I’ve never been one of those girls who is good at “doing” hair.
Apparently I missed the memo in high school that you were suppose to spend hours in the mirror playing with different styles… So I didn’t.
Instead I was outside, riding my horse, working at Jiffy Lube (wait– have I ever told you that? But yes, I totally changed oil at Jiffy Lube to pay for college…), and pretty much doing every other thing I could think of that didn’t involve hair, makeup, or other girly pursuits.
It’s all fine and good, except I still struggle to do my hair in a style other than a braid or messy bun. Which is less-than-handy when I have to make an appearance at a public event.
But why am I talking about my own hair?
Today’s post is about horse hair, not mine. Thankfully.
I don’t talk about my horses a whole lot here, because, well, they aren’t technically classified as a homestead sort of animal. (Unless you’re using horse-powered farm equipment– which is SO DANG COOL, but not something I do…)
But horses are good for my mental health. So that’s something.
There are a lot of pricey horse hair products on the market, but I’ve been using this simple DIY solution for years. Some folks call it ‘Homemade Show Sheen’, but it doesn’t really produce the slick shine that Show Sheen does. Rather, it’s a rich leave-in conditioner that helps to detangle manes and tails, and I use it liberally before I go into the show ring OR when we’re just at home and I’m working a knot out of a mane or tail.
The ingredients are versatile and forgiving, and all-in-all, it’s much cheaper than the store-bought versions. Adding essential oils to the mix adds additional benefits as well (such as calming or insect repelling).
And now my horses have nicer hair than I do. Hmmm.
Homemade Horse Hair Detangler Recipe
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup conditioner of your choice (see notes)
- 1/3 cup fractionated coconut oil (see notes)
- 5 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil (see notes)
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a 16-ounce spray bottle.
Shake well before each use.
Spray on your horse’s mane and tail, work in with your fingers, then brush.
No rinse necessary!
DIY Horse Hair Detangler Notes:
- Any ol’ conditioner will work–human, equine, or otherwise. I usually just use some of our doTERRA conditioner, as that’s what I always have on hand
- Instead of fractionated coconut oil, you can use sweet almond oil, apricot oil, or avocado oil instead. Any oil that’s good for skin will work well here.
Other Essential Oil Combos for Horse Detangler:
I usually aim for about 20-30 drops of essential oil in each batch of horse hair detangler I make. However, you can increase or decrease that amount, or play with different combinations of oils.
Caution: I’ve noticed some horses to become extremely energized around peppermint oil, so use it with caution if your horse is high-strung. Also, never apply citrus oils to bare skin (such as around the muzzle), as they can cause photosensitivity.
Rosemary + Eucalyptus (hair growth + insect repellent)
Tea Tree + Rosemary (encourages hair growth)
Lavender + Frankincense (calming)
Cedarwood + Lavender (grounding)
Eucalyptus + Tea Tree + Thyme (heavy-duty insect repellent)
Wild Orange + Frankincense (calming + focusing)
Where I Get Essential Oils
I’ve been using essential oils since before they were cool, and I’ve stuck with the same brand for the last 7 years: doTERRA.
I also have a team of over 35,000 (!!) essential oil lovers, many of them homesteaders just like you, and I can help you get discounts on the oils you want, and education on how to use them. Click here for the deets!
