We all want to keep our hair healthy and moisturised and we know we need to deep condition regularly.
There are plenty of deep conditioners that you can buy in the shops but sometimes it’s just more satisfying to concoct a DIY natural hair mask AND you get to decide exactly what goes in.
Yes, we know it’s going to be messy but that’s part of the fun.
There are endless combinations of natural ingredients that you can use in your DIY natural hair mask.
Most masks will start with an oil and add additional ingredients such as a fruit, honey or egg.
I’m going to start with my favourite combo and then list some other amazing ingredients that you can sub or add in or just use to start from scratch and create your own.
I call this my Breakfast Hair Mask
My favourite breakfast is eggs and avocado (and sourdough, but tricky to add into the mask)
This mask is great for
- dry / damaged hair
Benefits
- adds protein
- nourishes and moisturises
- adds shine
There are just 3 ingredients in the mask. Keeping it really simple
Breakfast Hair Mask Ingredients
- One egg yolk
- Half an avocado (guess where the other half goes 😉)
- 15-20 drops of argan oil
- a dash of water to make it easier to spread and make the mixture go further
Why these ingredients?
Egg yolk – full of vitamins and protein. These promote hair growth, add protein and make your hair shiny.
It contains biotin, folate, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E
Avocado – moisturising and nourishing, great for dry hair. Full of good oils and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids which are the ‘good’ fats. Avocado is a great source of biotin – a B-complex vitamin which can aid hair growth.
The oils found in avocados can actually penetrate the hair cuticle to moisturise hair. Avocado can strengthen and protect hair from damage.
It contains biotin, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B6
Argan oil – lubricates, prevents dryness and encourages production of natural sebum to keep hair moisturised. Read my full post on the benefits of argan oil
It contains vitamin A, vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties
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100% Pure Argan Oil
Method
Mix the 3 ingredients together – with a fork or a blender. A fork will leave small lumps of avocado – it’s pretty unavoidable but it still works.
The finished mixture will look like guacamole
Wet your hair first. Water opens up the cuticles of your hair and makes it more receptive to the hair mask.
Whether you apply to wet or dry hair depends on the kind of mask that you are using and the active ingredients. If you are using the oil as the main beneficial ingredient it is best to apply to DRY HAIR. Oil and water won’t mix so applying it to wet wet hair means that the oil will be blocked from delivering its full beneficial properties. These masks should be applied to dry hair like a pre-poo treatment.
With this mask I am using the avocado and egg as the main beneficinal ingredients so I am applying to wet hair.
- Section your hair and pop a towel around your shoulders in case of any mess. Now apply the mask. I just use my hands but a wide brush (the kind hairdressers use to apply hair colour) would work really well
- Make sure your hair is fully coated, from roots to ends. Start at the roots if you have dry hair. For masks applied to oily hair, start at the mid lengths and apply to the roots last
- Next pop your hair up in a clip to keep it out of the way. I leave the mask on for 30 minutes. To fully cover it I put a shower cap on with a second plastic cap underneath
- After 30 minutes rinse the mask off. I do this forwards over the bath so that I can see the water running off my hair. Keep rinsing until the water isn’t green any more! Then shampoo and condition your hair as usual
This mask gives my hair a really nice shine. My hair is not shiny by nature so I always notice this as a great benefit!
Other popular ingredients for a DIY natural hair mask
Oils for the mask’s base
An oil is used as a base (a carrier for the other ingredients) and then usually 2-3 others are added in.
Castor oil – provides nutrients to hair follicles and prevents their inflammation. It indirectly contributes to hair growth by stimulating blood flow when applied to the scalp
100% Cold Pressed Castor Oil
Coconut oil – able to penetrate the hair’s cuticle to add moisture. contains vitamins and fatty acids. helps remove follicle build-up to aid hair growth
Organic Extra Virgin Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil
Almond oil – lubricates hair, making it less prone to breakage
Pure Almond Oil
Olive oil – moisturises and softens hair, reduces scalp irritation but won’t penetrate the hair’s cuticle like some other oils
The additional ingredients
This could be two or three of the following:
Honey – honey is a humectant which means that it helps hair pull in and retain moisture
Banana – reduces dryness and frizz. Can help control dandruff and contains vitamins and potassium. They help protect hair’s natural elasticity which can reduce breakage/split ends
Apple cider vinegar – improves scalp health. Helps re-balance PH level of dry, frizzy hair. Helps control dandruff. Rich in vitamins. Antimicrobial which means it can help control bacteria and fungus that can lead to hair and scalp problems. Always dilute with water before applying to scalp.
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Yoghurt – contains protein which promotes healthy hair and lactic acid which cleanses the scalp. Can soften and moisturise
Aloe vera gel – anti-inflammatory properties and vitamins C, E B12 and folic acid
It is worth noting that due to the fresh nature of the mask and the lack of preservatives, the mask won’t keep for long so don’t try to save it. Add it all onto your hair and dispose of any that is left over.
Please note that it is best to buy oils from a manufacturer that you trust. You should also always do a patch test before using an oil for the first time. Just pop a small amount onto the inside of your elbow and cover with a plaster or bandage. Check the area after 24 hours to check if any irritation has occurred. If so, rinse the area thoroughly and avoid future use.
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