Spa Days: Hair Treatments

When I was in university, I didn’t take very good care of my hair. I’d wash it daily because I had this shampoo with tea tree oil in it, so the tingling on my scalp would help me wake up on even the most sluggish mornings. I’d look at my hair in the mirror and wonder why it was so dry and frizzy, wishing for gorgeously shiny hair. My mother eventually noticed, and she gave me lots of really helpful advice (that included not washing my hair daily, go figure!), and some of the most helpful was her collection of hair treatments. Now, I have really shiny hair and I’m really proud of it! Here are three hair masks and hair oil mixtures you can use to help get shiny hair too.

1. Coconut Lemon Oil: take a tablespoon of coconut oil that’s been warmed enough to be liquid, and mix it with a tablespoon of honey. Apply it to your scalp and to your hair, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Shampoo your hair and follow up with conditioner as usual. Coconut oil is amazing, I want to put it all over my life sometimes. It helps moisturize your hair and scalp, soothe itchy scalps, and makes your hair smooth and shiny! Honey is great too, because it helps soothe itchy scalps, is antibacterial, and adds shine to hair as well.
2. Sugar Mask: mix two tablespoons of brown sugar with a tablespoon of olive oil, and apply to your scalp and hair. Let sit for 20 minutes, and then wash your hair as usual. Brown sugar is a great exfoliate that can remove dead skin and buildup from your scalp, while olive oil helps moisturize your hair and scalp, and adds shine to dull hair.
3. Lemony Egg Mask: beat one egg and combine it with a cup of coconut milk, one tablespoon of honey, and the juice of half a lemon. Apply it to your scalp and hair, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. This hair mask is extra nourishing! The egg gives your hair lots of protein and vitamins, which help rebuild your hair and add shine. Coconut milk helps moisturize dry hair, and even promotes hair growth! Lemon is great for oily hair, because it cuts through the oil and helps reduce sebum on the scalp. It also helps make hair shiny.

I like using one of these hair treatments once a week, on a day I plan on washing my hair anyway. To help maintain shine, try applying coconut or olive oil to your hair the night before you plan on washing your hair in between hair treatments. Make sure you keep shower caps handy so you don’t make a mess!