Richa Vij brings you these tried and tested super easy hair DIYs that won’t be a hassle to get out of your hair and leave your looking like you’re back from a hair spa.
Last summer lockdown had me staying put in my parents’ house in Delhi with my two children for almost four months and I definitely had some me-time on my hands while my children were being pampered like crazy by their grandparents. I took the road to homemade hair remedies to pamper my tresses.
I’ve never been a person who would rush to the salon the minute my hair were acting up, so missing a hair salon wasn’t the reason for me to try DIYs. It was actually ample time and various Instagram videos featuring numerous ‘magical’ hair masks that led me to try some DIY hair masks at home.
Some worked, but many were a failure as it was a pain to get them out of my hair! Think banana, egg and fenugreek seeds! Ugh!! I tried those several times with various processes to churn and strain the paste so it won’t be stuck to my hair but nothing worked. That was my lesson learnt: no more of these chunky ingredients in my hair and thus began my quest for something simple that could be prepared in under five minutes, was least messy and would wash down easily leaving my hair intact with all its goodness in one wash.
If you’re up for something similar and don’t have the patience to pick out each chunk of dry banana/fenugreek seeds from your hair check out these simple hair DIYs that work without you pulling out your hair!!!!
Make your own Conditioner Concoction
This one was the easiest to switch back to for my once (not just once) bitten twice shy hair. I reached out to the nearest pharmacy and called for a few tubs of drugstore hair masks and conditioners. Deep conditioning is the secret weapon to fight dryness, frizz and getting those smooth nourished locks. So, whenever in a mood to give some TLC to your hair put on some music, light an aromatic candle and grab your favourite hair mask or conditioner and add to it some coconut, almond or olive oil and even some drops of lavender or tea tree essential oil and apply the mixture to your hair for 15-20 minutes and wash it off. You can add a warm towel to let the goodness seep deeply into your roots and leave your tresses nourished and soft.
The Good old Yoghurt to the rescue!
Yoghurt is loaded with active bacterial enzymes that protect the scalp from infections while conditioning the hair and adding that shine to it. While you can totally apply just yoghurt into your hair, adding the following ingredients makes this mask a treat for your dry and dehydrated hair.
Making this mask is simple you’ll need 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt depending on your hair length, juice of one lemon, two tea spoons honey and olive oil. Mix and leave the smooth creamy mixture on your hair for 20-30 minutes before you shampoo.
Lemon cleanses the scalp deeply and keeps dandruff at bay. Honey is a natural emollient, while olive oil has a quality of penetrating deep into our hair shaft. This mask not only is a great conditioner but also strengthens the hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This one is the least messy of all though might stink a bit but don’t worry the smell subsides as you wash it off. ACV might be of great help to those with itchy scalp and hair breakage. It lower pH level of the hair and thus help improve scalp health. It contains vitamins, minerals and AHAs that exfoliate the scalp and this helps with dandruff issues too. ACV rinses are a must during rainy and humid weather to keep infections at bay especially for those with oily scalp.
How to apply?
After your shampoo conditioner routine, in a mug full of water add a couple of tablespoons of ACV and pour down the liquid on your hair make sure to keep your eyes closed. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse it out with water. You can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil if you can’t bear the smell.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is high in lauric acid, protein and a storehouse of vitamins C, E and B that help with hair loss and strengthen the hair. It has a moisturizing effect and is great for dry and dull hair. It is touted to be one of the most effective natural ways to straighten hair without the use of chemicals in the course of time. While I’m not sure about how it can straighten hair or can act as a natural keratin treatment at home, I definitely saw my wavy hair look smooth and shiny after the application. Please note that it can be messy since this hair mask is in liquid form and will drip so it is best to wear an old t-shirt and cover your hair with a shower cap or a plastic bag.
4-5 tablespoons Coconut Milk (store-bought)
Juice of one lemon
Make sure to strain the lemon juice before adding to the milk. Just mix the two and leave it overnight and in the morning you’ll see the milk curdled and a little thick, it is due to the lemon. Apply this liquid all over your hair and scalp and leave it on for 20-40 minutes and wash it off.
Rice Water
Using rice water for hair care dates centuries back to Asian culture. Rice water is rich in Vitamin B, E, Fiber, Manganese, Magnesium and Zinc. Regular users of rice water say it can make your hair shinier, stronger and doubles up hair growth while also minimizing troublesome tangles – a common concern for those with long hair.
You can prep it in many ways but the easiest ones are the reason we’re here for!
Soak washed rice in water for 30 minutes and rinse your washed hair with this. Keep it in your hair for 10-20 minutes and wash it with plain water. You can even allow the soaking to continue overnight to allow fermentation which makes the liquid even more potent. Spray it in your hair instead of rinsing your hair with it if you please.
So go ahead and try these super simple DIYs and treat your hair!
The Good: Pampering your hair in a chemical-free way with minimal cost.
The Bad: It can be time consuming and a little messy although it is beneficial to invest time to give your hair some TLC.
The trendy: If you are concerned about your hair and do not have the time to regularly visit the salon and find it too heavy on your pocket, the above home remedies are your best bet.
Meet Richa: Mother of two amazing kids with a penchant for writing. Beauty and fashion enthusiast and a home chef – I don many hats and ace it all!