Ever since Kourtney Kardashian spilled the beans on her yummy “hair smoothie” recipe (click here to read) we’ve been on a little bit of a DIY trip of our own. With the winter setting in and our hectic lifestyles, its important to take some time out to feed and nuture your hair and scalp. Hair masks and salon treatments are great but tend to be quite costly. Plus December is one of those months we will do anything to save up whatever few bucks we can. Using a few basic ingredients that are staples in your kitchen, you can be on the cool road to amaze-ball hair and more spending money. Also be fully assured that these are free from any harsh chemicals that may damage your hair.
FOR DRY HAIR – Coconut And Olive Oil Hair Mask
Coconut oil contains saturated fats, lauric acid, vitamin-E, vitamin-D and iron. Combined with olive oil it makes a great moisturizer and will keep your hair and scalp well hydrated.
Recipe: Mix 2 parts of coconut oil with 1 part olive oil in a small glass bowl.
Directions: Message the potion thoroughly into your scalp and hair, starting from hair roots till the ends of the hair. Wrap your hair in a bun and cover with a shower cap. Let it sit on your hair as long as you can (not less than 20-30 minutes).
Tip: Use it as often as you need to and keep it on overnight to treat severely dry hair.
FOR DAMAGED HAIR – Egg, Yogurt And Olive Oil Hair Mask
Eggs are packed with numerous nutrients, from vitamins D, B, and A to iron to protein and yogurt is a rich source of milk fat and lactic acid. Together, hese two ingredients make a mask that boosts hair growth and will keep your hair moisturized, clean and well-conditioned. The yogurt will help to regulate excessive oiliness and the protein and calcium from the egg will make your hair soft and shiney.
Recipe: Separate the egg whites and yolk of 1 or 2 eggs, depending upon the length and volume of your hair. For oily greasy hair use egg whites and if you have dry brittle hair use egg yolk. Use the whole egg for normal hair. Beat the mixture as per. Add in 1 cup of yogurt (1/2 cup for shoulder length hair) and 2 table spoons of olive oil with the slushy egg mixture and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Squeeze in some lime juice and use an egg beater to mix thoroughly.
Directions: Massage the mask thoroughly into your scalp, starting from roots to the hair ends. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes with a disposable shower cap to avoid any drips. Rinse thoroughly with cold or lukewarm water as many times as required. Follow that up with a final cleansing wash with your favorite fruity or flowery shampoo to get rid of any egg-y smell.
Tips:
- Never use hot water to rinse off any egg based mask as this will cook the eggs contained in the mask, and the cooked bits of eggs will stuck into your hair strands.
- Too much lime may cause a slight burning sensation on your scalp so be sure to use the golden ratio of 1:2 lemon juice to egg yolk/white to avoid that.
- We agree that this sounds a bit icky but the results are worth using at least once a month.
FOR CURLY HAIR – Egg, Mayonnaise And Honey Hair Mask
Mayonnaise is essentially a mixture of oil and egg and is thus a great to moisturise the hair. Honey has restorative properties and adds moisture to lifeless hair, making it glowing and lustrous.
Recipe: Blend 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of Mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon of honey till smooth. Double the recipe for long hair. Apply the mask evenly throughout damp hair. Tie up and cover hair with a shower cap or towel and let the mask sit for 30 minutes. Wash out the mask with shampoo and conditioner.
Tip: Use the mask once weekly for best results.
FOR FRIZZY HAIR – Banana Hair Mask
Bananas are incredible beauty fruits – super rich in potassium, vitamins, anti-oxidants, and natural oils – and available all year round. This incredibly moisturizing mask will strengthen your hair to prevent breakage and split ends, maintain its elasticity, and leave it feeling bouncy and healthy.
Recipe: Blend 1 or 2 overripe bananas until there are absolutely no chunks or teeny banana pieces. Add 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of coconut and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to your delicious mixture and blend again.
Directions: Slather the smoothie into your hair, and let it settle and sink into your scalp for at least five minutes. You can leave it on longer with a shower cap if you want too. Thoroughly rinse the mixture out with warm water and comb through to remove any stray pieces of banana. Finish with your usual shampoo or conditioner just to be safe.
Tip:
- Blend the bananas until your smoothie is very fine. If you rush through this step, you’ll have a very unpleasant time trying to comb out tiny banana pieces. So take your time with that.
- Use this mask once every week for best results.
FOR OILY HAIR – Yogurt Hair Mask
Yogurt is an all purpose food loaded with anti-oxidants, vitamins, calcium and protein. It has moisturizing properties and also helps to control oily, greasy hair by washing away excess oil in the scalp and hair.
Recipe: Mix 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (or less depending on the volume and length of your hair), 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (preferably organic) and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass bowl.
Directions: Message the mixture in to the scalp, starting from the roots till the tips of your hair. Leave it on with a shower cap for at least 15 minutes. Rinse it off thoroughly with warm water and finish with a final wash with a delicious smelling shampoo to get rid of any lingering yogurt smell.
Tip:
- Use ONLY probiotic, natural or homemade yogurt as this type contains the live natural enzymes, which is the main source of nutrients.
- Remember to use plain yogurt, not sweetened or flavored.
- Use once a week for best results.
FOR A SEASONAL TREAT – Strawberry Hair Mask
Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, which makes them perfect for controlling scalp oil. They help rinse away excess oil build-up in the gentlest way and also regulate the scalp’s natural pH. This mask will leave your hair glossy and shiney.
Recipe: Blend a handful (8 to 10) fresh strawberries with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of honey to make a rich puree.
Direction: Apply the mask to damp hair and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water. Because strawberries have their own delicious smell, there’s no need to shampoo again.
Tip: Strawberries are mostly used for very oily and greasy hair so add in any moisturizing ingredient, like coconut or olive oil, to prevent your hair from over-drying.
Give these a try and let us know how and if they work for you in your comments below.