Remedies for Dry and Damaged Hair

These inexpensive tricks will condition your brittle, dried out locks, leaving you with gorgeous, healthy hair.

Repair damage with an avocado

Mash a ripe avocado (stone and skin removed) with one egg, then apply this home remedy to wet hair. Avocados are rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids, and minerals that will help restore lustre to your hair. Leave on for at least 20 minutes, then rinse several times. Repeat once a week for damaged hair and once a month for healthy hair.

Massage in butter

Great for dry and brittle hair with a small amount of butter for a glossy shine. Massage it into your dry hair, then cover your hair with a shower cap for about a half hour. Shampoo as usual, and rinse all the butter out.

Condition with olive oil

Put the moisture back into dry hair by warming up 1/2 cup of Olive Oil  (do not boil it), and then rub it into your hair. Cover tresses with a plastic bag, then wrap everything in a towel. Let this home remedy do its thing for 45 minutes, then shampoo and completely rinse.

Rinse with tea

You may think of tea as a morning essential, but you can also use it to give hair a natural shine. uUse 1 litre of warm, unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) as a final rinse after your regular shampoo. Tea can enhance hair color, so make sure to use a tea that works with your hair color. Blondes should use Chamomile tea as black tea may darken their tresses. Brunettes should use black tea to enhance shine and enrich colour.

Whip up an apple cider vinegar mask

Put the life back into your limp or damaged hair by combining 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 egg whites, then rub the mix into your hair. Keep your hair covered for about a half hour using plastic wrap or a shower cap, then shampoo and rinse.

Make a “shampoo omelette”

Mix one egg with a small amount of shampoo, then apply to your dry hair for five minutes and rinse well. This treatment helps to enhance the protein in your hair.

Treat with botanical oils

Available at health food stores, olive, jojoba, and sweet almond oils are all wonderful elixirs for damaged hair. If your hair is thick and heavy, coconut oil works well. Dampen your hair and apply small amounts of the botanical oil until your hair is thoroughly covered. Top off with shower cap and warm towel for about 30 minutes, then rinse and shampoo your hair out.

Try sandalwood oil

Mix a few drops of sandalwood oil with a few drops of olive or jojoba oil, rub the mixture between your palms, then smooth it through the ends of your hair for instant sleekness and a way to curb and condition brittle, flyaway hair. Alternately, squirt a few drops of hand lotion in your palm and smooth it through damaged hair.

Wrap wet hair dry

Instead of rubbing your hair after you’ve washed it, wrap up your damaged hair in a cotton towel, and let the cotton absorb the moisture for a few minutes. This helps protect against further split ends.

Use a humidifier at night

Your home heating probably keeps the air very dry, especially in winter, and that can dry out your hair. Putting moisture back into the air will help your hair from becoming more dry and damaged.

Let your hair down

If you usually wear your hair in a ponytail, take it out for a few hours a day to give your hair a break. Also, try not to pull hair back too tightly. And never sleep with any sort of accessories in your hair.

Eat your omega-3s

Take one to three 250-milligram capsules of Cod-liver oil, evening primrose oil, or flaxseed oil (perfect for vegans) one to three times a day. All are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid, great for keeping hair (and nails) moisturised.