Hair Masks for Dry Damaged Hair

Dry damaged hair is difficult to manage and you somehow want to turn it back to normal at the earliest. Hair masks and home remedies for dry damaged hair are a solution for this problem. Read on to learn how to make them.

Dry damaged hair can be very frustrating, leaving your hair looking lifeless. It results from very low moisture content due to several factors put together, and a healthy, chemical-free alternative to commercial products is to treat it with natural hair masks and remedies.

Causes of Dry Damaged Hair

Hair is commonly damaged by harsh chemical treatments (colors, dyes, extensions, rebonding, perming), excessive heat from straightening and blow drying, and certain hairstyles such as tight braids. It can also develop a dry texture from over-exposure to sun and wind, swimming and chlorinated water, excessive shampooing and use of hair products, pollution, and a lack of regular oiling and conditioning. The signs are dry, brittle, split or frizzy ends, and if left untreated, dry hair can lead to further problems such as dandruff and hair loss — so it is best to fix it promptly, and better still to prevent it.

Home Remedies for Dry Damaged Hair

These natural remedies use only healthy, herbal ingredients that cause no harm to the hair follicles:

• Oils — a mixture of castor, olive, almond and coconut oils applied to the hair and scalp and left on for a few hours before rinsing provides deep nourishment and moisture and promotes healthy growth.
• Eggs — a natural conditioner and cleanser. Whip an egg into lukewarm water, lather into the hair and scalp, and rinse; or whip the egg white with a tablespoon of water until creamy, add the yolk, massage into wet hair, leave 5 minutes and rinse with cool water. For extremely damaged hair, apply a mixture of egg and honey on alternate days, or a mixture of one egg, two tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon each of coconut and almond oil, left on for 30 minutes before rinsing with a mild shampoo.
• Mayonnaise — spread a thick layer from root to tip, massage into the scalp, leave for around 30 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water; for very damaged hair it can be left on overnight.

Hair Mask Recipes for Dry Damaged Hair

Olive Oil Masks — Warm 20 ml of olive oil, apply from roots to ends (concentrating on the roots), comb through, leave overnight and wash with a gentle shampoo in the morning. Alternatively, mix 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar and one egg, apply for 15–20 minutes and rinse.

Avocado Masks — Mash one ripe avocado with 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons olive oil until creamy, apply and leave for 20 minutes. A richer version blends half an avocado, one banana, one egg, 2 tablespoons honey, 3 tablespoons buttermilk and 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, left on for half an hour before washing with a moisturizing shampoo.

Banana Masks — Puree one banana smoothly, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2–3 dollops of mayonnaise, apply for 15–30 minutes and shampoo out. Or blend half a banana, an egg yolk, 2 teaspoons milk powder, 1 teaspoon coconut oil and 1 teaspoon lime juice, leave for 20 minutes and rinse.

Mayonnaise Masks — Apply half a cup of mayonnaise (adjust for hair length), leave for 15 minutes and rinse with a regular shampoo. For extra conditioning, mash half an avocado into a small jar of mayonnaise, apply from roots to tips and leave for 20 minutes.

Strawberry Masks — Mix 200 g strawberries, 2 tablespoons olive oil and one egg yolk, apply for 20 minutes and rinse gently. Or mash eight strawberries with a tablespoon of mayonnaise, apply to dampened hair and wash out with a regular shampoo for shine.

Tips to Prevent Dry Damaged Hair

• Oil, shampoo and condition regularly but not daily, using a mild shampoo and conditioner.
• Get timely haircuts to prevent brittle ends and split ends.
• Avoid frequent hair colors, styling appliances, chemical treatments and heavy product use.
• Protect your hair from dust, pollution and direct sunlight.
• Eat a nutritious, balanced diet to promote healthy hair growth.

Try any of these easy, natural masks and remedies to get soft, silky, well-conditioned hair — and remember that preventing dry damaged hair is always better than treating it.