If you want to protect your hair against chlorine, the harsh sun and the wrath of your heat styling tools, your kitchen is one of the best places to stock your elixirs. Natural ingredients with healthy fats and proteins can be applied topically to restore and strengthen hair that needs attention, so you spare your hair the exposure to chemicals, and also save some coin.
Avocado
Fatty-acid-rich avocado (used by itself or mixed with a some olive oil for added smoothness), amplifies hair’s shine and manageability. This is deal for curly hair that tends to get frizzy. Mash up some avocado and let sit on your hair after shampooing for 15 to 20 minutes. Massage into your scalp to let it penetrate hair at it’s root.
Coconut oil
Since it’s made up of medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil can penetrate hair more deeply than other oils. To use it as a leave-in treatment to repair split ends, moisturize your scalp, and add shine to hair, rub into ends as is or heat the oil to melt it into a liquid to coat. Leave it on anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight, then wash and style your hair as usual.
Eggs
Eggs may be the cheapest all-purpose hair solution in your kitchen. The yolk is rich in fats and proteins making it great for dry hair, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, can remove excess oils. For normal hair, use the entire egg as a conditioner, for oily hair, use the whites only, and for dry hair, use just the yolk. Apply a quarter to half a cup of whichever mixture is right for you to clean, damp hair, leave on for 20 minutes and rinse well with cool water. Condition with whole egg and yolks-only once a month and whites-only every two weeks.
Unsweetened yogurt
The lactic acid in yogurt cleanses and soothes the scalp (making this ingredient awesome for helping to get rid of dandruff) while the proteins strengthen the hair. After shampooing, take enough yogurt to coat hair from root to end and massage it through the lengths of your hair section by section, massaging into your scalp and through to the ends. Leave it on anywhere from 20 minutes up to an hour. Rinse out with warm water.
Banana
The potassium in bananas can help to strengthen hair and helps minimize breakage. When mashed with some raw, organic honey, which is full of antioxidants, this mix makes for a hydrating (and sweet-smelling) solution to dry, damaged hair. Apply after shampooing, from root to ends, cover your head with a shower cap for 20 minutes before rinsing.
