Add shine to dry hair with these home-made hair packs

Dry, frizzy hair can be unmanageable and have a lacklustre appearance. On the other hand, healthy hair has an outer layer that contains natural oil to keep it moist and shiny. When this layer is damaged – and this can happen due to several reasons – the hair begins to look and feel dull, unhealthy and dry. Some of the reasons that can lead to dry, unhealthy hair are:

• Illness or nutritional deficiency
• Harsh shampoo or hair dye
• A high mineral content in the water
• Chlorine used in swimming pool water

Whatever be the specific cause for your dry hair, there are a few home remedies that can help you combat this problem.

Vinegar:

Vinegar acts like a conditioner on dry hair; it also has the desirable effect of removing dandruff that may be contributing to the lackluster appearance of your hair. Take about half a cup of vinegar and mix in 2 cups of water. Use this liquid as a conditioner after you have rinsed the shampoo out of your hair. Allow it to stay on for a few minutes and then rinse off completely with water. 

Eggs:

Eggs are rich in proteins, fatty acids as well as the fat-soluble vitamins and this makes them an excellent nutrient; besides, they also have a cleansing and conditioning effect, which means they can work wonders on dry hair. Collect the white of a single egg and mix in 3 tablespoons of water; apply this mixture onto your hair, leave it on for about 30 minutes and then rinse out thoroughly.

Eggs work even better in combination with a little vinegar and olive oil. Take the contents of 3 eggs, mix in a single teaspoon of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix thoroughly to get a viscous liquid; apply this to your hair and cover the hair for about half-an-hour with a plastic cap. Wash out with a mild shampoo and water to get hair that has a healthy moisture content and a lively shine.

Another remedy that works well is eggs with almond oil and curd. Beat 2 eggs, mix in about 2 tablespoons of almond oil and half a cup of curd; stir to get a pasty mass and massage this into the hair and scalp. Cover with a plastic cap for about 30 minutes and then wash with warm water and a mild shampoo.

Vegetable oils:

Dry hair often tends to get brittle too and this causes it to break easily. Any vegetable oil – olive, coconut or almond – can be used to moisturise such dry hair and give it strength. Warm a little oil to a temperature that feels comfortable to the skin. Then slightly dampen your hair and apply this warm oil all over. Cover with a warm towel and leave it on for about an hour. Use a mild shampoo to wash hair and when the hair has dried, you’ll find it has a healthy look and texture.

For a greater moisturising effect, mix in a teaspoon of honey into the warm oil.

Coconut oil in combination with curry leaves (karipatta) can also work wonders for dry hair. Drop in a few washed and dried curry leaves into a few tablespoons of coconut oil, warm for 2 minutes and when the mixture has cooled, massage it gently onto the scalp and hair. Cover with a warm towel for about 20 minutes and then wash with a mild shampoo.

Aloe vera:

We all know that aloe vera is a great moisturiser for the skin but it works equally well on hair too. Especially for those with dry hair, aloe vera treatment can help give a shine and soft texture that makes frizzy hair manageable. This moisturising effect on hair works even better when used in combination with other ingredients. For example, you can make a paste with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 3 tablespoons of curd and leave this on your hair for about half an hour. Or, you could collect a few hibiscus flowers, grind to a thick paste and to 2 teaspoons of this, and mix in half a cup of aloe vera gel and one teaspoon of olive oil. 

Tips:

Along with these home remedies, you should also pay attention to how you handle your hair. Do you brush or comb hair when it is wet? This could cause hair to lose its strength, grow dry and brittle.

Shampooing hair very often to give it a squeaky clean feeling is also bad; it can deplete the natural oil present in the hair, making it dry and weak.

The hair dryer may be a boon to those hard-pressed for time; but every time you blow dry your hair; remember that you are also paving the path for dry and brittle hair. Use the lower setting for the dryer, and use it sparingly to just get the moisture down a little from where it can dry naturally on its own.

With a few changes in the way you manage your hair and these home remedies, you can soon bid goodbye to your dry hair woes.