If you’ve ever used Pinterest you know that DIY homemade beauty recipes are the rage.
They can definitely seem intimidating at first and you might think it’s easier to just buy a manufactured product and that’s it.
Instead, I definitely think there are a lot of benefits and satisfaction in making these DIY recipes. It’s fun, it’s simpler than it seems and the best thing is that it’s very cheap.
A scrub made from coffee beans can cost you $20 to $60; you can do the same for just a fraction of this sum. A charcoal face mask from the famous Sephora store can cost around $38; the ingredients to make your own can last twice as long and for around $20
With DIY recipes you are literally spending pennies every time you indulge in one of these luxurious beauty treatments. Below you will find 8 tried and true DIY beauty recipes. See which of these you like and try it.
do it yourself recipes for hair
1. Coconut Oil And Egg Yolk Hair Mask
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Coconut oil is a fatty oil that can nourish dry and brittle hair. Egg yolks contain protein and butter that can help treat damaged and dehydrated hair.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
Kelapo extra virgin coconut oil is my preferred brand of coconut oil. If you intend to use coconut oil regularly I would suggest buying the 29-ounce bottle ($0.69 per ounce) instead of the 15-ounce bottle ($0.78 per ounce) option. You will also need egg yolks but you can only use one.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- You can use about a tablespoon of tea or a tablespoon of coconut oil. The amount you use will depend on the thickness and length of your hair.
- Heat the coconut oil over low heat or in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.
- Mix the oil with the egg yolk in a bowl and beat them
- Apply this mixture to your hair and cover it completely, cover your hair with a disposable shower cap.
- Leave the mixture on your hair for as long as possible. I tend to leave coconut oil-based treatments on for several hours overnight. If you use it at night, put a towel on your pillow to avoid staining it.
- Rinse the mixture out with lukewarm water, using a gentle sulfate-free shampoo to remove any traces of it.
- Condition and style as usual and you’ll be ready to leave home
- You can use this treatment as often as you want. I use this recipe on my bleached hair or sometimes only coconut oil at least once a week.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Apple cider vinegar is super effective in removing residue of any type from your hair, such as excess oil, residue from hair styling products, and more. It can also help you strengthen the hair cuticle, this makes your hair shinier and healthier looking.
What Ingredients Do You Need?
All you need is apple cider vinegar Braggs Apple cider vinegar is my preferred brand of apple cider vinegar and it’s also an inexpensive option. You also have the option to buy it in small quantities but the price per ounce can be three times higher if you buy it that way.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Combine a few teaspoons (2-5) of apple cider vinegar with about two cups of water.
When I tried this recipe I used 4 tablespoons because my hair type is oily. If your hair is dry try to start with 2 or 3 tablespoons.
- Apply this mixture to your dry hair while you are in the shower or bath, use a measuring cup and start applying this mixture to the roots though
- Many people recommend using a plastic spray bottle for an even application.
- Leave this mixture on your hair for 1-3 minutes. Again the time will depend on the needs of your hair.
- Rinse your hair with cold or warm water, once your hair is dry it should not smell like vinegar.
To the above mentioned I was skeptical when reading this for the first time but I was pleased to find that my hair had a normal smell after this treatment. Some people have suggested using a few drops of essential oils to disguise the vinegar smell, I haven’t tried this yet, maybe you’d like to if the vinegar smell bothers you too much.
3. Coffee Or Tea Rinse
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Brewed coffee and tea have many benefits for your hair. The caffeine in these products is said to rejuvenate and style hair. Some users have reported that tea rinses make hair stronger, less brittle, reduce hair loss, and others report that coffee does the same.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
There is no need to use expensive tea or gourmet coffee to do this. When I first ventured out to try this DIY recipe I used Peet’s ground coffee for my recipes, it’s only $8 for a 12 ounce bag. You can use Lipton black tea bags or Lipton green tea and you can get them on Amazon at a very low price.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Brew a cup with 2-4 ounces of coffee, black tea, or green tea. For medium-cut hair, I found 2 cups to be the perfect measurement.
- Let the tea or coffee cool down before using. This is crucial; check the temperature and make sure it is warm and not hot.
- Pour this prepared recipe over your dry hair in the shower. As I mentioned in the recipe with the apple cider vinegar, you can use a plastic spray bottle to achieve a uniform application.
- Let this mixture on your hair for 5-10 minutes. I personally leave this mixture on for as long as my bath routine lasts.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly apply your conditioner and rinse again. Using shampoo is optional but I only apply my favourite sulfate-free conditioner, if you have blonde hair I suggest using this recipe for coffee or tea (green or black) weekly.
On hair care forums some women said they use this recipe to touch up their dark-coloured hair I tried this when my hair was black and noticed that the colour did not change. My hair smelled amazing and had more volume and body than usual, this recipe is one of my favourites.
Do It Yourself Mask
4. Bentonite Clay Charcoal Face Mask
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Bentonite clay has many different benefits regarding skin care, it can help you get rid of acne, reduces excess oil, cleanses pores, reduces inflammation and more.
Activated carbon deep cleanses your skin by removing accumulated dust from your pores, absorbing oil and treating acne. When you combine these ingredients you have an ideal recipe against acne-prone skin.
What Ingredients Do They Need?
I hit a few local pharmacies to get the ingredients but ultimately ended up ordering them online. For this miracle recipe, I used molivera organics bentonite clay to detoxify and rejuvenate my skin and natures way activated charcoal in capsules. All this plus a little hot water.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Add a tablespoon of bentonite clay to a plastic bowl. Open 1 or 2 active charcoal capsules and pour some clay into the mixture.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot water to the mixture. (Add double depending on the clay used)
- Stir using a plastic or wooden spoon, chopsticks or something similar. The mixture should be thick like a paste.
- Apply this mask on your face for 10-15 minutes. You can use a brush to apply it evenly.
- Rinse with plenty of water to remove the mask. I usually rinse this mask off in the shower or you can use a wet towel to remove excess clay.
- How often to use this recipe will depend on you and the needs of your skin. I usually use this mask 2 times a week. Bentonite clay can cause a bit of a tingling sensation so you can start by using it just once a week for 10 minutes.
- I always recommend that before using any mask you do a test by applying this recipe to a small area of your skin for a few minutes to see if you have any kind of reaction to it.
5. Oatmeal And Honey Face Mask
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Honey is a common ingredient in these do-it-yourself face mask recipes for its great skin benefits. Honey is a natural antibacterial and antioxidant, this could help you eliminate pimples and blackheads. Honey is also a natural humectant which can help hydrate the skin.
oatmeal is also a moisturizer rich in amino acids which are very beneficial for your skin.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
Any type of oatmeal that is not instant works perfectly, many people prefer to use 100% natural honey for recipes like this and their prices are very accessible on Amazon. You can also use regular honey if you prefer. Make sure you are using pure honey in which case the label will only say honey and no other added ingredients.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Prepare a cup of oatmeal just as the instructions on the package dictate, if you want the mask to have a thick consistency you can blend the oatmeal before preparing it. I personally prefer to do the latter, but it’s up to you.
- Add a few tablespoons of honey to the oatmeal and let it cool. Normally I do not use exact measurements when making this mask but 2 tablespoons of honey should be enough
- Once the mixture cools apply it on your clean skin and lets it rest for 15-20 minutes relax by taking a bath lying down with a towel under your head, you must be prepared since this mask tends to create a mess.
- Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water, then cleanse your face with your facial cleanser.
- As this homemade mask is so gentle on your face you can use it as much as you want. I especially enjoy using it during the winter when my skin needs a bit of moisture, this recipe is very versatile as it is suitable for all skin types.
DIY Recipes For Moisturizers
6. Coconut Oil And Lavender Smoothing Balm.
What Does This DIY Recipe Do?
I use this balm to reduce stress and anxiety, lavender is known to bring a sense of peace and calm. I use coconut oil to make these homemade cosmetic mixtures so that I can dilute other essential oils, by doing this you can be sure to apply this mixture to your skin.
Sunflower oil is another excellent option to make these homemade “do it yourself” creams but it is not as efficient as coconut oil. Both oils act as natural moisturizers.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
You will need lavender essential oil and coconut oil. My favourite brand is lavender-grade essential oil. You can also use an oil blend that has lavender and chamomile in it.
How Do You Prepare This Recipe?
This recipe offers a lot of flexibility as you can make a batch or a small amount.
To make a small supply:
- Add a tablespoon of coconut oil in a glass jar. Using a small glass jar is the best option because some essential oils dissolve in plastic bottles. I have found that sterilized baby food jars are the best choice for this recipe.
- Add a few drops of lavender essential oil or oil blend that has lavender in it. The amount you add will depend on how much scent you want the balm to have. I use 5-10 drops of the essence.
7. Shea Butter And Essential Oil Lotion.
What Does This DIY Recipe Do?
This DIY body lotion is simple and effective. Shea butter is a great natural moisturizer. Currently, there are many shea creams and body lotions but these are expensive, some reaching prices of $10 dollars or more. The essential oils used in this recipe are a natural fragrance and many of the oils I have recommended in this article are very gentle and have a light scent.
What Ingredients Are Needed?
I would suggest buying organic (unrefined) shea butter to make a natural lotion. You can add any essential oil of your choice for this recipe. Some options that I have tried and highly recommend are peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and rosemary oil. I have found that these oils soften, when I did some research on it I found that orange oil and lemon oil are very popular, you can use whichever you want
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Add 8 ounces of shea butter in a glass jar, if you find organic shea butter too hard and thick you can start by heating it in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add 5-10 drops of essential oils of your choice. You can mix different essential oils to create or combine an essence that you enjoy.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly and let it cool down in case you heated it
- Use it daily as a body moisturizer or to help soften rough parts of your skin such as elbows, feet etc…
- As you can see, this is one of the easiest DIY recipes to prepare on this list. It requires little effort and you can create your own unique high-quality product. Nothing can be better than that.
DIY Recipes For Body Scrubs
8. Sea Salt, Coconut Oil, And Lavender Body Scrub
What Does This “Do It Yourself” Recipe Do?
Sea salt is a great natural exfoliator for the skin and can be found as a base ingredient in many expensive exfoliating products and treatments. Coconut oil nourishes your skin and removes dead cells, lavender is used for its skin-softening properties. The latter is a popular ingredient in products such as aftershave lotions and creams for men.
What Ingredients Are Needed For This Recipe?
You can get a bag of sea salt for less than $10. You will also need coconut oil or a moisturizer of your choice. Avocado oil and coconut butter are both excellent options. Lavender essential oil is my favourite but you can use any essential oil you like best.
How Do You Use This Recipe?
- Combine ½ cup of coconut oil with ¼ or ½ cup of sea salt. The amount of sea salt you add will depend on how rough you’d like your scrub to be. I use ½ cup for each ingredient
- Add 5-20 drops of lavender essential oil and mix well
- You can store this scrub in a glass jar. You can store it in a dry place at room temperature and use it whenever you want
- Coconut oil tends to leave a greasy residue on the floor of your shower or bathtub. Use this scrub with caution to avoid slipping, remember to clean these residues with hot water after you finish using it. I leave the shower running with hot water a few minutes after I finish showering.
Luxury Beauty Treatments At Your Home: A Rewarding And Affordable Experience
It’s easy to figure out that you don’t need to spend more than $30 on a body scrub or face mask when you use these recipes with cheap and readily available ingredients, plus you get the same results.
Making your own beauty products takes a bit of practice but I think it’s fun and worth a try. You will learn what works best for you, and what doesn’t and you can even create new recipes.
If you want to learn more about how to save some money and look beautiful, we support you with more of these tips in frugal for less. Check other publications such as 9 tips for those who love to save on beauty and fashion treatments and the best makeup bases for less than $20 dollars.
You will soon discover that you can look and feel beautiful without spending a fortune.