While our coifs are getting a much-needed rest from blow-drying and styling because of quarantine, we thought it would be a good time to give our locks some extra love. Since a deep-conditioning treatment at the hair salon isn’t an option, we’re channeling our inner kitchen beautician. It turns out Lizzo was right— all we needed was some coconut oil—and a few other ingredients you can pick up in your pantry.
Homemade hair masks are quick, effective, cheap, and all-natural. Most of these treatments take 30 minutes or less. Nourishing nutrients moisturize the hair shaft, while strengthening proteins help promote growth. You’ll find most of mother nature’s ingredients in your fridge and cabinets, so you don’t have to spend a dime or even have to leave the house. Plus, none of these masks contain parabens, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances. Whether you’re suffering from an irritated scalp; dandruff; or dryness, dullness, and damage, we’ve got a recipe that will restore, repair, moisturize, strengthen, grow, soften, hydrate, and add shine. Scroll on for 21 DIY hair masks that will give you a shiny, lustrous mane.
Aloe Vera
You may have an aloe vera plant or keep a bottle of it around for sunburns, but this lightweight hydrator is also your hair’s homie. Aloe’s gel-like consistency works well on medium or fine, damaged hair. According to Reader’s Digest, it’s soothing and calming qualities also make it a great at-home remedy for hair loss. But today we’re using the succulent juice to soak up sebum, the substance secreting from your sebaceous glands that makes hair appear greasy.
Cosmo’s aloe-based grease-dissolving DIY mask calls for:
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Aloe vera gel
1/2 Tsp Lemon juice
Mix well then rub into your scalp, raking from the roots to the tips. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing and/or shampooing.
Apples
A hair doctor is called a trichologist, and an apple a day keeps the trichologist away. Hair products can throw off our hair’s natural pH levels which can leave hair looking dry and brittle. According to The London Centre of Trichology, apples can help with that imbalance by closing the hair cuticle, resulting in smoother, shinier hair. Here is their DIY recipe to take your dry, brittle ‘do soft and shiny in just half an hour.
1-2 Large apples
2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
1 Tbsp Corn flour
1 tsp Lemon juice
Peel and core apples, then blend until they create a pulp. Combine with ACV, lemon juice, and corn flour. (Yes, the corn flour is weird, but it helps the apples adhere to your hair.) Apply to dry, dirty hair. Leave for 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is the MVP of at-home hair remedies because, like its antecedent, it does wonders when it comes to balancing your hair’s acidity. Clogged hair follicles can lead to hair loss, but ACV naturally prevents and fixes blocked follicles by gently dissolving product buildup. A simple rinse of water and ACV helps unclog pores, promotes regrowth, and can even soothe itchiness.
Bottom Line: An ACV mask will enhance glossiness when strands start to lose their luster.
Harper’s Bazaar got this Smoothing Mask recipe from hairstylist Jessielee Meltz of IGK Soho in New York, who claims, “Apple cider vinegar closes the cuticle of your hair, making it smoother, less prone to frizz, naturally detangled, as well as shinier.” Meltz goes on to say “It’s said to be an alpha-hydroxy acid, which exfoliates the scalp, helping with dandruff.” Adding honey, a natural humectant, helps reduce breakage for stronger, longer, and healthier locks.
2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Water
Mix and apply to freshly shampooed hair. Cover with a shower cap for 10-15 minutes then rinse with cold water.
Cosmo keeps the soothing honey but trades out water for moisturizing coconut oil in its scalp-calming DIY hair mask, which is suitable for straight hair or curls.
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Honey
Zap oil in the microwave for at 10-second intervals until melted, then mix in ACV and honey. Saturate scalp, working through dry roots to tips. Shampoo after 30 minutes.
Reader’s Digest breathes life back into limp or damaged locks by adding egg whites and olive oil into the mix:
1 tsp ACV
2 Tbsp EVOO
3 Egg whites
Combine ingredients and rub the mixture into hair. Cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave for half an hour. Shampoo and rinse.
Avocado
We know this superfood as a fabulous toast topper and the compulsory ingredient in everyone’s favorite dip, but this alligator pear is also ripe for smashing on one’s noggin. Avocado naturally high fat content serves to soften, control, and nourish your mane. According to The London Centre of Trichology, “an avocado mask will not only strengthen hair, it can also promote hair growth. Avocados are rich in vitamins B and E, which help to protect and strengthen the hair to encourage regular hair growth. Avocados also act as a moisturizer for dry or damaged hair.”
It works well as a deep-conditioner, especially on over-processed, dry and brittle hair. According to Luxy Hair, “The chemicals in hair dye lift the cuticle (the outermost layer of your hair) which is what protects your strands, helping them retain moisture. They also break down the natural pigments in the hair which can cause dryness and give the hair an overall straw-like feeling over time.” Their deeply moisturizing avocado-based mask for damaged hair incorporates coconut oil for extra hydration and breakage prevention, as well as honey to promote strong, healthy strands. The three-ingredient recipe calls for:
Half an Avocado
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
2 Tbsp Honey
Melt coconut oil, mash in avocado, and mix in honey until smooth. Apply the mixture to damp hair, starting at the roots. Cover with a shower cap and sit for 30-45 minutes before shampooing and rinsing.
Expert colorist Stephen Sanna from the Pierre Michel Salon in New York City combines avocado with an egg to help restore your hair’s shine:
1 Ripe avocado, mashed
1 Egg
Mix together and apply to wet hair. Cover and leave on for at least 20 minutes. Rinse several times using cool water (so as not to inadvertently cook the egg and end up with bits of a scramble in your nest). Michel recommends a monthly regimen for healthy hair, while a weekly one will do for damaged ‘dos.
Botanic Oils
Avocado oil is rich with the same vitamins, essential fatty acids, and minerals as the tree berry it comes from. It can be applied directly to hair to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which promotes hair growth. However, olive oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, extra virgin coconut oil, and jojoba oil are all great moisturizers for dry, coarse, frizzy, or damaged hair. Lack of moisture leads to breakage. According to Luxy Hair, “Dry hair is caused when there isn’t enough natural oils or moisture being produced and this is most commonly caused by over-washing your hair.” So only wash your hair a few times a week, and douse thirsty strands in oil. Cosmo says that argan oil works best for finer hair that is easily weighed down, while olive oil works better on thicker, coarser, and/or color-treated hair. Don’t use coconut on fine hair—it works best on thick and heavy strands. Castor oil is another botanic oil with many benefits, including promoting hair growth. Lux Hair recommends mixing a few drops of 100% pure virgin castor oil with olive oil and massaging into your scalp.
Instead of a mask, this is more of a hot oil treatment. Simply warm up a half a cup of your favorite botanical oil: argan, avocado, extra virgin coconut, jojoba, olive, or sweet almond oil. Then, apply small amounts of the oil onto dry hair, working in sections until it is thoroughly coated from root to tip. Wrap with plastic and a warm towel for spa vibes. Leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour (or even overnight if your hair is super duper dry), then shampoo. Birdie notes that you may have to wash it twice to make sure you got out all of the oil—otherwise it can get crunchy.
Banana
Not only do bananas make delicious smoothies and bread, but they also soothe itchy scalps and fight frizz. Both hair woes are caused by a lack of moisture, which can be remedied with nature’s conditioner—the banana.
Lock in moisture, add shine, and prevent split ends with Lux Hair’s frizz-free banana parfait mask:
1 Banana, sliced
2 Tbsp Yogurt (plain)
1 Tbsp Honey
Blend or mash ingredients to combine. Apply to damp hair, starting at the scalp. Tie your hair up and cover with a shower cap. Leave it on for 30-45 minutes before shampooing.
Priyanka Chopra has a similar recipe for to soothe your scalp and reduce flakes. She swaps out the banana for an egg.
Beer
Not only can beer give you a belly, but it can also give your hair body. The London Centre of Trichology says the malt and hops strengthen hair cuticles to make flat hair appear more full. Here’s their recipe to give your hair bodacious beer body:
1 Egg yolk
50 Mls Flat beer
Mix together and apply to damp hair. Cover with a shower cap, towel, or plastic for 30 minutes before washing thoroughly. It will make your hair look so healthy, you’ll be tempted to do it all the time, but monthly is plenty to avoid drying out your hair.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is thought to stimulate follicles by promoting proper circulation, an essential component to hair health. Combine some with warm olive oil and honey for a soothing-yet-tingly scalp exfoliant that removes product build-up and dandruff flakes. Apply to damp hair, massage into scalp for 10 minutes, then rinse out with warm water, followed by cool to close up the cuticles.
Lux Hair combines cinnamon with coconut oil for a one-two-punch of hair growth stimulation + moisture that equals, strong, healthy strands:
1 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tsp Cinnamon
Mix the two ingredients well in a mixing bowl. Part your hair and apply the mixture onto the scalp, using your fingertips to massage it into your scalp and stimulate the hair follicles. Tie your hair up and cover with a shower cap or towel. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes and then rinse with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
Coconut Oil
This versatile oil has many benefits and uses. Coconut oil is 99% fat, which makes it able to bond to hair proteins and penetrate inside the hair shaft, hydrating and moisturizing from the inside out. And as we’ve learned, moisturized hair resists damage and breakage caused by improper hair care, mechanical abrasion, sun damage, and chemical treatments. In addition to providing soft, silky shine, coconut oil has a tropical smell that gives off island vibes. This DIY Damaged Hair Repairing Coconut Mask calls for equal parts organic coconut oil and organic and pasteurized honey:
1 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tbsp Honey
Melt coconut oil then mix well with honey. Massage the mixture into your roots and spread evenly throughout hair. Put it in a bun and cover with a shower cap for 20 minutes. Wash it out twice, lest your hair dry with a greasy film.
Coconut Milk
Like the oil, this coconut derivative is super moisturizing due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. However the consistency is a little lighter, so those with finer hair who should stay away from slathering coconut oil on their heads can get down with the milk version. According to Reader’s Digest, “one of the leading reasons for hair loss is having a damaged scalp due to dryness.” The recommend massaging coconut milk into the hair’s roots and letting it sit for 10 minutes a day.
Coconut milk is also a great way to hydrate natural curls. If your curls seem frizzy, try this nourishing Curly Hair Mask to add some much-needed moisture:
1 Avocado
2 Tbsp botanic oil (coconut, avocado, EVOO, etc.)
1 Tbsp Coconut milk
1 Tbsp Honey
Mash ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. Part the hair into four sections, and apply the paste from roots to ends until hair is fully saturated. Cover with a shower cap and leave on for at least 20-30 minutes. Cover with a hot towel for optimal effects. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then wash with a sulfate-free shampoo, condition, and cleanse. For extra conditioning effects, apply a leave-in conditioner before styling.
Egg
The incredible egg is not just edible, it’s another one of nature’s conditioners due to its high fat content. Eggs also have high levels of protein, which promotes hair regrowth. Some hair mask recipes call for just the egg whites, which have protein enzymes that help remove excess oil. While adding heat from a warm towel or hairdryer is fine for most of these masks, do not add heat to any mask that contains egg. Women’s Day warns to “be careful not to leave the mask on for too long, as it could cook in your hair and be difficult to get out.” Use this natural hair loss remedy from Reader’s Digest to help reverse damage:
1 Egg
1 Tbsp EVOO
Mix well and apply to hair. Cover and let sit for a minimum of 10 minutes. Rinse and wash with a moisturizing conditioner.
Women’s Health has another recipe that adds banana and honey to make dull hair shinier:
1 Banana (ripe)
1 Tbsp Raw organic honey
1 Egg white
They say to peel the banana and freeze before blending for fewer clumps. Add honey and egg white and blend again until smooth and combined. You know the drill by now: Apply from root to tip, cover with a shower cap, and sit for 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.
Good Housekeeping ups the omega-3 fatty acid content with avocado and olive oil. Use this avocado, egg, and olive oil mask to add strength and shine to hair that is dry and damaged from styling or dyeing:
Half an Avocado
1 Egg
1 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp Honey
Mush together until combined, then apply to wet hair. This one suggests starting from the bottom and working your way up to the scalp. Wrap into a bun, then cover with a shower cap. Let it set for 30 minutes before washing out. You can blow-dry the covered shower cap for the first 10 minutes to help activate the ingredients.
Honey
Humans have used honey as both a food and a medicine for thousands of years, thanks to its many proteins, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, and minerals. We mentioned honey is a humectant earlier, which means it is good at retaining or preserving moisture. This natural antibacterial is also antimicrobial, and can be used as a topical ointment for scalp infections. It’s also a soothing emollient that regulates pH and prevents pathogen infections. Use this sweet bee byproduct as a hydrating treatment to bring back sheen and shine when your hair is feeling parched. Master colorist Stephanie Brown from NYC’s IGK Salon says this Honey, Egg, and Apple Cider Vinegar Mask nourishes without weighing down your hair:
1 tsp Honey
1 Egg
1 Tbsp ACV
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Apply the mixture 1/4 inch from the scalp, down to the ends. Leave on for 30 minutes, then rinse.
Another similar iteration of this mask replaces the egg with another fatty hydrator, coconut oil and ups all of the ingredients to equal parts. Try Good Housekeeping’s Honey, ACV, and Coconut Oil concoction next time you want to lock in color or just make dull strands appear more glossy:
1 Tbsp raw organic honey
1 Tbsp ACV
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
Combine ingredients and apply to damp hair. Leave for a minimum of 20 minutes before shampooing. It says it works on all hair types, but people with fine, thin hair may want to swap the coconut oil out for coconut milk.
Lemon
You’re probably aware that lemon juice can lighten your hair, but did you know the Vitamin C-packed citrus juice is also a natural astringent? Lux Hair touts that lemon juice’s acidic nature not only effectively absorbs excess oil and grease, but also helps clean your hair of product deposits and dust. They also claim that lemon juice adds bounce and shine to dull, lifeless hair. According to Naturally Curly’s article, How to Create a Scalp Care Regimen to Grow Healthy Natural Hair, According to a Trichologist, “Mildly acidic products can be applied to the hair to harden the outer layer, flatten the cuticles, and shrink the diameter of the hair. This serves to make the hair shiny and less prone to tangling and snagging on adjacent hair strands.” Rebalance oily hair’s natural pH with this DIY Hair Mask from Women’s Health that uses egg white to condition without weighing hair down:
Juice from 1 lemon
1 Egg white
Crack an egg and separate the egg white. Squeeze in lemon juice and mix until smooth. Apply to damp hair from top to bottom. Tie hair up and cover with a shower cap. Let this mask sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with water then shampoo and condition.
A similar variation from Love Hair cuts back on the lemon and adds coconut milk and olive oil to soften and restore natural shine:
1 Cup of coconut milk
1 Egg
2 Tbsp EVOO
Squeeze of lemon
This recipe uses the whole egg and recommends beating it before mixing it with the other ingredients. Massage mixture into scalp and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing clean.
Yogurt
Jana Blankenship wrote a book called Wild Beauty: Wisdom & Recipes for Natural Self-Care and founded a natural beauty line called Captain Blankenship. She explains that “Yogurt is rich in protein which helps strengthen hair, while lactic acid cleanses hair and helps promote dead skin cell turnover.” She recommends this creamy, hydrating mask for all hair types, and says it can also be used on your face, so keep on slathering! This multitasking mask only contains two ingredients:
2 Tbsp yogurt (full fat is best)
1 Tbsp Honey
Combine in a bowl, apply from roots to tips, sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse well.
