If your hair lacks moisture and feels dull and brittle, it could use a boost from essential nutrients found in natural ingredients. As well as eating the right sort of food, you can create your own hair mask from common fruits and oils. This is a fast and easy way of giving your hair a health kick, and can help you achieve strands that feel, soft, shiny and vibrant. As well as using the best organic shampoos and conditioners, I regularly apply this moisturising hair mask, and have never been happier with my hair.
Avocado
Rich, creamy avocados are a great source of potassium and amino acids, and of course are delicious to eat. But you can also nourish your hair by using avocado in a hair mask, as it has great moisturising properties. Avocado contains a high source of Vitamin E, which can help repair damage on your scalp, and Vitamin B, which can promote new hair growth. Chemically and colour treated hair can look dull and lifeless, but they’re also full of antioxidants and nutrients which can strengthen hair and protect it from further damage.
Banana
Don’t let that banana sit on your counter going brown, and apply it to your hair instead. It can help soften hair and protect its natural elasticity, which should improve shine and manageability. Using banana in a hair mask is a natural way of delivering potassium, zinc, iron and magnesium, which can help repair hair and reduce breakages and split ends.
Coconut Milk
Coconuts can be used for so many things, and applying coconut milk can help add moisture and shine to dry, damaged hair. It contains fatty acids, lauric acid and a host of other rich nutrients to help improve the health of your hair and scalp. It also has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it the perfect natural ingredient to help with dandruff, as well as soothe irritated skin and scalp infections.
Coconut Oil
Between washing, brushing, styling, blow drying and colouring, your hair goes through a lot. Coconut oil can reduce the damage caused from heat, and nourishes hair with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Similar to coconut milk, its natural antifungal and antibacterial properties make it the ideal ingredient to improve your scalp’s health and encourage new hair growth, as well as fighting infections and the fungus which can cause dandruff.
Olive Oil
By smoothing the outer cuticle of hair follicles, applying olive oil to your hair can greatly improve its shine and manageability. As hair becomes more pliable, you should be able to apply less stress when combing through knots, and find it easier to style. Olive oil can add extra weight and moisture to hair, which makes it ideal for curly or thick hair which is prone to frizz. If you find it weighs your hair down, you can try halving the amount in the recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Avocado
- 1/2 Banana
- 50 ml Coconut Milk
- 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
Method
Once you’ve set out all your ingredients, mix them in a blender until you have a smooth paste. Apply the mixture all over your hair and scalp, making sure you work it right down to the ends where your hair is driest. As it can get a bit messy, it’s a good idea to apply it leaning over the bathtub, and protect your clothes by putting a towel round your shoulders. Let the mask infuse your hair for 15 to 20 minutes. You can use a shower cap to make sure you’re not dripping everywhere. Using a mild shampoo which is organic or sulfate free, wash and rinse your hair thoroughly. Take extra care when rinsing, as you want to make sure there are no bits of banana or avocado lurking behind. It’s best to use a wide toothed comb to brush out any tangles, as these are smoother on your hair and should help avoid breakages and frizz. Now your hair should feel soft and shiny from all the added nourishment.
*Guest Post*
About The Author: Louisa Rose is from Cologne, Germany. She runs Body Health Love, where she blogs about health and beauty advice for young women.
