DIY Postpartum Hair Recovery Treatment

Last updated: August 2026

Postpartum hair shedding catches a lot of new mothers off guard — it's a normal hormonal shift, but that doesn't make it any less unsettling to watch happen in the shower drain. This page brings together two traditional formulations for supporting the scalp and hair through that transition: an intensive butter treatment and a lighter, no-heat oil blend, each drawn from a different Baraka recipe book. Both lean on the same trusted Baraka ingredients used throughout our Mother & Baby DIY Skincare Hub, and come together with basic kitchen tools.

In This Recipe:

• What This Recipe Helps With
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Application Tips
• Customisation Ideas
• Storage & Shelf Life
• Voice Search FAQ
• Try These Next
• Disclaimer

Choose Your Formulation

What This Recipe Helps With

• Nourishing the scalp and hair follicles during postpartum shedding
• Providing an intensive weekly treatment option with warm-towel application
• Offering a lighter, no-heat oil for more frequent use between treatments
• Supporting hair as it adjusts through postpartum hormonal changes

Why This Is a Great DIY Recipe

The Primary treatment uses 6 ingredients and needs one short melting step, while the Recovery Oil variation uses 6 ingredients with no heating at all — just combine and shake. Skill Level: Beginner. Both are forgiving: the Primary treatment simply needs its powders whisked in without clumping, and the oil blend is just a matter of measuring and combining. Commercially, postpartum hair treatments with a fully transparent ingredient list are hard to find, and specialty products can be expensive for what amounts to a short list of common carrier oils; both formulations here are fully traceable to a Baraka cooperative. Yield: approximately 100g (Primary) and 120ml (Recovery Oil). This recipe is expanded from our Birth & Postpartum DIY Care Hub, which covers additional postpartum recovery formulations.

Why These Ingredients Work Together

Shea Butter and Shea Oil deeply condition the hair shaft and scalp across both formulations, helping reduce breakage and creating a supportive environment for new growth. Red Palm Oil is rich in carotenoids that convert to nutrients supporting follicle health, appearing in both versions. Baobab Oil adds lightweight antioxidant support, while Coconut Oil helps everything spread evenly through hair and scalp. In the Primary treatment, fenugreek and hibiscus powders add traditional botanical support, while the Recovery Oil layers in rosemary and lavender essential oils for a scalp-stimulating, calming finish.

Hero Ingredient Benefits

• Shea Butter: Deeply conditions hair follicles and supports cellular turnover at the scalp, forming the base of the Primary treatment.
• Red Palm Oil: Rich in carotenoids that support follicle health and scalp circulation, used in both formulations.
• Baobab Oil: Adds lightweight antioxidant nourishment to growing or thinning hair, present in both formulations.

Primary Formulation: Postpartum Hair Strengthening Treatment

Ingredients:

• Shea Butter — 45 g (3 tablespoons)
• Red Palm Oil — 15 ml (1 tablespoon)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 30 ml (2 tablespoons)
• Baobab Oil — 15 ml (1 tablespoon)
• Fenugreek Powder — 5 g (1 teaspoon)
• Hibiscus Powder — 5 g (1 teaspoon)

Directions

1. Create a double boiler with a heat-safe glass bowl over a pot of simmering water.
2. Add the shea butter, red palm oil, and coconut oil to the bowl.
3. Stir occasionally until completely melted and well combined.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 3 minutes.
5. Add the baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
6. In a separate small bowl, combine the fenugreek powder and hibiscus powder.
7. Slowly whisk the powder mixture into the oils until fully incorporated.
8. Transfer to a clean jar and allow to cool completely.

Variation: Postpartum Hair Recovery Oil

From Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby.

Ingredients:

• Shea Oil — 60 ml (2 fl oz)
• Red Palm Oil — 15 ml (0.5 fl oz)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 30 ml (1 fl oz), gently melted
• Baobab Oil — 15 ml (0.5 fl oz)
• Rosemary Essential Oil — 10 drops
• Lavender Essential Oil — 10 drops

1. Warm the coconut oil gently until just melted.
2. Combine all oils in a dark glass bottle with a secure cap.
3. Add the rosemary and lavender essential oils.
4. Cap the bottle and shake well to combine.
5. Label with ingredients and date of preparation.

Application Tips

For the Primary treatment: apply to dry scalp and hair, focusing on the roots, cover with a warm towel for 30 minutes, then shampoo out. Use weekly during periods of postpartum shedding. For the Recovery Oil: shake well before each use, apply to dry scalp and hair focusing on the roots, and leave for at least 30 minutes — or overnight for a deeper treatment — before shampooing normally. Use once or twice weekly.

Customisation Ideas

• Alternate the two formulations across the week — the Primary as a weekly deep treatment, the Recovery Oil for lighter, more frequent use.
• Leave the Recovery Oil on overnight under a shower cap for a more intensive soak.
• Warm the Primary treatment briefly between your hands before application if it has firmed up in cooler weather.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store the Primary treatment at room temperature in a sealed jar for up to 3 months. Store the Recovery Oil in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months, shaking well before each use as the oils will naturally separate over time.

The Impact of Your Purchase

When you make skincare with Baraka ingredients, you're supporting women's cooperatives who earn fair wages and preserve traditional processing methods. According to Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, this direct trade model provided income for over 1,000 women and prevented 47 metric tons of CO2 emissions. You also gain complete transparency — knowing exactly what touches your skin and your family's skin, without hidden synthetics or uncertain supply chains.

Meet one of the women behind these ingredients in this short film: Baraka Palm Oil.

Shop the Baraka Ingredients in This Recipe

Pure. Natural. Ethically sourced. Hand-crafted by women's cooperatives. These are the ingredients trusted throughout Baraka's DIY guides and recipes.

• Shea Butter — Shop Now — Rich and deeply moisturising, a versatile base for balms and treatments.
• Shea Oil — Shop Now — The liquid form of shea butter, ideal for lightweight hair and scalp oils.
• Red Palm Oil — Shop Now — Unrefined and naturally rich in carotenoids, adds conditioning benefits.
• Traditional Coconut Oil — Shop Now — Lightweight and versatile, helps protect hair proteins and adds slip.
• Baobab Oil — Shop Now — Fast-absorbing and nutrient-dense, ideal for improving softness without heavy residue.

Voice Search FAQ

What's a good DIY treatment for postpartum hair shedding?
A shea butter and red palm oil treatment with fenugreek and hibiscus powder, or a lighter shea and red palm oil blend, both nourish the scalp and hair follicles during postpartum shedding. Apply to dry scalp and hair, focusing on the roots, and leave on before shampooing.

What's the difference between the two formulations?
The Primary treatment is a warmed butter blend with fenugreek and hibiscus powder, applied once weekly under a warm towel. The Recovery Oil is a lighter, no-heat oil blend with rosemary and lavender essential oils, suited to once or twice weekly use.

How often should I use a postpartum hair treatment?
The Primary butter treatment is best used weekly during periods of noticeable shedding, while the lighter Recovery Oil can be used once or twice a week. Many people alternate between the two depending on how much time they have.

Can I leave either formulation on overnight?
The Recovery Oil can be left on overnight under a shower cap for a deeper treatment, then shampooed out in the morning. The Primary treatment is designed for a 30-minute warm-towel application rather than overnight use.

Try These Next

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:

• DIY Postpartum Massage Bar — a complementary formulation for the broader postpartum recovery period.
• The Top 6 Baobab Oil Skin Benefits for Mothers & Babies — useful background on an ingredient shared by both formulations here.
• Shea Butter for Pregnancy — a deeper look at how shea supports the whole pregnancy and postpartum journey.
• Preservative-Free Formulating: Creating Safe, Fresh Baby Products with Baraka Ingredients — useful background on formulating without preservatives.
• From Kitchen to Nursery: Essential Tools for DIY Mother & Baby Skincare — useful if you're just getting your DIY setup started.

About These Ingredients

This recipe draws on two Baraka recipe books: the primary formulation is expanded from DIY Formulations for the Motherhood Journey, with the variation credited to Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby. Each book explores additional formulations for supporting the postpartum journey.

Disclaimer

The recipes and ingredients on this page are intended for cosmetic use only — for application to the skin, hair, and nails to cleanse, condition, and beautify. They have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other regulatory authority. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. If you have a medical condition, skin condition, or known allergies, consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. Always patch-test new ingredients before full application. Keep all products away from eyes and out of reach of children. Results will vary between individuals.