7 Awesome DIY Hair Care Tips

7 Awesome DIY Hair Care Tips

Hair care can be super complicated no matter your hair texture. All kinds of curls and strands need specific ingredients/techniques in order to stay healthy and shine, so knowing the right hair care hacks is what will really put your hair game over the edge. 

Because haircare varies greatly from different kinds of hair, we’ve made sure to incorporate tips and tricks for all types of hair in this article. Keep reading for our top 7 awesome DIY hair care tips!

7. Get That Volume!

If you have thin, weightless hair (color-treated or not), getting the right amount of volume can be a real struggle. Instead of using hundreds of those spray-on volumizers that just make your hair sticky, try blow-drying your hair upside down to make your hair *literally* stand straight up and add volume. Additionally, if your hair naturally parts down the right side, try parting it on the left for some added fluff. 

6. Hair Mask for Dry Hair

If you have dry and/or damaged hair, try out this homemade hair mask! Works on all hair types.

What you’ll need:

• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 egg

Steps:

1. Mix everything together in a small bowl.
2. Apply generously to your entire head and length of your hair. Leave on for 40 minutes before washing off.

5. Step Away From the Heat

Heat tools of any kind can cause damage to your hair, even if you use a heat protectant. Straighteners, curling irons, blow-dryers, and any other hot tool can cause the fibers in your hair to break apart, causing breakage and split-ends. 

4. Hair Mask for Oily Hair

If your scalp gets oily super quickly and you want to help tame the sebaceous glands, try out this hair mask!

What you’ll need:

• 1 egg white
• Half of a lemon’s juice

Steps:

1. Whisk everything together in a small bowl.
2. Smooth over your entire hair shaft, including the scalp, and leave on for an hour. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

3. Use Rice Water

Rice water is another excellent way to boost hair growth and keep hair healthy. Rice water was first used centuries ago by South Asian women to keep their hair long and shiny as long hair was a sign of femininity and beauty. Here’s how to make it:

1. Get out one cup of water (distilled/filtered works best) and one cup of rice.
2. Rinse the rice to remove any dirt.
3. Pull out a bowl and mix the rinsed rice with a cup of water. Mix around until the water gets cloudy.
4. Remove the rice and keep it for later or cook it right away. Make sure to keep the water in an airtight container.
5. Let the water sit for about 24 hours to ferment.
6. After shampooing your hair, don’t condition. Take the rice water and soak your hair in it for a few minutes, massaging it into your roots and ends.
7. Rinse off the water and repeat every time you wash your hair for shiny and protected hair.

2. Don’t Use a Whole Lot of Products

Although you might think that you’re helping with all the products you use, putting layer over layer over layer of hair product on your scalp and hair shaft can cause build-up and damage your hair in the long run. Using one or two items is cool, but whoever said that you need to have a lengthy routine lied to you.

Depending on your hair type, the products that you should use vary greatly. If you have straight and thick hair, your hair care routine should be very minimal. If you have coily and thin hair, your haircare routine might be longer to help protect your fragile hair fibers. 

Curly hair is a little different as there isn’t really a “right” way to take care of it. Some women choose to “plop” their hair and use gel to hold the curl, and others just let it do its thing.

1. Wear Protective Styles

One of the most important things you can do to keep your hair safe is to wear it in a protective style. Depending on your hair type and racial identity, protective hairstyles can make or break your entire hair care routine. If you have coily black hair, try out box braids, locs, and other traditionally black hairstyles. If you’re white but have wavy/curly hair, try traditional braids or French/Dutch braids, especially while sleeping.

 

Sabrina Cooklin