Homemade Hair Conditioning Treatments for Damaged Hair

Add shine, restore moisture and increase strength while improving the overall health of damaged hair with at-

home treatments. Salon treatments tend to be expensive, but you can make your own for a fraction of the price without harsh chemicals, with ingredients available at grocery and health food stores.

Add Shine

Shiny hair requires moisturized, clean hair. To condition and remove buildup for blondes, add a couple tablespoons of lemon juice to the hair, massage from root to tip, then rinse. For brunettes and redheads, add a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to hair, massage, then rinse. Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 cup warm water. Comb through hair after shampooing. Do not rinse. Dry and style as normal.

Make a honey and olive oil hair mixture to add shine and moisture to any hair type. Mix 1/2 cup honey and 3 teaspoons olive oil. Comb through hair until fully coated. Cover hair with a shower cap and leave for 30 minutes. Shampoo well and rinse.

Dandruff

Dandruff is caused by a dry scalp. To treat dandruff and condition the hair without using store-bought shampoo, boil 7 tablespoons of dried thyme with 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Use half the mixture and apply directly to the scalp. Do not rinse. Use the remaining solution in another day or two.

For another quick dandruff remedy combine your regular shampoo with tea tree oil. Add 3 to 4 drops of tea tree oil to your usual amount of shampoo before washing. Shampoo and rinse as normal. Massage the scalp gently to remove dandruff flakes, do not scratch.

Dry Hair and Split Ends

Treat dry brittle hair with rosemary, water and an egg. Steep 1 ounce fresh rosemary in 1 pint hot water for 20 minutes. Cool, then beat in egg. Comb through hair and rinse.

To help tame split ends, use a homemade hot oil treatment using 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup boiling water and liquid from 4 vitamin E capsules. To release the liquid, puncture a hole using a small pin and drain the capsule. Mix all ingredients in a glass jar or bottle with a lid. Using a towel or oven mitts to avoid burning your hands, shake until thoroughly mixed, then massage through hair. Be careful not to burn the scalp. Cover head with plastic wrap and fold a damp, hot towel over the plastic. Leave treatment on for at least 30 minutes or overnight if severely damaged.

Thinning Hair

A combination of oils applied to thinning hair helps regrow, strengthen and moisturize hair. This treatment also adds fullness and thickness to normal hair. Mix 1/8 cup of grapeseed oil, 1/8 cup of jojoba oil with 3 drops each of the following essential oils: thyme, lavender, rosemary and cedar wood. Most oils are available at health food stores. Apply to thinning areas at night, wrap with plastic wrap and leave on overnight. Shampoo in the morning and repeat as necessary.