During these cold winter months and the slow transition into Spring our hair is one of the things that suffers most – either its under nourished, dry and suffering from split ends or producing too much oil to compensate for the changing temperatures. Hair masks are a great way to restore the balance in your hair, whilst also providing it with essential oils and nutrients. Much shop bought hair masks can be either over priced or filled with suspicious chemicals and additives. Her Campus Exeter suggests the following at-home hair masks, which are much cheaper and often more beneficial in giving you the healthy hair you want.
All Over Nutritional Hair Mask
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of milk
- ½ lemon
- 2 tbsps of olive oil
Simply whisk all of these ingredients together in a bowl and evenly distribute it throughout your hair, working from roots to ends. With any hair mask, leaving the product to sit in your hair for a minimum of four hours will ensure the highest rate of absorption for your hair. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hair after this mask to be rid of any egg-y residue left in your hair. This masks replenishes the protein in your hair, which nourishes the hair roots for healthy hair growth. It also contains Vitamin A, D and B12, which prevent hair breakage and prevent hair loss. The calcium from the milk ensures your hair absorbs all of these nutrients.
For Dry Damaged Hair (Particularly Fine Hair)
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp honey
As you can see, this is probably one of the most simple recipes out there and the majority of us will already have these ingredients in our homes. Simply blend or mash the banana until all the chunks are smoothed out, add the honey and apply to your hair. When applying any mask you may want to wrap your hair in a shower cap to prevent any mess. Rinse the mask out with your normal shampoo and conditioner. This mask is perfect for anyone with fine hair as the potassium in the bananas helps to strengthen and fix damaged hair without weighing it down.
Healthy Scalp
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of oats
- ½ cup of milk
This hair mask is best for those who want silky hair and a healthy scalp. The ingredients help protect hair follicles and eliminate excessive oil. This mask can help treat any scalp irritations or dandruff as it increases the moisture and improves hair growth. All you need to do is mix these ingredients into a thick paste (it may help to heat them slightly but ensure it has fully cooled down before applying to your hair).
The Summer Hair Mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Unrefined coconut oil
- 2 tbsp Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 Ripe Mango
- 1 Banana
Either blend or mash all of the ingredients together and distribute evenly throughout your hair. This mask reduces frizz, strengthens hair and seals in moisture for extra shine. It is also a light protein treatment, which ensures your hair is in the best possible condition it can be. The mango moisturises your scalp and adds volume to your hair so this mask is perfect for those with flat hair. The banana helps boost the natural elasticity in your hair, which prevents any breakage and split ends forming.
TIPS:
- Try applying these masks in the shower, as the heat of the water will open up your hair follicles and allow the masks to be fully absorbed.
If these ingredients aren’t so readily available for you one product that is amazing for your hair is coconut oil. Most hair products and ingredients can only coat the surface of the hair to add shine, smoothness and conditioning. However, because of its chemical structure, coconut oil can actually go beneath this top surface and can actually improve the strength and flexibility of your hair. It’s also very cheap and a little goes a long way.
Photo Credits: www.pinterest.com