Summer can be hard on your hair - UV rays, sea salt, wind - these can all leave your hair feeling parched and in need of natural hair masks to revive its beauty. The good news is that you can create natural hair masks at home with the most basic ingredients; they cost a lot less than hair masks you'll find on the high street, and they're better for your hair too. Here are my top 7, which you can whip up in a matter of minutes to whip your hair into tip-top shape! I'm not responsible if you start flicking your hair around like you belong in a Pantene ad, ladies!
Beat an egg yolk with a cup of milk, two tablespoons of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice for a refreshing, moisturising hair mask. The protein in eggs nourishes your roots, whilst vitamin A helps prevent breakage, vitamin B12 promotes new hair growth and Potassium heals damaged hair. This is one of my favorite natural hair masks, but don't forget to rinse with cold water, otherwise you could end up with scrambled eggs on your scalp - eww!
Bananas contain vitamin E for a healthy scalp, vitamin A, potassium and vitamin C, which can help regulate oil production. Blend two bananas with a tablespoon each of olive oil, coconut oil and honey. Massage into your hair and relax for five minutes - you'll smell like a tropical coconut smoothie! A couple of warm water rinses later, your hair will look soft and shiny!
Avocados are used in many beauty treatments and an avocado hair mask is ideal for dry, dull hair - not to mention it's a great way to use up over-ripe avocados. Blend a small avocado with 1/2 cup of milk and one tablespoon of almond oil or olive oil. Apply to your scalp and relax for 15 minutes for gorgeously moisturised hair!
Anyone with oily hair or a problem scalp will love this mask - the vitamin C helps regulate your scalp's pH and oil production! Blend a handful of fresh strawberries with a tablespoon of coconut oil and a tablespoon of honey and work into your hair. Slather this on before relaxing in a warm bubble bath for 15 minutes and rinse to reveal fresh, shiny hair.
If your hair is dull from pollution or suffering from styling product build up, using yogurt or sour cream is a great way to get it back to its shiny self! Simply massage 1/2 cup of plain yogurt or sour cream into towel-dried (slightly damp) hair and leave for 20 minutes - plenty of time to do some household chores or relax with a face mask too! Rinse then shampoo normally to see life restored to your hair.
Oats contain vitamins and Beta-Glucan, and can be used in the treatment of itchy scalp, dandruff and other scalp problems. This is a great hair mask for sensitive types and it's so easy to make! Mix a tablespoon of oats with one tablespoon each of almond oil and fresh milk, applying to knot-free, dry hair. Leave for around 20 minutes before shampooing. You could use olive oil instead of almond for deeper moisturisation.
Dry, damaged hair needs extra-special care. Mixing two parts coconut oil with one part olive oil ensures your hair will benefit from the vitamins and moisturisers in the oils. Apply to your hair and cover with a shower cap to retain heat and make the mask work better. Leave on for as long as you like before you shampoo and condition normally - your hair may not even need conditioner!
These natural hair masks are a great, cheap way to revitalise and moisturise your hair. Most of them use ingredients you'll already have at home (if not, a quick trip to the supermarket is in order) and are easy to make. So why not take half an hour out of your busy schedule for one of these masks? Your hair will thank you for it! Do you have any top tips for hair masks that you like to make at home?