With the monsoon arriving, our hair tends to get very frizzy, dry and unmanageable. Here are ten simple things we can use from our kitchen to tame them.
Bananas
They work wonders on dry and exhausted hair since they are rich in natural oils, vitamins, potassium and anti oxidants. That’s one reason I eat a banana for breakfast daily. But they are good for split ends and to remove dandruff too. Mash the banana well, and when I say well, I mean to pulp, as you don’t want to spend ages removing bits of banana from your hair. You can use it alone or mix it with honey olive oil or coconut oil.
Olive/Coconut oil
I normally use either of my two favourite oils to hydrate my hair since they are perfect conditioners to make hair soft and healthy. You can add an avocado or banana as mentioned above as a mask too.
Yoghurt
Since it is rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants I eat yoghurt every day with my meal. It is such a rich source of these, it can provide dry hair with nutrients and needed moisture, especially mixed with banana or avocado.
Honey
It has a natural moistening effect for dull hair and restores its glow used alone or added with other mixtures. Don’t use too much honey, or you’ll be stuck with sticky hair. The best combination is banana honey and yoghurt honey. Hair tends to lighten slightly when you use honey too.
Lemon juice
It can remove excess oils from the scalp and close the pores. Lemon juice will lighten your hair, so dilute it with water.
Egg mask
We all know eggs are a good source of protein and fat. So use a whole egg when treating dry and dull hair. It will moisturize the hair and heal the scalp. It can be used alone, or mixed with olive oil or a few drops of lemon juice.
Baking soda
An alternative to shampoo, baking soda cleanses the scalp hair, and can be added to yoghurt or mayonnaise.
*Avocado**
When eaten, avocado is a great source of natural oil, vitamins and nutrients. When applied to hair, it nourishes dull hair and gives it a shine. Use half an avocado for your hair mask or mix it with other ingredients such as olive oil, banana, yoghurt or milk.
Mayonnaise
Amongst its ingredients, mayonnaise has eggs as well as oil vinegar. It’s only logical to pack on your hair even if it sounds a bit unappetizing. It’s a perfect combination for hair which is in need of hydration. For best results, mix with avocado and use as conditioner.
Strawberries
It might seem ridiculous to put strawberries on your hair, but they are an excellent source of vitamin C. When mixed with other ingredients, they regulate oil production.
Don’ts
One of the most common myths about frizzy hair is that only those with curly hair suffer from the problem, which is completely untrue. While the problem is more common in those with this hair type, frizzy hair is every girl's (and boys') nightmare. Here are some of its causes.
Chemical-heavy products
Hair products which contain alcohol are very drying and will make your frizz worse. Adopt more natural products or better yet create your own like actor Shaileene Woodley does.
Heat-induced styling products
Blow-drying your frizzy, dry hair is not the way to go about the problem. Learn to air dry, and if you can't, use a diffuser. Also, avoid brushing frizzy hair as it will only make it frizzier.
Processing
Bleaching is a big NO-NO. The process of dousing your hair with peroxide must not be . Pulling your hair back into a tight knot or ponytail causes the shafts of the hair to break, and the remaining hair will pop out and be frizzier than ever.
Lack of Moisture
Make sure that you are eating a proper diet and getting the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients into your system so that you can keep your hair moisturised from the inside out. Vitamins for healthy hair include the Vitamin B complex, particularly biotin, and Vitamins E, A and C.
Sun exposure
Too much exposure to sun will leave your hair dry and damaged. Just as your skin, your hair needs sun protection too. Umbrellas and caps are handy so are hair masks.