Hair is such a big part of our identity. From the moment we grow, we create a relationship with it.
My hair and I have never really gotten along… In high school I hated it because it was too big and too wavy, so I did everything I could to straighten it and keep it that way. I would constantly get blow outs, flat iron it until my ends would be dry and whittled and then I would try any type of treatment that would nurture it, but mainly keep my hair in line. Now, on the other hand, man do I wish my hair had the waves and the shine it did back then. I still style it, but not nearly as often and instead of doing treatments to keep it straight, I do my best to help it grow and look like what it used to.
I think a lot of my dedication to changing my hair was 100% attached to my identity crisis, which had to do with growing up bi-racial and not really understanding where I fit in and how this determined what I wanted to look like. As I grew and became comfortable with who I was and where I came from, my hair evolved with me.
The silver lining is that my hair journey has allowed me to become familiar and experienced with hair care, hair masks to be precise. Here are a few recipes that will help you bring your hair back to life and relax you while you’re at it:
-
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Dull hair is one of the worst things and sadly, it happens because of excess buildup aka excess of all the products you put in your hair to make it look better. And it’s not just hair products that get stuck in there, at the end of a long day I could easily find anything from crumbs to lint all up in there. And this is where apple cider vinegar comes in -your hair needs a clean slate. ACV will work as a clarifying treatment. All you have to do is mix equal parts ACV with water, then apply it straight onto your hair after you finish shampooing. Leave it on for a few minutes, rinse off and continue with conditioner. If this technique might seem a little too granola for you, there are a couple other roads you can choose from.
-
Priyanka Chopra’s Yogurt Scalp Treatment:
For an unhealthy scalp or whenever your hair is looking dry, add full-fat yogurt, a teaspoon of honey, and one egg into a bowl. Mix and apply to the scalp as a mask. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash with warm water and shampoo.
-
Moisturizing Olive Oil Honey Hair Mask:
Combine 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup honey. Warm the mask in the shower or bath water before using your fingers or a comb to work it into your hair, focusing on the ends. Tie up your hair, leave it in for up to an hour, then wash and dry like normal.
-
Revitalizing Avocado Mask:
Well, it’s not just avocado, it’s also honey, lemon and olive oil. This hair mask recipe comes courtesy of celeb hairstylist, Andrew Fitzsimons. He describes this as a “hair smoothie”, since it requires a ton of avocado, which work as a natural detangler by coating your hair with a fine oil, smoothing things out. It also calls for lemon, which works as an antibacterial and natural remedy for dandruff. The olive oil will help condition your hair and protect it from the heat of your curling iron or straightener. Honey also helps with this, since it will strengthen the hair follicle. Mix in 1 ½ avocados, 2 tbsp of honey, ½ lemon squeezed, 2 tbsp of olive oil and a few drops of essential oil, like lavender or orange. Blend all together for 10-30 seconds until smooth, then apply to hair from root to tip. Leave in for 45 mins covered with a shower cap, then rinse out et voila: super-shiny locks.
-
Protein Coconut Egg Mask:
Give your hair the necessary protein it needs with this mask. Add an egg and a teaspoon of honey to coconut oil. Massage well into hair and scalp and let the mask sit for an hour or two and then shampoo as usual. This mask strengthens the hair leaving it damage free.