Hair

Consumers spend literally billions of dollars on hair care products and salon visits each year, in an attempt to have beautiful, healthy hair.  Many chemical treatments, including things we know can damage our hair, like hair coloring, drying, and heat styling, are bad for your hair, but some of the hair styling products you buy off the shelf, also damage your hair.  Some cause your hair to dry out, making it dull and lifeless, or coat your air with oils that weigh it down, making it limp, and oily.  There are home remedies and natural cures at your fingertips, that work very well to alleviate these symptoms, and leave your hair looking beautiful.

Home Remedies For Problems With Hair:

Dry Hair:

Though manufactured products make your hair look better temporarily, some actually damage your hair, creating a cycle of spending more and more to maintain the healthy look you want.  Natural options are available to treat and maintain healthy hair, and you probably already have many of the ingredients for these natural cures on hand.  Many people suffer with hair that is overly dry, but there are natural cures and home remedies easy to make, that work very effectively, and contain only natural ingredients.  Here is a great home remedy, and natural cure for hair that is too dry.  

Dry Hair Mask:

Comfrey, nettle, and slippery elm are herbs available at health-food stores.  These elements can be made into an infusion, or tea.  A portion of the cooled infusion should be added to the following ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 banana, mashed
• Infusion (tea) of comfrey, nettle, and slippery elm

Preparation and Use:

Mix all ingredients (a hand held immersion blender works well for this, but a food processor works well too) and add the infusion liquid until you reach the desired consistency. Work into hair, cover with a plastic shower cap or plastic bag, and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.   You can adjust the recipe to make more or less, depending on how much you need for your hair, and you can use this dry hair remedy once or twice a week.

Oily Hair:

Those with oily hair face a different set of problems, like limp, dirty looking hair, but here is an all-natural, home made remedy, to help control oily hair, without the damage some chemical products can cause.

Oily Hair Mask :

• 1 small container of plain, fat-free yogurt
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 to 2 Tbs. lemon zest (use a small hand grater to remove the yellow of the peel)
• 4 egg whites
• 1 to 2 Tbs. peppermint infusion (can be bought as leaves and brewed, or bought already bottled)
• 1 to 2 Tbs. rosemary infusion (can be bought as a fresh or dried herb to be brewed like a tea)

Mix together ingredients, work into hair, cover with plastic shower cap or plastic bag,  and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. This mixture can be saved in the refrigerator for use later.  This home remedy can be used from once a week to once a month, as a natural cure for oily hair, depending on the severity of your problem.

Hot Oil Treatments:

Everyone who has ever had a hot oil treatment knows how shiny and healthy your hair looks afterwards.  Rather than buying these treatments, or going to a salon for them, here is a recipe for a home remedy, hot oil treatment that is a great natural cure, sure to rejuvenate tired, damaged hair.

Hot-Oil Treatment:

• Almond oil
• Avocado oil
• Olive oil
• (mineral oil can be substituted for any one of these oils if you don’t have them on hand)
• 1 egg yolk
• Splash of lavender oil (lavender oil smells wonderful, but it is optional)

Mix equal parts of all ingredients. The oils can be heated in the microwave until warm to the touch, or use a double-boiler. Work into hair, cover with a shower cap or plastic bag, and allow to sit for 20 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly in cool water.

Simple rinses like vinegar and stale beer also add shine and body to all hair types.  Your final rinse should always be in cold water to smooth and seal the hair shaft, to create more shine, and help to eliminate frizz.