Hair masks are a lifesaver for dry, damaged hair. Hair is a very important feature of our body. The first thing others notice about us is our hair. When you go to a salon, their first advice is to get a hair spa. Professional hair masks are good but leave a big hole in our pockets. Though they work wonders, we cannot afford them regularly. DIY hair masks can use ingredients in your kitchen for good hair care. They are equally effective and pocket friendly.
DIY homemade hair masks can be used to treat hair fall, dry hair, split ends, dandruff, coloured hair, coarse hair, frizzy hair, damaged hair,
The following simple DIY home masks are perfect for frizzy, dry, and damaged hair problems. They are effective.
1. Avocado + Olive Oil
Avocados are rich in minerals that seal the hair cuticles with proteins and vitamins. The rich fat in avocado gives the hair a shiny glow. Make sure the avocado is ripe to use in your DIY. It is quite a challenge to know when an avocado is ripe. Ripe avocado gives a smooth and silky paste which can be easily applied to your hair. In addition, you can add a bit of virgin olive oil to give extra nourishment to your hair. Apply this mask generously all over your hair. Put your hair in a bun so that the product stays on. Leave it for 1 hour. Rinse your hair with warm water. Shampoo and condition as usual.
Useful: dry, damaged, frizzy hair, split ends.
2. Butter
Food rich in fat may not be good for health, but when making a DIY home mask, you can use high-fat ingredients. One such ingredient is butter. Butter is amazing and very effective for dry hair. It nourishes your hair, making it glow. It does not have a pleasant smell but is gentle on your hair. Take butter at room temperature because it is easy to smash. Apply sufficiently from roots till the end. Let it stay for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner. Otherwise, your hair might smell funny.
Useful: dry, damaged, frizzy hair, split ends.
3. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is another full-fat kitchen ingredient great for hair. Mayonnaise, a combination of oil and egg yolk, is good for hair. It is easy to use. Soaking your hair before applying will help in the application process. Run a heap of mayo just as you apply conditioner from the top to the end of your hair. Leave it on for an hour or so before your wash it with shampoo and conditioner.
Useful: dry, damaged, frizzy hair, split ends.
4. Coconut Oil + Aloe vera
The hair mask is simple and quick to make. Aloe vera is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It helps eliminate dandruff and controls hair fall. It gives a soothing effect to your scalp. In addition, coconut oil is good for giving overall nourishment to hair and scalp. I do not recommend using store-brought aloe vera because it might be processed and contain added colour and smell. Take fresh aloe vera pulp, smash it and make sure there are no bulky pieces. Add one or two teaspoons of coconut oil. Aloe vera is already quite runny, so do not add oil in large quantities. Make sure the mask is not runny.
Useful: dry, damaged, dandruff, frizzy, coloured hair, coarse hair.
5. Fenugreek seed + Yogurt
Fenugreek and yoghurt hair mask is one of my favourite hair masks. I have used this hair mask regularly during my teen years. It nourishes hair follicles and helps in healthier hair growth. It also helps in detangling hair and managing frizzy hair. Soak a Tablespoon of fenugreek seeds overnight or 6 hours. Soaking makes it soft and easy to grind. By soaking, you get the full benefit of fenugreek. Grind the soaked seeds into a fine paste. Use a little quantity of water for grinding. Add full-fat yoghurt to this mixture. Apply evenly on your head and scalp. Tie your hair up and leave it for an hour. Wash thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
Useful: dry, damaged, dandruff, coarse hair, frizzy hair, hair fall.
6. Banana + Honey
Banana is rich in silica, a mineral that helps in collagen synthesis. It helps strengthen hair and gives it thickness. Banana is also useful to nourish the flaky and dry scalp. Banana is a good natural conditioner that improves dry, damaged and frizzy hair problems. You can see immediate results with this hair mask.
Honey contains antioxidants that are great in healing dry, irritated scalp. Adding Honey to your hair mask will help infuse moisture and antioxidants into your hair. Smash 1 or 2 ripe bananas depending on the length of your hair. Add one tablespoon of honey and blend it without using water. Apply the mixture sufficiently to your scalp and roots before applying it to your hair lengths. Lave for 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse using shampoo and conditioner.
Useful: dry, damaged, frizzy, dandruff, slpit ends.
Read more about how you can use Banana and Honey in DIY face packs.
7. Oils
Oils are an age-old haircare practised even today. It helps in promoting hair growth, controlling hair fall, improving scalp condition and getting rid of dandruff. Coloured and damaged hair can be nourished by regular use of oil. You can use a single oil for oiling your hair or combine two or more oil based on your choice. I usually combine different kinds of oils. I usually mix two or three oils at a time, not more, so I get full benefits from these oils. Coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil, neem oil, almond oil, and argan oil.
Useful: dry, damaged, dandruff, coarse hair, coloured hair, hair fall,
8. Rice water Rinse
Rinsing hair with rice water is a 1000-year-old practice. It is practised even today. Rice water is starchy water left behind from cooked rice or soaked rice. It makes the hair smooth and silky and also helps in hair growth. Rice water contains vitamins and minerals from the rice, such as amino acids, vitamin B and E, minerals, and antioxidants.
Take 150 grams of uncooked rice. Rinse it through with water and discard this first wash water. Now soak the rice in a bowl for half an hour. Strain in a clean blow. Another way to make rice water is by boiling rice. Cook 150 gms of rice in 600 ml of water. Cook the rice completely. Strain the excess water from this cooked rice. Cool the water and then use it. Clean your hair with shampoo. Pour rice water onto the hair and scalp. Leave for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Useful: damaged, coarse hair, hair fall.
9. Green Tea + Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Apple Cider Vinegar cleans the scalp and removes excess oil from it. Green tea is known as scalp soother. The combination of green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties and apple cider vinegar’s cleansing features makes a great tonic to soothe dry, irritated scalp. Shampoo your hair before applying this mixture. Brew 1 cup of green tea. Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Mix well and massage into the scalp gently. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Do not shampoo afterwards.
Useful: damaged, dry, dandruff, hair fall.
10. Essential Oil
Essential Oils are concentrated oil extracted from plants. Essential oils are aromatic and very effective. They are beneficial in improving hair growth and adding strength and shine. Essential oils like lavender oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil, thyme oil, clary sage oil, tea tree oil, etc., can be added to any of the above hair masks to get added benefits. It can be added to a carrier oil like castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil. Essential oil spray can also be made by adding a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and spraying it on damp hair after a shower.
Note: While nothing can fix split ends except a trim, these hair masks will coat the ends and gives them a shinier, healthier look. Applying the above hair masks to the ends of your hair will give you healthier-looking hair. Leave it on for 20 min before you rinse it off with warm water. Do not worry about the portions of the hair masks. You can adjust the quantity in the above hair masks to your desired consistency. But make sure the final mask is a smooth paste and not runny. Cover your head in a shower cap after using the hair masks. Taking care of our hair is vital to our well-being.
