Natural Leave-in Rinse/Conditioner you can make at home

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

 

Good news. I have been making my own rinse/conditioner for a few weeks and I am quite amazed at the results. I can hardly wait until some of you try it and report back here on this discussion.

This is a simple lemon rinse and has been making my dogs' coats the softest they have ever been. I have been using it alone after shampooing with no other product as I wanted to see just how good it was. Here's the recipe.

 

Put one sliced fresh lemon and  4 cups of water in a saucepan.

Heat to almost a boil

Remove from heat and let stand overnight

Remove lemon slices and bottle the juice that is now ready to use.

 

I have been storing this in the refrigerator because I thought it would last longer. Then I put some in a spray bottle and add an equal amount of hot water. Originally I added the hot water because it was too cold to spray on a wet dog. The half lemon juice and half water has been working waaaay beyond my expectations.

I haven't given it a really good test to see if it is an adequate detangler, as my dogs' coats are quite short right now. I am going to try it on a longer coat this next week and I will let you know how that works.

 

[Ann Kurtzman]

Sounds wonderful! Pardon my ignorance....what kind of communicable skin ailment can they pick up? You have given me an education in so many things....

Also, do you think lime would work as well as lemon? 

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I used to use a spray made from lemon, grapefruit and tangerine by Hagen, years ago. I had forgotten about it until recently. It was sold as a detangler. It makes me think just about any citris fruit might work. I am going to experiment with adding grapefruit and tangerine. Makes me think I just reinvented the wheel. Too bad some of the 'old' ideas get lost.  We seem so dependent on chemicals.

[Karina, Wass and Floyd]

Thanks for this tip! Floyd is having some itchiness even with everything we have been doing so this may help!

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I've still not worked up the nerve to cut back Simon, but he's due a bath this weekend and I will definitely give this a try. Thanks for the tip, Barb. Hope all your crew is back to "normal" soon. :-)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Hi Barb, I am going to try this tomorrow and will make the lemon juice tonight. My question is that after you have made the 4 cups are you now diluting that again with 4 cups of water? That is what I understood, but wanted to clarify.My two are both long for the winter so I can let you know how it works for them too. Thanks for the tip.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I did dilute it as I used it mostly because it was so cold from being in the fridge, that I wanted to warm it up with some hot water. The instructions I found did not say it should be diluted. It's just how I chose to use it.

I am going to try some full strength too to see if it makes a difference.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Barb, I gave Simon a bath yesterday and after I towel dried him but before I turned on the dryer, I sprayed him down with the lemon-water spray. We have not had any skin problems, but I was interested to see how it worked as a conditioner. I started drying one side, then started drying the side I'd sprayed. There was a noticeable difference in softness. Needless to say both sides were sprayed and blown out. Oh my! I could not believe how soft his coat felt. Simon is normally a pretty soft guy, but this takes it to a whole nother level of softness. He went from being soft, spiral fleecy lamby to a silky, soft cloud. Hard to believe this is nothing more than lemon water.

Even though Connor (F1 goldendoodle) didn't need another bath yet, I freshened him up with an all-over spritz, then scrunched his hair and he looked like he'd just been groomed. (He has a wavy fleece coat)

Thank you so much for sharing this simple-y wonderful recipe. :-)

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Thank you for the feedback. It will be interesting to see how many more readers make and try the lemon rinse.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

BTW, my profile picture is one of took of Simon yesterday morning. His coat is about 4 1/2" long...and the natural conditioner was just great.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Wow, he looks fabulous!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thank you so much, I am definitely going to try this! I will report the results next time I bathe him. Should be in the next few days.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Question for those of you who have tried this. How much do you spray on, liberal or not much? Thanks!