My grandmother used to say that if I wished to predict the weather, to turn to my hair. Let me explain. With dry weather comes frizz and untameable tangles, with salty moisture comes waves and curls, summer heat leads to dandruff and split ends and the cold months make your hair dull and brittle. She would also bring out her ‘magic mix’ of kitchen ingredients at the beginning of every season to tame my hair—all my weekend memories as a child include messy hair masks that honestly smelt like curry.
But the question is, do they really work? We’ve all been there. We’ve tried to make our hair better with everything our moms and grandmas suggested, especially during this pandemic. And if you ask me, they actually do work. While the classics like coconut oil, onion juice and aloe vera are forever the miracle-workers, a few ingredients residing on our kitchen shelves target specific concerns that might be useful during this particular transition from winter to spring.
I don’t know about you, but I’m bringing in Spring with lustrous, shiny, and strong hair (cue *dramatic hair flip*). Below, I’ve shared a bunch of ingredients and powerful concoctions that you can try at the comfort of your home.
To Avoid Dry Hair & Split Ends
Honey and Yoghurt Mask
Give your hair some love with this sweet treat to moisturise your hair the way it truly deserves. Both honey and yoghurt have restorative nourishing properties—honey is a natural humectant that aids in keeping your strands healthy, while yoghurt is a probiotic ingredient that protects your scalp and keeps your ends hydrated. Mix them in a bowl and apply the paste evenly on your hair and scalp. If it gets drippy, we recommend securing your head with a shower cap.
Avocado and Olive Oil Mask
The key to tangle-free, healthy hair with zero split ends? Protein. With avocados bringing in a strong dose of proteins your hair needs and olive oil will bind it all, helping your strands lock in moisture. It’s the perfect morning mask for Spring. You can whip up the avocado pulp and a few drops of olive oil and coat your strands. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash it off with a mild shampoo.
To Tame Unruly Strands and Frizz
Lemon and Rosemary Oil Soak
One of the major reasons for stubborn strands or frizz could be all that sebum or mineral build-up on your scalp. Contributing factors include pollution, climate change, hard water, and more. Detox your hair and cleanse your scalp with this purifying soak. Squeeze a whole lemon in a large bowl. Follow this up by adding a few drops of rosemary oil and some lukewarm water. Let your hair seep into the bowl and massage your scalp with your fingers till it turns nice and damp.
Banana Mask
Bananas are underrated in so many ways. This miracle fruit is enriched with potassium, natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins that make your hair softer and more manageable. Especially great for curly hair, a banana mask can boost the strength of your mane and nourish each strand. You can mash one banana into a paste, add some coconut milk to increase the quantity (if you have long hair). Leave it for 25 minutes and wash it off with a mild shampoo.
To Get Rid of Dandruff
Grounded Coffee Scrub
Who doesn’t want to smell like a refreshing cup of fresh coffee all day long? The healing, hydrating properties of this antioxidant helps stimulate your scalp for better blood circulation. Scrub away sebum and dandruff to make way for a healthy, clear and functioning scalp. All you need is freshly ground coffee beans mixed with a binding agent (like coconut oil or yoghurt).
Gram Flour Scrub
Besan (ground gram flour) for skincare has been used in every household in India for years. But what most don’t know is that it’s great for your hair and scalp too. Mix besan with coconut milk or olive oil (for dry hair) and apply the paste as a mask on your hair and scalp. When the mix begins to dry, start gently massaging your scalp by adding a few extra drops of coconut milk or olive oil. Wash it off with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo.
To Prevent Hair Fall
Fenugreek Seed and Curry Leaves in Oil
Keeping up with the tradition of coconut oil champis, we’re adding some highly effective hair-loving ingredients to the mix. Fenugreek seeds or methi are rich in protein and have been known to be beneficial to fight hair loss. Curry leaves on the other hand are loaded with antioxidants and proteins that promote hair growth. Crush both of these ingredients lightly in a blender, soak them in warm coconut oil and store in a bottle for your weekly oil massages.
Sandalwood and Soy Milk Mask
Similar to turmeric, sandalwood is considered an all-rounder in Ayurveda. With astringent properties that help control excess sebum and oil production, sandalwood stimulates the roots making them stronger and aiding in growth. Mix sandalwood powder in a bowl with soy milk (powered with healing proteins and hydrating agents) to make a paste. Use this as a mask every week for strengthening your hair and promoting hair growth.
