Hair Masks and 15 Other Prescriptions for Healthier Hair

The old joke is doctors used to advise you to “take two aspirin and call me in the morning”.

Not much of a prescription to be sure. But you may want or need advice for what ails your mane. So when it comes to a prescription for better hair, let’s see if we can’t do somewhat better than the doctors who used to make house calls.

• Crave crazy soft hair? Treat your hair to a bi-weekly hair mask or deep conditioning treatment to keep things properly hydrated. Amp up the process by combing the product through your damp mane, cover with a shower cap and then blast away with your blow dryer for 3 to five minutes. The heat will open the cuticles and help your strands to accept the ingredients in the conditioner or mask giving you softness that has to be felt to be believed. (For more on homemade masks see the video below.)
• Looking to be more curly? Use a small barrel curling iron to set those curls taking care to curl some sections of hair under while flipping other sections out. This way when you’re done raking your fingers through those voluminous curls to soften them, they won’t come off as too perfect.
• Savvy home hair stylers use heat activated styling products that are unleashed by the heat of your blow dryer.
• If you favor a messy look don’t be so precise with your shine serum. Spread it on random pieces of hair. It will add shine and dimension just in an unpredictable way.
• Ever tried a cleansing conditioner? You really should you know. It’s a good enough idea that an entire product line, WEN, has been built around it. Naturally the idea is simple enough. Using essential oils to clean hair, rather than depending on a chemical induced lather, produces healthier locks. As a bonus this way of cleansing protects your color and leaves you with hair you won’t recognize it will be so soft and silky. Just remember this is NOT a shampoo. You use it instead of your shampoo and condition routine. So you must use enough of the product to cleanse your hair. Otherwise your hair will remind you of a huge grease spot in no time.
• Wake up with body and volume galore. Sleep in a high pony or braids, let them loose in the morning and prepare to be amazed.
• Avoid the greasy look by taking care not to apply finishing products to close to your scalp.
• Shine need a midday boost? Carry a small glossing spray in your purse for just that purpose and use it right after lunch. Then you can shine the afternoon away.
• Do a little hair R&R while your mane is damp. Single out the damaged areas and apply some leave in conditioner to repair and restore those damaged patches.
• After creating luscious curls with your straightening iron use your fingers instead of a brush to break them apart to make them more natural looking. Why? Brushing too often leads to frizz.
• Layers are a great way to pump up the volume of fine thin hair. Pro stylists would suggest taking that a step further by highlighting the hair around your face to polish the look.
• Got a bad case of swimmer hair? You know, a decidedly green eggs and ham greenish tint or cast to your previously light blonde locks? That happens when the proteins in your hair and any copper in the water from the pool collide and react. The fix? Wash the green out with a gentle clarifying shampoo.

Okay but if that isn’t enough for you, here are

10 Tips For Beautiful, Healthy Hair

This video reveals some interesting hair mask recipes that can help hydrate and add shine.

It also points out that doing regular trims to remove split ends is important. Sound familiar?

Need Shine?

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• Half a cup of coconut milk
• One avocado.

• Mash up the avocado. Blend in the other two ingredients and mix well.
• Microwave for 20 seconds.
• Apply to your hair and leave for 30 minutes.
• Shampoo and style as normal.

Need Hydration?

• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of honey

• Blend and heat for 20 seconds again.
• Apply and leave it in your hair for 20 minutes.
• Shampoo and style as normal.

For best results either of these should be applied at least monthly.

Finally to top things off here’s a few more quick tips revealed.

• Use a leave in conditioner.
• Find a good dry shampoo so you can cut back on the daily hair washing routine. If you find a product that works, well, glory hallelujah. It will not only be better for your hair but will free up lots of time for other things other than caring for, or styling, your hair.
• Don’t go crazy with a towel when drying your hair. That’s because your hair is vulnerable and prone to damage when it’s wet. You’ll be better off if you bother to blot and squeeze the excess water out. Let it air dry as often as you can. Oh and never brush wet hair. Use a wide tooth comb instead to detangle.
• Always, always, always use heat protection if you’re going to blow dry, straighten or curl with a tool that involves heat.
• Try to give your hair a holiday from hot styling.

Hopefully you’ll find something here to help solve an annoying hair care issue you are having that works better than simply waving a waving a plastic fairy wand over your hair. Or helps more than simply taking two aspirins.