Winter weather doesn’t just lead to dry, cracked, and sensitive skin, it can also leave your precious hair lackluster, brittle, and prone to frizz and split ends. If it seems like you’re going through a bottle of conditioner every time you wash your hair, you may be in a need of hydrating hair masks.
You can, of course, purchase a ready-made hair mask, but DIYing them is just as messy easy!— and much more cost effective. And, if you’re snowed in or stuck inside because it’s freezing as heck out there, you’ve probably got some of these hydrating superstars in your kitchen right now, anyway.
First, a winter hair care tip: Don’t wash it as much as you do in the summer. Skipping the daily shampooing keeps the natural oils circulating, which protects both the scalp from dryness (hello, dandruff), and keeps the hair more hydrated—aka soft and silky.
DIY Hair Masks
The easiest go-to hair mask is a deep conditioning with coconut oil. We’ve discussed its merits here before, and they’re worthy of repeating: coconut oil is particularly beneficial for your hair, making it an excellent DIY hair mask treatment.
Starting with dry hair, add a bit of coconut oil to the ends and work your way up the hair, making sure to massage into your scalp as well. Leave on for as little as 20 minutes or overnight. Shampoo and condition as normal.
Avocado DIY Hair Mask
A bit more messy than coconut oil, but avocado is an excellent hair mask treatment, particularly this time of year. And it’s perfect when your ‘cados go from unripe to overripe while you took the trash out.
Mash up half an avocado (more for thicker/longer hair) and optional: mix with a teaspoon of olive oil (also a great, but expensive, hair mask on its own) and a tablespoon of honey.
For this mask, you want to dampen hair first but don’t shampoo just yet. Mix all ingredients well and apply to damp hair and let sit for at least 20 minutes, but up to an hour is fine, too. You just don’t want the hair to dry too much, so if your hair is on the thinner side, stick to the 20 minutes.
Rinse and wash hair as normal, being sure to use an extra hydrating conditioner.
ACV Rinse
Not quite a hair mask, but rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar (ACV!) after shampooing and conditioning can also help to make it shinier, softer, and less prone to breakage. Works great after a hair mask treatment–and no, your hair won’t smell like salad dressing. The smell of vinegar evaporates after the hair dries.
Hair masks made, just like any organic hair products, can be applied weekly for best results.
