Hair masks: benefits and natural ingredients at home

Hair is the crown that adorns the head. Not a few also do hair care at the salon to achieve the desired appearance. One of the most common ways to do this is to use a natural hair mask.

Benefits of hair masks

Hair mask is a hair treatment that consists of oil, butter, and other natural ingredients. This hair treatment aims to moisturize the hair as it penetrates the hair shaft and scalp.

For owners of dry hair, the existence of a hair mask is really helpful. How could it not be, the level of humidity that was given by hair mask this can help increase the hydration of dry hair.

The maintained hair moisture will certainly result in healthier, shiny hair and reduce the risk of other hair problems, such as:

• reduce hair breakage,
• maintain scalp health, and
• strengthens the hair shaft.

When do I do this treatment?

Basically, the frequency of using masks for hair must be adjusted to the type and condition of your hair. If you have normal hair and no problems, the treatment can be done once a week.

Meanwhile, hair that is damaged, dry, and requires special attention needs a mask at least 2 times a week. In fact, the frequency of use can be increased to 3 times a week if the condition of the hair is very damaged.

The duration of use also depends on the ingredients from hair mask which is obtained. Some hair masks recommend using them for 5 - 15 minutes, especially at home.

On the other hand, the use of masks in salons takes a longer time with different ways of using them. Therefore, choose a mask according to your hair type for maximum results.

Choice of natural hair masks

The use of shampoo and hair conditioner products is not enough to care for hair, especially those that are often exposed to heat from the sun and hair dryer. Well, hair masks are here to help maximize your hair care.

However, not all natural ingredients in your home can be used and processed into masks. Here are some masks made from natural ingredients to maintain healthy hair.

1. Bananas

It is no secret that bananas contain nutrients and vitamins that are good for the body. In fact, bananas are said to have silica, which is a natural mineral compound that can turn into silicon.

Silicone is a chemical element that can make hair thicker and stronger. That is why you can get the benefits of banana masks for hair health, such as:

• helps reduce dandruff,
• makes hair look shinier, and
• helps stimulate hair growth.

This yellow fruit can be used as a single ingredient in a hair mask. However, you can also add various other natural ingredients to get more benefits, such as eggs, honey and coconut oil.

How to use it:

• Crush the peeled banana fruit into a paste
• Mix 1 tablespoon of honey into the banana mixture
• Mix well
• Apply the mask to the hair, especially on the scalp and the ends of the hair
• Let stand for 10-15 minutes
• Rinse hair with warm water
• Use shampoo and conditioner to give hair more hair

2. Coconut oil and honey

The mixture of coconut oil for hair and honey can actually be processed into a mask, especially for dry and fluffy hair.

Honey is a natural ingredient that is considered a humectant, which helps lock in moisture. The fluid produced by bees also stimulates the growth of skin cells, which makes hair follicles healthier.

Meanwhile, coconut oil has a low molecular weight, so it can penetrate the hair shaft. This can help treat dry and frizzy hair.

How to use it:

• Heat 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a saucepan
• Mix well
• Let the mixture cool
• Apply it on the hair
• Let stand for 40 minutes
• Shampoo and condition your hair for maximum results

3. Yogurt and oil

The combination of yogurt and oil works together to repair brittle and damaged hair. This mixture works very well on dry hair which is usually caused by using hot styling tools, such as flat iron.

How to make:

• Prepare 125 ml of plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil for hair, and 6 drops of essential oil, such as argan, jasmine, or lavender.
• Put everything in a blender and mix together
• Apply on damp hair
• Cover hair with hair cap
• Leave it on for 20 minutes
• Rinse with warm water until clean

4. Cinnamon and aloe vera

Apart from treating burns, aloe vera is also known to grow hair and reduce itching and dandruff. Meanwhile, cinnamon maximizes aloe vera to stimulate hair growth.

How to make:

• Mix aloe vera gel with 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• Mix well
• Apply it on the hair
• Let stand for 5 - 10 minutes
• Rinse thoroughly

5. Bananas and yogurt

It has been mentioned before that bananas have high nutritional benefits for hair health, especially when used as a hair mask. Well, you can also mix bananas with yogurt to get shinier hair.

According to research from BMC Complementary and Alternative MedicineDairy products such as yogurt have long been used to lengthen hair. In addition, creams that contain probiotics can also help reduce the dangers of free radicals.

For those of you who have dull and dry hair, maybe you can try this mask. Apart from making hair feel softer, the banana and yogurt mixture also helps lock in moisture.

How to use it:

• Cut the banana fruit into pieces and put it in the blender
• Pour in the yogurt and mash the mixture with a blender until smooth
• Sieve the mixture until the remaining pieces of banana and yogurt are separated
• Apply the mixture from the tips to the roots of the hair
• Focus on the scalp
• Tie hair and cover with shower cap
• Let stand for 30 minutes
• Rinse with water and shampoo as usual

6. Coconut milk, honey, avocado and lemon

Source: Lifealth

Sounds a lot? Yes, these four natural ingredients can be used together to get hair that is free from problems and is suitable for dealing with oily hair.

First, coconut milk, which is commonly used as a cooking ingredient, turns out to contain a good antiseptic to treat dandruff and scalp infections.

Then, avocado is a fruit that contains high enough healthy fats. Even this green fruit also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, and contains the nutrients and vitamins your hair needs.

In addition, the folic acid content in avocado can also work a natural SPF for hair. No wonder you often find hair masks containing avocado.

Two other ingredients, namely honey and lemon, have long been known to have benefits for hair health. For example, lemon is acidic which helps balance the pH level of the scalp. This in turn helps control oil spending.

How to use it:

• Provide 1 glass coconut milk, 1 avocado, 2 tablespoons honey, and ½ lemon
• Combine all the ingredients, including the avocado which has been mashed until smooth
• Mix well
• Apply the mask to all parts of the head and hair
• Let stand for 15-30 minutes
• Cover the head with shower cap
• Rinse hair with warm water and shampoo until clean

What needs to be considered about using a hair mask is the process of washing or rinsing hair. The wrong way to wash your hair can actually make your hair oilier because of the oil content in the mask.

If you have further questions, ask a dermatologist or dermatologist for the right solution.