DIY July Recipes for Luscious Locks

Summer is here! YAY! It’s my favorite time of year- and, it’s my favorite month =D However, my hair begs to differ. Humidity and my hair do not get along. I’m sure I’m not the only one! So, for our final DIY July, we’re going to focus on cleansing that scalp, taming those locks, and sealing and healing those strands.

If you don’t have all the ingredients, don’t worry- just skip it or use a substitute. DIY recipes are super easy to tweak. Just keep in mind the benefits each ingredient is offering and work from there.

You can find the benefits of the following ingredients listed after the recipes =)

Mask #1- Extra Cleansing

• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 2 Tbsp All Natural, Full Fat Coconut Milk
• 1 Tbsp Fresh Aloe Vera Juice
• 3” Ripe Banana
• 2 Tbsp Dessicated Coconut 
• 1 Egg
• 3 Drops Lemon Balm

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Apply to hair, gently massaging into your scalp and working through to ends. 
3. Pile loosely on top of your head and leave on for 20-30 minutes. 
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water (too hot and you’ll cook the egg ;) 

*Note*- You may want to use a shower cap for this one as it’s a bit drippy. I didn’t, I just rubbed the drips on my face and let it be a face mask =D 

*Note*- This mask will cleanse all the build up. I found it a bit too drying as I tend to have oilier roots and drier ends. But, WOW, it did a super job making my hair and scalp look and feel super clean. To solve the drying issue, you could just apply to your upper locks and scalp and leave your ends. You could also add a Tbsp of coconut or olive oil. 

*Note*- If you don’t want to exfoliate or be bothered rinsing tiny bits out of your hair, skip the coconut. 

Mask #2- Cleansing and Nourishing

• ½ Ripe Avocado
• ¼ Cup All Natural, Full Fat Coconut Milk
• ½ MCT Oil (olive oil or regular coconut oil will work too)
• ½ Tsp Honey
• 1 Egg Yolk (save the white)

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 
2. Apply to dry hair and let sit for 20-30 minutes. 
3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

*Note*- I have thin, medium length hair. This recipe was enough for my hair and a face, neck, chest and shoulder mask! My hair and skin are so soft <3

*Bonus Face Mask*- With the saved egg white: 

• whip the egg white 
  
• apply to clean face and neck
  
• let dry 
  
• rinse thoroughly with warm water and a cloth
  

It’s like a face lift in a shell =D 

Healthy Hair Leave-In (or Pre-Cleanser)

Remember that rice water from our DIY Face Toner recipe? You can use that in your hair as a leave-in conditioner or as a pre-cleanse! Yay for multi-purpose <3

• Rice (I used white; any should work fine)
• Filtered Water

1. Rinse rice
2. Cover with filtered water and let sit for 30-45 minutes
3. Strain and store in an airtight container in the fridge

ACV Hair Rinse- Build Up Remover

• 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with the Mother
• 2 Cups Filtered Water (or, your shower water)
• 5 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

*Note*- You can use less essential oil if you prefer, especially if your hair is shorter or thin. 

1. Combine all ingredients in a shower safe container
2. Pour over your hair in the shower. Tip your head back so you don’t get it in your eyes. 

I like to massage it into my scalp, finger comb it through my hair, then rinse at the end of my shower. 

*Pro Tip*- Use a cotton t-shirt or similar to dry and wrap hair. Regular towels separate your hair strands and cause frizz >.< 

Healthy Hair Gel

• 1 Cup Filtered Water
• ¼ Cup Flax Seed
• 6 Drops Lemon Balm

1. Combine water and flax seed in a small pot and bring to boil
2. Stir frequently
3. Remove from heat when the mixture has thickened to the desired consistency
4. Strain through a sieve (I’ve read that pantyhose work; so, I would imagine cheese cloth would as well)
5. Add lemon balm and shake (with the lid on, of course) or stir until blended
6. Store in an airtight container in the fridge

You can use the flax seed again for whatever you fancy! 

To use: Apply to wet or damp hair and scalp. 

*Note* I used Mask #2- Cleansing and Nourishing followed by this Healthy Hair Gel (room temp) and had nice results. 

However, I used the chilled Healthy Hair Gel this morning after showering and noticed my hair fall had decreased by 98%, my curls are CURLY, frizzless, and super healthy looking with a wet-look shine (not the oily kind). All without feeling crunchy! In fact, my hair is so soft and tangle-free that I can run my fingers through it :O That’s not “normal”. 

Obviously, I’m in love with this now. 

Leave-In Styling Conditioner

• Fresh Aloe Vera Juice

Yup, that’s it =D Store in the fridge for up to a few days. You can add the gel of a vitamin E capsule for added benefits and to extend the shelf-life a couple more days or so! 

Ingredient Benefits

• Honey- locks in moisture, helps prevent hair breakage, reduces hair fall, and is full of vitamins and antioxidants that help keep your hair strong and healthy with a beautiful shine. The antibacterial properties in honey make this a great choice for a healthy scalp as well =) 

• All Natural, Full Fat Coconut Milk- Vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, C, and E along with the protein and healthy fat in coconut milk will help keep your hair and scalp healthy by providing deep conditioning and moisturizing benefits; as well as, potentially strengthening hair cuticles, resulting in less hair fall. 

• Fresh Aloe Vera Juice- the enzymes in aloe vera juice keep your scalp healthy and clean and reduce dandruff and itch. It’s also great for your hair as it locks in moisture and seals your strands- helping to prevent breakage while leaving your hair conditioned with a smooth shine. 

• Ripe Banana- another great conditioning moisturizer packed with the potassium, vitamins, and oils needed for a healthy head of soft hair. These nutrients are also great for helping your hair maintain its elasticity and prevent breakage. 

• Dessicated Coconut- coconut in all its forms provide healthy benefits. Desiccated coconut provides gentle exfoliation for your scalp while it’s oils help keep it nourished. 

• Egg- egg yolks contain healthy fats which can soften and moisturize hair; while egg whites may contain enzymes that can help remove build up. For these reasons, you may choose to use one part or all of the egg in your recipe. 

• Lemon Balm- the astringent and toning properties of lemon balm make this a good choice for balancing oil production and cleansing the scalp of bacteria. It may also help in the prevention of hair loss. 

• Ripe Avocado- the vitamins and minerals found in avocados, such as biotin, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium help nourish the hair and scalp. This can mean stronger, healthier hair with a smooth shine, and even less breakage! 

• MCT Oil- this lightweight oil provides deep conditioning benefits for all hair types. It may also help treat dandruff.

• Rice- Lana Burgess’ article, What does rice water do for your hair, for Medical News Today (2018), says rice water may:

• “detangle the hair
• make hair smoother
• increase shine
• make hair stronger
• help hair grow long”

• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with the Mother- the acidity of ACV helps balance the pH levels of your hair and scalp. It also helps remove build up and leaves your hair silky smooth. The antibacterial and anti-fungal properties in ACV are helpful in treating and preventing dandruff. 

• Rosemary Essential Oil- the restorative characteristics of rosemary essential oil help stimulate hair growth, strengthen hair, slow hair and color loss, and helps moisturize the scalp, preventing dandruff. 

• Lavender Essential Oil- Lavender essential oil has also proven to increase hair growth and promote scalp health. 

• Flax Seed- rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, flax seeds help nourish hair as well as help it grow faster, stronger, and healthier. 

Well, that wraps up DIY July! I hope you enjoyed these recipes and got some inspiration from them <3 

Of course, there will be more DIY recipes in the future; so, please do let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to learn how to make or a particular issue you’re looking to solve and I’ll get to work! 

If there was a particular recipe you enjoyed, comment below and let me know all about it or share a picture and your experience on our social media! Just click the icons on the left of the page =)

If you know anyone who would love some DIY hair solutions, be sure to share this post with them!

References

Burgess, L., 2018. Rice Water For Hair: Benefits And How To Use It. [online] Medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321353#overview> [Accessed 12 July 2020].