As a vegan, you know you aren't just careful about what you eat, but you're also hyper-vigilant about animal products in your health and beauty supplies. Often this means you have to play label detective and spot hidden animal ingredients under tricky-to-identify names. One way around this is to whip up your own beauty concoctions. Typical dry and damaged hair home remedies involve eggs, mayonnaise, honey and other animal products that make them off-limits. There are several common vegan kitchen products that can help you, especially foods high in healthy fats.
Avocado
One of the primary causes of damaged hair is moisture and oil loss, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Avocados can help replace some of this lost oil. The fruit are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection recommends making a nourishing shampoo with avocado, castile soap and water. Use fresh, ripe avocados or cold pressed avocado oil. To condition with avocado, coat your hair and scalp with mashed avocado wrap in a warm towel. Leave on for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse.
Coconut Oil
A 2003 study published in "The Journal of Cosmetic Science" examined the effects of coconut oil on damaged hair. The results revealed that coconut oil prevented hair protein loss and left hair in healthier condition that hair treated with other types of oil. The study cited coconut oil's lauric acid content as the useful component since it's fats has a low molecular weight and linear chain that penetrated the hair shaft better than other oils. Apply raw coconut oil to your hair and wrap in a warm towel. Allow to penetrate the hair shaft for at least 30 minutes before rinsing away.
Beer
If you needed another worthwhile reason to keep beer in your house, you'll be interested to know that it can improve the look of dry, damaged hair. Beer, according to "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies," makes your hair look shiny and healthy. Add beer to a spray bottle and spritz towel-dried hair to achieve this effect. The scent wears away in a short time, so you won't smell like you've had too many.
Lifestyle Changes
Vegans may benefit from simple lifestyle changes that help improve hair's texture and health. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, dry air leads to dry hair. Use a humidifier in your home to help slow your hair's moisture loss. Make sure you have enough fat in your diet and that you're taking in enough fluids. It may also help to wash your hair less, such as every other day or once per week.
Member Comments