15 Home Remedies For Dry, Damaged Hair

Heat styling robs hair of its natural bounce and shine. To revive dull, damaged hair, use freshly brewed tea as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. Tea is rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals and protect against UV damage. Tea tends to enhance hair color, so if you’re blonde, use a light tea like chamomile or white tea. Brunettes can achieve a color boost with black tea, while redheads can amp up their fiery tones with rooibos, or red tea.

Bananas are rich in potassium and moisture, which makes them excellent for nourishing brittle, dry hair that’s prone to splitting. Once a week, apply a mashed, overripe banana to your hair before washing and leave it on for an hour. For more intensive conditioning, prepare a mask with mashed bananas, almond oil, and honey. Spread the mixture onto your strands and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and proceed with your usual hair care routine. This mask is great for use after shampooing, but it can also be used before shampooing as well to lock in extra moisture.

Apply an apple cider vinegar mask weekly basis to revitalize dry, limp, and lifeless hair. This hair treatment is inexpensive and easy to make. All you need to put this hair potion together are basic ingredients from the kitchen. Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with two or three egg whites and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Apply the mask to your hair, cover it with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave it on for 30-40 minutes. Rinse with warm water and shampoo, but skip conditioner for best results.

Avocado is rich in nutrients like vitamins A and E, protein, saturated fat, and minerals. It makes a wonderful conditioner for rough, damaged hair, and is easy to use. Mash a peeled avocado and make it into a paste by adding a small amount of olive oil. Apply the avocado paste to your hair after shampooing and leave on for 30 minutes to an hour for deep conditioning. Rinse with water and don’t use conditioner — the avocado is nourishing enough on its own.

Mayonnaise is an excellent ingredient for improving rough, dry hair. It contains a high amount of proteins and fats that nourish hair strands with moisture and essential nutrients. This hair treatment is easy to do. Wet your hair with full-fat mayo and massage it into your scalp as you would with shampoo. Work the mayonnaise through your strands to the ends and cover your hair with a plastic cap. Leave it on for one hour, then rinse with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual. Repeat this procedure every week.

Coconut oil is a cost-effective solution for treating dry or damaged hair. Just a tiny amount penetrates the hair shaft and, since coconut oil repels water, prevents the shaft from swelling due to moisture. This swelling and de-swelling process, called hygral fatigue, is a leading cause of hair damage.

It is best to apply coconut oil to dry hair for maximum permeability.

High in vitamins A, C, and E, aloe vera promotes healthy cell turnover in hair and prevents dandruff. It gently cleanses hair without damaging the strand and can be used in lieu of harsh shampoos or soaps. Although there are no studies on the efficacy of aloe vera for hair dryness, users self-report softer hair with less damage and frizz.

Studies do suggest, however, that aloe vera can slow down hair loss and reduce breakage.

Using an egg mask once or twice a month may help hair remain moisturized and silky. While both egg whites and yolks do the trick, it is the protein-rich yolk that yields the most benefits. The proteins and lecithin from the yolk absorb into the hair shaft, strengthening the strand and reducing frizz.

Egg masks can also help stimulate hair growth for longer and fuller locks.

Applying yogurt directly to hair is touted as a great way to reduce frizz and dryness in damaged hair. Users report softer hair after applying a yogurt mask; however, research suggests that eating yogurt may yield even better results for hair.

In lab studies, those who regularly ate probiotic-rich yogurt reported shinier and smoother hair, especially older participants.

Full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, honey is a powerhouse of nutrients for the hair. Its emollient and humectant properties increase moisture levels within the strands, which helps reduce breakage and frizz. Honey also "wakes up" hair follicles previously dormant, promoting new hair growth.

To use this method, mix honey with water and gently comb through your damp hair. Leave the mask for 20 minutes before rinsing.

While olive oil cannot repair split ends, it can help prevent them. Rich in antioxidants and fats, olive oil provides a thick protective layer when applied to your hair. The product helps prevent excessive hygral fatigue and keeps hair looking silky smooth.

This treatment makes the biggest impact when it's paired with a protein mask, such as eggs. Studies suggest that olive oil can also prevent dandruff and stimulate hair growth.

Argan oil is great for dry or damaged hair that is regularly exposed to the elements. While it cannot reverse hair damage, argan oil can prevent further dryness when it's applied before going outside. Argan oil keeps proteins within the strand from escaping, thus improving the durability and strength of hair. It also protects against free radicals, which may increase frizz and dryness.

Malt and hops are said to be the key behind beer's hair benefits. These two components strengthen hair cuticles while smoothing their surface. While there is no scientific backing to this claim, anecdotal feedback reports shinier hair with less static and frizz.

It is best to use de-carbonated beer, so let the opened can sit out overnight before you use it.

When mixed with carrier oils such as olive or coconut, fenugreek seeds demonstrate the ability to increase the thickness of hair strands. These seeds are high in protein and nicotinic components, which help maintain scalp health and promote natural oil production in hair, keeping the strands smooth and protected.

Early research also suggests that fenugreek seeds may promote hair growth and slow down hair loss in some people. To prepare the seeds for hair health, soak them in water overnight. The resulting paste can then be used as a thirty-minute hair mask.

Don't throw away the water you used to presoak your rice— it can be used to help hydrate and strengthen damaged hair. Rice water is rich in antioxidants and squalene, a saturated oil in many beauty products that promotes hydration in both hair and skin.

A staple of Asian beauty practices for generations, rice water rinses are reported to reduce frizz, fortify hair strands, and increase shine. While few studies have tested these claims, early research suggests rice bran minerals do aid in hair growth and durability.