Are you on a budget? Maybe you’re skeptical of investing in international products? Or maybe your hair is healthy and gets easily over moisturized with store bought products. Whatever the reason, there is no shame in trying an easy hair mask at home with simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen.
How to Apply Hair Mask
Most recipes can be applied on dry hair directly. I recommend you rinse your hair first to remove any product residue though. Work the mask onto your hair, from the scalp to the ends. I twist small sections to encourage curl clumping. This is better than putting hair in a bun 😣. Give your scalp a good massage! Leave the mask on for 15 -20 minutes depending on your hair health.
But be careful about protein masks! Don’t leave them on too long. Wash your DIY hair masks as normal. I prefer doing them as preshampoo. For some masks with oil you may have to shampoo twice. Try any of these treatments once a week to restore and maintain your hair.
Coconut Milk & Honey
Protein:Moisture Balanced. Coconut milk contains minimal protein, and honey is a moisturizer, so they both balance each other. Helpful Tips: Depending on your hair length/density use 1-2 tablespoons of coconut milk only. Add up to 1⁄2 cup of organic honey (nothing commercial nonsense like Dabur India!). This mask can be very rich, and using too much can leave your hair greasy. Be light handed for best results.
Banana Hair Mask
Moisturising. This mask softens hair and helps to detangle stubborn knots too. Helpful Tips: Depending on your hair length/density use 1-2 overripe bananas. Add up to 1 tablespoon of organic honey (not dabur!). Remember to blitz this in your Bullet Juicer to make a smooth and even pancake-batter-like consistency.
Aloe Vera Hair Mask
Protein Mask. This mask softens hair, adds shine, and improves curl pattern. Helpful Tips: Since aloe mimics protein, it can feel drying for low porosity hair. If you’re postpartum, then avoid it? Too much protein causes hair to become even more brittle, leading to breakage. Or mix it with flaxseed gel and/or honey, castor oil, to add moisture. Here’s a quick video to show you how I apply aloe vera hair mask. I prefer refreshing my hair with a simple aloe+water mix like this and wash it out the next day.
Here’s another tutorial of aloe vera hair mask with oil. I kept it about 30min and used shampoo, conditioner, styled with hair cream only. Check out my day 2 results! I recommend this for looser textures like wavy hair. Colored hair can benefit the most! Let me know if you try.
Flexy Brush used here to detangle my dry hair. You can find this in India at two shops: Use my referral link here to get 10% off on your first order.
Curd Hair Mask
Protein Mask. This may improve your curl pattern, making it tighter than usual. But my personal experience has been negative. It leaves hair smelling awful, and low porosity hair or hair that doesn’t appreciate protein will feel even drier. If you want to try it anyway, then add your favorite oil to the curd and cowash after to balance moisture.
Hibiscus Flowers
Protein:Moisture Balanced. This mask not only boosts hair growth, but rich in amino acids it strengthens hair too! Helpful Tips: Try this gel-like hair mask the day before washday! This way you can enjoy refreshed hair, allowing the hibiscus to work on your hair for a longer time. Check out this video on how I make and use hibiscus hair gel at home.
Honey Tea
Cleansing + Moisturizing. The tea makes honey less sticky, and the ACV is brings down the pH of the mixture to avoid greying or bleaching effects of the honey. Olive oil is light, doesn’t stink, easy to remove, my curls love olive oil! If you are acne prone then use castor oil or hemp oil instead.
Products used for the mix:
Nettle Tea – buy here
1/2 cup of honey – buy here
1 tablespoon Olive Oil – buy here
1 teaspoon ACV
DIY Okra Gel is also used as a deep moisturise but I prefer to use it as a hair gel! See guide here.
Anyway, these DIYs have worked for my 1:1 clients with different textures as well. You just have to use the one best for your texture. Time them well – use protein mask only when your hair needs protein. Add moisture only when you hair requires it.