 8 times depending on the length and thickness of your hair. If you’re transitioning, Etae Caramel treatment is perfect because it softens new-growth and makes it more manageable.

Best of all you can also make your own copycat version at home with a few simple ingredients. Recipe here.

If you use it before flat ironing your hair, the product will help keep your hair straight until your next wash. When I used it, my hair became more relaxed after blow drying.

In order to see the best results, you have to use this product several times consecutively. Etae also has shampoo and conditioner that you can use in conjunction with the caramel treatment. You can also use this treatment as a regular deep conditioner*. Be prepared to smell like honey*!

Coconut* Milk & Lime Conditioner

Few things go better together than coconut and lime! It may sound strange, but this little concoction simply works. Just juice a whole lime and add one can of coconut* milk in a bowl and place it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, you’ll see a film of cream that’s formed on the top of the mixture. Scoop up the cream and apply it to your whole head. The cream should be left on your head for three hours. More about this recipe can be found here.

When you rinse, shampoo and condition your hair as usual, you will see frizz free, elongated curls. Your hair will also be much softer in texture. As you blow dry your hair, it will be easier to comb. The more you do this treatment, the longer your hair will stay straight. Not only will your hair be straight, but it will be well conditioned too.

Cassia

Cassia does many things like add color to gray hair and strengthen weak hair. What people don’t know is that Cassia* is an excellent conditioner and it works it’s magic to soften your hair too.

Cassia is a plant and when its leaves are dried, they get ground into a powder for hair coloring and conditioning. After using this several times over the years to stop breakage, I noticed that my curls stayed stretched for a while. Cassia isn’t something that you want to use too often if you have dark hair because it will lighten your hair overtime.

Simply mix 100 grams of Cassia powder with water (use lemon juice or vinegar for more color pay off). The consistency of the cassia* should have the consistency of pudding.

After you mix the Cassia, it should sit by a window in the sun for 12 hours. Apply the cassia to your entire head while it’s still damp from washing and let it sit for 3 hours under a conditioning cap. Rinse and shampoo your hair in the morning. Be sure to deep condition after.

Olive Oil* & Steam

Olive oil* has to be one of the most used oils* within the natural hair community. It’s been used as a hot oil treatment, hair moisturizer, and as a base for hair and body butters*.

But did you notice what happens while you blow dry your hair after giving yourself a hot oil treatment using olive oil*? Your hair is easier to manage! Imagine what would happen if you left the oil on for 2 hours instead of a few minutes and combined the oil with a little steam treatment too?

For the nourishing and softening benefits of olive oil*, all you need to do is apply the warm oil to your entire head, put a conditioning cap on, sit under the hair steamer* for 10 minutes. Keep the oil in your hair for an additional 2 hours and your curl pattern will loosen up slightly from all the added moisture.

All of these methods may prove to be effective for some. Some of these methods may not be effective for anyone, but there’s no harm in experimenting with natural ingredients. Not everyone will get the texture loosening effects spoken of but at the very least the treatments will leave your hair well conditioned and healthy!