What if soft, shiny and beautiful hair can be achieved at the comfort of your home. And it only took 30 minutes of your time each week. Before we get to know how, let’s first see why your hair needs that extra love…
If you are making a banana and blueberry smoothie, would it matter whether you put one fruit before another into the blender. A banana before blueberries? Or blueberries before banana. No, right. After all, it will all blend into a smoothie. So the sequence doesn’t matter.
Though when it comes to conditioning your hair, the sequence does matter. The usual norm is to condition after shampoo. But if your hair is dry, frizzy, fragile and damaged, then do consider conditioning before shampooing. That’s because washing dehydrates hair and also strips away it’s natural oils, unless your hair is tremendously healthy. By that I mean undamaged, not coloured or heat-treated. But if your hair is damaged, chemically treated and not-so-healthy, pre-shampoo conditioning works like protective covering and saves your hair from getting parched and unruly. Moreover, it adds luxury and dazzle to your goldy locks.
* Coconut Oil for Big VolumeCoconut oil is fantastic for those of you with fine, limp hair. This aromatic oil penetrates deep inside the hair and holds on to hair proteins so that they don’t leak out when you are shampooing. Since proteins are retained, you will notice that your hair gets stronger and thicker over time.
2 tablespoons Coconut oil
1 tablespoon Almond oil (adds shine and softness to hair)
5 drops Lavender essential oil (nourishes and soothes scalp)
- Slight warm coconut oil if it’s solid. Add the almond oil and lavender oil and mix well.
- Massage into your scalp and hair and let it soak in for at least an hour before washing it out for sleek, smooth, beautiful hair.
* Coconut Milk for Mega Softness Coconut milk is a perfect conditioning ingredient for those with dry, coarse and damaged hair. It imparts all the goodness of coconut, but with an extra dose of moisture and softness.
½ cup Coconut milk (Use less for short hair)
5 drops Peppermint essential oil (optional, gives tingle effect and minty scent)
- You can make your own coconut milk, but if you prefer to buy it, then do check the ingredient list.
- Quality coconut milk will have only two or three ingredients – coconut for sure, water and sometimes thickener guar gum.
- Place the coconut milk in a bowl, stir in peppermint essential oil if using and mix well.
- Start with dry hair. Apply coconut milk mask into your hair and scalp, put on the shower cap or wrap your head in a muslin cloth or a towel.
- Let it soak in for 45 to 60 minutes for it to really moisturise your hair. Next, wash away for silky, swish-worthy locks.
* Egg and Honey for Thicker and Shinier HairEgg and honey mask is ideal for those with fine hair or who desire volume and lots of shine. Egg is packed with protein which can bulk your hair up, making them look fuller and thicker. Another fascinating thing about protein is it fills in the gaps of damaged cuticles and gives hair a smoother look. Egg also contains lovely, fatty egg yolk. And that provides deep conditioning for improved shine and manageability of hair.
1-2 eggs
1 tablespoon Honey
1 tablespoon Aloe vera gel ( optional, nourishes and gives hair sleek look)
2 tablespoons Coconut milk (optional, helps detangle, smooth and soften hair)
4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (optional, use for minty scent)
- Whisk the egg in a bowl. Stir in honey (and aloe vera gel, coconut milk and peppermint essential oil if using). Combine well.
- Start with dry hair. Apply the egg mask from roots to tips. Place a shower cap or wrap an old towel over to avoid a mess.
- Let the mask soak in for 15-45 minutes and rinse with cool or lukewarm water for thick, shiny and beautiful hair.
* Aloe vera for Sleek, Stunning HairIf you want a conditioning treatment that’s lightweight but at the same time pulls its weight to protect and save your hair, you need aloe vera. Aloe vera forms a thin film over hair and traps in moisture and keeps your hair well-hydrated or moisturised – but without being creamy or heavy. A well-moisturised hair is great, it has more softness, flexibility and definition. And it’s less frizzy and doesn’t break easily.
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel/juice
1 teaspoon almond oil (optional, conditions and softens hair)
5 drops ylang ylang essential oil (optional, stimulates grow and has a lovely floral fragrance)
- Put the aloe vera juice in a bowl.
- Add almond oil or any of your favourite oil, and use ylang ylang essential oil for fragrance and its therapeutic properties.
- Mix everything well. You are ready to go.
- Apply the aloe vera mixture on your scalp and hair. Massage with your fingers so that the gel penetrates deeper into the scalp.
- Let it sit for 30-60 minutes and rinse away to leave hair feeling soft, sleek and with a healthy shine.