7 Easy Natural Hair Treatments
There’s no denying that sometimes your hair can seem a little damaged or dull for whatever reason. When that happens, keeping your hair healthy can feel overwhelming and stressful.
Well, below are quite easy DIY hair treatments that you can do with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now.
Relieve itchy scalp with lemon.
To fight dryness, try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair.
To use: Mix 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, and 2 Tbsp water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week.
Reverse sun damage with honey.
Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon is nature’s sweetener can help. This honey mask works well on all hair types.
To use: Massage approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application. Treatment can be applied once a month.
Remove grease with corn meal.
Cornmeal or corn-starch is an inexpensive way to remove oil and grease. It is a great source of iron, which helps generate the growth of hair cells.
To use: Pour 1 Tbsp cornmeal or corn-starch into an empty salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you’ve used it all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out. Treatment can be applied every other day.
Repair dry hair with apple cider vinegar.
Use this shine-enhancing hair mask to repair dry and dull hair. The apple cider vinegar helps to remove product build-up that dulls hair and vitamin E-rich argan oil nourishes and softens unruly strands. Apple cider vinegar helps to de-frizz hair.
To use: In a blender, combine 1/2 avocado, 2 Tbsp argan oil, 10 drops of rosemary essential oil, and 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar, and pulse together. Work the mask through dry hair from roots to tips (if your hairs oily, skip your scalp). Clip hair in place and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and cleanse with shampoo. Do this at least once a month.
De-frizz with avocado.
Rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, biotin, and vitamins A and E, avocados boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair, Cox explains.
To use: Mash up half an avocado and massage into clean, damp hair. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Amp up moisturizing power by combining mashed avocado with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a hydrating ingredient, like sour cream, egg yolks, or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.
Remove excess oil with baking soda.
Sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks acids to remove excess oil and restore shine. Overuse of baking soda, however, can lead to excessive dryness, so those with already dry hair should use sparingly.
To use: Mix 1 to 2 Tbsp baking soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.
Strengthen your hair with olive oil.
This mask is loaded with fatty acids to strengthen hair and antioxidants to help fight off free radicals and impurities. It also helps especially with over-processed and damaged hair.
To use: Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with half an avocado and a tablespoon of oil. Apply and rinse after 20 minutes.