I’m certain I’ve been through the spectrum of hair health issues. At times I’ve dealt with oily hair, dry scalp, limp hair, itchy scalp, thinning, and excess breakage. I tried dozens of treatments at my local drugstore and have even tried a few treatments at the salon, but nothing worked. The solution was as simple as looking in my kitchen. Now some of my messiest foods are improving my hair’s health.
The Kitchen Serves Up the Solution
I’m always up for trying a DIY solution for beauty and health. When I read about some DIY hair recipes to improve my hair and scalp’s health, I had to try them.
I already had most of the ingredients in my kitchen, such as avocados, eggs, honey, and molasses. I did have to make a special trip for the seaweed recipe, though.
Restore Moisture With Honey
Honey isn’t the easiest to apply, but it took my dry, damaged hair and made it soft and luxurious. I also recommend it if you’re out in the sun a lot.
You should shampoo your hair before applying this DIY moisturizing hair treatment. Leave your hair damp. Then mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a half cup of honey and massage into your hair. The olive oil moisturizes your hair and helps the honey to spread evenly. Wait 20 minutes and shampoo out.
To help strengthen and moisturize, sometimes I add 2 tablespoons of pureed avocado, which rejuvenates my hair even more.
Eliminate Frizz With Avocado
You’ll notice I use avocado in many hair recipes. That’s because it’s full of nutrients that naturally improve hair and scalp health. It’s not just for great guacamole!
I love using this avocado recipe in the winter when my hair gets extra dry and frizzy. Apply half a well-mashed avocado to clean, damp hair. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse. If you don’t mind a messier version, add in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 teaspoons of olive oil for extra moisture.
Eggs Treat All Types
Eggs are kind of a universal treatment for better hair health: Egg yolks moisturize, and egg whites treat oily hair. I usually have to use the egg whites in the summer when my hair gets oily fast. Once a month is all it takes for eggs to make a major difference. A single egg is ideal for normal hair.
Honey and Yogurt Mask Fights Flakes
Even when my hair is oily, I tend to have flakes. It’s a battle I’ve often fought and lost. Now, my hero, the honey and yogurt mask, has saved me (or at least my scalp).
Plain yogurt strengthens my hair and erases dandruff. I love how my hair looks afterward, and a non-itchy scalp is a huge plus.
I use 2 handfuls of plain yogurt and mix in 2 tablespoons of honey. A banana or half an avocado would be a great addition too. Work the mixture over your hair and scalp, leave on for 20 minutes, and rinse.
Strengthen and Moisturize With Molasses
I honestly wasn’t sure how well molasses would work in my hair, but it’s become my go-to deep conditioner. Some people even use it as a pre-wash treatment.
I prefer to use blackstrap molasses, but any darker molasses does well. If you have light colored hair, use honey-colored molasses to avoid darkening your hair.
Mix one part molasses with one part olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil. The exact amount depends on your hair length. You can also add this to your favorite conditioner for an extra boost of moisture. Leave on for up to 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Seaweed Heals Hair
Seaweed is a powerful little ingredient, though a bit messy. I’ve used several seaweed recipes and they’ve helped with dryness, dullness, and damage.
For the easiest DIY hair mask, add warm water and seaweed to a bowl. Let the seaweed soak for an hour. Strain out the water and apply the seaweed to your hair. I leave mine on for 30 minutes and then rinse.
I highly recommend trying different forms of seaweed and algae, as each has its own beneficial properties. Green, red, and blue algae boost hair growth, for instance.
I alternate masks depending on my hair needs. Since starting, I’ve noticed that my hair is healthier than it’s ever been. Try the best mask for you once every other week and you’ll start to see improvement.