Whether you’re considering more natural and ethical alternatives to shop-bought hair care products, trying to beat allergies, or looking to save some money on toiletries, DIY hair care could be the solution. You can make your very own hair conditioner and hair masks with ingredients from your garden and your kitchen – it’s cheap, simple, and rewarding!
DIY hair masks
Give your hair some extra TLC with one of these fantastic natural DIY hair masks. They each take only minutes to make, and have unique benefits to suit your individual hair type.
- Moisturizing avocado hair mask
If you have very dry, damaged hair that needs a moisture boost, then the avocado hair mask is just for you! Avocado is not only delicious to eat but also very good for keeping your hair moisturized and looking glossy. Use the mask once a month to rejuvenate tired, dry hair and enjoy the shiny results!
What you need: 1x large, ripe avocado (peeled and pitted) + ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil + 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Mash the avocado and mix in the olive oil and lemon juice until you have a smooth, creamy substance. Apply the mask to damp hair (with DIY conditioners you condition before shampooing, which is a little different), comb it in and massage it into your scalp, and leave it to soak in for about 20 minutes. You can cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic bag to prevent dripping (it can get very messy!). Then, gently wash your hair out as normal with shampoo, and rinse thoroughly.
- Strawberry hair mask
Clarify oily, greasy hair with this delightfully fresh, fruity hair mask made from fresh strawberries.
What you need: 2 cups of fresh strawberries (not frozen!) + 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil + 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Use a blender to combine all of the ingredients, and apply to damp hair before shampooing (or in-between two shampooings). Leave the mask on for at least 15 minutes, and then rinse out with lukewarm water.
DIY hair conditioners
- Olive oil and egg conditioner
This is a very easy conditioner to make, and you can use it every time you wash your hair! Eggs are full of protein and help your hair to retain moisture, and honey is also a moisture-trapping ingredient that will make your hair look extremely shiny.
What you need: 1 egg, whisked + ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil + 2 tablespoons organic honey
Apply the conditioner to damp hair (honey on dry hair = an awful, sticky mess!), and leave it on for about 5 minutes before washing it out with shampoo, and then rinse your hair very well.
- Banana and honey conditioner
Treat your hair to a “banana smoothie” for soft, shiny locks.
What you need: 1 or 2 over-ripe bananas (depending on hair length) + 1 tablespoon organic honey + 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Use a blender to make the conditioner – this is essential, as the banana needs to be free from lumps (sticky banana lumps are very difficult to remove from your hair). Massage the conditioner into damp hair, paying particular attention to your scalp. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual.
There are many more variations of natural DIY hair care products, so do some research and get experimenting!
