Overview
Everyone wants to have silky, shiny hair—and they are willing spend hundreds of dollars to get it. However, there are less expensive alternatives that may be even more effective than a trip to the salon. Household items, such as olive oil, mayonnaise, eggs and even beer can add shine and luster to dull locks—and you’ll have a great time experimenting.
Causes
The average human head has about 150,000 hair follicles, and these all need to be taken care of on a daily basis. For most women, this is easier said than done—chemicals and heat are a part of our regular routine, so it’s no surprise when our hair gets dry and damaged. Hair can also be damaged by exposure to chlorine or overwashing, which removes hair’s natural oils. The good news is that there are lots of easy ways to treat dry or damaged hair at home.
Good Fats
There are a variety of fats that can do wonders for your hair, with mayonnaise probably being the most well known. Slather on the goo and leave it on your head anywhere from five minutes to one hour. After washing, your hair will be shiny and silky soft. A combination of mashed avocados and olive oil is also a great home conditioner. Coconut suntan oil even works–massage this into your hair, wrap your head in plastic wrap, a plastic bag or a towel, and stay this way for as long as you can. When you finally wash your hair, it will be extra soft and will smell great.
Eggs
Eggs are great natural conditioners, especially for dry and damaged hair. There are many ways that eggs can be used, such as by whipping them with water and massaging them into wet hair or by combining an egg with honey and using the mixture as a conditioner.
Beer
Beer does a great job of giving a shiny, healthy look to even the most damaged hair. Once you have washed and towel-dried your hair, use a spray bottle to coat your damaged locks with the beer, but don’t rinse it out. And no, the smell of beer won’t stay with you.
Considerations
As a last resort, you may consider making a visit to the beauty parlor. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cut off damaged ends, though this may help. Hair tends to be most dry at the ends, and most hairstylists suggest a trim every six to eight weeks. If you are looking for a less traumatic fix, experts agree that a professional moisturizing treatment can work wonders for dried out hair, and it’s not even that expensive. In fact, at costs averaging $20, this can be a more economical route than a haircut.
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