My hair is consistently exposed to heat, as I blow-dry and straighten it often. Usually when I am working full-time in the summer I can afford expensive shampoo and conditioner, but when that runs out a couple of months into the school year, I am stuck using cheap, and often ineffective hair products. A lot of the time these products cannot moisturize my hair enough to prevent breakage and split-ends, so I look elsewhere for solutions. Again, all-natural remedies are the way to go! Here are some simple hair-masks that only require one ingredient, and they work fantastic!
1.) Avocado Hair Mask: The fatty acids in avocados improve the texture of your hair, and the Vitamin E and Vitamin C help to nourish and improve circulation in the scalp, which in turn promotes hair growth. Furthermore, the antioxidants provide protection for future damage. Simply mash the avocado up and massage it over wet hair. If necessary, wrap your hair in saran wrap and let it sit for 15 – 20 minutes.
2.) Banana Hair Mask: Again, the banana provides vitamins that provide nourishment and shine. They also tend to thicken the hair. Like the avocado, all you have to do is mash the banana up, massage it into your hair, and leave for 15-20 minutes. I would recommend using a blender or a food processor though, and the little pieces tend to stick in your hair when trying to wash them out. It would be best if you had a high-pressure shower head.
3.) Egg Hair Mask: Whisk up 2 – 3 free-range eggs in a bowl and massage them onto scalp (leave for 15-20 minutes). The protein in the eggs provide your hair with strength, shine and silkiness. This is a good one because, as a student, sometimes it is hard to go through a dozen eggs before they go bad. A test to see if the egg has gone bad is to place it in a bowl of water, and if it floats, it is expired, but still usable for a hair mask!
4.) Beer Hair Rinse: Beer contains proteins that help thicken hair, and give you volume and fullness. Just pour a can of beer over wet hair, and rinse. It is a perfect hair mask if you are one to throw parties, particularly because when you wake up in the morning to clean up, it is inevitable that someone took two sips of a beer and totally wasted it. Use it to volumize your hair!
If you would like to jazz up any of these masks and provide extra moisture, add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Just make sure you wash your hair twice afterward, because it makes your hair pretty greasy. Do not do it on a night you are going out! The olive oil will strengthen, moisturize and fight frizz.
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