Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
Damaged hair can be heartbreaking. It is hard to style, difficult to manage, and looks unkempt. How many times can you get by pulling off a messy hairdo? Some days we just want our hair to flow naturally and bounce with radiance. If you think you are the only one struggling with damaged hair, then you are wrong!
I can’t even count the number of times I hear women stress over their poor hair quality. Bounce and shine do not come overnight, and we cannot get them from using synthetic products. As is with everything else in our bodies, healthy hair is a result of a healthy diet. Poor nutrition and harsh chemicals can rob your hair of its natural oils, thereby making it brittle.
Sure you can try store-bought hair masks, but they will only give your tresses short-term nourishment. Alternatively, you can use some of my time-tested hair mask recipes that are quick to prepare. The main ingredients for these remedies are fenugreek, coconut oil, and castor oil, and each of these ingredients is easy to handle.
Why waste your money on unnatural hair products that only mask the problem? Here are my hair mask recipes that are highly effective!
1. Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil & Apple Mask to Stop Hair Breakage
Coconut oil contains nutrients - for example, medium-chain fatty acids and lauric acid - that provide nourishment and restores your hair’s lost proteins, thereby preventing breakage. Sunflower oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is essential for hair health. Finally, apples contain malic acid, an exfoliating compound that cleanses the scalp of dead skin cells, further promoting healthy hair growth.
Ingredients
2 tbsp. of organic coconut oil
2 tbsp. of sunflower oil
1 tsp. of apple juice
Method
Mix coconut oil with apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
Gently massage the mixture into your hair and let it sit for 2 hours.
Rinse it out with lukewarm water. Wash hair with shampoo and conditioner.
2. Castor Oil, Sesame Oil & Hibiscus Hair Mask for Hair Growth
Castor oil is a rich source of ricinoleic acid, an Omega-9 fatty acid that deeply penetrates the scalp, improves blood circulation, and provides nourishment; together, these elements can
spur faster hair growth. Sesame oil is a good source of Vitamin E, and it can deeply penetrate the hair and scalp in order to deeply nourish them and give them the nutrients they need. Adding hibiscus to this mask will boost collagen production in your hair because of the Vitamin C in this mask.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of castor oil
5 tbsp. of sesame oil
5 hibiscus flowers
Method
Mix the oils in a pan and add hibiscus petals.
Warm the mix on low heat for an hour and apply it to your hair. Do not raise the temperature.
Massage the mix into your scalp gently and thoroughly.
Wrap a steamed towel around your head to seal the nourishment.
Leave it on for two hours and then wash it off with warm water and shampoo. Follow with your conditioner.
3. Fenugreek Powder as a Simple Hair Conditioner
To strengthen your hair from root to tip, use fenugreek. The lecithin inside fenugreek promotes the growth of healthy hair follicles. This is the reason it is widely used as a conditioner for strong and shiny hair. If you combine fenugreek with rosewater and jojoba oil, two ingredients that can remove excess sebum and residue in your hair, your hair will be soft and shiny in no time.
Ingredients
5 tbsp. of fenugreek
Rosewater, as needed
Jojoba oil, as needed
Method
Place fenugreek in a bowl. Add enough water to the bowl until the water covers the fenugreek.
Soak the fenugreek in water overnight.
Use a hand blender to make a fine paste from these soaked fenugreek seeds. Blend and then add enough rosewater and jojoba oil until you get ketchup consistency.
Gently massage this hair mask on your strands and scalp.
Leave it on for 2 hours and wash it off with water. Follow it up with shampoo and conditioner.
“My face has cleared up so much. I see less breakouts. My skin, it looks more supple and it looks more healthy and I have only Apsara to thank!”
4. Sweet Almond Oil, Sesame Oil & Castor Oil Hair Mask for Thick Hair
In addition to the noted benefits that sesame oil and castor oil provide for healthy hair care, sweet almond oil is used in this remedy because it stimulates hair growth, making your
tresses stronger and longer. Hair loss is often caused by a deficiency in magnesium and zinc, and sweet almond oil, having a plentiful amount of those particular nutrients, helps counter hair loss.
Ingredients
2 tbsp. of sweet almond oil
2 tbsp. of sesame oil
½ tsp. of castor oil
Method
Mix the oils in a bowl and massage it gently into your scalp.
Start from the roots to the tip. You can also warm up the oil for faster penetration.
Leave it on for 2 hours. Wash it off with a mild shampoo and follow with your conditioner.
5. Hydrating & Moisturizing Banana & Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Bananas contain moisturizing properties; it can restore dry and damaged hair back to its original condition. Adding coconut oil to this remedy will ensure that your hair is not only
moisturized but also deeply nourished with nutrients for hair health, such as Vitamin E.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of ripe banana paste
