Hair can be damaged in many ways. Stressing it with excessive washing and styling, exposing it to too much sun or eating a diet that lacks essential nutrients all reduce your hair's suppleness, strength and manageability. It's best to prevent such damage from occurring. But if your hair is damaged, simple home remedies with inexpensive ingredients can boost your hair's health and help correct these common problems. You don't even need to visit a salon.
Minimize the Burn
If you hair tends toward dryness or a frizzy appearance, you may be over-washing and over-styling it. Limit your shampooing to five times or less per week. Washing too much strips your hair's natural protective oils and increases the risk of damage. Allow your hair to air-dry afterward, because blow dryers, curling irons and straight irons damage hair.
Moisturize with Mayo
Hollywood hairdressers swear by mayonnaise for deep-conditioning dry or damaged hair. The oil in the familiar condiment---usually soybean oil---penetrates the hair shaft for lasting moisture and shine. Coat your locks with mayo, then leave it on between five and 60 minutes before washing it out.
Banana Booster
Oils and natural emollients in some fruits make excellent home hair care products. Follow the advice of Hollywood stylist Joanne Harris and mash an extra-ripe avocado---rich in natural vegetable oil---with one or two super-ripe peeled bananas. Comb the stuff through your hair and leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing off.
Beer Over Here
Too-hot styling implements like blow-dryers, flatirons and curling irons can burn the outer layers, or cuticles, of your hair. If you must style with electric tools, protect your hair from the heat with beer. After shampooing and towel-drying, spritz beer onto your hair with a pump bottle, then style as usual. The brew adds a crisp, healthy shine even to dry hair.
Hat Tip
Wearing a hat is the simplest home remedy for protecting and healing damaged hair. The sun's UV rays can injure your hair just as they cause sunburn on your skin. Protect your hair---and your scalp---with a hat or scarf loosely tied around your head. The same goes for swimming: Don a rubber swim cap to prevent chlorine from damaging your locks.
Eat Right
Like skin and fingernails, hair needs nutrients for strength and healthy growth. If you're not eating a balanced diet, your hair may appear limp---or even fall out. The Mayo Clinic suggests eating a variety of foods with adequate protein and iron to prevent hair loss and help remedy existing damage.
Member Comments