The DIY Hair Mask Handbook

Making sure your hair is at its healthiest is a number one priority for many people. With many new hair trends and techniques, it remains true that moisturized hair is necessary for obtaining and maintaining healthy hair.

Often, it’s easy to get carried away with heat tools and hair dyes, while neglecting heat protectants and trims. Over time, continuous neglect of your hair can result in dry, damaged, and weak hair strands.

To prevent your hair from getting to this dreadful stage or to possibly bring your hair back to health once you’ve already reached this stage, you’ll need a heavy-duty punch of moisture to bring your hair back to life. That is when a hair mask steps on the scene.

What is A Hair Mask?

Hair growth with Banana hair mask

A hair mask is a mixture of nourishing ingredients used to coat your hair and nurse it back to health. Even the healthiest of hair accumulates some damage after constant manipulation and styling.

A hair mask’s job is to rebuild whatever has been broken down or add whatever has been taken away. There are hair masks for many purposes, such as growth, damage, moisture, dryness, and multiple hair types and textures.

Perhaps you’ve heard of a deep conditioner, well then, you’ve heard of a hair mask. A hair mask is essentially fulfilling the same deeds as a face mask would. There are a ton of face masks out on the market, and each one is formulated with healing properties geared towards healing inevitable downfalls in your skin. Like a face mask, a hair mask aids in common downfalls of your hair.

How to Use A Hair Mask?

Hair mask for damaged hair and rapid hair growth

A hair mask requires minimal effort, so there’s no reason not to add it to your hair regimen. Typically, a hair mask should be applied after shampooing or cleansing your hair.

You can also choose to wash and then go in with a regular conditioner to soften or detangle your hair. After you’ve rinsed the regular conditioner out, you can then go in with your hair mask.

Unlike an average conditioner, a hair mask includes more concentrated ingredients that need to be left on your hair for at least 30 minutes to penetrate your hair strands before rinsing it out thoroughly. Some will opt to leave in their hair masks longer; however, be cautious as this can lead to a moisture overload and harm your hair.

Depending on your hair type (low, medium, high porosity), your hair may soak in the benefits from the hair mask better by applying a heat source. This can be done by covering your hair with a plastic cap or steaming it. When you’re rinsing your hair for low porosity, it’s best to use warm water, while with high porosity hair using colder water might be more effective.

A hair mask should be done at least once a week.

Benefits of DIY Hair Mask vs. Commercial Hair Mask

Store-bought hair masks are conventional and convenient. They can be applied immediately without any hassle. This is a terrific choice for someone in a rush; however, if you have time to spare, taking the time to make your own hair mask can be very beneficial. Here is why:

• You know what ingredients are in your hair mask—no need to check for added silicones, alcohol, or parabens that can be damaging.
• You are getting the purest form of ingredients on your hair.
• It is typically inexpensive and includes everyday household ingredients.

Finding Your Perfect DIY Hair Mask

Finding the perfect hair mask may require trial and error; however, looking into ingredients can help with singling out what you should try.

One of the best things about a DIY hair mask is not having to guess what ingredients it contains. By using the purest forms of ingredients in your DIY hair masks, your hair can fully reap the benefits.

Doing some research on different ingredients will give you a better understanding of your hair’s direct needs. If you want to fix a specific problem area within your hair, your best bet is to look it up.

With each of the recipes we’ve given below, we’ve included some of each ingredient’s benefits. This way, you can create the perfect DIY hair mask for you!

DIY Hair Mask Recipes

Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Recommendation:

This is an excellent DIY hair mask for dry hair.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Castor Oil

Instructions:

1. You’ll want your oils to be liquified for this recipe. As coconut oil is firm when cold, make sure your coconut oil is warmed up. You can do this by placing some in a cup and then placing the container in a bowl of hot water. By creating this double broiler effect, you can safely melt any firm oil or butter.
2. Combine both your melted coconut oil and castor oil in a container of your choice and mix them.
3. After you’ve cleaned and conditioned your hair, section your hair in 2-4 parts to apply your hair mask thoroughly.
4. Apply your hair mask from roots to tips. Consider draping a towel around you as this may be messy. When it’s applied throughout your hair, you can clip it up, place a plastic cap on top, steam it, or just let it sit for at least 20-30 minutes. This can be kept overnight; however, it may be messy and drip on your bedding.
5. Rinse with warm or cold water depending on what your hair type prefers. If it is still too oily when rinsing with only water, consider going in lightly with a regular conditioner or co-wash to remove some of the excess oil.

Ingredient Benefits:

Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is excellent for moisturizing dry hair, but it is also a great source of protein. The coconut oil and castor oil are great for nourishing your hair and will combat dryness to promote hair growth.

Avocado Hair Mask

Recommendation:

This is a great moisturizing hair mask DIY.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• ½ ripe avocado (pitted and peeled)
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 2-3 drops essential lavender oil (optional for smell)

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a bowl or blender.
2. Stir all ingredients together until combined and smooth. You can opt to blend or whip the ingredients together for a lighter texture.
3. Once your hair is cleansed and detangled, section your hair into 2-4 sections for more accessible application.
4. Apply this hair mask to damp hair from roots to ends. This may be messy, so have a towel on standby. For the best results, place a plastic cap or use a steamer to trap in moisture and conduct heat. The heat will better allow the mask to penetrate your hair strands. Allow the mask to sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
5. Rinse this mask with warm or cold water based on your hair type.

Ingredient Benefits:

Avocado is excellent for your hair as it contains both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, which aid in bringing moisture to your hair. It also contains biotin, which can help with hair growth.

The olive oil, yogurt, and honey combined will further add necessary moisture and shine to your hair. Honey especially, since it is a humectant, pulls moisture from the air and locks it in.

Egg Hair Mask

Recommendation:

This is a DIY hair mask for damaged hair.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• ½ avocado (pitted and peeled)
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Combine the ingredients into a bowl.
2. Stir the ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined. You should have a smooth texture. A blender can be used for a smoother texture.
3. Cleanse and detangle your hair as usual. Proceed by sectioning your hair into 2-4 sections to get a more even application.
4. Applying the hair mask to damp hair will make smoothing it on more natural. Apply the mask from roots to tips generously, making sure each strand is coated. Trapping in moisture and heat with a plastic cap or using a steamer will produce the best results. Let the mask sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing with either warm or cold water, depending on your hair type.

Ingredient Benefits:

Egg provides abundant protein to your hair strands, which is ideal for damaged hair. Protein helps rebuild the hair strands and provides strength and elasticity to your hair. This is great for curls that have experienced color or heat damage as it will help your curls recuperate and spring back into place.

The avocado will add needed moisture while the olive oil will add shine into your dull and damaged hair. Even if your hair is not very damaged, using an egg-based hair mask can still be beneficial. Your hair may not have visible damage, but using protein in your hair routine can bring much-needed strength to your hair strands.

Be cautious with using too many protein masks, however, as too much protein can have adverse effects on your hair. Finding out your hair type can help a lot as you’ll know how often it is acceptable to use protein-heavy masks in your hair.

Aloe Vera Hair Mask

DIY Aloe Vera Hair Mask For Hair Growth!

Recommendation:

This mask is a great DIY hair mask for locking in moisture and shine.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons aloe vera gel (juice could work but will make the mask watery)
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
3. After cleansing and detangling your hair, part it into 2-4 sections for a more straightforward application.
4. This hair mask may be a bit looser, so have a towel nearby for possible dripping. Apply the mask to damp hair from roots to ends. Work the mask in entirely making sure each strand is covered. Making sure this mask gets onto your scalp is a good idea as the apple cider vinegar has cleansing properties. You can use a plastic cap or steamer to lock in moisture and heat.
5. You can rinse your hair after 30 minutes with warm or cold water, depending on your hair type’s needs. This mask should only be used every other week as the apple cider vinegar is a potent ingredient.

Ingredient Benefits:

Aloe vera can be used in a juice or gel form. Many people will prefer to use the gel straight from the plant that can be grown or purchased at a store.

Aloe vera adds in tons of moisture to your hair and locks it in. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which are suitable for dry and itchy scalps. That is also where apple cider vinegar comes in as it, too, is an excellent ingredient for dry and itchy scalps.

Many people will use apple cider vinegar diluted with water as a DIY hair cleanser. Since the vinegar can be drying, using the honey in the mask will bring in more moisture and seal it into your hair strands.

Olive Oil Hair Mask

Recommendation:

This mask is excellent for dandruff prone and frizzy hair.

Ingredients:

• 2-4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2-4 drops tea tree oil

Instructions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Stir until the oils are thoroughly combined.
3. Make sure your hair is cleansed and detangled so that you can part it into 2-4 sections.
4. Since this is an oil-based hair mask, it can be a bit messy to apply. You could pour it into an applicator bottle for direct scalp penetration. Apply this mask from roots to ends and massage it into your scalp. You can leave this mask in for 30 minutes to an hour. (Warming the oil before applying the double broiler method described in the coconut oil hair mask may help the oil better penetrate your strands.)
5. Rinse your hair with warm or cold water, depending on your hair type. The mask could leave your hair oily so you can use a light conditioner to alleviate some of the oil.

Ingredient Benefits

Olive oil is a great ingredient for dry and dull hair. Since vitamin E is found in olive oil, this is a good moisturizer and stimulates hair growth. Tea tree oil removes dead skin cells and protects the scalp against infections. Olive oil, combined with the tea tree oil, allows this mask to attack dry and itchy scalp wonderfully.

Banana Hair Mask

Recommendation:

This mask is a great DIY hair mask for growth and moisture.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 ripe bananas (peeled and mashed)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions:

1. Put your ingredients in a bowl or blender.
2. Mix or blend your ingredients. The bananas can provide a chunky consistency, so a mixer can be used to make it smoother. You may even want to strain this mask as the banana can leave tiny chunks in your hair if it is not smooth enough.
3. After your hair has been thoroughly cleansed and detangled, split it into 2-4 sections.
4. Using damp hair, apply this mask from your roots to ends. Make sure it is coating every strand. Using a plastic cap and steamer can help trap moisture and heat for optimal penetration. This mask can be left on for at least 30 minutes.
5. Take your time rinsing this mask out to get out any banana pieces completely. Using warm water may help this mask better glide off your hair.

Ingredient Benefits:

Bananas proved high moisture and shine. The ingredient contains silica, which is absorbed into your body to produce collagen. Collagen adds volume, moisture, and shine to your hair. The banana combined with honey will help this mask provide immense moisture.

Creating a DIY hair mask may seem like a daunting task, but with these readily available recipes, it doesn’t have to be! You can remix these recipes or create one of your own to make the best all-natural mask for your hair’s needs.