Don’t get us wrong, we love our in-shower conditioner, but sometimes, your hair just needs a little extra something. Enter: hair masks. Like your go-to face mask, hair masks are a quick yet highly effective way to provide your hair with tons of health benefits in less time than it takes for you to get dressed in the morning. Like a suped-up conditioner, hair masks have the potential to soften and hydrate your strands, enhance their shine, boost hair growth, repair damage, and fight frizz, all in one convenient product. But before you go running off to your local Sephora or Ulta, consider this: sometimes the best conditioning masks for your hair aren’t found in the beauty aisles, but rather in your very own kitchen. Not only are DIY hair masks a cheap and easy alternative to pricey in-store products, but they’re also full of safe, all-natural ingredients that can be mixed-and-matched to treat your specific hair concerns. Below, we’re showing you how it’s done with four beginner-friendly hair mask tutorials featuring all-natural (and vegan!) ingredients that you probably already have sitting in your pantry. Let’s get mixing!
1. The Frizz Fighter
Shopping List: Banana + Agave + Coconut Oil + Olive Oil
Finally, a way to put all of those overly ripe bananas you have lying around to use! In addition to smelling good, this starchy fruit is also rich in potassium, natural oils, and vitamins, all of which can be used to help lock in moisture, enhance shine, and tame unruly frizz—especially when combined with these other hair-healthy ingredients.
2. The Super Hydrator
Shopping List: Açaí + Coconut Oil + Avocado + Agave
For an extra boost of hydration, reach for this ultra-nourishing mask. Antioxidant-rich açaí combines with coconut oil and avocado, both of which are brimming with vitamins and essential fatty acids, to penetrate deep into the hair strands, providing them with a much-needed boost of moisture, shine, and protection.
3. The Scalp Mender
Shopping List: Oats + Almond Milk + Coconut Oil
Suffering from a dry, itchy scalp? Try turning your morning breakfast into your own personal hair-mender. In addition to providing some light scalp exfoliation, oats are also chock full of B-vitamins that help draw water in, penetrating deep within the hair shaft to moisturize and repair from the inside out. And, because they’re natural humectants, they’ll also help prevent frizz, keeping both your hair and scalp smooth and healthy.
4. The Shine Booster
Shopping List: Strawberry + Agave + Coconut Oil
In addition to smelling great, this hair mask is also excellent at achieving overall hair health. While coconut oil and agave help keep the hair soft, smooth, and moisturized, strawberries are full of vitamin C, which help stimulate the creation of collagen, an important part of the hair’s structure. Together, these ingredients can help eliminate excess oil and grease, leaving your hair with a sleek, glossy finish.
Want to upgrade your healthy hair routine? Head here to take the hair quiz and find your unique customized formula!
