Homemade Hair Masks for Healthy Shiny Hair
Photo by Erick Larregui on Unsplash
Say goodbye to dry, frizzy, oily or dull hair with these four homemade hair masks for healthy shiny hair. So, you want to give your hair a little boost. Maybe it looks especially oily, damaged or split at the ends. No matter what your hair dilemma, we’ve got the perfect solution—a homemade hair mask.
Hair masks are a great way to revitalize and keep your hair shiny and healthy. I love finding natural alternatives to store–bought mass–manufactured hair care products. Commercial hair masks can be very costly. Here, we’ve compiled a list of our four favorite homemade hair masks for you to try. You can easily create a nourishing hair mask simply by combining natural oils, creams and fruits from your own kitchen.
Avocado Oil Health and Beauty Benefits
A little while back, we wrote a post on the health and beauty benefits of avocado oil. The oil is extracted by pressing the pulp of the fruit. It is a great source of Vitamins D, E and A. For centuries avocados have been used for skin and hair care by the Indigenous peoples of Central and South America.
This oil is excellent at lowering cholesterol, aiding in weight–loss and is even good for eye health. Due to its essential fatty acid and unsaturated fatty acid content, it is used in hair care products.
Eating Avocados
The flesh of the fruit is equally as beneficial for health and beauty. Sliced, smashed, as guacamole, and even in sushi. Are all easy ways to add fresh avocado to your diet.
Coconut & Olive Oil Mask for Dry Hair
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) olive oil
- ½ cup (120 mL) honey (optional)
Directions
- Combine coconut oil and olive oil in a small bowl. Both these ingredients are light; natural products that help moisturize dry hair and make it look shinier. Coconut oil is a perfect hair mask ingredient for dry hair because it softens and conditions your hair.
- Mix in a bowl to get the most out of these hydrating ingredients.
- Add honey to moisturize your hair (honey can lighten your hair color if left on for extended periods). To avoid this, leave it out or choose a different mask.
- Pour the honey into your mixture and stir well until everything’s combined.
- Comb the mixture gently into your hair. Use your hands to coat your hair with the mixture, then comb it through the strands with a wide–toothed comb. Make sure to apply the mask from the roots of your hair to the very tips. Focus on coating the ends, as this is typically the most dry and damaged part of your hair.
- Pin your hair up into a bun, then slip a shower cap on top to lock in the moisture. Wait 15–30 minutes to let the mask fully soak in.
- Apply heat to help the mask penetrate your hair. If desired, use a hair dryer to heat your hair. This can help activate the mask’s ingredients. Aim the dryer at your hair for a few minutes to open the hair cuticles.
- Wash out the mask in the shower with shampoo, then condition your hair as normal to lock in that moisture.
Note: For longer hair, add more of each ingredient, keeping them in a 2:1 ratio. Use this mask once a week to ensure your hair stays healthy and smooth. Skip the shampoo if your hair is very dry. Instead, wait another day or two before giving your scalp a good scrub.
Avocado, Egg Yolk & Honey Mask for Frizzy Hair
Ingredients
- ½ of an avocado
- 1–2 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) honey (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (optional)
- ½ cup (120 mL) mayonnaise (for tight curls)
Directions
- Slice a ripe avocado in half and scoop out the flesh. Mash it with a spoon or fork, then combine it in a small bowl with an egg yolk. Avocados and egg yolks both have moisturizing properties that can help tame curls and frizz while protecting hair follicles. For a smoother texture, mix your ingredients with a blender or food processor.
- Adding a spoonful of honey and coconut oil can make your hair shinier and add more moisture. Honey may subtly lighten your hair, so avoid using it if you don’t want to alter your hair color.
- Stir them into your avocado and egg mixture, making sure to loosen up the honey and incorporate it fully. If you don’t have coconut oil, no worries! Substitute it with extra virgin olive oil.
- Stir in the mayo to your avocado and egg yolk mixture and mix it until everything is well combined. Putting mayo in your hair sounds strange, but mayo is full of protein that keep your curls strong and shiny.
- Use your hands to scoop the mask onto your hair, then coat each strand by running a wide–toothed comb.
- Then pin up or tie back your hair loosely and cover it with a shower cap for 15–20 minutes. Remember to apply the mask all over your hair, from roots to tips.
- Once the mask has soaked in, rinse it out in the shower with cool water. This will prevent the egg from cooking in your hair.
- Then, shampoo your hair with warm water, and condition it to remove all the residue and revitalize your curls.
Note: If you have longer hair, opt for 2 egg yolks rather than 1. Apply your mask about once a week for healthy, bouncy curls.
Lemon Juice & Egg White Mask for Oily Hair
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- Juice of ½ a lemon
Directions
- To get rid of dirt and oil build–up, separate the egg and place it into a bowl. Egg whites have also been proven to increase hair growth and improve overall hair health.
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the bowl and stir until well combined. The protein enzymes in egg whites and the citric acid in lemons can help remove excess oil in your hair.
- Use your hands to spoon the mixture onto your head.
- Comb the mask through your hair, making sure to coat everything from the roots to the scalp.
- Then, spray your hair with water until it’s damp, or wet your hair in the shower.
- Pile your hair onto your scalp, secure it with a claw clip, or drape a towel over your shoulders. Avoid the sun while wearing this mask, the lemon juice together with the UV rays could lighten your hair color.
- Leave the mask in for 30 minutes—until it’s done its oil–removing magic!
- Step in the shower and rinse out the mask with cold water. Warm or hot water could cook the egg whites.
- Wash your hair with shampoo after removing the mask to ensure all the egg whites and lemon juice are gone.
- Consider conditioning your hair as usual to help lock in moisture so your oil–free hair looks shiny and healthy.
Strawberry & Mayo Mask for Dull Hair
Ingredients
- 8 fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) honey (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Directions
- Chop your strawberries with a knife, then use a fork to mash them up until they’re a jam–like consistency.
- Add the mayo into the strawberry puree and mix until a pink–like cream forms. Use a blender or food processor for an even smoother mixture. Strawberries help revitalize your hair, while mayo adds moisture without excess grease.
- Add the honey and coconut oil to your cream mixture and stir until well combined. Coconut oil and honey are natural humectants that add shine and can help lock in moisture. Keep in mind that honey can subtly lighten your hair color if you leave it on for an extended period. To avoid this, leave it out or choose a different mask.
- Wet your hair thoroughly in the shower or sink before applying the mask. Then, use a spoon to scoop the mask onto your hair.
- Comb the mask through from root to tip with a wide–toothed comb.
- Give your hair about 15 minutes to soak up the mask. Then, rinse it out with warm water and wash and condition your hair as normal.
Note: Use this creamy mask once a week to keep your hair shiny and oil–free.
Feel beautiful, healthy and happy through at–home spa–like experiences with our other skin care posts and hair care posts. Stay informed of new posts in this and other series by subscribing to our newsletter. Is there something interesting you use avocados for? Let us know in the comments below!
Source:
Simple DIY Hair Masks for Shiny & Healthy Hair
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Hair-Mask
Co-authored by Mindy Nguyen and Aly Rusciano, Last Updated: October 15, 2024