July 20, 2018
GOODFATS: Four Hair Masks to Unmask Your Glow
Writen by Naomi Whittel |
Published on: July 20, 2018
For millennia, cultures have revered hair as a symbol of power and strength, as well as a sign of vibrant health and femininity.
Hair masks are an excellent way to give your mane a little extra TLC and keep it lustrous. We often expect our hair to be shiny, soft, and strong, all the while exposing it to extreme temperatures, poor diet, chlorine, pollutants, hair dye, and a slew of chemicals in most shampoos and conditioners. These commonly used products sit on the surface of the hair very briefly and do not penetrate the hair shaft to provide lasting repair.
Instead, my homemade hair mask recipe will nurture your hair with natural and non-toxic ingredients that soak into the deeper layers of the hair and scalp. Hair masks are an excellent way to nourish and protect your hair so it can shine and grow healthily.
Most of these ingredients can be found in your kitchen. The beneficial qualities of honey, eggs, and oils like avocado and coconut will nourish and encourage healthy hair growth. If you’re dealing with an issue like dry or damaged hair, thinning hair or dandruff, try these hair masks once a week or more for optimum results.
Step by Step Instructions
Per Hair Type
Normal Hair
Coconut oil makes a great all-around oil for the basis of this normal hair mask. Its fatty acids nourish and protect while the egg adds protein, vitamins, and sulfur to strengthen hair. If your hair tends towards being oily, use the egg white portion only. NOTE: Take care not to get the coconut oil too hot or it will cook the egg.
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1 whole egg
Thinning Hair
Use antioxidant-rich argan oil and essential oil of rosemary and lavender to give your thinning hair a boost. Be sure to massage the mask into your scalp bringing circulation and nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E to your hair and skin cells.
- 1 egg
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 tablespoon argan oil, or coconut oil, melted
- 2 to 4 drops rosemary essential oil
- 2 to 4 drops lavender essential oil
Dry or Damaged Hair
Use a probiotic-rich plain yogurt for this hair mask to soothe distressed hair due to heat or chemical exposure.
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 tablespoon tea seed oil
Dry Scalp and Dandruff
The apple cider vinegar in this hair mask will work to balance your scalp’s pH, while the mayonnaise and tea seed oil provide potent fatty acids to protect and heal your scalp. Tea tree essential oil is perfect for helping to restore microbial imbalance that is often involved in dandruff.
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tea seed oil
- 2 to 4 drops tea tree essential oil
Tip
If you use eggs in your hair mask, be sure to rinse with cool water to prevent cooking the egg.
With all of these hair masks, you’ll get a more thoroughly blended product if you use a blender, but you can also mix well with a fork. You may need to adjust the amounts of ingredients based on hair length and volume.
Dampen hair before applying. Use a towel to cover your shoulders to catch any drips. Apply mask evenly to hair, massage the scalp while you apply and be sure to include the full length of your hair including the ends. If your hair is long, tie up before covering with a plastic shower cap or towel. Leave on for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse with cool water and wash with shampoo and conditioner as usual.
