It's Avocado Time!

Avocados have a good amount of omega-6 fatty acids, which can soften the hair and impart shine.  For those who are interested, below is a list of homemade avocado hair treatments gathered from around the Web. Instructions for each recipe may be found by clicking on the "Source" links. Be sure to mash the avocado well!

AVOCADO HAIR MASK
1 ripe avocado
2 tablespoons organic yogurt
1 organic egg
1/2 teaspoon rosemary oil
1 tablespoon jojoba oil
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2194352_avocado-mask-hair.html

AVOCADO HAIR MOISTURIZER
1/4 avocado, peeled and mashed
1/4 mayonnaise
Source: http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/hair-conditioner.html

AVOCADO CONDITIONER
1 whole avocado

1 cup of coconut milk
Source: http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/hair-conditioner.html

AVOCADO CONDITIONING TREATMENT
1 avocado
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 tablespoon of pure aloe
Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ll_avocadohair.html

AVOCADO CARAMEL TREATMENT
1 over ripe avocado
1.5 tbsp honey
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp jojoba oil
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup shea butter (melted)
1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 scoop molasses(optional)
Source: http://masquemagazine.com/2009/04/20/caramel-treatment-homemade-deep-conditioner/

MORE READS:
AVOCADO NUTRITION DATA

Fruit Salad ... Body and Hair

There are numerous benefits to incorporating a fruit salad into your regular diet. For one, fruit salads are an efficient, flavorful way to absorb most of your vitamins and water for the day. Additionally, studies have suggested that certain fruits (such as cranberries) contain compounds and fiber that reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease, respectively. A diet containing fruits may also help to improve one's mood and reduce depression. The overall advantage to eating from this tasty food group is improved physical, mental, and emotional health. Below is a recipe for a fancy, fun fruit salad:

Fruit Salad in Watermelon
1 watermelon
1-2 honeydews
1-2 cantaloupes
1 pineapple
strawberries
blueberries
**Instructions:
Cut a thin slice from bottom of watermelon so it will rest evenly. Slice watermelon lengthwise in half. Carve a decorative zig-zag edge from 1/2 of watermelon. Scoop out fruit from watermelon. Scoop watermelon balls from second half. (Scoop honeydew and cantaloupe balls. Cut remaining fruits.)
Fill bowl with watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe balls, pineapple chunks, strawberries, blueberries and other fresh fruit in season. Mix and let stand. Add more fruit as needed to keep full for large party.
Source: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1832,149160-246195,00.html

For more intricate recipes, see:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1819,149160-247195,00.html
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1843,149161-246195,00.html
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Salad/Fruit-Salads/Main.aspx

HAIR-RELATED INFORMATION:
Fruits that are high in beta-carotene may contribute to the growth and maintenance of hair follicles. (To read more, see related post and study.) Such fruits include: cantaloupe, papaya, apricot, and mango to name a few. Meanwhile, fruits that are an excellent source of manganese -- including blueberries, pineapples, and raspberries -- supposedly help to prevent slow hair growth. This is just a handful of hair-related advantages to eating fruits.

In addition to the internal benefits of consuming fruits is the external advantage of applying a fruit salad to the hair. Yes, this sounds strange at first, but the right mixture of fruits can actually condition the hair. View the recipe below which is also posted in "Buh-Buh-Banana ... Deep Conditioners":

Fruit Salad Deep Conditioner
1/2 a banana
1/4 avocado
1/4 cantaloupe
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
**Blend all ingredients. (Be sure to blend the banana thoroughly and sieve.) Apply to hair. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes. Then rinse.
Source: http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35822

SOURCES & MORE READS:
10 FRUIT BENEFITS
CRANBERRY & OVARIAN CANCER
FRUITS & HEALTH
FRUITS & DEPRESSION
FRUITS & DIABETES MYTH
VITAMINS FOR THE HAIR
NUTRITION INFO TOOL

Egg-a-licious Deep Conditioners

Using an egg as a natural deep conditioner can do wonders for strengthening the hair and minimizing breakage. What's more? Homemade egg deep conditioners are a great cheap alternative to expensive salon-quality options. Can we say "recession"? There is one note of caution: In order to avoid cooking a scrambled egg into your hair, be sure to avoid using heat while conditioning AND warm/hot water to rinse. Below are some egg deep conditioner recipes you may want to try. Some are more strengthening than others, and some are more intricate. Use what works for you!


DEEP PROTEIN CONDITIONER
(Loo's favorite. I used this strengthening conditioner while transitioning.)

Ingredients:
1 egg
1-2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
8oz mayonnaise
few drops of peppermint oil (for scalp stimulation)
few tsp of corn starch (to thicken the mixture)

Directions:
Beat egg then add in olive oil, peppermint oil, and mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly. Add enough corn starch to thicken mixture to desired consistency. After shampooing, massage all conditioner into hair and leave on for a 20 to 30 minutes before thoroughly rinsing.

Source: The boards
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JUST THE YOLK PLEASE

Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
a mashed ripe avocado

Directions:
Combine mixture and apply to damp clean hair. Extremely moisturizing and feels really good.

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Beauty-of-the-Avocado-Homemade-Beauty-Recipes
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INEXPENSIVE EGG CONDITIONER

Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp olive oil (or other oil)
3/4 cup lukewarm water

Directions:
Beat egg yolk until it is thick and light colored. Add oil beat well. Slowly add and beat the water into the egg mixture. Pour mixture into a container. After shampooing, massage all conditioner into hair and leave on for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing.

Source: http://hmbeautyrecipes.homestead.com/HAIRconditioner.html
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HONEY CONDITIONER

Ingredients:
1 tsp honey
2 Tbs olive oil
1 egg yolk

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Massage on hair in small sections. Wrap head with shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo.

Source: http://hmbeautyrecipes.homestead.com/HAIRconditioner.html
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SESAME & COCONUT PROTEIN CONDITIONER

Ingredients:
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs light sesame oil
2 eggs
2 tbs coconut milk
2 tbs honey
1 tsp coconut oil

Directions:
Mix ingredients in bowl, apply to hair before shampoo. Let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse, then shampoo.

Source: http://hmbeautyrecipes.homestead.com/HAIRconditioner.html
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STRENGTHENING MASK

Ingredients:
1 egg
8 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin)
1 ripe avocado
1/3 cup of plain yogurt
favorite shampoo and conditioner

Directions:
Beat egg well. Combine frothy egg mixture with olive oil, avocado, yogurt. Massage into dry hair. Leave for about 20-25 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water (too warm and you'll end up with "hair ala scrambled egg". Shampoo and condition as usual.

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Beauty-of-the-Avocado-Homemade-Beauty-Recipes
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CHEAPY STRENGTHENING CONDITIONER

Ingredients:
1 egg
inexpensive conditioner (e.g., Suave, V05, etc.)
1-2 tbs oil (e.g., olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc.)

Directions:
Mix ingredients in bowl. After shampooing, massage all conditioner into hair and leave on for a 20 to 30 minutes before thoroughly rinsing.

Source: The boards
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YOGURT & EGG CONDITIONER
Ingredients:
1 egg
1/4 cup whole milk plain yogurt

Directions:
Combine plain yogurt and egg in a small bowl. Mix well. Use as you would a regular conditioner - after shampooing, work conditioner well into damaged areas of hair, particularly the ends. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Rinse well with cool water (not hot, you'll cook the egg!!) Hair will feel silkier and healthier.

Source: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/bath4.html

REVIEW #1: Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner

Number of trials: three (2x on dry hair prior to wash; 1x on wet hair after wash)

Ingredients - 4 tbs of coconut oil, 2 tbs of natural honey

Instructions - Place coconut oil and honey in a small plastic bag and place the bag in a hot cup of water for 1 minute to warm. Apply to hair, wrap hair in a towel for 20 minutes. Wash then dry hair.

How I prepared and used it:
I used extra virgin (i.e., pure and natural) coconut oil for the homemade mix. I also prepared about 2 times the serving because my hair is thick, dense, and naturally dry.

... as a hot oil treatment - Mixed 8 tbs of coconut oil with 4 tbs of honey in a bowl and heated it in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds to speed up the melting process. (The conditioner may/may not lose some of its benefits by being heated in the microwave; I'm not certain. I recommend that you stick with the official instructions above and I will do the same in the future.) Applied the warm mixture to hair, and wrapped hair with a plastic grocery bag followed by a turban towel. Let sit for 20 minutes. Washed hair with one lather of a moisturizing shampoo.

... as a deep conditioner - Washed hair with a moisturizing shampoo and toweled blotted until damp. Prepared the conditioner the same way as done for the hot oil treatment. Poured the mixture onto hair, and wrapped hair with a plastic grocery bag followed by a turban towel. Let sit for 20 minutes. Rinsed 80-90% of the conditioner out with warm water and then followed up with a blast of cold water to flatten the cuticles.

Recipe Source: http://hairrecipes.homestead.com/hotoilrecipes.html

FULL REVIEW:
This mixture makes a good hot oil treatment (used prior to washing) or a great deep conditioner (used after washing). I am not a fan of hot oil treatments in general, so I prefer to use this concoction as a deep conditioner instead. It is moisturizing (honey) and strengthening (coconut oil), so I get the best of both worlds. It is also super easy to make and requires minimal ingredients. I personally used two servings of the recipe because my hair is really thick, dense, and naturally dry. The conditioner is a bit messy to apply; I find it easiest to:

Bend over the tub so the mixture does not drip onto floor; pour the conditioner gradually onto my hair and let it drip into my hand; take the remainder in my hand and massage it into the parts of my hair that the conditioner didn't reach; once I'm done pouring, do a full-on massage of my hair to distribute the conditioner.

Do not expect this homemade conditioner to leave your hair smooth and silky like with commercial conditioners containing cetyl alcohol and cones. It did, however, leave my hair feeling strong immediately after rinsing it out. The moisturized factor kicked in after I let my hair dry for some time; my hair was supple and had a nice sheen. I usually apply a moisturizer after deep conditioning, but in this case, I was able to skip on some of it.

PROS RECAP: Quick and easy to make, Inexpensive, Minimal ingredients, Ingredients with long shelf life, Moisturizing, Strengthening, All Natural

CONS RECAP: Bit messy, No slip like with commercial conditioners

RATING:
Overall, I rate the Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner 4 out of 5 stars. It's natural and inexpensive, it moisturizes and strengthens in one, and it's not a hassle to make. It will become a regular part of my hair care regimen.

IDEAL FOR THOSE WHOSE HAIR:
* dislikes protein but requires strengthening
* is damaged and/or dry

HEADS UP:
*Be sure to wash behind your ears and around your hair line after using this homemade deep conditioner. Coconut oil can clog the skin and contribute to acne.
*Honey, when in contact with water, supposedly lightens the hair color over time. Hair lightening may occur when this conditioner is used on wet as opposed to dry hair.

FOR THE MIXOLOGISTS OUT THERE:
Feel free to experiment with adding an inexpensive conditioner (such as Suave or V05) to your mixture, or an additional favorite oil of yours (such as extra virgin olive oil). I like the Coconut Honey conditioner as is, though!

Buh-Buh-Banana ... Deep Conditioners

Do you have a stash of bananas that are too ripe to eat? Don't throw them away just yet. The following recipes are for deep conditioners you can make at home with a banana. Some require just two additional ingredients. Others are a little more elaborate. Either way, that overripe banana can be used to moisturize your hair with a little kitchen magic. One note: Be sure to blend or mash the banana really well so you don't get bits stuck in your hair. Another option is to remove banana bits with a sieve. Enjoy and go green!

BANANA DEEP CONDITIONER
1 mashed banana
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
**Mix ingredients together, apply to dry hair and leave on for 30 minutes.
Source: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/deep-conditioners

NOURISHING TROPICAL CONDITIONER
1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 cup coconut milk
**Mash avocado and banana and slowly pour in coconut milk until you get the right consistency. Now apply liberally on your hair and rinse off after 15 minutes. (According to the source, this conditioner may be applied to dry hair or damp hair after shampooing.)
Source: http://leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com/banana-avocado

CARAMEL TREATMENT
honey - 6 tablespoons
olive oil - 6 tablespoons
bananas - 2-3 overripe and very soft
molasses (Treacle) - 3 tablespoons
water - 4-6 tablespoons
apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon
cornstarch - 1-2 tablespoons
wheat germ oil - 1 teaspoon
**For complete instructions (with a good explanation of ingredients), check out: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1230751/

DEEP CONDITIONER FOR CURLY HAIR
1/2 cup honey
1 banana
2 teaspoons jojoba oil
**Mash banana with honey and jojoba oil. Mix until well blended then smooth onto your hair. For best results, wrap your hair in a warm towel and leave on for 20 minutes.
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_4853688_deep-conditioner-curly-hair.html

FRUIT SALAD DEEP CONDITIONER
1/2 a banana
1/4 avocado
1/4 cantaloupe
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
**Blend all ingredients. Apply to hair. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes. Then rinse.
Source: http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35822

YOGURT BANANA HAIR MASK
Youtube video

Hot Oil to Substitute Sebum?

Each follicle contains a sebaceous gland that produces an oily substance called sebum. Sebum helps to remove dead skin cells, lubricate the scalp, and condition the hair. The curlier the hair, the harder it is for this substance to reach the ends of the strands thus leading to dry hair. Can hot oil treatments be the answer? Well, many of us with coilier strands find sufficient moisture in the topical application of a butter or glycerin. However, it couldn't hurt to give a hot oil treatment a try. Below are some recipes OR you can experiment with your own favorite oils. If you are pregnant or have a disorder, please consult your doctor before using essential oils:

In a few weeks, I will give a review of one of the treatments as well.

RECIPE #1: ROSEMARY HOT OIL TREATMENT
Rosemary oil is thought to help fight dry scalp, dandruff, and alopecia.

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves
* 1/2 cup olive oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then heat up until warm. Strain. Coat the entire scalp and ends of hair with the oil mixture. Wrap hair in saran wrap and a towel over that, leave on for 15 minutes. Wash hair twice to remove the oil. Use this treament twice a month or when your needs a deep conditioning. Leaves your hair shiny and rehydrated.

Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hotoiltreat.html
VIDEO TUTORIAL (using soybean oil)

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RECIPE #2: HOT OIL CONDITIONER
Olive oil contains antioxidants and is loaded with fatty acids. Some consider it a great moisturizer.

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm on low heat. Massage mixture into the scalp and hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

Source: http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35838

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RECIPE #3: CASTOR-SOYBEAN HOT OIL TREATMENT
Castor oil is an emollient and humectant. Soybean oil and castor oil are loaded with fatty acids.

Ingredients:
* 1 teaspoon soybean oil
* 2 teaspoons castor oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm on low heat. Massage mixture into the scalp and hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hotoiltreat.html

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RECIPE #4: JOJOBA HOT OIL TREATMENT
Jojoba oil is said to be similar to our own sebum and collagen. It is also a humectant and feels non-greasy compared to other oils.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons jojoba oil
1 teaspoon soybean oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm gently on low heat. Test temperature on inside of forearm. Massage mixture into hair.Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap or plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out. Reciped may be doubled for very long hair.

Source: http://www.longlocks.com/hair-care-recipes-cookbook.htm#cond3

FOR MORE RECIPES, click the following:
Lavender Rosemary Oil Treatment
Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair
Super Deep Hot Oil Conditioner
Hair Regrowth Hot Oil Conditioner
Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner

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Other sources:
ESSENTIAL OILS DESCRIPTION #1
ESSENTIAL OILS DESCRIPTION #2
CARRIER OILS DESCRIPTION
SEBUM
SEBUM & KINKY HAIR