Sunday 18 November 2012

My Homemade Deep Conditioners




Deep conditioner 1:
1 ripe Avocado mashed (small or half a large one)
1 egg
1 tablespoon olive oil





Deep conditioner 2:
3/4 cup plain yoghurt (unsweetened/natural yoghurt. Any dairy product works well too milk, buttermilk, cream and even coconut milk)
3 heaped tablespoons Henna
1 tablespoon olive oil
 2 tablespoons honey 


Mix together and apply on hair after shampooing leave on under a shower cap for 30 minutes. If I have other chores to do then I tend to stay longer but 30 minutes is my recommended time. These homemade DCs require several rinses at least three to completely get rid of the products in your hair and I usually use a little conditioner to detangle before a final rinse. I comb through the conditioner with a wide toothed comb to get rid of any fibres from the avocado or henna residue still in. Make sure the products are all at room temperature before using you don't want to end up with a cold after putting yoghurt straight out of the fridge on your hair. Take them out of the fridge at least an hour or more before using.
 
The second DC works well without Henna it is optional. I use Henna more for its strengthening purposes to reduce breakage than  for colour. If you want it to dye your hair then mix with cold black tea, lemon or vinegar. If you ever go to a store and ask for Henna and they show you brown, red, neutral Henna don’t buy it that is just hair dye you are buying. Henna doesn’t come in colours, it is a natural product made out of ground Henna leaves that are green in colour. It has a distinct scent too almost like black lemon tea for lack of a better description. The end colour result depends on how long the henna was left on the hair and hair type, Afro hair tends to get a reddish brownish hue and Caucasian/ Asian hair can go anything up to a bright orange. The women in my family have been using Henna as a hair dye for as long as I can remember and some of them used to make the avocado and egg DC when I was younger.

Quick update: the measurements above vary depending on the length of your hair. Henna can get messy especially if it is your first time trying it so make sure to have a towel or newspapers on the floor around the area you are working on to avoid having to do a major clean up afterwards. If you are mixing with any dye releasing agents like lemon or vinegar treat it as you would hair dye and wear gloves because it will stain your hands make sure to wipe off any that gets on your neck, ears or forehead once done with the application process. Do not steam your hair when using fresh food deep conditioners they will cook in your hair from the heat of the steamer. You can blend the avocado to get it nice and creamy for an easier application.


November regimen



I am wearing my hair out this month and here is my regimen:
Pre poo once a week (applying conditioners or oils to hair prior to shampooing)
Oil scalp with castor oil twice a week
Co wash every other week (wash with conditioner only)
Shampoo wash and deep condition every other week
Use coconut and almond oils on hair interchangeably
Air dry after all washes
Last heat use was on the 1st of November 2012 after self relaxing – hooded dryer
I currently have two alternate deep conditioners that I rotate on my shampoo wash days.