Hopefully, most of the time you are happy with the health and condition of your hair.
But we all have those times when our hair needs a little extra tender-loving-care.
I have definitely experienced days like that!
Does your hair feel dry and lifeless?
Are those embarrassing white dandruff flakes on your shoulders bringing you down?
Have you had to resort to pulling your hair back into a ponytail or braid, more often than you desire?
Has your hair refused to perk up and instead looks as limp as a wet noodle?
Has your hair’s inability to conform to the style you desire, ever make you want to holler,
“Yikes! What am I going to do with my hair! I can’t go to that party looking like this!”
You probably recognize this as the oh-so-familiar cry uttered by the victim of an
unmanageable or challenging hair day!
Been there. Done that! More times than I care to remember!
There is more than one way to have a challenging hair day.
What is causing yours?
Hair is often considered our crowning glory.
But, what happens when that crown is tarnished by the environment, stress, chemicals, genetics or just plain bad luck?
What you don’t know about hair can further damage it.
Before you go out and buy a shopping cart full of shampoos and other hair care products–
which are often loaded with toxic ingredients that just add insult to injury–
try a few home hair remedies for your what ails your hair!
No matter what your hair condition or type, there is probably a natural home remedy that you can use
to treat or address the issue.
First…
A Few Facts About Hair
Ever wonder what your hair is made of and why it looks the way that it does?
Hair grows out of the scalp but what we see is actually made up of dead protein.
Really? Yes, it’s true.
Hair grows from follicles found in the skin.
It is the follicle that is nourished not the actual hair itself once externalized.
The hair bulb has a blood supply. Sebaceous glands lubricate each hair follicle.
The hair matures through a process called keratinization. Hair cells fill with protein and lose their nucleus.
Without a nucleus they are technically dead proteins that emerge through the skin like we mentioned above.
So, the goal with hair is to keep it looking healthy and manageable.
That’s all anyone wants.
Of course, your hair can look terrible on the outside (challenging hair day) but still have healthy follicles.
Do These Common Hair Issues Sound Familiar?
There are many ways to have a challenging hair day.
Do you know what is causing yours?
Let’s take a look at the most common causes of hair issues.
Does your hair feel as dry as tumbleweeds?
Dry hair is brittle, dull looking and doesn’t hold a hair style very well.
There can be many causes such as:
• Over processing with perms and relaxers
• Hair dyes
• Shampooing too often
• Chlorine (swimming pools)
• Using too much heat on your hair
Dry hair needs moisture, but putting moisture back in the right way makes all the difference.
Is your hair as limp as a noodle?
Oily hair often appears limp.
Sebaceous glands could be overproducing.
It could also be that you are using the wrong shampoo that doesn’t remove enough of the oil
to prevent hair from being weighed down.
The oils could leech out onto your skin and lead to acne and pimples.
Does your hair look like you stuck your finger
in a light socket?
Then, you are a victim of frizzy hair.
Your hair is bouncing but not behaving.
You experience flyaway strands along with some dryness especially with curls.
Dandruff flakes got you down?
Dandruff is the embarrassing hair condition that often shows when you wear dark clothing.
And those white flakes can give others a bad impression of you.
It could result from an overly dry scalp condition called seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema
or other conditions.
The result is the same: telltale flakes that shed when you run your hands through your hair or brush it.
So, What’s a Naturalista to Do?
Whip Up Some Quick Hair Fixes in Your Kitchen!
Whenever your hair needs some TLC, head straight to your kitchen, raid your refrigerator,
and whip up these fixes for common hair issues–easily and inexpensively:
Eggs
They aren’t just for breakfast anymore.
Use raw egg as a conditioner for all hair types.
When the hair is conditioned, that means that it has the right amount of oil lubricating the follicle.
The scalp is also nourished to help prevent dry scalp flaking.
Egg yolks alone are great for dry hair while egg white is perfect to help oily hair.
Olive Oil
For itchy and dry scalp, try 2 tablespoons each of olive oil, lemon juice and water.
Shake well and massage into wet hair.
Use this treatment before shampooing.
Honey
Honey has many uses for the human body and hair is no exception.
This sweet bee potion is also a humectant, meaning it helps to hold in moisture.
Massage about ½ a cup of it into your wet hair and let sit for about 20 minutes.
Wash out with warm water.
Avocado and Mayo
Mix the two to make a conditioner for frizzy hair.
Create a paste with about ½ cup of avocado and double that of mayonnaise.
Apply thoroughly to the entire head of hair and cover with a plastic cap for 20 minutes.
Sit under a hood dryer or wrap a hot towel around your head.
Then, wash it out.
Beer
Who knew that beer was a great rinse for dull and frizzy hair?
Beer is made from hops, a plant.
When applied to hair, it moisturizes with its nutrients.
Let it sit on your hair and then wash out with cold water.
Baking Soda
Instead of using shampoo, apply baking soda to your scalp and rub well.
Rinse out and dry.
After a few weeks natural oils should start to be produced that will nourish the scalp
to produce fewer if any flakes.
Then go back to shampoo.
Lemons
Lemons have many uses including as a hair rinse for itchy scalp and dandruff.
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon on your scalp and massage it in.
Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass of water and rinse the hair thoroughly.
With daily use, dandruff should disappear in no time.
Add lemon juice and aloe vera gel to your shampoo to fight oily hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Use vinegar as a rinse for oily hair.
Wash with baking soda and water
Then rinse with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water.
Carbonated Water
Use carbonated water as a rinse for frizzy hair.
The lower pH of the water reduces the frizz.
You can purchase carbonated water or make your own with a soda siphon.
Salt
Pour salt directly on your scalp and scrub thoroughly but gently.
The abrasive salt will remove dry flaky skin before you shampoo making your efforts more
effective for reducing dandruff.
No matter what the problem, there is probably a natural, homemade hair care treatment that
can help you solve it.
Home remedies have fewer chemicals which can further damage the hair instead of fixing it.
And, best of all they are healthier and cheaper.
So what are you waiting for, take off that scarf, head to your kitchen and see what you can make!
Do you make natural remedies for your hair at home?
What are you favorite natural hair care products to make at home?
Share your suggestions and experiences with us?
Find this information useful? Share it with your friends and fans!
I definitely suffer from super dry hair, especially in the summer. I am going to try the honey mask tonight!
Great! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Let me know how it works out!
I saw a lot of websites but I think this one contains something extra in it.
I never thought of putting half of these things in my hair. I have only tried eggs & thought about the beer. lol Great tips! Thank you!
Hi Kimberly, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yes I use eggs quite often as well. I am always experimenting with homemade hair and skin care products. Let me now how some of these work out for you. Let’s stay in touch.
Great article – I also love to use water kefir in my hair, as I brew my own. Really gets it squeaky clean and shiny!
Fabulous suggestion, Barbara. I have to try kefir. Thanks for sharing that valuable tip. And thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed the recipes on your blog. Looking forward to staying in touch.
Thanks for sharing all these great hair tips on Wildcrafting Wednesday!
Hi Anne-Marie,
I really enjoy participating in Wildcrafting Wednesday. Thank you so much for hosting such a wonderful link up–and for sharing your comments. I really appreciate it.
I can’t help but laugh at this natural hair movement. Long before they emerged on the scene, I turned to my refrigerator to treat my hair. Mayonnaise, avocado, eggs and olive oil were just some of the items I would whip together. There really is nothing new under the sun.
Stopping by from Friendship Fridays!
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for stopping by from Friendship Friday! I too remember my mother using natural treatments from her kitchen on my hair and scalp when I was growing up. Mayonnaise was one of her favorite conditioners. All the best, Deborah