Hair stylist Chaz Dean promises gorgeous and super manageable hair with his Wen hair care subscription service shampoos, conditioners and styling products. The before and after images speak for themselves: shiny, no mess hair that lasts between washes. Who wouldn’t want that?

Bedhead will only get you so far in life. We all want smooth and manageable hair if for no other reason than convenience. Who really has the time to deal with frizzy, out of control locks?  But you don’t need to spend $30 or more a month on Chaz Dean’s Wen hair care products. I was determined to get the benefits without the expensive subscription. The results were so impressive I just had to share. I have no professional hair care experience!

I have really, really thick hair, with several types going on all on the same head. The deepest layer has a strong curl to it. Then there’s a wave that comes after that. My top layer is generally straight. As you can imagine, it’s not the easiest to manage or style. Because it’s so thick and confused, I can’t wear short hair as it just poofs up and looks pretty awful. So, I need the length to keep it healthy looking, but that means lots of knots, tangles, and brushing nightmares.

I don’t mind spending a bit more money on hair care products if they work, but the idea of a subscription to Chaz Dean’s Wen products was intimidating.  Plus, what if it didn’t work or I didn’t like it?

After taking a look at Dean’s ingredients for the Almond Mint conditioner, I was pretty sure I could figure out how to get the same effect at much less of an investment. Here are the ingredients:

Water, Aloe Vera Gel, Glycerin, Chamomile Extract, Cherry Bark Extract, Calendula Extract, Rosemary Extract, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax, Panthenol, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Hydrolyzed Whole Wheat Protein, PEG-60, Almond Glycerides, Menthol, Essential Oils, Citric Acid, Methylchoroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance

First, forget all the long unpronounceable ingredients. They’re not anything you want in your hair anyway. (You can read more about them on Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website.)

Where you get the benefits here are the second and third ingredients: aloe vera gel and glycerin. And they’re not very expensive. A bottle of vegetable glycerin will run you $5 and last a while. Aloe gel can run anywhere from $5 to $10. Jojoba is also relatively inexpensive and you’re using it in a small amount here.

Ready to make your own Wen? Here’s what you do:

Ingredients

A high quality natural or organic conditioner—I use Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose.
Aloe Vera Gel
Vegetable Glycerin
Jojoba Oil

Optional: essential oils

Method

Mix equal parts conditioner, aloe vera gel and vegetable glycerin together in a small bowl you can bring into the shower. Add to that jojoba oil in ½ the amount of the other ingredients. If you want to use any essential oils to boost the fragrance, add about 5 drops. Lavender is nice, so are mint, lemon, grapefruit or ylang ylang.

Mix all ingredients well until they’re uniform, and then work into wet hair. Let sit for 5-10 minutes (please turn off your shower during this time to save water!).  Then rinse and style as usual.

Your hair length will dictate how much of the ingredients you use. As mentioned, I have really long hair, so I use a lot of conditioner. Here is my before picture:

Your hair should look and feel smoother and more manageable instantly. Here’s how my hair looked after a treatment. Quite a difference, eh? And since my hair is so thick, I only wash it once a week, and the benefits last between washes. (We’ve been way over washing our hair in the last century, but that’s another article.)

How do you get your hair to be more shiny and manageable?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Top image: vis4virtue

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It’s just about that time of year when our hair begins to show the signs of Winter wear. With cold, brittle air and excessive blow drying come the dry, frizzy, and lackluster tresses that are anything but flattering. Instead of using an over-the-counter moisturizing condition or mask, look no further than your refrigerator and pantry, where some of the most potent home hair treatments can be found.

1. Yogurt

This dual-purpose solution gives your hair the glistening, soft shine it so desperately needs. The lactic acid in yogurt breaks down the dirt in your hair and the milk-fat goes a step further and helps to moisturize it.

How to Use: Twice a month, take 1/2 cup of plain, full-fat yogurt and massage it into your scalp and damp hair, down to the tips. Let the yogurt sit for about 15 minutes. Rinse and proceed with your beauty routine as usual.

2. Eggs

Raw eggs are known to build muscle, but did you know that they are also one of nature’s greatest hair moisturizers? The egg yolk is packed with moisturizing fat and protein and the egg-white contains enzymes that strip your hair of unwanted oils.

How To Use: Crack an egg and whisk it until smooth. Massage into scalp and hair and let sit there for 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and continue with your beauty regimen. Repeat once per month.

3. Honey

This sticky situation will turn out for the better. Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it attracts and locks in moisture. It also leaves behind a sweet and delicious scent. Raw honey is preferable to any other kind, because it contains live, active enzymes that will benefit your hair even more!

How to Use: Take about 1/2 cup of honey and massage it into your scalp and hair. Let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. Repeat once per month.

4. Avocado

Ancient Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations used the avocado for skin and hair health. The oils in avocado are light, much like those in our skin secretions, and are thus a great tool in repairing damaged scalp and hair.

How to Use: Cut an avocado, lengthwise around its core. Twist the avocado open, remove the core, and scoop the flesh out with a spoon. Mash the avocado in a small bowl and apply to damp hair, massaging into the scalp and strands. Let the avocado sit for approximately 15 minutes and then wash out with water. Repeat twice a month.

5. Olive Oil

Olive oil is an excellent moisturizer for your scalp and hair. If you suffer from dandruff during the winter months, massaging olive oil into your scalp will help to lock in moisture and prevent dandruff.

How to Use: Massage about 3-4 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil into your damp hair and scalp and let sit for 20 minutes. Repeat weekly.

Images: Helga Weber, GlowKitchen

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