Almost everyone wants to have healthy, beautiful and easy to manage hair, but split ends, dry hair, oily hair and hair loss if often difficult to overcome for many people. If you have problems with your hair and have tried product after product with little to no improvements, it could be you are using the wrong product. Many store bought hair shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemicals that only temporarily improve the look and feel of your hair. Home remedies have been effective for centuries for adding moisture to dry hair, eliminating the oil from oily hair and stopping the itch and dryness associated with dandruff. Homemade hair care treatments are excellent for your hair, do not contain harsh chemicals, smell great and can save you money. Here are some of the most popular homemade treatments to help restore shine and healthiness to your hair.
Dry Hair
The daily use of blow dryers, curling irons and oil stripping shampoos can leave your hair dry, brittle and full of split ends. Make a conditioning mask made with two eggs, 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of honey. Pile hair on top of your head and cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave the mask on for about 20-30 minutes, rinse and shampoo with a light shampoo (baby shampoo works great). For a deep conditioner, add one teaspoon of lavender oil to ¼ cup of coconut oil, heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds and apply to your scalp and hair. Leave it on overnight and shampoo the next morning. The overnight mask should be done twice each week to maintain the softness and shininess of your hair. Your stylist can recommend the appropriate deep conditioning treatment (ask questions about whether it’s more than just heavy conditioner) to help you resist your scalp drying out, and your hair with it. Hair can be restored, often enough, with proper professional attention.
Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, it is typically due to an excess of oil being secreted in the scalp. Most people with oily hair find it becomes “sticky” a day or two after shampooing and will wash it more than necessary. Oily hair should not be washed more than three times a week, because it will only increase the amount of oil being secreted. It is best to use a natural, mild shampoo and massage your scalp while washing to loosen the oil that is built up on the hair shafts. A great homemade remedy to reduce the oil, prevent drying and have soft, shiny hair is to mix one teaspoon of aloe Vera gel and two tablespoons of lemon juice in a half full bottle of baby shampoo. Use the shampoo solution each time you wash your hair and follow with an oil free conditioner. To help reduce the oils in your hair, twice each week apply a mask of pureed carrots to your hair, leave on for about 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Your stylist can recommend an appropriate regimen and help style your hair to reduce oil buildup.
Dandruff and Itchy Scalp
Having dandruff and a dry, itchy scalp can be embarrassing and frustrating. Some of the dandruff control shampoos work fine at reducing the dandruff, but they never seem to last longer than one shampoo. There are several homemade remedies that will help eliminate dandruff, without drying out your scalp. Make a soothing mask made with ¼ cup of oatmeal, 1/8 cup of water, 6 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of rosemary oil and 4 drops of tea tree oil. Mix the ingredients together, apply to your scalp and let sit for about 20 minutes, shampoo and condition as normal. Use the mask at least once each week to eliminate an itchy scalp and dandruff. Mixing unrefined virgin coconut oil with a few teaspoons of tea tree oil and rosemary is also a refreshing way to alleviate itching and dryness on your scalp. Your stylist will have products you can’t get just anywhere to help with this, and can implement regular scalp treatments to reduce the flaking.
There are several remedies that can help you maintain a beautiful head of hair, but not all ingredients will work for everyone, so play around with different herbs and essential oils until you find the combination that is the best suited for you particular type of hair. As always, consult your stylist.