I have tried quite a few different hair serums, and they all have their flaws! My favorite product, Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum, works great, but is way expensive! $15 for a 5 ounce bottle is just crazy. I tried some cheaper products and wasn’t happy with any of them – they just made my hair thick, sticky and gross. Plus, those serums are packed with silicone, which coats the hair and causes breakage after extended use. Not exactly what I’m looking for in a hair product.
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After some research, I came up with this recipe for a homemade hair serum that naturally leaves my hair soft and silky without weighing it down!
The avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B5 (Panthothenic acid), Vitamin D, E, minerals, protein, lecithin and fatty acids. It’s the perfect hair moisturizer and makes a great substitute for silicones! The castor oil is rich in fatty acids, is soothing and lubricating. It smooths cuticles and softens coarse hair, leaving a silky soft texture behind. :-) Finally, the flaxseed oil actually promotes hair growth and is packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
These oils all penetrate and condition the scalp, helping with dandruff and other flaky issues. In fact, many people take flaxseed oil in a capsule, or mixed into foods (smoothies, salad dressings…) for menopause, reducing body fat, healthy hair & skin, and lots more! You can read more about the benefits of flaxseed oil here.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Castor Oil
- About 1.5 Ounces Flaxseed Oil
- 25 Drops Essential Oil
These carrier oils are all great for your hair, and make the perfect base for you homemade hair serum. Adding some essential oils to the mix will make this serum perfect for any hair type! Plus, it will smell great. :-)
Use myrrh or peppermint for dry hair.
Lavender or rose oil for fine hair to normal hair.
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Add lemon or chamomile for golden highlights.
Directions
Add the avocado and castor oil in a 2 ounce DARK GLASS bottle (sunlight damages the oils).
Then, fill the rest of the bottle with flaxseed oil, and top with your essential oil of choice!
Store the serum in the fridge, give it a good shake before each use, and apply a small amount (just a squirt or two) to damp hair before blow drying. You can also add a small amount to dry hair for a little extra shine and moisture.
I have loved using this serum! It is nice and lightweight, but provides plenty of healthy oils to make my hair soft and shiny. :-) It also saves money, and will strengthen your hair over time!
Have a question about essential oils? Curious about what brand of essential oils I prefer? Find the answers in my Essential Oils FAQ!
Hi Anne! I have really curly hair and love using this serum! I wouldn’t say that it has much hold, but it definitely moisturizes and tames the frizz. You have to be careful not to use too much, or it can look oily. I also have pretty hard water, and I don’t notice any issues there. I hope that helps! :)
Thanks so much for the feedback. I’m definitely going to give this serum a try! :)
Brittany, what oil did you choose to use with your curly hair?
[…] Homemade Serum for Silky Soft Hair […]
Wow! It sounds like you must have used a lot! I would definitely try again – using just a couple of squirts! Rub it around in your hands first, and then apply it to your hair. With a thinner application, it has washed out of my hair easily every time! I’m so sorry you had such a bad experience, but I’ve heard a lot of great reviews on this product so far, so I wouldn’t give up just yet. :-)
To get the smell out for now, I would try this method: http://ogtbj.com/1QSjySR
Again, so sorry for the hassle!
I did use quite a bit, a dropper full. SO , trying again with 4 drops in my hand and just getting the ends. still have the smell in my hair, the wonderful tangerine smell is gone the next day.. I have to think the refrigerated oil once warm in my hair is going bad.. I do sweat a lot working and being under hot lights in a band. My hair looks great! lots of complements, just doesn’t smell good :-(
I will be trying the detox. Thanks.
How strange, my hair smells great! Definitely try the detox and let me know how it goes :-)
Yay! I’m so glad you like it!! :-)
Is the avocado oil for skin care different than the avocado oil used in cooking?
Bought all of the ingredients and they weren’t cheap, but, it seems to be working. It has been hot and very humid the last few days, and is now raining. My normal hair without the serum would have looked, well, you know, and it just has a slight puff of frizz to it.
Karen W and I are experiencing the same problem, I can’t get it to spray out of the bottle. It is exactly like the bottle you’ve used in your photos. Any suggestions on making it work?
Thank you.
So strange, mine has been spraying really easily! I would suggest adding more avocado oil, because it has a thinner consistency that the other oils. That should thin it out and make spraying easier :-) Glad you’re enjoying the serum otherwise!
Does this mix effect colored hair ie fade the color
Just stay away from the citrus essential oils! :-)
I am looking for a great place to buy carrier oils. I am in a very rural area and don’t have any local places. I look online, but I worry about the quality. I do get my EO from Sparks and love it.
Spark Naturals have quite a few carrier oils! They have fractionated coconut oil: http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/e-spa-fractionated-coconut-oil-8-oz.html/?id=5
Hempseed Oil: http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/es-hempseed.html/?id=5
Almond Oil: http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/sweet-almond-oil.html/?id=5
Grapeseed Oil: http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/grapeseed-oil-4-oz.html/?id=5
For the oils in this recipe, the links in the ingredients list are all good quality :-)
I cannot get this to spray-what could I add to make it a little thinner? Aloe Vera juice?
That’s so strange! Mine has been spraying just fine. What kind of bottle are you using? :-)
I love this idea, but am afraid if I have to keep it in the fridge, I would forget to use it and it would go bad anyway. Is there a good alternative to the flax seed oil? Perhaps I will try it without the oil. Wonder if substituted coconut oil instead? At room temp in California it is almost liquid.
Coconut oil is really heavy for my hair, but maybe it works for you! Keeping it in the fridge has been less of a hassle than I expected :-) Grapeseed oil would be the next best, and it does not have to be refrigerated! http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/grapeseed-oil-4-oz.html/?id=5