The old wives tales of using the same ingredients on your skin as you would in your food holds a lot of truth in it. Mother Nature has gifted some crazy ingredients to work with and in this article, JFW brings you DIY hair packs from everyday ingredients found right in your kitchen!
Here’s taking a look at the benefits of some ingredients and masks involving them.
Coconut
A blessing for all hair types, coconut oil is one of the most effective conditioner for damaged hair. It encourages hair re-growth and prevents the loss of proteins from hair. Getting deep into the follicles, coconut oil moisturizes the hair, adding lustre to it, leaving a shine that lasts a very long time. The best way to apply coconut hair and masks with ingredients is to apply on top of the hair and comb it across so that it reaches the scalp and thoroughly touches the follicles. Leave it overnight and wash with shampoo the next day. It is also strongly recommended that using warm oil is better for penetrating the scalp then cold as coconut oil tends to cream when in room temperature.
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- Take the meatiest part of a tender coconut and microwave for about 7-8 seconds till warm. Massage onto hair and wrap hair in a warm towel. Wash with mild or herbal shampoo and dry naturally.
- Overnight soak 20 curry leaves in a cup of water and in another, soak a stick of ratanjot in ¼ cup pure coconut oil till oil is red in colour. Next morning, discard the stick from the oil, which should have turned a deep red colour. Drain water from the curry leaves and blend with oil after discarding the stick. Apply paste to scalp and hair and leave for one hour. Wash off with lemon juice.
- Soak henna powder overnight in black tea. Add 1 tbsp coconut juice from half a lemon. Add ½ cup of fresh yoghurt or 1 beaten egg to it just before applying. Leave for half hour if you only want to moisturize or 6-7 hours if you want to give it the henna colour!
- For curing dry hair add 1 tsp coconut oil warm and mix with 1tbsp warm honey and comb onto hair. Wash off in warm water.
- Mash 200 ml coconut cream with ½ an avocado. Massage onto hair concentrating on tips. Wrap head with hot towel for deep penetration. Store in a jar for further use.
Aloe vera
Aloe Vera gel is fast becoming the most natural hair mask frequently used, recommended even in cosmetology. Containing 75 active constituents such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars and acids, Aloe vera contains healing properties that cures even the dullest of hair from roughness and prevents it from getting frizzy.
- Peel and grate 1 large potato; squeeze the juice from it onto a bowl. Mix 2 tbsp aloe vera gel and 2 tbsp honey till it dissolves. Massage onto hair roots then cover with shower cap for 2 hours and then wash off with warm water. For best results try twice a week.
- Mix 1 tbsp Aloe Vera gel with 1 tbsp castor oil and add few drops of rosemary essential oil. Apply the oily mask onto hair for 30-45 mins then rinse. This mask repairs split ends and prevents further ones.
- Blend Aloe vera gel (depending on hair length) and add 2-3 tbsp castor oil, and 4-5 tbsp curd. Make a semi-liquid paste and cleanse scalp with the same. Cover hair with shower cap and rinse with mild shampoo after 40-45 mins. Do not try more than once a week.
- Mix 5 tbsp Aloe vera gel with 4-5 tbsp of fresh papaya pulp. Add in 2-3 tbsp of olive oil. Apply to hair and use a shower cap till 45 mins after which you can rinse off with mild shampoo.
Banana
Banana promotes hair growth and keeps hair from drying out and breaking off. Containing a protein that improves hair texture, prevent and control dandruff as well as moisturise scalp. Bananas are rich in potassium plus the vitamins, carbohydrates and natural oils in the fruit help the hair’s natural elasticity. The bonus point of this ingredient is that you can leave it on for however long you want!
- Puree 2 ripe bananas in the mixer. Add 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 3 drops of lavendar essential oil and 1 tbsp olive oil. Apply and leave on hair for 30 mins. Wash hair with lukewarm water. Bonus point: You can store this mask in the fridge for later.
- Mash with fork 1 ripe banana and add 8 drops of pure almond oil. Massage onto hair and leave on for 25 minutes. Afterwards rinse off with apple cider vinegar or flat beer.
- This mask is almost tempting to eat! Combine one banana with 3 tsp cocoa powder and 4-5 tbsp whole milk. Spread on top of hair avoiding much of scalp. Leave for half hour and wash off with just water.
Egg whites
Packed with proteins, minerals, and B-complex vitamins that are essential nutrients for hair eggs promote strengthening of roots and prevent hair loss. The fats in the yolk help hair texture making it super soft to touch. Known predominantly as hair food, egg whites are some of the most commonly used ingredients in hair masks. The lutein in egg yolks heals brittle hair, taking care of breakage and split-ends while the proteins in the white give the sheen and glow to the hair that is so coveted.
- Mix in a bowl 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp beer, 1 tbsp castor oil, 1 tbsp honey and apply on hair from root to tip. For best results put on a plastic shower cap for half hour with the mask. Wash off with apple cider vinegar. This mask is good enough to use frequently.
- Blend 1 cup of strawberries (You can use overripe) with 1 egg yolk, and 2 tbsp olive oil. Leave on hair for 20 mins with shower cap on. Wash off with shampoo.
- Overnight, soak 3 tbsp black gram and make puree the next day. Add one beaten egg, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 cup yoghurt. Leave on hair for half hour before washing.
- Beat 2 eggs with 3 tbsp cream and apply on hair. Rinse off with white vinegar solution after 5-7 minutes for shiny hair.
- For a very oil based mask – Add 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp of Olive oil, coconut oil, rosemary oil, pure Vitamin E oil and finally 1 tsp honey. Massage onto hair especially the tips and wash after one hour.