Damaged hair does not discriminate. Anyone can be affected by uncontrollable elements and factors that contribute to damaged hair. When hair loses moisture it becomes brittle and loses its shine and luster. If hair is left damaged for long enough, it can cause dandruff and even hair loss. Taking care of your hair doesn’t always have to break your budget. There are plenty of natural remedies that you can make at home to protect your hair from future damage.
How Will I Know?
It’s pretty easy to figure out when your hair is damaged. Sometimes you can visually see the breakage and split ends. Other times you can feel excessive dryness in your hair. Damaged hair has a harsh texture and tangles easily. Overall you can tell that your hair is damaged if it is difficult to manage.
How Does Hair Become Damaged?
Sun rays, lack of moisture, harsh chemicals – there are so many reasons for damaged hair. Here are a few of the major contributing factors:
- Overuse of styling tools like blow dryers, straighteners and curling irons
- Dry and hot climates
- Swimming in chlorinated water
- Harsh chemical treatments
- Excessive washing with harsh products
- Friction from blankets, pillows and clothing
- There are also reasons for damaged hair that you can’t control. Some people are born with medical conditions and hereditary conditions that make their hair follicles more prone to being damaged. In addition, malnutrition and eating disorders can lead to dry, brittle hair.
Finding the Proper Fix
There are a few ways to go about treating your damaged hair. Some people head straight to the salon to cut off their hair and professionally fix their problem. However, there are more affordable and faster remedies to treat and prevent damaged hair. In fact, most of them use products you can find in your pantry.
Eggs
Eggs contain natural proteins and minerals that nourish hair when applied. For a natural shine, try this remedy once a week.
Egg Whisk
Products: 1 egg , shower cap
Time: 20 minutes
Whisk one egg and apply to your scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse out in the shower and wash your hair as usual.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is packed with fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants that help seal in moisture when applied to hair. Using olive oil one to two times per week will help protect your hair from drying out.
Olive Oil Massage
Products: Olive oil, towel
Time: 30 minutes to overnight
Warm up 1 cup of olive oil and massage into your scalp for 3-5 minutes. Cover your hair with a warm towel and leave on for at least thirty minutes or overnight. Wash out in shower with usual shampoo and conditioner routine.
Olive Oil & Honey
Products: 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1/2 cup of honey
Time: 30 minutes
Warm up and mix 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of honey. Apply all over hair from scalp to ends. Leave in for 30 minutes and rinse out in shower and wash as usual.
Avocado
Avocados are good on everything, even your hair. They are filled with healthy fats and proteins that help keep hair hydrated, flexible and soft. Use these remedies once a week to heal damaged hair.
Avocado Smoothing
Products: 1 avocado, 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, blender (optional)
Time: 1 hour
Mix one half of a ripe avocado with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil until smooth. Use a blender if necessary to get correct consistency. Apply and leave on your hair for one hour, then wash out as usual.
Avocado Paste
Products: 1 avocado, 1 egg, coconut milk
Time: 1 hour
Mash an avocado and egg yolk together. Add in coconut milk until the mixture is smooth and turns into a thin paste. Apply the paste to your scalp and massage into the rest of your hair for 3-5 minutes. Keep the paste in your hair for 1 hour then rinse and wash as usual.
Honey
Honey is a natural product that traps in moisture. When these remedies are applied 1-2 times per week, your damaged hair will be soft and shiny.
Honey Massage
Products: 1/2 cup of honey, shower cap
Time: 30 minutes
Massage honey into washed, damp hair starting from the scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes and then rinse out with warm water.
Honey Conditioner
Products: 1-2 teaspoons of honey, conditioner
Time: 1-2 minutes
Before putting conditioner in your hair, add honey. Use this mixture once a week.
Aloe Vera
In addition to soothing burns, Aloe Vera also soothes dry, damaged hair. It is filled with enzymes, amino acids and vitamins C and E that can help protect your hair when used once a week.
Aloe Vera Juice
Products: Aloe Vera
Time: 10-15 minutes
Apply the juice from an Aloe Vera plant to damaged hair. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and wash out in the shower as usual.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has been praised for its natural benefits. It contains nutrients that can easily penetrate hair follicles to prevent future damage. These remedies can be applied 2-3 times per week to protect your hair from breakage.
Coconut Oil Massage
Products: Coconut oil
Time: 5 minutes
Warm enough coconut oil to massage into your scalp for 5 minutes. You can also leave in overnight. Wash it out fully with warm water.
Coconut and Honey
Products: 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, 1/4 cup of honey
Time: 30 minutes
Mix 3 tablespoons of warm oil with 1/4 cup of honey. Apply the mixture to damp hair and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse out with warm water.
Banana
Bananas are high in potassium and vitamins that help moisturize hair. They are also known to improve elasticity, which is often lost in damaged hair. Use these remedies once a week to naturally soften your hair.
Banana Mash
Products: 1 banana
Time: 1 hour
Mash 1 banana and work it in throughout your hair. Let the mixture sit for 1 hour then rinse with water.
Banana Mix
Products: 2 brown bananas, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Time: 30 minutes
Blend 2 brown bananas with the honey, coconut oil and olive oil into it becomes a paste. Apply all over hair and leave in for 30 minutes. Rinse out with water and wash as usual.
Beer
This seems like an unlikely ingredient to treat damaged hair but it works! Small amounts of beer can be used throughout the week to work as a natural conditioner.
Beer Spray
Products: Beer, spray bottle
Time: 1 minute
Add beer to a spray bottle and use a small amount into your hair when shampooing. Let your hair air dry so that it will be smooth and shiny. This also works when beer is sprayed before blow drying and styling your hair.
Mayonnaise
The fats in mayonnaise moisturize dry hair by leaving it soft and shiny. Use this remedy once a week to prevent future damaged hair.
Mayo Mix
Products: 1 cup of full fat mayonnaise, shower cap
Time: 1 hour
Massage in a thick layer of mayonnaise to slightly damp hair. Work from the scalp to the ends. Put on a shower cap and leave in the mixture for one hour. Rinse and wash in the shower.
Vinegar
One of the main causes of damaged hair is residue left from shampoos, conditioners and other styling products. One natural way to reduce this residue us by using vinegar in your hair once a week or when it is unusually dry.
Vinegar Mix
Products: 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of water
Time: 10 minutes
Mix vinegar and water. After washing, pour the mixture in your hair, let it sit for ten minutes and rinse it out.
Vinegar Massage
Products: 1/2 cup of vinegar, 2 cups of water
Time: 1 hour
Mix this more diluted version of vinegar and water. Shampoo your hair, then massage in this mixture and leave on for an hour. Rinse out with warm water.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment!
It’s up to you to decide what remedy works best for you. Maybe your go-to is olive oil since you have an excessive amount already stored in your house. Maybe you want to try out the avocado mix so that you can eat guacamole at the same time. No matter what you try, remember that all of these remedies will take time. Damaged hair wasn’t caused in a day and therefore it can’t be fixed in one. With time, your hair will build up to a natural, healthy state and remain that way.
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