DIY Hair Mask to Strengthen Hair Naturally
Is your hair trying to tell you something? Maybe it’s frizzy, dry, or sprouting split ends. This moisturizing hair treatment can help strengthen and restore that damaged hair.
Coconut Milk for Hair
We go through a lot of coconut milk in our house. It makes for creamy, dairy-free soups, and rich chocolate cake frosting. Coconut milk is also great for hair. I like to use Wildly Organic’s Coconut Milk Powder whenever I need just a little coconut milk since it’s easier than opening a whole can.
Coconut milk powder contains over 64% coconut oil which helps strengthen and moisturize damaged hair. Researchers in this study compared coconut oil, sunflower oil, and mineral oil to see which were best for hair repair. Although the other oils didn’t help at all, the researchers noticed a significant improvement with coconut oil.
Coconut oil helps prevent hair damage because of protein loss during hairstyling and brushing. It even protects against damage from UV rays. So why does coconut oil stand out above the rest when it comes to hair care?
Coconut oil is a triglyceride that’s attracted to hair proteins. Because of its low weight and chemical makeup, it can get deep inside the hair shaft, unlike some other oils. This makes it great for repairing damaged hair, split ends, and preventing hair damage.
An Egg Shampoo
You may have heard of old fashioned egg shampoos (or do one yourself!). Eggs contain nourishing proteins, vitamins, and minerals that taste great for breakfast but also work well on hair. Here’s just a few of egg’s nutrients hair can benefit from.
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Riboflavin
- Vitamin B12
- Pantothenic acid
- Phosphorous
- Selenium
- Omega fatty acids
- Protein
A Little Extra Oil
Our hair naturally contains a complex makeup of fatty acids, lipids, and other substances that provide a protective barrier. Shampoo and other hair products can strip these oils too much, causing hair damage. Egg yolk can help replace cholesterol in hair, and olive oil is high in hair repairing squalene.
Olive oil is a very heavy oil though, so it’s used sparingly in this hair mask. If you’re like me and tend to have oilier hair, then you can eliminate the olive oil altogether if preferred.
Washing off the Hair Mask
When you’re ready to wash the mask off be sure to rinse hair well with warm (not hot!) water. Since my hair is thin and prone to oiliness, I followed the treatment up with a natural, plant-based shampoo.
Another option is to use a vinegar rinse after washing the hair treatment out.
How to do a Vinegar Rinse
Mix 1 part water with 1 part white or apple cider vinegar and massage it into the scalp as you pour. I use a repurposed squirt bottle for easy application, but a cup will also work.
- 1 egg
- 3-6Tbsp coconut milk powder
- 1/2tsp olive oil
- 1Tbsp water
- 4drops essential oilsoptional
-
Mix all of the ingredients together, mashing them with a fork, or use a blender. If you have short hair then 3 Tbsp coconut milk should be enough. If you have long hair you'll need closer to 6 Tbsp.
-
Apply the mixture to wet hair. Thin with a little more water if necessary.
-
Leave on for about 10 minutes before rinsing off in lukewarm water. Don't use really hot water or you'll have bits of scrambled egg stuck in your hair!
-
If your hair tends to naturally be on the oily side, then follow up the hair treatment with a vinegar rinse or shampoo.
The post DIY Hair Mask to Strengthen Hair Naturally appeared first on Wildly Organic.
Wildly Organic
Wildly Organic is an independent source for wholesome, organic foods and natural, raw foods and ingredients, the building blocks of a healthy life.