12 Remedies For Shiny, Silky Hair In A Minute (#9 Is Fun!)

No matter who you are, if you are over 5 years of age, you want shiny, silky, gorgeous hair. It doesn’t matter if your hair is long or short, straight, curly or wavy -- shiny, manageable hair always gives a good first impression and makes you feel that you are looking your best every day. But what happens when your soft, shiny hair suddenly looks dry, brittle, frizzy and out of control? You know, those days when you wake up looking like Don King, and no matter how much serum or conditioner you use, your locks are just not up to par. When the outer layer of our hair becomes damaged, it starts to look old, dry, and frazzled. Sometimes this happens because of an overexposure to the sun, or it’s caused by frequent use of hair dyes or styling equipment such as blow dryers or curling irons. Other times, our hair suffers from stress, the chlorine in swimming pools, age, illness, or even nutritional deficiencies. Most of us will try (and buy) almost anything that we think will bring back that natural shine and luster to our hair, but sometimes these products actually do more harm than good -- while costing us a pretty penny. Rather than use those chemical-filled commercial products, why not try some natural remedies from Mother Nature? These are simple, yet effective ways to get back that shine and silky feel you want without all the chemicals you don’t need. 1. Black Tea If you have brown, dark brown or black hair, this is a terrific way to not only bring back your natural shine, but it will also help to keep you from losing hair as well! If you have lighter-colored locks, use chamomile tea. Simply make a double strength tea (either two bags to one cup of water or four bags to two cups of water) and steep at least 2 hours, or, better still, overnight. Wash your hair, and then pour the tea over your locks. Allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes. But don’t rinse it yet! Add conditioner right on top of the tea. Give your hair another two minutes to absorb everything, and then rinse out with warm water. Do this twice a week for maximum results. 2. Eggs This is an old home remedy that works really well. Eggs contain all the nutrients your hair needs and can give you super shiny hair in a matter of minutes. Eggs are full of fatty acids, protein, and lecithin, all of which help repair damaged hair. If you want hair that is stronger and thicker, eggs are a good choice for you. Simply beat two eggs until you get a foamy texture, and pour it directly on your hair. Allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then shampoo as you normally would. An alternative method is to mix one egg white and one tablespoon of olive oil with one tablespoon of honey. Dampen your hair (don’t wash it yet) and then apply this paste to your scalp and hair. Cover with a shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes. Wash as you normally would. A word of caution about using eggs in your beauty routine: Never wash or rinse your hair with hot water as this can actually cook the egg, making it very difficult to remove! Always use cool or lukewarm water. 3. Hot Oil Treatment You’ve probably seen (and maybe even tried) those little tubes of hot oil treatments sold at the drug store, and when you consider their size, these are very expensive! You can do the same thing at home at a fraction of the cost. Some of the best oils to use on your hair are olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or castor oil. All of these will help restore moisture to dry or damaged hair, making it shiny and lustrous again. SEE ALSO: 15 Tricks for Using This One Oil as a Beauty Treatment (#6 is So Cool!) Simply put one or two tablespoons (depending on the length of your hair) in a small container and warm gently. Don’t let it get too hot, or you could burn your scalp! Apply the oil to your scalp and hair, and then put on a shower cap. Allow to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, and then wash as you normally would. Do this at least twice a week for best results. 4. Gelatin Using gelatin in your hair might seem a bit strange, but it actually contains hydrolyzed protein, which can help to treat damaged hair and make it extra shiny. Simply stir one tablespoon of gelatin (available at all supermarkets) in one cup of warm water and stir until completely dissolved. Now add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make this smell nice. Rub this mixture into your hair and scalp. Allow to work for 10 to 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water and shampoo as you normally do. Do this once a week for super shiny hair that can’t be beat! 5. Mayo Ok, it tastes great on sandwiches, but did you know that mayo is loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, and protein that will turn that frumpy hair into super shiny hair? It’s true! Be sure you use the full-fat mayo for best results. Depending on the length of your hair, you will need between half and one cup of mayonnaise. Apply it to your just washed, damp hair, and cover with a shower cap. Allow the mayo to do its magic for 20 to 30 minutes. Shampoo your hair as you normally would. Do this once a week for best results. 6. Avocado There is nothing like avocado to deeply moisturize and nourish the hair. If you hair is weak and brittle due to over-processing, avocado would be a good choice for you. Mash up one large, very ripe avocado and one or two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply this paste to your damp hair. Be sure to pay attention to those dry ends! Cover with a shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water then, shampoo as you normally would. Another method is to mash one avocado and one ripe banana with one tablespoon of olive oil. Put this mixture on your damp hair and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Put on a shower cap to keep from dripping. Rinse well, then shampoo. Use whichever method works best for you once a week for beautiful, shiny hair. 7. Yogurt This is another terrific deep conditioner that will make your hair soft and smooth. It can also help to keep dandruff at bay because yogurt is full of antibacterial and anti-fungal compounds. Brush your hair with a wide tooth comb. Rub six ounces (or more if you have longer hair) of plain, unsweetened, no fruit-added yogurt to your hair and cover with a shower cap. Leave on for 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. Shampoo and condition afterwards as you normally would. You can use this method once or twice a week for luscious-looking locks. 8. Aloe Vera If you think aloe vera works great on your skin, wait until you see what it does to your hair! The gel from this plant has vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy hair while fighting frizzy hair and dandruff. Make your own aloe vera conditioner by mixing four tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel with two tablespoons of olive oil and three tablespoons of plain yogurt. Apply this paste to damp hair, and cover your head with a shower cap. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, rinse well, and then wash as you normally would. Do this once or twice a week for best results. 9. Beer Don’t ditch those half-full cans of beer after your next party -- pour the beer into another container to use on your hair later! Beer is an excellent hair tonic! The malt and hops in beer really help to repair damaged hair cuticles, making your hair stronger and shinier than ever. This method is super easy to use too! Wash your hair as you normally would, then apply some flat beer from the roots to the ends. Massage it into your scalp for a minute or two, and allow it to sit on your hair for another three to five minutes. You might as well shave while you are waiting. Now rinse off, and apply your favorite conditioner if you like. You only need to do this one a week, so save that beer from the weekend and have super shiny, gorgeous hair on Monday morning! 10. Apple Cider Vinegar This is a terrific all-natural hair conditioner that will make your hair feel super moisturized and soft. Apple cider vinegar removes the build-up from styling products that can leave your hair dull and lifeless. This also fights dandruff and those dreaded frizzies. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. After you shampoo, pour this mixture over your hair and massage it into your scalp. Let it sit for just a minute or two, then rinse with cool water. Condition as you normally would. Do this once a week for best results. 11. Honey This is a sweet way to cure those hair problems. Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it draws moisture in and holds on to it. This will leave your hair really shiny with lots of bounce! Mix two tablespoons of honey in two cups of warm water. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before using. Shampoo as you normally would, then spray the honey water on your hair. Massage it in well and allow it to sit for five minutes. Rinse with warm water. You probably won’t even want to use your conditioner as your hair will be uber-soft! Use this once or twice a week for best results. You can even mix a teaspoon of honey into eight ounces of your regular hair conditioner to use the other days of the week. 12. Coconut Oil This oil is so good, it deserves special mention. If you are already using it on your skin, you simply must try it on your hair! (If you aren’t using it on your skin, heavens! Why not?!) Shiny hair needs nourishment, and extra virgin coconut oil is the way to get it! Coconut oil will restore moisture to your dry, damaged hair in minutes. Heat some coconut oil until you have about half a cup (depending on the length of your hair). Massage in the warm oil (not hot!) into your hair and scalp. Cover with a shower cap and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then shampoo and condition as you normally would. Do this twice a week for best results. Remember; never brush wet hair as this is when hair is at its weakest. Wait until it is at least 80 percent dry, or use a wide tooth comb gently. Keep your ends trimmed to prevent split ends, and avoid using blow dryers or curling irons as much as possible. References: Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Ajcn.nutrition.org Cid.oxfordjournals.org

12 Remedies For Shiny, Silky Hair In A Minute (#9 Is Fun!)

8. Aloe Vera

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