8 Hairstylist-Approved DIY Hair Masks That Will Save Your Hair

1. Moisture Mask for Dry, Frizzy Hair

By Amy Abramite

Recipe:

• Coconut oil (for fine hair, use 1 tsp; for thick hair, use 1 tbsp)

Melt the coconut oil by rubbing it into your hands. Massage it into dry hair and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then shampoo. 

Benefits:

This one-ingredient mask is a miracle worker for both frizz and dryness. “Coconut oil is a beauty powerhouse that works best to tame and smooth thick, dry hair,” explains Abramite. “Due to its fatty acids, it’s easily absorbed into the hair and prevents protein loss by protecting the cuticle from damage by retaining oil stripped during the cleansing process. It will hydrate and defrizz hair leaving it soft to the touch.”

2. Dry, Itchy Scalp Relief Mask

By Amy Abramite

Recipe:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

• ¼ banana

• 1 tsp brown sugar 

Mash ¼ banana in a microwave-safe bowl with brown sugar and coconut oil. Heat up in the microwave for a few seconds to soften and melt, without completely dissolving the sugar. Massage directly onto the scalp and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Benefits:

When you want to detox your scalp from hair product buildup and moisturize strands, try this mixture. “Coconut oil has an antimicrobial effect which fights dandruff while adding maximum moisturizing properties to the skin. Bananas also have an antimicrobial effect and help calm and soothe itchy irritated scalps,” says Abramite. Meanwhile, the brown sugar acts as an exfoliant “to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores for healthier skin,” according to the hairstylist.

3. Oily Scalp Relief Mask

By Amy Abramite

Recipe:

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp honey 

Pour apple cider vinegar, honey, and lemon juice into a spray bottle and shake to mix. Mist directly onto your scalp and massage. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water. 

Benefits:

Add Abramite to the apple cider vinegar fan club, thanks to its unique ability to clear away excess oil. “Apple cider vinegar removes impurities and buildup from the hair, and lemon will cleanse and remove oil from the scalp for a fresh, clean feeling,” she explains. (If the scent of the vinegar bothers you, feel free to add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.) Meanwhile, “The honey will act as a binding agent for this liquid mask and aid in keeping the natural oils from being stripped from the skin and hair during the clarifying process.”

4. Shine-Boosting Mask for Dull, Color-Treated Hair 

By Amy Abramite

Recipe: 

• Coconut oil (for fine hair, use 1 tsp; for thick hair, use 1 tbsp)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp honey

Mix coconut oil, olive oil, and honey in a microwave-safe bowl. Place in microwave for a few seconds to melt and warm. Massage onto hair through the ends, and leave in for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water before shampooing.

Benefits:

Color fading is natural, but the right mask can help keep your hue fresh and vibrant. “Coconut oil has a UV filter to stop sun damage and color from fading while protecting hair from drying out,” explains Abramite. “Olive oil will coat dry ends, making them soft and supple while honey contains emollients that add high-gloss shine to moisturize and smooth strands.”

5. Repair Mask for Damaged Hair and Split Ends 

By Amy Abramite

Recipe:

• ½ avocado

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 tsp. honey

• 1 tbsp. plain yogurt

Mash half of an avocado and mix with olive oil, honey, and plain yogurt in a bowl until blended. Apply to damaged ends only. Leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. 

Benefits:

As if we needed another reason to love avocados, they “have cuticle sealing minerals and contain proteins and vitamins to nourish and soften hair,” according to Abramite. On top of that, “Olive oil is a natural emollient that preserves maximum moisture to coat for soft, shiny hair,” and “yogurt has proteins to help weak strands get stronger,” according to the stylist.

6. Scalp Scrub for Dry Scalp 

By Savannah St. Jean

Recipe:

• 4 tbsp sea salt

• 4–5 tbsp olive oil

Mix the sea salt and the olive oil together. Wet hair thoroughly and use the scalp rub to exfoliate the entire scalp area, then leave on for two to five minutes. Rinse well and continue with your shampoo and conditioner regimen.

Benefits:

Although it’s not a mask in the traditional sense, this scalp scrub is so useful, it’s a must-share. “The salt in this recipe acts as an exfoliant to release the dry flaking skin from the scalp, and the olive oil acts as a moisturizing agent,” explains St. Jean.

7. Deep Hydration Mask

By Savannah St. Jean

Recipe:

• 1/2 avocado, mashed

• 1 banana, mashed

• 2 tbsp almond oil

Mix the ingredients together. Apply the mask from roots to ends on damp hair and cover the hair with a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes. Rinse well and continue with your shampoo and conditioner regimen.

Benefits:

Almond oil is packed with fatty acids and vitamin E, making it the perfect vehicle to combine with avocado and banana. Together, they create a hydrating hug for dry strands.

8. Shine and Strength Mask

By Savannah St. Jean

Recipe:

• 1 cup of beer, flat (leave unopened for at least 12 hours)

• 1 egg, whisked

Mix the ingredients together. Apply the mask from roots to ends and cover your hair with a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes. Rinse well and continue with your shampoo and conditioner regimen.

Benefits:

Don’t throw out that half-empty (or is it half-full?) beer! The brew “is rich in essential vitamins that help with promoting hair growth and repair,” according to St. Jean, while the egg helps with “shine, moisture, and strength.”

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