Natural hair softener

The summer can be awfully hard on our hair. From sunshine, to swimming, to saltwater, our hair sure does take a beating. But before you contemplate a buzz cut, why not try some natural at home remedies to soften your strands.

Avocado: mash up half an avocado and add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil. Shampoo hair, squeeze out water and apply mask. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse.

Coconut oil: take a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply to the ends of damp hair. If the oil is solid just warm in the microwave until liquid before applying. Got really dry hair? Keep the oil on overnight and shampoo out in the morning.

Banana and olive oil: mix a banana with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mash thoroughly until the banana is pureed. You want a smoothie like texture so you don’t end up with banana chunks in your hair. Then massage into your hair and scalp. Leave treatment on for 30 minutes then rinse thoroughly and shampoo.

Pumpkin and honey: add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, a natural humectant, to one cup of pumpkin puree and pack as much as you can onto your hair and scalp. You will need to either wrap your hair in saran wrap or wear a shower cap to keep the mask in place. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes and then rinse. Feel free to apply to your face as well.

Lemon and chamomile: to warm up ashy blonde hair, try lemon and chamomile tea. Both have long been used as whitening agents for blonde hair. You can do a simple rinse by tilting your head back over the sink and pouring a cup of cooled tea combined with the juice of a lemon over clean, wet hair. Let sit for a couple of minutes and rinse.

Sugar water: If your hair is frizzy, try mixing a packet of sugar about a teaspoon or so with a cup of water. Pour a bit into your palms then run hands over dry hair. Your hair will get a slight bit of “crunch” and hold because you basically just made homemade hair spray.

Apple cider vinegar: an ACV rinse helps clarify and smooth hair cuticles, the secret to shiny hair. Combine a tablespoon of vinegar with a 1/2 cup of water and pour over damp hair. Add a couple of drops of essential oil if the smell is too much.