Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components
of a tasty breakfast—but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and
affordable, all-natural ones at that. And they’re not the only ones. Did you
know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own
skin’s oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Or that the mild acidity
in lemon is an effective—and gentler—alternative to chemical-laden products?
Next time your locks need a lift, save money by using one of these kitchen
fixes.
For All Hair Types
“The egg is really the best of all worlds,” says Janice Cox,
author of Natural Beauty at Home. The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is
naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating
enzymes, removes unwanted oils, she explains.
To Use: For normal hair, use the entire egg to condition
hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize
dry, brittle hair, Cox says. Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is
appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to
coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with
cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking”) and shampoo hair. Whole egg and
yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be
applied every two weeks.
For Dull Hair
Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film
that both saps moisture and dulls shine—but dairy products like sour cream and
plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. “Lactic acid gently strips away dirt
while the milk fat moisturizes,” says Lisa Belkin, author of The Cosmetics
Cookbook.
To Use: Massage 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt into damp
hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water,
then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other
week.
For Itchy Scalp
To fight flakes—brought on by poor diet, stress and climate,
among other factors—try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. “The
acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin,
while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head,” says
Cox.
To Use: Mix 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2
Tbsp water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then
rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week.
For Limp or Fine Hair
To add body to hair, reach for an unlikely beauty beverage:
beer! The fermented drink contains generous supplies of yeast, which works to
plump tired tresses, explains Cox.
To Use: Mix 1/2 cup flat beer (pour beer into a container
and let it sit out for a couple of hours to deplete carbonation) with 1 tsp
light oil (sunflower or canola) and a raw egg. Apply to clean, damp hair, let
sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Or add flat beer only to a
spray bottle and spritz onto dry hair. “When the liquid evaporates, the
remaining protein residue (from the wheat, malt or hops) continues to
strengthen and structure hair,” says Belkin. Treatments can be applied every
other week.
For Dry or Sun-Damaged Hair
Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon—hard water, sun
overexposure, your trusty flat iron—nature’s sweetener can help. “Honey is a
natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture,” says Cox.
To Use: Massage approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp
hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to
2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application. For extremely
sun-damaged hair, trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a protein-rich
ingredient, like avocado or egg yolk, which will help replenish the keratin
protein bonds that UV rays attack. Treatment can be applied once a month.
For Oily or Greasy Hair
“Used properly, [cornmeal or cornstarch] is an inexpensive
way to remove oil and grease,” says Belkin.
To Use: Pour 1 Tbsp cornmeal or cornstarch into an empty
salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you’ve used it
all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out.
Treatment can be applied every other day.
For Frizzy Hair
Home beauty experts swear by avocado—and not just to repair
damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin
secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing
and weighing down unruly hair, explains Cox.
To Use: Mash up half an avocado and massage into clean, damp
hair. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Amp up moisturizing
power by combining mashed avocado with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a hydrating ingredient,
like sour cream, egg yolks or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two
weeks.
For Residue-Ridden Hair
“Nothing eats through product buildup like baking soda,” Cox
says. Sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks down anything acidic.
To Use: Mix 1 to 2 Tbsp baking soda with small amounts of
water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15
minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every
two weeks.
