Cheap Homemade Hair Mask - Healthy Hair from Healthy Foods

Beauty doesn't have to be expensive and pampering ourselves doesn't have to be time consuming. Take 30 minutes for yourself, and take advantage of these easy, inexpensive alternatives to high-end beauty treatments. Have kids at home? Don't worry, you won't have to go any farther than your kitchen to prepare this easy recipe for shiny, moisturized hair.

First, gather your supplies: a shower cap (which can be purchased ahead of time for under $2 at almost any store), an older towel, and a hair dryer with a low heat setting. You will need three ingredients for your homemade hair mask: an avocado, an egg, and a few teaspoons of olive oil. You can also add in a few teaspoons of honey, half of a mashed ripe banana, or a few tablespoons of plain, organic yogurt if you have them on hand.

To prepare your homemade hair mask, start with the avocado. Slice it in half, then, using a spoon, scoop the contents of one half onto a cutting board or other flat surface. Using a fork, mash the avocado until it is smooth with very few lumps- you don't want to have to pick chunks of avocado out of your hair later! Slide the avocado mush into a small bowl. Separate the yolk and the white of the egg. You can do this by cracking the egg and carefully pouring the yolk back and forth into each egg half, letting the white spill into another bowl. Add the separated yolk to your avocado, followed by a few teaspoons of olive oil. If your hair is naturally oily, you may want to omit the olive oil, or just use one teaspoon of it. Stir your hair mask mixture until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Drape your towel over your shoulders to protect your shirt and the floor. Begin applying your hair mask to clean, dry hair starting at the roots. If you have thick hair, you may want to pin the top few layers up so you can evenly coat the bottom layers. Work your way toward the ends, thoroughly saturating your hair. Pile hair on top of your head and cover it with your shower cap. Heat up the shower cap using the lowest setting on your blow dryer (you don't want to cook the egg) for less than a minute, and then relax for 15-20 minutes.

Still have your egg white? While you are waiting for your hair to soak up the hair mask, you can use the leftover egg white for a quick, cheap, homemade face mask. Using a fork, whip the egg white in a bowl until it is frothy. You can add a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon if you want a fresh scent, but be careful if you have sensitive skin. Apply the egg white mask to clean, damp skin. Leave the egg white mask on until it begins to harden, which usually takes about ten minutes. Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water, and gently pat your face dry.

To rinse the hair mask out, use lukewarm water in the shower. Once all traces of the avocado have been rinsed out, shampoo hair to remove the last of the olive oil. You may need to shampoo twice. For extra shine, finish with a cold water rinse and then air dry your hair.

The avocado hair mask is a quick, easy way to add beauty to your day!