Hair Care Products That Can Be Found in a Kitchen Cupboard: Oils, Yeast, Honey and Other

We tend to say that hair 'drinks' water and that we can 'feed' the strands with nutrients. But did you know that most of such hair-feeding substances can be easily found in your pantry? Keep reading to learn how various homemade hair care products prepared from your food supplies affect the strands and to find out what ingredients are worth using to deliver proper care to your hair.

Conscious home hair care is an easy and cheap way of improving the state of strands. It's the ability to make use of the simplest solutions.

Creating you own hair care product by using ingredients available in your kitchen is like depriving the drugstore cosmetics from the substances that might potentially harm your hair (parabens, alcohols, phthalates, silicones, etc.) - and this should be done for the sake of your strands.

Is Your Hair Fond of Homemade Cosmetics?

Certainly, you don't have to use them when you apply hair care products such as Nanoil hair oils that contain only natural substances delivering beneficial action to the hair structures. However, it's a good idea to, at least from time to time, introduce something new to your hair care rituals. In other words, try appling alternately professional hair care products and homemade masks together with hair rinses. Your hair will be grateful for such a diversity!

Find out which products that you normally store in the kitchen can be moved to your bathroom in order to create your homemade hair care products.

The Best Natural Oils for Hair

Undisputedly, when it comes to home hair care, the absolute favourite are oils. They are natural sources of essential substances such as fatty acids, phospholipids and vitamins.

Let's get inspired by the nature and make use of the possibilities offered by over a hundred of various vegetable oils, which in fact are widely applied in cosmetics. Most of them can be easily found in our pantries to be used as a homemade hair mask base, for example.

Get acquainted with cooking oils that can be used for hair oil treatment!

1. Olive oil - in 72 percent this oil is made from precious oleic acid. Also, it contains the following vitamins: A, E, D and K. Owing to them, olive oil is so good at replenishing hair with water and preventing its loss. Moreover, this natural oil nourishes hair, takes care of it and leaves strands shiny. If you decide to apply olive oil to scalp, you can except it to soothe irritation and reduce potential inflammation.
2. Sweet almond oil - it smells wonderful and, additionally, it contains valuable substances such as fatty acids, minerals as well as vitamins A, D, E and B-group. It can be used to oil the entire length of hair with or to protect only the hair ends. Sweet almond oil supports hair regeneration, nourishes and maintains hydration. Actually, due to sweet almond oil, you can reduce hair brittleness since this natural substance makes hair more elastic and leaves it glossy.
3. Coconut oil - it's an excellent source of minerals and vitamins, however, it must be applied mindfully. To clarify, this is rather thick and heavy oil which many hair types don't tolerate well. Still, if applied in the right way, coconut oil is able to deliver moisture to hair, prevent protein loss, define curl, facilitate combating dandruff and gift hair with shine.
4. Linseed oil - one of few oils recognized for offering even balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Apart from them, it contains quite a concentration of vitamin E, proteins, potassium and zinc - which is a very important chemical element for hair. Treating hair with linseed oil is an easy way to get stronger, more elastic and visibly smoother strands.
5. Argan oil - Moroccan gold that is definitely more frequently used in body and hair care rather than in cooking, despite being edible. This oil is rich vitamin E, essential fatty acids and plant sterols. Indeed, the smell of argan oil is the feature which many people find alluring, yet this oil’s beneficial action is even more extraordinary than just its aroma. In short, argan oil regenerates hair, smooths it out, protects against high temperatures and split ends, it facilitates hair styling, minimizes adverse action of UV radiation and effectively deals with scalp itchiness.
6. Sunflower oil - contains four crucial, in terms of hair care, vitamins: retinol (A), tocopherol (E), calcitriol (D) and vitamin F. The very vitamins are craved by dehydrated and super dry hair that seeks immediate reinforcement. Sunflower oil helps to replenish the hair with water, supports regeneration and increases hair elasticity.
7. Plum seed oil - is a source of beta-carotene, antioxidants and omega fatty acids. It's recognized as a wondrous oil to treat hair with because it's exceptionally fast-absorbing and doesn't leave hair overburdened. Instead, it protects strands against aggressive external factors, supplies hair with vitamins and hydrates it.
8. Macadamia oil - we can find here a rarely occurring omega-7 fatty acid which, in fact, is a main constituent of human sebum produced by scalp. Thanks to this, macadamia oil is able to rejuvenate hair, improve its condition, prevent water loss and nourish. Moreover, macadamia oil is found useful in hair styling since it speeds up hair drying time and intensifies effects of hair colouring.
9. Mustard oil - this commonly used in cooking Hindu oil with several features can be successfully implemented into hair care. It contains five minerals (including selenium and zinc), omega acids and a vitamin complex. It's recognized for its hair growth accelerating properties. When rubbed into scalp, mustard oil nourishes hair bulbs, strengthens them and slows down hair loss.
10. Grape seed oil - it's a universal hair oil which displays soothing properties. It facilitates regeneration, helps to combat dandruff and deals with greasy scalp. Grape seed oil also shields hair against the sun.

Egg - Benefits of Mayo in Hair Care

An essential element of all types of cuisine (excluding vegan cuisine, of course) is egg. This is an inconspicuous ingredient that helped our grandmothers and great-grandmothers to maintain good condition of hair, which we nowadays try to accomplish with the aid of an array of expensive hair care products. What are the properties of egg and why is mayo an interesting alternative to a hair mask?

Indeed, egg hides quite a number of vital and important ingredients - proteins that hair is made from, sulphur necessary to create so-called disulphide bridges and eliminate dandruff as well as revitalizing biotine (vitamin H). This makes that egg applied to hair:

• combats dandruff
• prevents brittle hair
• strengthens hair on its entire length
• prevents hair loss
• leaves hair smooth, soft and shiny

The conviction about mayo being a worth-trying alternative to hair mask shouldn't be taken literally. The mayo that can be found in a shop won't do much in terms of hair enhancement. Instead, you should mix an egg with a chosen oil in order to create a homemade hair egg mask, which in fact is similar in composition to regular mayonnaise.

Boosting Hair Moisture with Honey

Undoubtedly, dry hair care is a huge challenge. Luckily, some substances found in kitchen cupboards can make this task significantly easier - especially honey that is a natural, sweet and rich in nutrients substance. It contains the following microelements: potassium, chlorine, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, molybdenum, manganese and cobalt, vitamins: A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin.

What properties make honey a potent agent able to significantly improve hair condition? What makes honey worth being applied to hair no matter if thinned with water or in the form of a hair mask constituent?

The most important are its hydrating properties thanks to which honey serves dry hair best. It doesn't only supply inner hair structures with water but also due to its hygroscopic nature, it locks water there! Additionally, honey is a potent antioxidant and is antiseptic, nourishes hair and reinforces it by reducing brittleness and limiting thinning and dandruff.

Fun Fact About Honey

Did you know that one of honey's constituents is hydroperoxide, which is a substance better known as hydrogen peroxide (if used in 3% concentration, of course)? That's why you can notice your hair getting lightened up if treated with honey!

Yeast for Hair Growth

The recent months' hit in hair care is use of yeast to help strands grow faster. Some people have been drinking it, others have been using it as the main ingredient of masks or scalp conditioners. No matter the application method, the results are pretty similar - accelerated hair growth, slowed down hair thinning and gorgeous hair appearance. Additionally, yeast improves hair condition which translates into healthier, stronger and shiny strands.

Both the above-mentioned and other properties of yeast are owed to a huge content of biotin, amino acids (arginine, tyrosine, cystin) that constitute hair, B-group vitamins and minerals (zinc, selenium, copper, potassium, calcium, chromium and phosphorus). In short, hair treated with yeast becomes healthier, stronger and full of natural shine.

Flour Instead of Dry Shampoo

A fairly intriguing substance that can be found in a kitchen cupboard is... flour. For instance, potato starch. Many people aren't aware that it can be used as an alternative to dry shampoo, which is responsible for turning hair fresh in a snap.

Potato starch is good at absorbing moisture and excess of sebum, which is why it's able to leave hair grease-free and voluminous. If your strands are dark, you must be careful when it comes to the amount of flour applied. To clarify, you shouldn’t apply too much flour in order to prevent creating that dusty white look on your hair. The best way of putting flour on hair is by using a fluffy powder brush to stamp the scalp with. At the end, you should use the fingers to rinse the hair at the roots and follow with combing.

Washing Hair with Baking Powder

In the era of eco-care, we can notice that no-shampoo hair washing is currently gaining in popularity. How to do it to cleanse hair well and free scalp from impurities, sebum and cosmetic residues?

An interesting alternative is using baking powder to wash hair with. This is yet another substance found in the kitchen which is worth implementing in daily hair care. Baking powder displays strong cleansing features and has no problems with removing residues of masks, conditioners, oils and other hair styling products. It leaves hair freshened up and detoxified.

However, it must be realized that baking powder's reaction is alkaline so it lowers hair and scalp's pH. For that reason, a baking powder shampoo should be accompanied with a homemade acidic hair rinse.

Vegetable and Fruity Hair Care

The core of the present-day food pyramid, which are vegetables and fruit, can also be used as home hair care products. A banana which no-one wants to eat, faded parsley or peeled onion skin - don't throw them away! They can serve your hair as a mask or a hair rinse.

Which vegetables, fruit and herbs should be used as homemade hair care products? Learn the most popular ones and discover their properties on your own. After all, finding out what can be achieved due to an inconspicuous ingredient that is at our disposal is pure fun!

1. Banana - the simplest hair mask is a fork-mashed ripe banana mixed with yogurt, favourite oil or aloe juice. Hair likes this exotic fruit because it contains quite a number of proteins that are essential for proper hair growth.
2. Lemon - a compulsory ingredients added to many hair maks and hair rinses is lemon juice that mostly makes hair highlighted. It also displays other properties: deals with vitamin shortages (C, B-group and follicid acid) as well as mineral shortages (zinc, potassium, manganese, calcium). Lemon juice gifts strands with shine and slows down hair whitening process.
3. Avocado - it's fruit rich in vitamins (avocado is called seven vitamin oil), minerals and fatty acids. Thanks to them, avocado nourishes, prevents water loss and disciplines hair. Additionally, it contains chlorophyll, which is a green pigment displaying antioxidative action.
4. Parsley - this is an ingredient offering numerous applications in terms of hair care. Parsley juice accelerates hair growth and leaves strands significantly reinforced. Moreover, parsley contains plenty of vitamins therefore it's a good idea to use these green leaves to prepare a nourishing cocktail, a hair rinse or a scalp conditioner. It's exceptionally rich in vitamin C. To clarify, 100 g of parsley might contain even 160 mg of this vitamin.
5. Black radish - home hair beauty treatments with black radish are recommended for those whose hair needs huge energy boost. This vegetable strengthens hair bulbs and stimulates hair growth. Black radish scalp conditioner is also recommended as a preparation of antiseptic, anti-seborrheic and anti-dandruff properties. To put it differently, black radish is recognized for being an effective remedy for all ailments that scalp might suffer from.
6. Onion - even a seemingly ordinary onion might soothe inflammations, strengthen hair and accelerate its growth. A homemade onion skin hair rinse is an outstanding technique of colouring hair without using dyes. Boiled and left overnight, onion skin will release everything valuable that they might offer together with the pigment that darkens strands.
7. Garlic - although the aroma of garlic might effectively put off many people from using it to condition their hair with, it's beneficial action delivered to hair is worth acknowledging. In short, garlic is able to stimulate accelerated hair growth and prevent baldness. For that reason, some people might consider rubbing garlic into their scalp as an effective way of improving hair appearance.

The Beautifying Power of Seeds

Just think for a while, since a tiny seed is able to produce a wholesome plant, this means that it must house multitude of valuable substances. Why wouldn't you use them to boost your hair health and appearance?

1. Flaxseed - this popular on the web flaxseed gel can be done at home by covering the seed with water and leaving until the seeds become bigger. This simple method allows you to obtain hair mask that is rich in vitamins, proteins, fiber and mineral substances (iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc). This gel owes its popularity to making hair moisturised, leaving strands shiny, smoothed out and strengthened. Also, flaxseed gel accelerates hair growth and prevents baldness.
2. Nigella sativa - since fennel flower oil is also known as gold of pharaones, it must deliver almost royal-like hair care. And this is how black cumin infusion works, which in fact is made from unsaturated fatty acids (approx. 85%). Thanks to this, black cumin seeds improve hair condition and nourish it. Additionally, the seeds are known for being a potent antioxidant that also delivers anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial action.
3. Fenugreek - although it smells like chicken soup, fenugreek works like a magic wand that makes hair long, strong and beautiful. Seeds of this legendary herb contain saponins, lecithin, vitamins A, B and C as well as mineral salts. They stimulate protein synthesis and encourage natural hair self-regenerating processes.
4. Coffee - naturally, it can be drunk in the morning to make us more vigorous, but also this black drink might be used to deliver energy to our strands. Coffee hair rinse is the best energy drink for scalp that boosts blood flow, which consequently encourages faster hair growth. Grounded coffee beans might be used to prepare your homemade scalp peel which aids in removing cosmetic residues.

Vinegar Hair Rinses

And finally, the last ingredient to mention that can be found in a cupboard - vinegar. It's irreplaceable in both the kitchen and in hair care. Why?

Hair rinses containing vinegar are the easiest way to restore the right pH level, close cuticles and smooth hair after washing. The best in this case is apple vinegar, or alternatively other fruit vinegar combined with water. However, it's better to avoid using spirit vinegar (it might dehydrate hair and scalp) as well as grape/wine vinegar (it might light hair up).