Does your hair need a little extra TLC? Having hair that is free from frizz, less damaged, and voluminous is something that I think we all strive to have! To help out our hair, it's common to go to the salon and spend hundreds of dollars on a routine that probably will not work and most likely uses chemicals and dyes that can actually be harmful.
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With the right ingredients that you probably have hanging around in your kitchen, you can mix up your own homemade, all-natural hair mask right at home to make your own built-in spa! It's also important to stay hydrated, eat healthy foods and to try and avoid washing your hair every day.
Over-washing your hair can cause a dry scalp, and this dryness can cause dandruff buildup. Over-washing can also strip away the natural oils that nourish your hair, and is especially bad for curly hair. Using these DIY hair masks will condition your hair and help prevent breakage while being a healthier way to repair damaged hair of all types. Lather up your hair with these homemade recipes for a relaxing, moisturizing spa-like experience.
How to Use
There are so many ways to apply a hair mask. Some recommend damp clean hair, and some recommend completely dry 3rd-day hair. Personally, I like to apply a hair mask when my hair is almost completely dry. I comb my hair into 3 sections so I can evenly distribute the product. Depending on the mask directions and my schedule, the hair mask may sit for 10 minutes, 3 hours, or overnight. It's mostly preference, and according to mask directions. Sometimes I put a heat cap on and blow dry my hair on a low heat so the mask can penetrate my hair. It's up to you what kind of effort you want to put into your hair mask. The only step of mine that doesn't change is that I always wash my hair after.
1. Avocado Banana Hair Mask
This DIY beauty treatment is filled with all-natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar, avocado, banana, an egg yolk, and a little olive oil. This rich, two-step hair mask will repair damaged hair and give it shine, leaving hair clean and strengthened. It's best to use a decently ripe banana for easy mixing.
The avocado, banana, egg, and oil are combined in a food processor until smooth and massaged into your hair. Once rinsed out, the vinegar and water mixture is applied and rinsed out after a few minutes.
The combination of ingredients might sound a little strange, but they will really work on damaged hair. The egg acts as a cleaning agent, while the avocado and banana help with hydration and give hair a natural shine without using excess oil. Apple cider vinegar is really a magical ingredient, making the second step really important. Since it's so acidic, the vinegar will help prevent dandruff and dry scalp and also give shine.
This healthy process of apple cider vinegar and water is even great to use after washing hair with shampoo and conditioner. Just make sure to dilute it with warm water.
2. Mayonnaise and Egg Mask
Sorry to all you mayonnaise haters out there! This homemade hair mask uses only two simple ingredients (eggs and mayo), and even though these ingredients sound a little strange, they are known to be a powerful combination to hydrate for dry hair. The oil found in the mayonnaise will deeply moisturize hair and give it its shine back. The egg serves as a cleaning agent as well as sealing in moisture to your hair. The egg, specifically the yolk rather than the egg white, can cut through grease and dirt found in hair to make it clean.
For coarser hair that's lacking in the shine department, add in a splash of olive oil or apple cider vinegar.
3. DIY Deep Hair Conditioner
If you're feeling the effects of damaged and dried out hair, this deep conditioning homemade hair mask is definitely one to add to your hair care routine. It can be applied right before showering and shampooing and is filled with some of my favorite ingredients: coconut oil, Shea butter, Argan oil, and essential oils.
Whenever I see a product with Argan oil, I usually buy it. Argan oil can be purchased on Amazon and is great for controlling frizzy hair and hydrating hair with vitamins.
The combination of these ingredients will deeply moisturize your hair leaving it silky smooth. The essential oils will also make you feel like you just left the spa. You have to try this out!
4. Avocado, Coconut Milk and Olive Oil DIY Hair Mask
Whether you have straight, curly or wavy hair, this deep conditioning hair mask will bring dull hair back to life. You'll only need three ingredients to make this all-natural hair mask and it might just be tempting enough to eat!
Simply blend together the avocado, coconut milk, and extra virgin olive oil and slather all over shampooed and conditioned hair. Tie up your hair in a bun, grab a glass of wine, relax and let this mask sit for about an hour. The fatty acids in these ingredients will seal in moisture and keep it super soft.
5. DIY Yogurt and Honey Hair Mask
This deep conditioning DIY hair mask recipe comes together in no time with just two simple ingredients: yogurt, and honey. If your hair is feeling dry, frizzy and brittle this will be one of your go-to hair masks. The fat from the yogurt will help moisturize and cleanse your scalp-make sure to buy full-fat yogurt.
Honey, specifically raw honey is an excellent, nourishing ingredient for your hair. The honey will seal in the moisture in your hair to keep it conditioned, which will reduce hair breakage and split ends.
Try doing this treatment at least once a week and if you have extra long hair, try doubling the recipe.
6. Strawberry Hair Mask
This strawberry and mayonnaise homemade hair mask will leave hair shiny, smooth and weightless. It's easy to make and you can mix it up in minutes. The strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, which helps nourish your hair and protect the cell membranes. They will also help with keeping your scalp clean and moisturized.
The mayo is fatty which is a good source of healthy fats for your hair, especially if it's dry. Leave this DIY hair mask on for about 15 and make sure to wash and rinse your hair afterward.
7. DIY Aloe Vera Hair Mask
Aloe vera is known to be a wonderful ingredient for deep conditioning hair. It promotes hair growth, prevents an itchy scalp and reduces dandruff. This recipe uses ground cinnamon, which will stimulate the scalp for hair growth. Store bought aloe vera gel works for this recipe and even freshly scooped from the plant. Make sure to increase the recipe for longer hair.
For hair that's on the oily side, replace the cinnamon with a few drops of lemon juice. The combination of aloe vera gel and lemon juice is a powerful team that will fight against oily hair. Since the lemon juice is so acidic, it will keep the dirt and grease from locking into your hair.
8. Pumpkin and Honey Hair Mask
If you have any pumpkin purée leftovers, this hair mask treatment was made just for you! Combine the pumpkin purée with honey and apply liberally to your hair and scalp and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Use a shower cap or plastic wrap to hold your hair and the mask in place. The pumpkin purée is rich in vitamins and minerals and helps promote healthy hair and hair growth.
This homemade hair mask can also serve as a face mask for glowing skin.
9. Banana Olive Oil Hair Mask
This DIY hair mask conditioning treatment is best for when you have an overripe banana hanging around in the kitchen that you do not want to waste. Try out this recipe by blending the banana with olive oil to help repair damaged hair from chemicals, styling tools, chlorine and sun exposure. This mask will also help give dull hair its shine back as well as controlling those split ends!
Your beautiful locks will feel nourished, moisturized, and smooth after applying this hair treatment mask, just make sure to wet your hair before applying this mask. Damp hair makes it easier to apply and reach the hair follicles.
10. DIY Hydrating Hair Mask
If you're tired of dull, dry hair this DIY hydrating hair mask will bring healthy hair back to life. This deep conditioning mask with coconut oil, olive oil, and lavender essential oil is a calming and smoothing overnight hair mask that's easy to rinse out when you wake up in the morning. You can even make a big batch of this recipe and keep it in a Mason jar or container stored in the refrigerator for whenever you need it.
Say goodbye to split ends and hello to manageable hair!
11. Milk and Honey Hair Mask
This DIY hair mask recipe is perfect for all damaged hair types: thin, fine, coarse or normal hair. The combination of milk and honey will restore hair making it feel healthy and less brittle.
This recipe recommends using whole milk but if you only have low-fat, add in a little flour to help thicken the mask. For coarser hair, replace the milk with cream since it's higher in fat.
Editor's Note: Products featured on Wide Open Country are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
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