Hair care essentials are the basics of any hair care regimen. Your natural hair type is determined by your genes and cannot be changed. However the texture and gloss of your hair is largely dependant on your shampoo and conditioner. The alluring natural scents and the pearly sheen in cosmetic shampoos are created by combining several chemicals. These chemicals damage the hair strand, leaving it dry and brittle.
Home made shampoos are made with natural ingredients and therefore they do not contain any of these damaging chemicals. Instead, home made shampoos are packed with vitamins and nutrients that help to strengthen your hair and give it a natural gloss.
To make your own shampoo, you will need a natural base for your shampoo.
Heat a small saucepan of water on medium heat until it comes to the boil. Add a handful of soap nuts or Acacia concinna nuts to the saucepan and allow the contents to simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool completely before you strain the liquid.
Before you wash your hair, you will have to mix this shampoo base along with additional natural ingredients according to your hair type to obtain your shampoo.
Oily hair
Extract the juice of one fresh orange and one fresh lemon and combine the two fruit juices. Pour the juice into a clean bowl or a bottle along with an equal amount of the shampoo base and mix the ingredients thoroughly. These citric juices will help to dissolve the excess oil in your hair and scalp without making it excessively dry.
Normal hair
Add the juice of one apple, 2 tablespoons of honey (preferably raw) to half a cup of the shampoo base and mix the ingredients thoroughly before using it. Apples are rich in minerals and vitamins while honey is an excellent moisturizer.
Dry hair
Blend an avocado and half a banana and add half a cup of the shampoo base to this fruit paste. Avocados are rich in fatty acids and will keep your hair soft and moisturized while bananas are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair.
To make your own homemade conditioner, rinse your hair well before your condition your hair to ensure that there is no soapy residue. Use a conditioner suited to your hair type and requirement.
Oily hair
Use fresh berry juice to condition your hair. Berry juice helps to control the production of sebum. You can also use fresh papaya juice as papaya contains Papin that helps to keep the scalp free of dead skin cells.
Normal hair
Blend a mango or a passion fruit along with a handful of mint leaves. Mango and passion fruit help to keep hair nourished and moisturized while mint leaves help to cool and soothe the scalp.
Dry hair
Soak about half a handful of assorted nuts such as almonds, walnuts and peanuts for 20 minutes and then blend it into a paste along with the water in which they were soaking. Add a cup of water to this paste and mix it thoroughly. Strain the liquid and use it as a conditioner. Nuts are very rich in essential fats and will help to moisturize your scalp and prevent your hair from excessive drying.
In addition to this, you should oil your hair at least once a week with olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil or almond oil. This will minimize hair breakage and promote healthy hair growth.
