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Is your furry friend sporting luxurious, curly locks or has hair that craves moisture? I’ve got just the solution for getting your dog’s coat soft and plush. A quick and easy homemade dog conditioner.
Our dog Moose has a ton of curly hypoallergenic hair. I use Ethique’s dog shampoo bar and an all-natural dog conditioner bar because using bars makes getting the soap distributed in his hair much easier. But since he has such a thick curly coat, he needs more moisture to keep his hair nice and soft. So I created a homemade dog conditioner rinse to spray or pour over him at the end of his shower.
Most of the time I use this as a dog “no rinse” conditioner spray at the end of a bath and don’t wash it out. But during dry weather, or if I skip a few baths, I pour a large amount over and do a quick rinse. This all-natural dog conditioner also doubles as a de-matting or grooming spray.
Why Make Your Dog Conditioner?
Creating an all-natural dog conditioner gives a personalized touch to your pet’s grooming routine while avoiding chemicals and preservatives. It allows you to tailor the ingredients to your dog’s specific needs. This natural, DIY conditioner brings numerous benefits to your furry friend.
Here are some of the advantages:
Dog Conditioning Emollients
- Aloe: Moisturizing properties help keep your dog’s coat well-hydrated and enhance its natural shine. It’s also perfect for curly hair.
- Vegetable glycerin: A natural humectant–it helps attract and retain moisture. A humectant is particularly beneficial for dogs with dry or brittle fur, as it can lock in moisture and prevent further drying. Glycerin also softens the hair, making it more manageable and easier to groom. This is especially useful for dogs with long or curly coats. It also contributes to a healthy, glossy appearance, enhancing the overall sheen of your pet’s fur.
- Jojoba & coconut oil: These oils moisturize fur and skin, preventing dryness and flakiness. The oils help de-tangle knots and mats and soften the coat, leaving it silky, smooth, and shiny.
Essential Oils for Dogs
- German Chamomile: When applied topically, chamomile can help soothe skin irritations or inflammation on your dog’s skin or coat. It is gentle on the skin and has mild antibacterial and antifungal properties which helps keep yeast away. The scent is calming and relaxing to you and your pup.
- Lavender: A pleasant, fresh scent that can help neutralize or mask odors. This oil is gentle on the skin, can help alleviate minor irritations and itchiness, and has antiseptic properties.
- **Rosemary: Known for its potential to promote hair health. It may help maintain a shiny and lustrous coat for your dog. It has a pleasant, fresh, and herbaceous scent that can contribute to a naturally fragrant and pleasing-smelling dog conditioner and help repel fleas and ticks.
**Warning: Rosemary essential oil may not be suitable for dogs that are prone to seizures. If your dog has a history of seizures or epilepsy, it's best to consult with a veterinarian before using products containing rosemary essential oil. While rosemary is generally considered safe for most dogs, individual sensitivities can vary. Prior consultation with a healthcare professional concerning any use of essential oils will help ensure the safety and well-being of your pet.
Dog Conditioner Without Chemicals
With this homemade conditioner, your dog can enjoy a spa-like grooming experience at home, and they’ll smell so fresh without synthetic fragrances or chemicals.
The best part? You can rinse it out, leave it in, or even use it as a de-matting spray for your dog. It’s that versatile. Plus, it’s human-friendly, perfect for curly-haired folks who know the value of moisture. And speaking of human hair, Ethique also has a human line of products that our whole family uses. Shampoo bars are the best!
This recipe takes mere seconds to create, so next time you want to give your dog some extra love, make a batch. It stores for months at room temp. If you love making natural dog products, we have a pumpkin dog biscuit recipe your doggo will love!
And please let us know what you think–Moose and I think this homemade dog conditioner is the bee’s knees. I can’t get over how soft our dog Moose is after using this rinse. Enjoy those beautifully moisturized locks!
Homemade Dog Conditioner
Equipment
Materials
- 1 tablespoon natural dye free aloe
- 1/2 tablespoon glycerin (vegetable glycerin)
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
- 1 drop German chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops lavender essential oil essential oil
- 1 drop rosemary *essential oil, IMPORTANT: do not use if your dog suffers from seizures
- distilled water
Instructions
- Add these ingredients to a 12-16 ounce container or jar.
- Top it off with water. If you plan to keep the spray for an extended period, use distilled water.
- Give it a good shake, then apply it to your pet’s or your hair.
- Rinse off or leave on depending on your needs.
Notes
- Leave-in/Rinse: Use this as a leave in conditioner or a conditioning rinse.
- Spray: This spray can also be used as a de-matting spray for your dog.
- Essential Oils Optional: Feel free to leave out the EOs; the rinse will still be moisturizing and conditioning without them.
- Human Friendly: The rinse is human-friendly as well, perfect for curly-haired folks who know the value of moisture.
*Warning: Rosemary essential oil may not be suitable for dogs that are prone to seizures. If your dog has a history of seizures or epilepsy, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian before using products containing rosemary essential oil. While rosemary is generally considered safe for most dogs, individual sensitivities can vary. Prior consultation with a healthcare professional concerning any use of essential oils will help ensure the safety and well-being of your pet.
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