How to get super healthy, shiny hair naturally and cheaply

4 Natural Hair Remedies

The first thing to remember is that natural hair remedies are MESSY!!!!! If you use a masque in the bath, however, cleanup is super easy. Here are the remedies:

1. Leftovers Hair Masque- Gather any of the following ingredients (whatever you have on hand; it doesn't matter which. All of these ingredients are great for your hair!): coconut oil, vitamin E oil, rosemary oil, olive oil, rosemary leaves, avocado, honey, yogurt, cream, a banana, mayonnaise, cocoa powder, vinegar, and an egg. If you have all of these, I'd be very surprised. Mix the dry ingredients with the thick, goopy ingredients first. Next, add the oils a little bit at a time. Don't go too overboard with the really smelly ones; a little goes a long way. Same goes for the vinegar and cocoa powder. Draw a bath and get in. Wet your hair, and then use your hands to saturate your hair with the masque. Go ahead and massage it into your scalp; it's very moisturizing. Just don't eat it if you have put essential or vitamin E oils in; these should not be eaten in this form. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it stew for around an hour. Shampoo, rinse, repeat. Condition as usual. Shiny! Note: The leftover masque can be used as an in-shower rinse-off lotion.
2. Henna- If you haven't at least heard of henna, I'd be truly surprised. Henna is a woody shrub that grows in the arid regions of Africa and the Middle East. The leaves produce a deep red-orange dye when crushed. The intensity of the color depends on the growing environment. Many types of vegetable henna, in the forms of pastes and powders, are available. For general use, purchase henna powder specifically produced for hair in a natural or blonde shade. Henna will never lighten the hair; it binds to the hair shaft and smooths the cuticle. This makes the hair thicker, shinier, and more manageable. The active ingredient in henna, known as hennotannic acid, lawsone, or 2-hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone is a UV blocker. Henna's amazing properties make it very useful as a hair protectant. Despite what some sources say, henna dye is permanent. On the skin, it disappears because we exfoliate. Our hair doesn't exfoliate, so if you dye your hair red, you're stuck with it, because it doesn't dye over well. This is why I suggest choosing "natural" or "blonde" shades. To mix, brew some super strong coffee or espresso (go cheapie here, whatever is on sale is great). Simultaneously, brew some super strong, super cheap tea. Let them steep overneight if you have time. If not, don't worry about it; it will still work fine. Mix the coffee and tea together. Mix the henna powder with the coffee and tea until it has a consistency like pancake batter. Add an egg and two or three drops of tea tree or lavender oil if you have some, and let it sit, covered, for 30 minutes in a warm spot. You can add any ingredients from the leftover masque, such as the avocado or banana, to make application easier. Using an old honey bear bottle works well. Apply to hair from root to tip. Cover with a shower cap and let it sit for up to eight hours, but no less than two. Unwrap and rinse with cheap conditioner until all lumps are out. Shampoo. Do not wash again for 24 hours. Whew! This one isn't for the faint of heart. It's much easier for those with short hair. My hair used to be down to my butt, and MAN was it time consuming!!! The results are amazing, though. People will compliment how shiny and soft your hair is for a month. Note: the henna powder you use should be green or brown and smell something like grass clippings or cow poo. If it isn't, and it is black or purple and smells harsh, it's NOT HENNA. Don't use it.
3. Dandruff reducing clarifying rinse- Mix a 1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves with a bottle of apple cider vinegar (or other vinegar, let's not be picky). Let steep for a month. Strain mixture into a spray bottle; saturate hair and rinse.
4. Scalp refreshing spray- This recipe is AMAZING when it's really hot outside, and you have icky sweat on your forehead and scalp. In a spray bottle, mix 1 1/2 cups water with 1 Tablespooneach of rosemary and Tea tree oil. Shake before each use. Spray on roots of hair and on face for best results. This has a major "Aaah" factor. For a beachy look, you can dissolve 1/4 cup of sea salt in it and use it as a refreshing texturizing spray.