Treating your hair to a deep, nourishing mask every few weeks will make the world of difference. Women have been looking after their locks for decades – way before famous brands were around - so what did they use to use to give wonderful shine and soft-to-touch finish?
One which may surprise you is the banana, which is high in potassium and vitamins A, C and E. Pop the mushy filling into a bowl or food processor and mix into a smooth paste. You want to make sure it’s lump free as any small bits may prove tricky to rinse out.
Once easy to handle simply apply it to your hair and cover with a shower cap or plastic bag to stop the dripping. Or, if you wanted to really stimulate your roots to absorb extra nutrients, use your hair dryer after around 20 minutes to allow the banana to set.
Then all you have to do is rinse out the fragrant mixture, using a fine-toothed comb if needed as well as your regular shampoo.
If dry hair is your problem you may be brave enough to try out the next option.
Mayonnaise is a cheap, easy to purchase beauty treatment for your dehydrated locks. The gloopy white mixture is packed full of oil, which is guaranteed to add an extra shine and moisture to your hair. You don’t need to go out and buy a whole new jar – a little amount will go a long way for this process.
Pop a small dollop of mayonnaise onto your hand and work it through your hair from roots to the tips. If the eggy smell is too much for you add a drop of scented oil to the mixture before applying. You can leave this on for up to an hour to ensure your hair soaks up the oil before rinsing out thoroughly and shampooing.
Not all old-fashioned hair masks are made up of squidgy ingredients. One suggestion aimed at getting rid of dandruff is lemon and olive oil. Make sure your oil is plain – a flavoured one won’t leave the nicest of smells!
All you need to do is squeeze two table spoons of fresh lemon juice into a small bowl with the same amount of olive oil and water. Mix thoroughly and rub into your hair, wrapping a warm damp towel over your hair to make sure no excess liquid evaporates. The good thing about this method is that it can be done once or twice a week as it’s easy to make, apply and doesn’t leave you with banana or mayonnaise smeared hands.