Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components
of a tasty breakfast—but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and
affordable, all-natural ones at that.
For
All Hair Types
THE EGG – The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally
moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes
unwanted oils.
To Use: For normal
hair, use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily
hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize dry, brittle hair. Use 1/2 cup of
whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If
there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for
20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking”) and shampoo
hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month;
whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks.
Another tip:
Mix 2 egg yolks with 2 tbsp of olive oil, dilute the mixture
by adding a cup of water, and then slowly and thoroughly massage this mask into
your scalp. Give your hair and scalp 15 to 20 minutes to absorb all the needed
nutrients and then rinse off.
For Limp or Fine Hair
To add body to hair, reach for an unlikely beauty
beverage: beer! The fermented drink contains generous supplies of yeast, which
works to plump tired tresses.
To Use: Mix 1/2
cup flat beer (pour beer into a container and let it sit out for a couple of
hours to deplete carbonation) with 1 tsp light oil (sunflower or canola) and a
raw egg. Apply to clean, damp hair, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with
cool water. Or add flat beer only to a spray bottle and spritz onto dry hair.
"When the liquid evaporates, the remaining protein residue (from the
wheat, malt or hops) continues to strengthen and structure hair," says
Belkin. Treatments can be applied every other week.
For Dry or Sun-Damaged Hair
Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon—hard water, sun
overexposure, your trusty flat iron—nature's sweetener can help. "Honey is
a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture," says
Cox.
To Use: Massage
approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then
rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the
honey for easier application. For extremely sun-damaged hair, trying mixing
honey with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a protein-rich ingredient, like avocado or egg yolk,
which will help replenish the keratin protein bonds that UV rays attack.
Treatment can be applied once a month.
For Residue-Ridden Hair
Nothing eats through product
buildup like baking soda.
To Use: Mix 1 to 2 Tbsp baking
soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp
hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment
can be applied every two weeks.
2 tablespoons coffee 2
tablespoons your regular shampoo ¼ teaspoon baking soda (removes buildup from
styling products) Mix coffee, shampoo, and baking soda together in a bowl.
Apply to wet hair leave on for 2 minutes before rinsing. Follow with
conditioner.
