Dry, flyaway hair? Itchy scalp? Salon-quality products can produce excellent results for damaged hair. However, commercial products are not your only alternatives. Many hair-related problems can be greatly improved or eliminated with natural remedies. Many of these products are as close as your neighborhood grocery store--or you may already have them in your kitchen.
Dry, Flaky Scalp and Dandruff
Certain grocery items can help relieve the symptoms of dandruff or a dry, flaky scalp. The Mayo Clinic mentions tea tree oil, which is included as an ingredient in many natural formula shampoos. Olive oil can also relieve both dry scalp and dandruff, according to the Olive Oil Source. Planet Green suggests mixing either tea tree oil or peppermint oil into your regular shampoo. If you have light hair, rub the juice of one lemon onto your hair, then shampoo after five minutes.
Another alternative is to mix apple cider vinegar with water, pour the mixture over your scalp and cover your head with a towel or plastic bag. The Daily Glow suggests combining one peeled red apple with seltzer water and either baking soda or corn starch and applying the mixture to your hair. After either application, rinse your hair after 15 minutes and shampoo as usual.
Deep Conditioners and Hair Strengtheners
Some common grocery items can also double as deep conditioners for dry, damaged hair or hair that is over-processed and prone to breakage. Planet Green recommends mixing 2 egg whites and 5 tbsp. of fatty, plain yogurt to make a hair masque. Leave the mixture on your hair for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm, not hot, water.
Daily Glow lists several hair conditioner "recipes" for deep conditioners using common ingredients such as bananas, avocados, yogurt, coconut cream, olive oil and mayonnaise. For a "banana smoothie" hair mask, combine one half of a ripe banana,1 or 2 tablespoons of plain, not flavored, yogurt and a tablespoon of olive oil. Leave the mixture on your hair for 10 minutes, then shampoo as usual. For a hot oil treatment, combine 3 tablespoons each of canola oil and olive oil. Warm the mixture in the microwave, but don't let the mixture get too hot. Apply the hot oil to your hair with your hair and wrap your head with a towel. After 30 minutes, rinse and shampoo as usual.
Shine and Color Boosters
If your hair lacks shine, Planet Green recommends mixing 1 cup of warm, flat beer with 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil. Shampoo your hair as usual, then rinse with the beer mixture. An extra rinse with essential oil or chamomile tea will eliminate any trace of the beer smell.
To add highlights to dull natural color or to extend the life a dye job, Mother Earth News recommends a variety of non-toxic choices. Blonds can use chamomile tea, lemon juice or rhubarb root. Apply each rinse at least 15 times on freshly washed hair, then rinse with clear water after 15 minutes. Exposure to the sun will enhance the lightening effects.
For brown or black hair, steep a handful of sage in boiling water for half an hour. Strain the cooled mixture and pour it through freshly washed hair 15 times. After 10 minutes, rinse with clear water. Hair will get progressively darker with each treatment. Walnut hulls mixed with allspice or ground cloves make a dye for dark hair. However, the process is complex and the mixture can stain your hands, Mother Earth News warns.
Member Comments