Because self-care is just as important as the food we eat and the supplements we take, we’re talking about DIY self-care for three things women spend a lot of time on. When these three three things look good, let’s face it, we feel better about ourselves.
We're talking about hair, nails, and skin.
Today we focus on getting beautiful, luscious locks with what’s in your fridge and cupboard at home.
3 Tips to Start
1: Don't wash hair daily
Washing hair a few times a week is plenty, so you don’t strip the natural moisture in your hair. The more you wash it, the oilier it will become. Get a good organic dry shampoo if you tend to get oily up toward the roots and soon your hair will stop overproducing oil.
2: The less heat, the better
I need to take my own advice here because I have curly hair and straighten it often in the fall and winter using a blow dryer followed by a flat iron which is a double heat whammy. Try to let your hair air dry whenever possible.
3: Use moisturizing hair masks once a week
3 DIY Hair Masks that Bring Back Moisture and Shine
1: Warm Coconut Oil
This is as simple as it gets with one ingredient. Coconut oil is heavy, and that’s key because it helps to penetrate the hair shaft.
Use just one tablespoon of warmed coconut oil on the ends of damp hair OR for extremely dry hair; leave on overnight and then wash it out in the morning.
This is my lazy treatment and one I always make sure to use when I’m on vacation.
2: Avocado and Egg Yolk
This is an excellent hair mask for repair from intense damage from heat, the sun, or hair dryers.
The healthy oil in avocado will smooth and moisturize your locks without weighing down fine hair, so if coconut oil is too heavy for you, this is a great hair mask and one that can be used all the way from roots to ends.
Egg yolks have been used in DIY women’s hair treatments since before the 1940’s.
Hair is mostly made up of proteins and amino acids, and this combination means that egg yolks are the perfect food for boosting the hair’s supply of necessary nutrients needed to strengthen it.
The vitamin A found in egg yolk will improve the hair’s ability to produce natural moisture. Lecithin (fat emulsifier) helps reduce frizz and prevents breakage and brittleness. Biotin, a B vitamin present in egg yolks, works to renew the roots and follicles, which improves hair’s overall health.
Overall this one is our personal favorites to use as a wonderful conditioner and to repair dry and damaged hair.
Recipe:
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½ avocado
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2 egg yolks
Mix ingredients well. Apply to wet or dry hair and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing (but not washing) hair.
3: Honey, Olive Oil, and Banana
A natural humectant to attract more moisture into your hair is the classic honey, olive oil and banana mixture. Naturally potassium-rich bananas will work to strengthen your hair’s natural elasticity, which minimizes breakage and facilitates repair of damaged hair.
Recipe:
Warm the olive oil, blend in the honey, and then add banana (you can sub ½ cup pumpkin or plain yogurt as well).
Mix the ingredients well. Apply to damp hair, and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and wash your hair. Allow to dry as normal.
Just as it’s important what we eat to fill in nutritional deficiencies, it’s important to keep certain foods out so they don’t create toxicity. The same goes for your hair.
Note – these three ingredients below should be kept out of your shampoo and hair care products for your own safety.
3 Ingredients to Keep OUT of Your Shampoo
1: Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate
(Harsh cleaner, unnecessary for hair which really doesn’t get that dirty)
2: Parabens
(Used to protect against microbial invasion but studies link it to hormone disruption. This is why we use coconut oil in products.)
3: Polyethylene Glycol
(Used as a humectant, but doesn’t honey sound better?)
Now we want to hear from you. Do you currently use any of the above hair masks? If not, which one are you willing to try?
Hi Christa and team! I have a hair question for you! ? I was wondering what daily hair products you use personally… From shampoo and conditioner… To achieving your beautiful blonde color. I ask because, I’m trying to lighten my hair, and also because I can wrap my head around healthy food, body care, and home products, but any healthy hair products I’ve tried leave my hair feeling less then desired. Let me know your secrets!!!
Hi Shawn! Thank you for your question. Christa alternates her beauty products frequently but makes sure to avoid certain ingredients. Please click this link to learn what you should NOT be putting on your body.~Stacey, TWJ Team Member. http://thewholejourney.com/what-are-you-putting-on-your-body/
Thanks, Stacey! I plan to try coconut oil instead of the olive oil.
I want to see you with curly hair! My daughter is girl_with_curl!
In #3, what oils can be used to substitute for olive oil? I am extremely sensitive to olive oil.
Hi Karen, Since you aren’t digesting it, you can substitute the oil with any other oil. Of course we still recommend you use an organic, non-gmo oil.
I would love recommendations for a good dry shampoo.Christa, what do you use? I’m doing your Gut Thrive 5 (doing really well and at the end of week 10! Woo Hoo!!! Thanks so much! ) and would love to save time with my hair which I shampoo everyday. Mainly, my bangs and close to my scalp are the only areas that become oily. What does everyone use?? Many Thanks!
Whoops! Just saw the link and ordered the shampoo. Thanks! It had great reviews!
You will love it, Mary. I use it all the time. 🙂
I recently read that putting a few drops of rosemary essential oil in my shampoo would give me healthier hair. Since shampoo only remains on the hair for a few minutes I decided to try a second method. After my hair was thoroughly rinsed I put 5-6 drops in a pitcher of warm water poured and rubbed it into my scalp then wrapped my hair in a Turkish towel for one hour. By the second shampoo I noticed a decided difference in the texture which had become soft and subtle but the best surprise was my hair looked as shiny as a copper penny. It works.
Thanks for sharing, Robin. Must try that!
Thanks so much, Christa! So great to know that we can give hair what it “real”ly needs! Question: Do I rinse the avocado and egg mask out with hot, warm or cold water? Won’t it leave a funny smell? Thanks!
Hi Lia, Warm water is your best bet when rinsing out the mixture. If you are worried about the smell you can add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil. 🙂