What DIY hair masks really work?
What are the best homemade DIY hair masks?
Whatever hair issues you have, a DIY hair mask with simple hair-friendly components is the very thing to keep your hair well-groomed. And there is no need to hit the stores with professional products that cost a fortune. Just look closely at the basic stuff in your pantry to offset the impact of styling products, hot tools, and even sad side effects of dyeing. How? Keep reading to find out!
5 Top Ingredients for Growth and Repair
– Coconut products
Coconut milk and oil are among the traditional ingredients for a moisturizing hair mask and split ends treatment. The secret lies in the high content of antioxidants and fatty acids that work toward locking down moisture and retaining protein. So, get an extra simple treatment for damaged, fluffy, or dry strands with a warmed-up coconut oil hair mask.
Curly Tip
This simple hair mask for curly hair will give your locks body and shape. Mix ¼ cup of coconut milk with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and comb it through the hair while paying special attention to the ends. Keep it warm for 20 minutes, and then wash the head as usual.
– Olive oil
It is a silver bullet of a DIY hair mask for dry hair as it preserves the moisture and smoothes the cuticle. It has a dense, viscous texture, so it is unfit for excessively oily tresses and thin straight hair that gets oily naturally without any outside help. But pure olive oil is the best one for those who have dry and thick manes, processed hair, and even a combination of an oily scalp and dry ends (when applied locally).
Split Ends Tip
Make a DIY hair mask for damaged hair by warming up a bit of oil in the hands and applying it to the strands starting from the ends. Then put on a plastic cap and find a job to do for 15 minutes. For the best effect, don’t rinse it with a harsh clarifying shampoo – opt for a milder product.
– Eggs
Rich in proteins and vitamins, eggs are great for making all kinds of home-made remedies whether you separate the yolks from the whites or use a whole egg. For example, egg yolk mixed with olive oil in a protein hair mask boosts hair growth. The white part whipped with lemon juice removes excess oil and helps control greasy hair. An egg mixed with honey and apple cider vinegar will show your dry, brittle hair who’s the boss.
Colored Hair Tip
The yolk is excellent stuff to remove some dye from colored hair. Use three yolks with 1⁄2 cup of yogurt to take away one tone. Before applying the egg mask to the hair, moisten it with a vinegar solution: one tablespoon of ACV per one liter of water. The acid will raise the hair cuticle and allow the mask to go deeper into the hair shaft.
– Oatmeal
The cheapest powerful DIY hair mask for growth is a mixture based on oatmeal. Retinol and thiamine activate the hair follicles; ascorbic acid helps to control the sebaceous gland function and to cure an oily scalp while B vitamins penetrate into the deepest layers of your hair. And if you want to get 200% from oats, use it as both a mask component and a breakfast.
Bouncy Tip
For hair growth and thickness, whip ½ cup of oats, two tablespoons of almond oil, and ½ glass of milk to give lifeless hair a boost. To make the mask work better, apply it on damp hair. To double your mane, mix up a cup of beer, two tablespoons of oat flour, and lemon juice (half of a lemon will be enough).
– Bananas
If you go ape over your baby-fine hair and spend a lot of time hiding a visible scalp, go for a protein banana hair mask. It can feed up the strands with vitamins and minerals while also adding moister and elasticity. The fruit is capable of stimulating collagen production, which results in stronger and thicker hair.
Hair Strength Tip
Blend two bananas with two egg yolks, one tablespoon of castor oil, and honey. Wash off only with cold water. The result will be seen immediately and will last until the next shampoo time.
5 Rules for At-Home Hair Treatment
Since natural products contain no chemicals, a sparing effect is what we can definitely expect from the best homemade hair mask. All the components we are going to talk about are well-known for centuries as acting non-aggressively on the hair shafts, follicles, and scalp. Still, a homemade hair mask can deliver quite intensive action to give our manes what they lack and make them really shine. So, all we have to do for giving the hair a second wind is just follow a couple of simple rules:
Rule #1 Make the masks your habit
Incorporate the masks into your weekly routine to reap the most of natural active substances. Go for an oil-based hydrating hair mask once a week (for normal hair) or in two weeks (for oily or combination hair). Fruit and veggie oil-free masks can be used twice a week for any hair type.
Rule #2 Combine topical application with nutritional supplements
No matter how powerful your self-made beauty product is – it won’t work to the fullest without helping from inside. So, don’t forget about vitamins, supplements, and healthy food to strengthen hair.
Rule #3 Don’t go overboard
Most of the masks should be applied for 15-30 minutes (except for an overnight hair mask). However, many of us tend to turn it into a two-hour marathon hoping that the longer application yields faster and more impressive results. But this approach won’t work – only a regular usage will pay off.
Rule #4 Keep it warm
Many ingredients of a hair strengthening mask work better when warmed up, so wrap the head with a towel or a plastic cap to maintain the temperature and enhance the action. Warm up but don’t make the ingredients too hot – high temperatures can cause hair damage and skin burns.
Rule #5 Choose ingredients to address a certain hair type
No one knows your hair better than you. So, there is no need to use mask recipes straight as they appear on the Internet. Make your intuition and knowledge work and try different combinations to spot the best DIY hair mask for you.
Based on our collection, choose a tip that suits your hair issue best and don’t hesitate to experiment with blends. But do remember that any DIY hair mask will have a head-turning effect only when applied regularly.
Featured Image: drobotdean – www.freepik.com
