I’ll admit it: While I follow my skincare routine religiously, I’m extremely lazy when it comes to caring for my hair. This laidback attitude coupled with the regular heat styling I subject my hair to, my tresses became extremely unmanageable and look super dry and damaged. But then came the lockdown. Not only did I completely stop heat styling my hair during this period, but also began to take my hair care routine a little more seriously thanks to all the extra time on hand. From researching and investing in the right kind of hair products to pampering my tresses with some nourishing hair masks, I did it all!
While this helped reduce the dryness and damage to a great extent, my hair still lacked that healthy shine and felt rough to touch. But this was until a friend — who is well aware of the lazy relationship I share with my hair — mentioned how I could use my usual conditioner to whip up my own DIY hair masks! Armed with this new-found information and motivated by the deteriorating quality of my hair, I decided to give this one a try.
And guess what? I am not exaggerating one bit when I say that my natural hair has never felt this soft, glossy and manageable, except for the times when I go in for a professional blow-dry, of course! Want to know all about how I whipped up these hair masks and the ingredients I used? Read on!
The conditioner I used
Since my hair was extremely dry and damaged, I needed a conditioner that would not only moisturise my strands but also reverse the damage. I used the TIGI Bed Head Urban Anti Dotes Resurrection Repairing Level 3 Conditioner and have been using it for quite a few months now. This conditioner is enriched with 25 % extra moisture-boosting ingredients, making it the perfect choice for my severely dry, lifeless and heat damaged hair. This conditioner not only leaves my hair a lot softer and smoother but also makes them stronger with each use. So needless to say, I am totally in love with this conditioner!
Hair masks I DIYed So,
after a little research about what type of natural hair care ingredients work well for my hair type, these are the two hair masks that I keep alternating between —- and trust me when I say that they are absolutely game-changing.
Conditioner + banana hair mask
When I first started with this experiment, my hair used to be really dry and frizzy; I needed an ingredient that was super nourishing. I decided to use a banana — they are rich in potassium, vitamins, natural oils and carbohydrates that help soften the hair and prevent split ends and breakage.
Here’s how you can DIY this banana hair mask –
Step 01: Take 2 tbsps (this can vary depending on your hair length) of your conditioner in a bowl.
Step 02: Mash half an overripe banana, add to the conditioner and mix well.
Step 03: Apply this hair mask all over your hair and scalp and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
Step 04: Rinse it off with cold water and wash away the residue with a mild SLS-free shampoo. I prefer using the Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water and Mimosa Flower Volume & Bounty Shampoo for that boost of moisture.
Conditioner + aloe vera gel
Another ingredient that has always been a major part of my beauty routine has to be aloe vera gel. And since this miracle gel is known to be the best natural remedy against dryness, I decided to add this to my other DIY conditioner hair mask.
Here’s how to DIY the aloe vera gel hair mask:
Step 01: To a mixing bowl, add a little bit of the conditioner and whisk it until becomes a little fluffy.
Step 02: Next, take a little bit of the fresh aloe gel (you can even use a store-bought one like the Lakme 9 to 5 Naturale Aloe Aqua Gel) and add it to the conditioner.
Step 03: Apply this hair mask all over your hair and scalp and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
Step 04: Rinse it off with cold water and wash away the residue with a mild shampoo.
I towel dry my hair and apply a bit of anti-frizz hair serum and let my hair air dry. My hair feels super soft and conditioned post use.
The result
Well, if you’re as lazy as I am and can’t be bothered with having yet another haircare product on your beauty shelf, then this little hack is going to save your tresses big time. I pamper my hair to a hair masking session every week and alternate between these DIY recipes. My super frizzy hair feels so much more tamed and soft to touch. My hair fall (caused mainly due to dryness) has also considerably reduced — yay!
P.S. You don’t necessarily have to stick to these two natural ingredients only; you could also add mayonnaise, honey, eggs or yoghurt — do your research. Raid your pantry and you’d be surprised to see there are so many ingredients that you can add based on your hair type and its needs. Try this simple and super pocket-friendly hair mask hack and fall in love with your hair all over again!
Written by Urvi Dalal on Oct 30, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!