With salon deep-conditioning treatments out of bounds for the foreseeable future, but with an unwavering commitment to ensuring your mane maintains its shining glory – we bring you our very favorite hair mask ingredients, revered in Ayurveda for building strength and resilience from the root up. Always thinking of your comfort (and quarantine safety), we’ve chosen natural ingredients you can find in your kitchen – plus there’s the added incentive to hair mask at home regularly to cut down on food waste as these items reach their expiration dates!
1
COCONUT MILK
Coconut milk is commonly used in Asia – both in the kitchen and for beauty. This milky liquid is loaded with vitamins such as Vitamin E which helps repair hair damage and split ends. It is also rich in healthy fats which help to nourish, moisturize, and detangle hair. You may want to include this if you are battling with hair loss because the vitamins from coconut milk stimulates blood circulation which promotes thick hair growth.
2
AVOCADO
This popular green fruit (yes, it’s a fruit!) is rich in fats and oils, making it not only a delicious addition to your meal but also an excellent source of moisture for your hair. Because it helps restore dry, damaged, and brittle hair, it is especially suitable for chemically treated hair. The nutrients from this berry (yes, it’s a berry!) can penetrate deep into hair cuticles to moisturize and repair hair and is one of the best recipes for hair growth.
3
EGGS
We all know that eggs are a great source of protein. But did you know that the keratin that makes up your hair is a type of protein? This makes eggs an excellent DIY hair mask for shiny hair! Many people prefer using just egg yolks, but whole eggs will work well too. Make sure to use cool water when rinsing to avoid a hairful of scrambled eggs!
4
YOGURT
Do you constantly have trouble finishing dairy before it turns bad? Not to worry, share some with your hair which will thank you tremendously for it! Yogurt is rich in protein and fats, making it an ideal ingredient to restore the nutrients and level of moisture in hair. It is a great option for thinner and finer hair, because it will not weigh it down like how oils can, so you won’t have to worry about flat and dimension-less hair.
5
OLIVE OIL
6
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Apple cider vinegar has a low pH due to its acidic nature which makes it an excellent conditioner. Because shampoo is alkaline, rinse-off conditioners are formulated to be acidic to neutralize the effect of shampoo. Apple cider vinegar acts in the same way, and helps balance the scalp’s pH levels. Besides that, its antibacterial and antifungal properties help to treat flaky and itchy scalps. So if you have a dry or sensitive scalp, apple cider vinegar is the way to go!
7
HONEY
Honey is an amazing ingredient for maintaining the moisture and shine of hair, and fighting hair loss. Raw honey contains enzymes and nutrients that help add shine to the hair without weighing it down. As an emollient, it also seals in moisture, helping keep the hair healthy. Because honey helps clean the hair follicles and prevent clogging, it helps combat hair loss which often results from clogged hair follicles. As an added bonus, it even helps to stimulate dormant follicles, aiding in hair growth!
Some of our favorite combinations:
- Avocado + egg for deep conditioning
- Coconut milk + olive oil to repair damaged hair
- Yogurt + honey for thin, frizzy hair
- Apple cider vinegar + honey + olive oil for increased shine
Most of these masks can be applied to wet or dry hair, though we’ve found oil-based masks are easier to apply on dry hair. Be sure to protect your clothing by throwing a towel over them when applying the mask (which you can do with a brush, or just your fingers), and you likely want to section your hair if it’s long for easier application. We recommend applying to the scalp along with the full length of your hair. We’ve tried these both on clean, and unwashed hair, and found them highly efficacious – although masks with oil, yogurt and even egg, if the smell is bothersome, may warrant a gentle shampoo after!
