Although the term ethnic hair is commonly used to refer to African-American or Black Caribbean hair, it can also include Indian, Hispanic or Asian hair, according to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families' "Ethnic Hair and Skin Care Manual." These hair types can be extremely delicate and fragile, making them more susceptible to frizz, damage and breakage. Ethnic hair has unique needs and requirements in order to stay healthy, according to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. You may have caused damage to your air through excessive chemical straightening or other processing, however, any of the following home remedies can be used on any type of ethnic hair to help to heal your broken and damaged hair.
Hot Oil Treatments
Hot oil treatments are one of the most commonly recommended treatments to repair ethnic hair of all types. According to "Marie Claire" magazine, hot oil treatments can help to add moisture and hydrate your hair. Although you can purchase commercially-prepared hot oil treatments in most drug, beauty and hair care stores, stylist Yetunde Jude recommends a homemade treatment in her book, "The Black Hair Care Revolution." Jude's recipe includes grapeseed, olive, sage and jojoba oil. Hot oil treatments can help to hydrate and moisturize most types of dry or damaged hair, according to Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos in her book "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook." Hot oil treatments are generally applied after washing and left on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a popular deep conditioner that can add life to your hair and help heal breakage and frizz, common problems experienced by people with ethnic hair, according to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. It can be applied to all types of ethnic hair for extra moisturizing and nourishment. According to Jude, it's important to use real mayonnaise and not mayonnaise salad dressing, which can leave your hair brittle, damaged and dry. Mayonnaise contains eggs and vegetable oil, both ingredients which contain the hair nutrient vitamin E, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When using mayonnaise as a hair treatment, it's important to apply to clean, damp hair. Leave it in for twenty minutes. Rinsing out any excess residue is crucial because mayonnaise can clog your hair follicles. Let your hair air dry after rinsing.
Leave-in Conditioner
Leave-in conditioners can add oil and moisture back to your hair after you've completed the washing and conditioning process, according to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families "Ethnic Hair and Skin Care Manual." Using a leave-in conditioner can prevent breakage from combing through knots and kinks. While you can purchase leave-in conditioners in most health and drug stores, aloe vera juice makes an effective homemade leave-in conditioner, according to Jude. You can squeeze the juice from the leaves of an aloe plant and apply the juice to your hair after washing or leave it in your hair overnight for a healing conditioning treatment.
References
- Connecticut Department of Children and Families: Ethnic Skin and Hair Care Guide
- Marie Claire: How to Style African-American Hair
- "The Black Hair Care Revolution"; Yetunde Jude; 2009
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Optimizing Your Diet
- "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook"; Zoe Diana Draelos, MD; 2005
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