Healthy Hair: Natural Treatments to Do at Home

Hairdressers have long since closed as a result of the Coronavirus emergency, and will likely remain so for a few weeks. For this reason, if looking at yourself in the mirror you notice that your hair is duller and drier than usual, perhaps you attribute the fault above all to the lack of professional treatment for hair. In reality there is more. Hair, like the skin or any organ, is deeply affected by the effects of our lifestyle . An unbalanced diet - low in fresh vegetables and rich in fats, sweets and refined flours - deprives the hair of nourishment. Stress can cause dryness, brittleness, opacity, alopecia and scalp pain.

The DIY treatment for dry and brittle hair

It's time to restore health and beauty to dull, dry, weak and brittle hair. In addition to following a healthy lifestyle, which nourishes and restores the hair from the inside, you can act from the outside using masks and natural revitalizing treatments. A portentous ingredient against hair dryness, easy to find and use, is the pure Aloe vera gel : it moisturizes, soothes and refreshes, therefore it can also be useful in case of inflammation and itching of the scalp. It is also on sale in pharmacies: it is important to check on the label that it is 100% natural and pure, without preservatives. It is used in place of the conditioner, before rinsing.

The natural masks for brighter and softer hair

If you have dull, dry and thin hair, you can try this mask suggested by Elodie-Joy Jaubert, a natural beauty guru and author of the book "I love my hair" (Sonzogno). Just create a homogeneous puree by putting the pulp of an avocado and a jar of natural white yogurt in a blender: the mix should be applied to damp hair for 20-30 minutes, then proceed with normal shampoo. To obtain a softer and more beautiful hair, however, the expert suggests instead of whipping half a ripe banana, a bio egg yolk, a teaspoon of olive oil and a spoonful of liquid honey. The mask thus obtained is applied to damp hair and left on for 20-30 minutes, then rinsed with cold water (hot water would cook the egg).

Natural ingredients against hair weakness

When we are under stress, hair is affected and tends to weaken and fall out more often. A good treatment always suggested by Elodie-Joy Jaubert is to put 3 handfuls of fresh rosemary leaves in a bowl full of white wine vinegar, covered. After 10 days, filtering, you get a liquid that can be used during hair washing, as a last rinse (just a cup is enough). Even a small amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice diluted in water can be an alternative solution to rinse the hair, because it promotes the brightness and closure of the cuticles. Rosemary is more suitable for dark hair, lemon for light hair.

Vegetable oils that nourish and strengthen hair

If you have limited time available and you are unable to prepare articulated mixtures, to nourish damaged hair, which tends to break, you can use only one very effective ingredient: vegetable oil. Attention, however: the oil replaces the effect of sebum, therefore it is not suitable for oily hair or with dandruff. Very little is enough, otherwise you risk the "greasy effect": a drop of oil to be heated between the palms and then to be applied on all lengths and on the driest and "open" points. Wrap your hair with a towel and leave on for 20 minutes, then proceed with normal washing which must carefully remove all excess oil. Which oil to choose? The extra virgin olive oil (if of excellent quality) is an excellent nourishing and revitalizing ally, that of argan or sweet almonds give softness, while that of avocado is ideal for those seeking above all brightness.

The extra tip: choose the right shampoo

When it comes to hair health and beauty, we must not forget that it is essential to choose a gentle and respectful shampoo. The benefits of any 100% natural treatment, in fact, risk being nullified by the regular use of chemical and aggressive products, which behind an apparent revitalizing effect on the hair actually hides an action of wear on the hair fiber. It is therefore good to read the hair product label and make sure it does not contain sulphates, silicones and chemical agents. Test it during washing: if it does not foam, it is probably more delicate. Attention also to too frequent washing and the use of too limestone water: both are factors that negatively affect the beauty of the hair!