Dry, damaged hair is prone to frizziness, flyaways and serious lack of luster. Your hair can lose its protective moisture for a number of reasons--dry weather, over-processing and too many styling products can all suck your hair's moisture reserves, leaving it parched and damaged. Deep conditioning treatments are the best way to restore your hair to hydrated health. Although you can pick up a moisturizing hair mask at any drugstore, it's easy to make your own hair treatment at home and use it as a quick conditioner or a more intensive mask.
Step 1
Separate the egg, putting the yolk in a medium-sized bowl and reserving the white for another use.
Step 2
Drizzle a few drops of olive oil into the egg yolk, whisking vigorously to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 3
Continue to add a small amount of olive oil at a time to the mixture, whisking constantly, until the mixture takes on a creamy consistency like mayonnaise. You may not need a full cup of oil.
Step 4
Peel the skin off the avocado, remove the pit, and spoon the green flesh into the egg yolk-oil mixture.
Step 5
Mash the avocado into the egg yolk mixture until it is completely incorporated. The mixture should be thick, creamy and a light green color.
Step 6
Apply the avocado-egg mixture to your hair until it is thoroughly coated. Cover your hair with a towel or shower cap to let the mixture penetrate for 30 minutes. Rinse the mask completely from your hair, and follow with your usual shampoo and conditioner.
Step 7
Use this mixture as a regular conditioner by applying it to your hair in the shower after you shampoo, making sure to completely coat your hair. Let it work for two to three minutes while you wash and shave, then rinse it completely. If the smell is too strong for you, rinse your hair with a little vinegar after removing the conditioner--the vinegar smell will cover up the avocado smell and fade quickly once your hair dries.
Tips and Warnings
- If the strong smell of this mask bothers you, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the treatment just before applying it to your hair to mask the odor. This mask can be messy, so wrap a towel around your shoulders or wear something you don't mind getting dirty when you use it. If you won't use your leftover egg white in the kitchen, beat it until it forms stiff, white peaks and use the resulting mixture as a face mask. Rub it on your skin, avoiding your eye area, and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with cool water.
Things You'll Need
- Bowl
- Egg
- 1 cup olive oil
- Whisk
- Knife
- Spoon
- Fork
- Avocado
- Towel or shower cap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Vinegar (optional)
References
- "Natural Beauty at Home: More Than 250 Easy to Use Recipes for Body, Bath and Hair" (revised edition); Janice Cox; 2002
- Seventeen: Homemade Conditioner for Frizzy Hair
- Real Beauty: Homemade Avocado Mask
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