Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away in another life before I discovered that having the same conversation, with the same people, at the same time, about the same things every week was not even close to being my forte, I was a hairdresser.
Currently, I am hair stylist only to a select few . . . actually two . . . my hunny and my boy. It works because I can tell them to shut the hell up if I want to.
This is my advice on home hair care . . .
First and foremost . . . skip the Flowbee. Seriously, if you’re too cheap or lazy to get a real haircut just shave your head. I promise the results will better.
Keeping your hair healthy and beautiful does not have to cost a fortune. I’m sure you have most of the ingredients needed for inexpensive hair care products already in your refrigerator or pantry.
Here is a list of homemade hair treatments and hair care products.
HOME-MADE SHAMPOO
Volumizing Shampoo
Beer is an excellent additive to regular shampoo to add volume to your hair.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup beer (any brand)
1 cup inexpensive shampoo
Directions
Boil the beer until it reduces to 1/4 cup. Cool the beer and add it to the 1 cup of inexpensive shampoo. Shampoo hair as normal.
Dry Shampoo
This is great for oily hair. Also is a wonderful substitute for a wet shampoo; especially for the elderly or bedridden.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Cornstarch
Directions:
Sprinkle the cornstarch in your hair or use a large make up brush to dust into hair. Let it absorb for a few minutes, brush it out.
HOME-MADE CONDITIONER
These two recipes are great for improving dry hair, but be sure to rinse well to remove residue.
Egg Conditioner
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp olive 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.
Mayonnaise Conditioner
Ingredients:
1/2 cup mayo
Directions:
Rinse and towel dry. Apply mayonnaise to the hair. Massage in. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, shampoo again lightly and rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution. This will help with the smell and remove any residue.
HOME-MADE HAIR RINSES
To correct your hair's pH and remove residue from shampoo and other hair products, use a rinse that will leave your hair healthy and shiny.
Vinegar is amazing stuff. It removes build-up and residue from the hair shaft and closes the cuticles. Vinegar restores natural pH and prevents an itchy scalp. Although plain white vinegar works fine, apple cider vinegar seems to be the preferred vinegar. As your hair is drying you will smell vinegar but once your hair dries there will be no smell.
Apple Cider Softening Hair Rinse
Mix 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 3 cups distilled water.
Directions: Pour over your hair as the final rinse. It will leave your hair feeling soft. Good for all hair types.
Shiny Hair Rinse
Mix the juice from 1/2 lemon, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water.
Directions: Shampoo and rinse hair as usual, then pour the mixture on your hair and massage into the scalp. Rinse with cool water.
HOME-MADE HIGHLIGHTS - LIGHTEN YOUR HAIR AT HOME
It’s simple. Lighten your hair with lemon juice.
Sun exposure will lighten your hair, although very slowly. The acid in lemon juice can help it happen faster. Don’t expect a dramatic change. You will see subtle lightening without the damage of chemicals.
Use it on dirty hair, rather than freshly washed hair. That way the oils in your hair will protect it from the drying effects of lemon juice.
Squeeze the juice out of a few lemons, mix it with a third amount of water and put it in one of those cheap plastic spray bottles. Spray it all over your hair before going outside for all over lightening.
HOME-MADE HEAD LOUSE REMEDIES
Cooties . . . if you have school age children, the likelihood of your kids coming home with them is pretty good.
Apply olive oil to the hair and scalp and leave overnight. This can smother the lice.
Mix 1 teaspoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon garlic, make into a past and apply to hair.
Shampoo then rinse your hair with 1/2 warm water and 1/2 vinegar. Cover the scalp with a shower cap for 15 minutes. This will help soften the glue that the nits/eggs use to attach to the hair. Comb the hair with a special fine-toothed nit comb (available at pharmacies) and rinse.
HOME-MADE SCALP TREATMENT
Brown sugar scalp treatment
Ingredients:
4 TBSP of Brown Sugar
2 TBSP of your favorite conditioner
Directions:
Combine brown sugar and conditioner in a bowl and mix well. Apply to scalp only with fingers! Scrub scalp in a circular motion for a few minutes. Rinse.
Note: This is amazing!!!! If you have dandruff, flakes or even an oily scalp, this scrub will remove all impurities. No more itching, flakes or excessive oil.
HOME-MADE HAIR STYLING PRODUCTS
Homemade Hair Gel
Ingredients:
1/2 to 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup warm water
Directions:
Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would a purchased gel.
Homemade Hair Spray
Chop one lemon (or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with 2 cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce rubbing alcohol as a preservative and then the spray can be stored for up to two weeks unrefrigerated.