DIY Patchouli Hair Mask

This recipe for our DIY patchouli hair mask features apple cider vinegar and Patchouli essential oil is the ultimate hair conditioner. Not only is it incredibly nourishing to your hair and scalp, it may also help restore and maintain your hair’s natural pH levels.

The pH balance of hair is between 4.5 and 5.5. Many hair care products have a pH factor of more than 8. That may seem awfully acidic, but it serves a purpose. Your hair's pH levels are acidic to help prevent fungi and bacteria from setting in, and also helps keep your hair cuticle closed, preventing infections within your hair roots. Having more alkaline haircare products is not necessarily a good thing, contrary to what TV commercials imply.

This is much more alkaline than the scalp and hair and can strip your hair of its natural acid mantle. The acid mantle is a slightly acidic film that maintains the overall health and protects the hair and skin from bacteria and toxins. The acid mantle is very important for hair’s appearance. The outer layer of the hair shaft is made of tightly packed, overlapping scales, and the acid mantle helps make these scales lie flat. This gives your hair a silky, smooth appearance and helps it stay moisturized!

Unfortunately, your hair’s pH levels can be easily disrupted. This is a common reason for having a bad hair day… or many. While alkaline hair care products may leave you with “squeaky clean” feeling to your hair, they actually strip your hair of its acid mantle. Doing so will actually contribute to more long-term hair damage.

Did you know most hair products strip your hair of its ideal pH balance? Using this DIY hair mask recipe featuring apple cider vinegar and patchouli essential oil will help your hair repair, appear smoother, be stronger, and overall be healthier.

Help maintain your hair’s natural pH balance with this DIY hair mask!

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has pH of around 3, meaning it’s acidic… not alkaline. When we properly dilute ACV with water, it helps to balance the pH of the hair, which helps your hair look silky, conditioned, and healthy!

Quick Tip: make sure to use apple cider vinegar that is raw, unpasteurized, unfiltered, and organic to get the maximum benefits.

DIY Patchouli Hair Mask Ingredients:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons water or rose water (see our DIY rose water recipe here)
3 tablespoons honey (Honey helps softens and condition your hair to help it feel silky. Honey may also help strengthen your hair's follicles and calm your scalp. We recommend buying local.)
1 tablespoon coconut or castor oil (this helps moisturize, hydrate, and condition your hair. It may also help prevent it from breaking, and control frizz.)
6 drops Patchouli essential oil (Patchouli has a relaxing, calming aroma that may help promote healthy-looking hair.)

Directions for Making Patchouli Hair Mask:

Melt the coconut/castor oil and honey together. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Apply the mask onto your hair and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse off the hair mask with 2–3 washes of water or shampoo and conditioner if desired.

Enjoy your silky, conditioned hair!

** PLEASE NOTE ** Don't be fooled by clever marketing. Not all essential oils are created equally. Make sure you're not wasting your money on fake or altered essential oils (even if they're labeled as “pure essential oil”). Don't miss our explosive report outlining the dirty little secrets of the essential oil industry to ensure you're not wasting your money on brands of oils that legally mislead you through deceitful marketing practices.

Quick Tip: If you use coconut oil, some of it may not wash completely out of your hair. If this happens, let your hair dry, apply shampoo to your dry hair before getting in the shower and then rinse out. This will help the shampoo wash out the oil before the water creates a barrier! ALSO – make sure you're using hot water with the coconut oil so it melts as it goes down the drain. Remember, under 76 degrees coconut oil becomes solid and can clog your pipes. Hot water helps with it rinsing.

Another one of our favorite ways to use apple cider vinegar is in a hair rinse. Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:

2-4 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
16 oz water
4-5 drops of Patchouli essential oil

Directions:

After shampooing your hair, mix the apple cider vinegar, water, and Patchouli essential oil in a bottle. Pour over your entire scalp and allow the mixture to run through your hair. Let the mixture sit for 1-2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Comment below if you are going to include this in your self-care routine this week!