In today’s society, it is no secret that we are becoming a little more conscious about the ingredients in the products we use, with many people preferring a more ‘natural’ alternative if there is one. This applies massively to the foods that we eat, with more and more people wising up to the fact that overly processed foods add little nutritional value to our diet and in fact, the less ingredients, the better. The same concepts are now creeping into the beauty world as people start to ditch the chemicals, toxins, parabens and sulphates found in our favourite products in favour of something ‘raw’ that claims to have exactly the same effect, just without the added extras. If you have a strict, product-laden, haircare regime but are beginning to wonder if all of the potions and lotions that you find yourself roped into buying are really necessary, then here are a few DIY, natural replacements you might want to give a go!
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Hot Olive Oil
Hot oil treatments are known to deeply nourish and condition the hair and are definitely a treat at the salon. However, sometimes for these treatments, salons can often use Canola or Soybean oil which do in fact contain toxins. A hot olive oil treatment on your hair can have the same effect and will not only save you money but will also protect your hair from any unwanted ingredients. Coconut Oil is also a great oil to use. Remember, hot oil is extremely dangerous if care is not taken, so be sure to watch a YouTube tutorial or read about how oil treatments are done properly before you get to work.
Lemon Hair Spray
Hairspray is definitely a necessary evil when it comes to holding a hairstyle. Whether you’ve had a bouncy blow dry for dinner and drinks or you’ve had an up-do for a special occasion or event, there’s no worse feeling than when you’ve spent hours doing your hair and it drops instantly. Of course, hairspray is definitely needed to ensure your style stays in place for a good few hours, if not all night and it is also great for creating that much-needed volume, particularly on fine hair. However, what it’s not great for is a) the environment (aerosols, in general, do not help our carbon footprints) and b) your hair – I’m sure we’re all familiar with hair dryness after overusing the hairspray. A great, natural alternative is lemon hair spray which will have the same, taming effects of hair spray, lasting all day. The recipe includes one whole lemon, two cups of distilled or filtered water, 3 tablespoons of vodka and you can also add lavender oil if you prefer scented spray. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
Egg Yolk
This is an age-old hair treatment – but one that really works! Egg yolk has some amazing and beneficial properties for your hair. It contains Lecithin and Protein which help to strengthen and moisturise your hair. Want softer and silkier hair as well as hair that is a lot more easy to manage? Then crack an egg on your head! Jokes aside, you can use either use just pure beaten egg yolks or mix them with some olive oil or honey! Two eggs should be enough for average length hair, but if you have super long tresses, you might want to crack a few more. Apply to dry hair for about 30 minutes and then shampoo and condition, as usual, being sure to remove all of the treatment from your hair. Tip: if you do have very fine hair and want to add a little volume, you can also add beer to the eggs – the yeast in the beer will be sure to plump flat or even tired looking hair.
The Water Only Method
Ok, this is probably our most debatable suggestion, but, believe it or not, there are some people out there that strongly believe that washing your hair in nothing but water is the best possible way to keep it healthy. According to ‘no poo’ experts, using any kind of shampoo strips our hair of its natural oils which in turn makes our scalp produce more and more to make up for what has been lost. Replacing shampoo with warm water and scrubbing will stop our scalps from overproducing oil and therefore there will be less and less need for shampoo. Massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers whilst your hair is still dry, spreading the oils throughout your hair to condition it. Put your hair under warm water and scrub as if you are using shampoo – rinse then with cold water. This method is free and is supposed to be the best way to look after your hair but may take a couple of months of slightly greasy hair to get used to the regime so it has to be something that you are willing to totally commit to – you will eventually see results.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
If you are a little health-conscious you have probably heard the endless benefits of apple cider vinegar, particularly when it comes to digestion - but what about using it in your hair? Combined with baking soda that is supposed to clean your hair better than shampoo – without any additives, apple cider vinegar can be a great hair wash alternative. The mixture will act almost as a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioning treatment, with the vinegar leaving your hair soft and shiny, as a conditioner would. Again, be sure to wash the mixture out totally or you could wind up smelling a little of vinegar.