Homemade Hair Tonics

Hair products can be both abrasive and expensive, so using simple products from your home can pamper your locks without adding stress to your hair--or your wallet. The following treatments are chemical-free, low cost alternatives to department store products.

Mayo Mask

Mayonnaise is made of eggs and oil. Both of these things can naturally tame a frizzy mane by smoothing the hair shaft and adding a slight shine. Add about one teaspoon of olive oil per cup of mayonnaise and mix. Apply this mixture to your hair from root to tip then wrap your hair in a towel. Let it sit for about 20-40 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual.

Lemon Shine

If you want to bring out the highlights in your hair, a good way to do it is to rinse your hair with lemon juice. After you take a shower, run lemon juice through your hair after you wash it. If you leave it in your hair when you go out in the sun, you'll start to see it lighten. Be careful not to add too much lemon juice if you will be out in the sun for too long, as the acidic lemon juice will be harsh to your hair.

Coffee Rinse

If you are a brunette, you may try this tip. Brew coffee each morning before your shower. Use cooled coffee to rinse your hair each morning, and you'll see a bit of a darker hue, and you may even see some of those gray hairs fading away. This process may take a few months to meet the final results, but it is less abrasive then chemical dyes, and it's also a good way to salvage the rest of the coffee in the pot that you just can't drink before you start your day.

Banana Honey

The potassium of the banana strengthens the hair, and the honey increases the shine. Mash up a banana and add a teaspoon of honey. Mix it up and apply it to your hair and leave it there for 15-20 minutes. Rinse it out with warm water for strong, shiny hair.

Orange Rinse

If you have oily hair, using orange juice as a rinse can help you. Just rise your hair with the orange juice, and give yourself an extra rinse.

Vinegar Rinse

To clarify your hair and decrease some oil, rinse your hair with vinegar. Give yourself an extra rinse to ensure you don't smell like a salad.

Cold Water Rinse

To tame each hair shaft, if you rinse your hair in cold water, you find you'll have more manageable hair with less fly-aways then usual.