At this point in quarantine we’re all craving a trip to the hair salon for something—whether it’s a hair cut, color, or treatment. Since taking scissors or hair dye into our own hands at home is probably not the best idea, turning to hair masks and DIY treatments is our safest option. Of course there are many amazing brands that offer luxurious hair masks and oils, but you can actually make effective masks to address a variety of different hair concerns right in your kitchen using items from your refrigerator and pantry. Even those new to the DIY scene can blend two or three of these ingredients in a bowl, so if you usually shy away from creating your own products this is one area not to be afraid of as it’s quite simple.

Whether you’re looking to treat dried out and broken strands, a flakey/itchy scalp, dull color, or grease, there’s a DIY combination for you—All you’ll need are a few ingredients from your kitchen:

  1. Coconut oil
  2. Avocado
  3. Eggs
  4. Apple Cider Vinegar
  5. Honey
  6. Lemon
  7. Green Tea

Below is a breakdown of the various ways you can combine these ingredients to target specific hair issues—from dullness to dryness to damage.

How to Make Effective DIY Hair Masks Camila Coelho

For Dry Hair:

Honey (1 teaspoon) + Egg (1) + Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tablespoon)— Combine these ingredients in a bowl, apply to your hair, and leave on for 30 minutes. This masks is ultra-hydrating that nourishes hair without weighing it down or messing up your color.

 

For Dull Hair:

Honey + Apple Cider Vinegar + Coconut Oil—Combine equal parts of each ingredient (depending on your hair length, that could be 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon, or more), apply to your hair when it’s still damp, and let the mask soak in for 20 minutes. Finally, shampoo the mask out of your hair and see how glossy your hair looks.

 

For Flaky/Irritated Scalp:

Green Tea (1 cup) + Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tablespoon)—Mix these two in a bowl or glass and massage into your scalp. Let it sit on your hair for at least five minutes and then rinse out in the shower. The green tea’s antioxidant properties will soothe your scalp while the ACV will help remove excess oil. If your scalp is feeling particularly flaky, combine a small amount of coconut oil with sugar first for a scalp scrub that will remove excess flakes, then finish off with the green tea rinse.

 

For Grease:

Egg White (1 egg) + Lemon juice (half)—Combine one egg white with the juice from half a lemon to create a mask that will remove excess oil and grease from your roots and scalp. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes (or longer!) and then rinse with warm water. The protein enzymes in the egg white zap excess oil instantly.

 

For Damaged Hair:

Avocado (half) + Egg (1) + Coconut Oil or Olive Oil (1 tablespoon)—Combine these three in a bowl, apply to wet hair, and wrap hair up into a bun. Blow dry for 10 minutes to help activate the ingredients, then let it sit for an additional 20, and finish off by washing it out in the shower. The omega-3 fatty acids provide strength and shine, while the avocado helps moisturize the scalp.

 

How to Make Effective DIY Hair Masks Camila Coelho

Photo: Ouai

What’s your favorite DIY hair mask?

Let us know in the comments below!