Mixing And Matching DIY Care For Your Hair

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

When the curly community can’t find what it needs in a product, we tend to take matters into our own hands. We’ve been blown away by women concocting their own gel out of flaxseeds and creating whole product lines right from their kitchen. But, if you're new to curly mixology (yes, it's a thing) we know flaxseeds can be a little daunting, so we're sharing our favorite curly cocktails for beginners. As you've probably figured out by now, there's no such thing as one-size fits all when it comes to curly hair, so here are three different cocktails specific to wavy, curly, and coily hair.

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Wavy Hair Wavy hair is prone to frizz, so this moisturizing cocktail provides light hold that won’t weigh down looser curls or fine hair.

What you’ll need:
Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner (or your favorite rinse-out conditioner)
Aloe vera juice or gel
Coconut oil
Spray bottle
Water

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner is an ideal detangler because it has plenty of slip and absorbs easily into hair. The tea tree oil smells refreshing and stimulates the scalp, which can promote hair growth. Aloe vera gel provides light hold and definition as well as natural, moisturizing benefits. Coconut oil is highly effective at penetrating the hair shaft to give it moisture, but it is also light enough to apply to wavy hair.

Instructions
1. Pour Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner into your spray bottle and dilute the conditioner with water. The measurements are based on your preferences; however, it’s best to have a liquid consistency since this mixture is your leave-in conditioner.

2. Add a teaspoon of aloe vera juice or gel to the mixture. Then, add a teaspoon of coconut oil.

3. Shake your spray bottle, and play your favorite song so you can dance like no one is watching.

4. Spray mixture in your hair.

5. Use a quarter-size amount of aloe vera gel and coconut oil, and apply to your waves for curl definition.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Curly Hair This product cocktail is formulated to give curls shine, moisture, and definition without sacrificing their natural bounce and shape. It will prevent crunchy curls, because that's not typically a desired look.

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What you’ll need:
Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia leave-in conditioner
Argan oil
Shea butter
Small bowl
Spoon

The Sweet Ambrosia conditioner is lightweight and includes jojoba, avocado, and coconut oils, making it gentle enough for daily use. The extra moisture from the argan oil will help to tame frizz and provide shine. The shea butter brings even more moisture and even a little extra weight to the hair, which is helpful if you want to reduce shrinkage.

Instructions
1. Place 3 tablespoons of the leave-in conditioner in the bowl. Don’t be afraid to add more if you have longer hair.

2. Add a tablespoon each of shea butter and argan oil to the mixture.

3. Mix thoroughly, and apply to hair. It may be best if you use both hands to smooth the mixture into your hair rather than raking it through with your fingers.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Coily Hair
The oils and butter in this cocktail will help reduce shrinkage and keep hair moisturized, without feeling heavy on your locks.

What you’ll need:
Kinky Curly curling custard
Olive oil
Shea butter
Small bowl
Spoon

Kinky Curly’s curling custard is seen as the holy grail of products among many coily-haired women. It's a moisturizing gel, and a little goes a long way. Since olive oil and shea butter are both extremely moisturizing, the combination of the two can be a godsend to hair that's feeling dry or damaged.

Instructions

1. Add 3 tablespoons of Kinky Curly curling custard into the bowl. Feel free to add more if you have longer coils.

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2. Add a tablespoon of olive oil followed by a teaspoon of shea butter.

3. Mix thoroughly, and apply mixture by smoothing it over the hair rather than raking it through with your fingers. This will help define the curls.

Remember to experiment with the ratios in these hair cocktails. What works for one curly-haired girl may not be perfect for you. Once you get comfortable mixing and matching various hair products, you'll wonder why you ever relied on any bottled formula as is.

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