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Minimalist Beauty

your life as beauty from the inside out

Minimalist Beauty

DIY Curl Conditioning Serum

July 23, 2010 by Dawn Michelle

Curly hair can be very unpredictable, yet once you figure out the best way to manage your curls it can be so much fun.  I have found that the products you use are only part of managing your curls.  It is also about treating them well by not fighting with them, but allowing them to be themselves.

As you know, I love making my own beauty products.  I have found that it saves me a ton of money and works just as good if not better than products that I have bought.  One of the best benefits is that you know exactly what is in the product because you made it yourself.  This DIY Curl Conditioning Serum is truly easy to make and won’t take long at all.

What you will need:

Aloe Vera

Vegetable Glycerin

Agave Nectar

Coconut Oil

Mix or preferably blend three tablespoons of aloe vera, one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin, 1/2 teaspoon of agave nectar, and one teaspoon of coconut oil thoroughly.  After you hair has been washed and conditioned apply your DIY Curl Conditioning Serum throughout your hair first then add a leave-in conditioner of your choice to style.  All of the ingredients to this serum add moisture and nutrients to the hair.  (This recipe is for 1-2 applications.  Depending on your hair thickness and length, you may want to double the measurement to make more.  Store any remainder product in the refrigerator.)

I have found that the best way to create frizz-free curls is by defining your curls with the Tightly Curly Method.  By styling your hair this way, your hair remains fresh and free of tangles until you wash again.  At night braid or bun your hair and cover or sleep on satin material.  To refresh your hair in the morning simply spritz with water or this curl refreshing spray, then add more conditioner.  No brushing, combing, or even finger combing needed.  Add serum to any frizzy areas if needed.  If you have very dry thick curls add a bit of shea butter to your hair while damp to keep your hair moisturized and weighed down.  I love the unrefined shea butter from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Happy curls are moisturized.  Although many use heavy commercial gels,  I have found that they only dry out my hair over the long run and possibly be damaging to hair.  This Curl Conditioning Serum will give your curls the moisture and definition that it truly desires.

(Note:  This recipe mixes best with aloe vera gel, although you can use aloe vera juice too.  The aloe vera gel from Mountain Rose Herbs is more of a thick liquid but still works very well.)

Embrace your curls!

To read more articles about hair care go here.  To see my latest beauty regimen included hair care go here.

(Image by Dawn Michelle)

Stay Connected with Minimalist Beauty & Subscribe with bloglovin’. Also Join the Community on Facebook & Twitter. For more about Dawn Michelle go here!

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  1. Marjorie G. says

    March 21, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    All the ingredients make sense except the agave nectar. I’m curious to know what the agave nectar adds to the serum.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 21, 2012 at 7:15 pm

      Hi Marjorie, Agave nectar is another humectant. Humectants help hold moisture in products and in this case it helps with moisture retension in hair. Have a beautiful day!

      Reply
  2. Monique says

    March 22, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Thank you so much for posting this. It has literally changed my life. My hair loves this mixture. It’s so simple and cost effective and it really works great. I’ve had nothing but soft bouncy hair since I’ve added this step to my regime.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 22, 2012 at 9:33 am

      This is so wonderful to hear Monique! I’m so happy this recipe has worked so well for you! Best Wishes!

      Reply
  3. Venisha says

    March 29, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    Do you mean aloe vera gel or juice?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 29, 2012 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Venisha,
      You can use either gel or juice. This serum will mix better with aloe gel though. Let me know how this works out for you.
      Peace

      Reply
  4. Lori says

    April 25, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    Hi Dawn,
    Loving this DIY serum. It really makes my curls pop. I now use it as my wash and go styler! Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      April 25, 2012 at 6:42 pm

      Hi Lori, This is so awesome that you use this DIY serum as your wash and go styler! I’m so glad this is working out so well for you! Best Wishes

      Reply
  5. lily says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:37 am

    Hi
    I was wondering if you can use honey instead of Agave Nectar?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      May 17, 2012 at 7:47 pm

      That sounds like a perfect substitution Lily! Honey and agave both serve as humectants.

      Reply
  6. Sheena says

    September 12, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    I got a wavy hair. I would like to ask what is the best for me?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 13, 2012 at 11:47 pm

      Hi Sheena,
      If your hair is dry then this conditioning serum will be nice for wavy hair too. You may appreciate the information in Lorraine Massey’s 2nd Edition of Curly Girl The Method. It has great information for wavy textures as well. For starters washing your hair with conditioner versus shampoo will really help with frizz. My favorite store bought co-wash conditioner is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner. You may like using this conditioning serum to style or even flaxseed gel. You may also like this article. Let me know what you try and what works for you.
      Best,
      Dawn Michelle

      Reply
  7. Regine says

    September 20, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    Does this define curls or is it best used under another styler?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 20, 2012 at 9:04 pm

      Hi Regine, This curl conditioning serum has worked to define curls for some of my readers, yet it just depends on your curl pattern and how hydrated your hair currently is. I like to look at this serum as a moisturizing serum to use under hair stylers or leave-in conditioners. Best, Dawn Michelle

      Reply
  8. Regine says

    September 20, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    Since you said flaxseed is good for your curls have you tried to add it to your serum and maybe calling it DIY curl definer ? Just thinking aloud. Lol. Can’t wait to try your serum.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 20, 2012 at 9:06 pm

      Regine, I usually add different things to my flaxseed gel each time I make it, yet mixing these two recipes would also be good. Let me know what you think of the DIY Curl Conditioning Serum when you do get a chance to try it out. Make sure you refrigerate your finished product.

      Reply
  9. Regine says

    September 21, 2012 at 9:43 am

    Thanks DM!!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Tiffany says

    December 25, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    Loving this mixture in my hair (I left out the glycerin because I don’t have any on me)! You truly have some amazing tips and recipes here. I have a question about adding an ingredient. If I were to add marshmallow root to this mixture to replace the added step of having to put in my leave-in, what proportion do you think would be best for this serum to work effectively?

    Thanks! And Happy Holidays!

    Tiffany

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      December 27, 2012 at 9:46 am

      Thanks so much Tiffany! I haven’t tried adding marshmallow root extract with this serum yet I think that would be a great bonus ingredient to add. You could try adding a tablespoon and see how that works out but I haven’t tried this mixture yet. Maybe I will be able to make some later this week. Hope you are enjoying your holiday and happy new year!

      Reply
  11. sarah says

    February 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Do you use aloe vera juice or aloe vera gel?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      February 21, 2014 at 6:09 pm

      Hi Sarah,
      Aloe gel creates an easier consistency to work with but both are fine. Keep me posted on how this works for you. Best wishes!

      Reply
  12. sarah says

    February 21, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Thank You!

    Reply
  13. Sarah says

    August 15, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Dear Dawn Michelle,
    I love the diy curl conditioning serum thank you so much for the recipe!

    I was thinking about going no poo for my hair but I workout a lot so I tend to sweat a lot.

    Do you think it would work for me? If not, do you know of something else that will cleanse and conditions my hair naturally?

    Thank you,

    Sarah.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      August 17, 2014 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Sarah,
      This article series will give you a lot of ideas for an all natural hair care regimen. <3

      Reply
  14. Sarah says

    August 18, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Thank you so much 🙂

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    September 18, 2014 at 7:08 am

    What can I use instead of agave nectar

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 18, 2014 at 1:23 pm

      Hi Anonymous,
      You can use vegetable glycerin or honey in place of agave nectar. They are all considered humectants.

      Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    September 18, 2014 at 7:18 am

    Until how many days we can store it

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 18, 2014 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Anonymous,
      I store all of my DIY beauty products in the refrigerator and keep them for 1-1.5 weeks.

      Reply
  17. NIBEDITA says

    September 18, 2014 at 7:19 am

    Until how many days we can store it

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 18, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Hi NIBEDITA,
      I store all of my DIY beauty products in the refrigerator for 1-1.5 weeks. Let me know what you think if you try this!

      Reply
  18. Appy says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:44 am

    Hi, I love your blog, you are doing a fantastic work. I am sorry, but I cannot understand if this serum is leave in, or would it need to be washed out? Thanks..

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      December 17, 2014 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Appy,
      This serum recipe is for a leave-in. You can use it under your moisturizing or styling hair care product/oil/butter. Thanks for th compliment too! <3

      Reply
  19. Alana says

    February 17, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    I’m curious as to adding marshmallow root to the serum too. Do you think it would be better to put the actual dried powder mixed with the serum or boil the marshmallow and obtain the liquid and add it to the serum?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      February 18, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Hi Alana,
      It would probably be better to use the mucilage than the powdered herb because the powdered herb would make it grainy. Experiment with ratios to find exactly what works best for you. <3

      Reply
  20. Alana says

    February 19, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Thank you Dawn. I think I’ll experiment with adding a bit of hibiscus as well. Probably make a marshmallow- hibiscus infusion. Time to experiment! 😀 Have you ever used hibiscus in your hair care?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      February 19, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      Hi Alana,
      I have tried hibiscus before and wrote about how I’ve used it for hair care here. You can find the details of. Y current regimen here. <3

      Reply
  21. Kiara says

    June 17, 2015 at 9:40 pm

    Hey is the aloe vera the gel or the juice?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      June 18, 2015 at 11:53 am

      Hi Kiara,
      You can use either but this recipe mixes best with aloe vera gel. I hope you enjoy this recipe! <3

      Reply
  22. Madelena says

    October 9, 2015 at 8:17 am

    I love that your recipes are simple, limited to a short list of ingredients, affordable and affective.
    So ecstatic to get whipping up in the kitchen!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 9, 2015 at 4:24 pm

      Hi Madelena,
      I can hear your excitement in your writing and I’m thrilled!!! I do my best to keep things as simple as possible because it makes everything so much easier. Enjoy your day!!!

      Reply
  23. diddy says

    November 6, 2015 at 1:35 am

    hi so happy I came across this blog. A question pls do I leave this serum on my hair or I wash it out later and can it be used on artificial hair? 

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 6, 2015 at 1:23 pm

      Hi Diddy,
      Yes this was created to be a leave-in serum. I’m not sure how it will work with artificial hair as I’ve never tried it though. I’m glad you found my blog too! Best wishes!

      Reply
  24. Shiki says

    March 23, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Hello,
    Can you just use aloe vera gel and an oil together in your hands to get a leave-in? What’s a good ratio of aloe to oil?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 23, 2016 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Shiki,
      I don’t see why you couldn’t. I would play around with ratios to see what works best for your hair. I’d use less oil if you have fine hair. I like to take notes when I am creating a new recipe so that I know what is working best and will remember. I hope this helps some!

      Reply
  25. Shiki says

    March 25, 2016 at 6:13 am

    Thanks for replying. Which is better for hair (and skin), aloe vera gel or aloe vera juice? I currently have both, preservative-free, but I’d like to repurchase one in the future. So, that’s why I’d like to know which is more versatile/better to have.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 25, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Hi Shiki,
      It mainly just depends on how you are using it, if it is for a specific DIY recipe, and which you prefer. I think that it is a personal preference. Have a great weekend!

      Reply
  26. Danielle says

    September 2, 2016 at 12:56 am

    Coconut oil? Being highly comedogenic, wouldn’t it clog hair follicles ? I’ve always wondered and I like using it on my hair. Would it have the same effect on the scalp as the face, clogged pores/follicles, which can lead to acne/hair fall (even balding)?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 2, 2016 at 9:45 pm

      Hi Danielle,
      The scalp isn’t the same as the skin on our face, yet certain things can definitely irritate both. Coconut oil has many benefits for hair and I believe the results using it in hair care can vary from person to person. Feel free to modify any DIY beauty recipe on the site to work best for you!

      Reply
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  • My Fall/ Winter 2019 Capsule Wardrobe is up FINALLY!  It's taken me a LONG time to get this capsule wardrobe together. Much of it is linen, thrifted, and a few pieces I sewed myself.  I was really worried I wouldn't be prepared for winter back on the east coast, but I did get it together.  Luckily winter in North Carolina is not even close to winter further north. 🍂🍁
My Fall/Winter 2019 Capsule Wardrobe consists of five tops, three skirts, five dresses, three sweaters, three coats, two pairs of shoes, a scarf, bag, and belt. 🍂🍁 This #capsulewardrobe is still #modest and should definitely appeal to the #linenlover.  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🍂🍁 Much love! 🍂🍁
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