Nowadays, you can see an abundance of organic and artificial hair care products advertised in mainstream media. These items range from shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, coconut hair masks, and a lot more. While anyone can be carefree about all these products because they’re popular, it’s still important to switch to organic, plant-based hair recipes to ensure that no harmful chemicals are applied to your hair. One of the most effective natural ingredients for healthier hair is raw, organic coconut oil.
Coconut oil may be used for almost anything, from removing makeup to nourishing dry cuticles and even in healing your dog’s paws. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s the go-to natural beauty option, specifically for hair. As research suggests, raw coconut oil is considered a haircare staple for quite a lot of reasons—it contains plenty of unique properties that would make your hair fuller, smoother, and damage-free. When store-bought products aren’t cutting it, you can always opt for easy DIY coconut hair masks to combat intense hair issues—yes, we’re talking about frizz and dryness.
To spice up your DIY vegan coconut hair mask recipe, we’ve listed seven variations that you can definitely make at the comfort of your own home. Please read on.
7 Plant-Based Coconut Hair Masks You Can Make at Home
1.) For frizzy hair
Frizz is one of the most dreaded hair issues among women, and numerous hair care products have been made available in drugstores and supermarkets to combat this problem. However, little did people know that treating frizzy hair at home is always possible with the appropriate ratio of organic, plant-based ingredients.
You can add a banana to your coconut oil mixture if you have frizzy or dry hair. Bananas are high in antioxidants and potassium, hence nourishing, softening, and protecting your hair from breakage and split ends.
On the other hand, marula oil is an excellent addition to this recipe since it can rehydrate hair from root to tip without leaving it greasy. This oil is beneficial for dry, frizzy, and brittle hair since it is hydrating, nourishing, and occlusive (preventing water loss).
Moreover, coconut oil prevents hair from absorbing water, which can help reduce frizz, especially in humid conditions. Even in dry weather, damaged hair looks frizzy. Fortunately, coconut oil can permeate the hair shaft, making it helpful in softening damaged or uneven hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized ripe banana
- 3-5 drops of pure, organic marula oil
- 1 tbsp raw, organic coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
Peel and cut a ripe banana before tossing it into a blender.
Blend in a spoonful of coconut oil and a tablespoon of olive oil until completely smooth.
Add 3-5 drops of pure, organic marula oil into the mixture.
Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes after massaging it into your hair. Then, rinse it out and go about your regular hair routine.
You can do this routine once or twice every week to see great results.
2.) For crinkly hair
Avocado has long been a staple in everyday meals and hair care routines. Avocados are rich in natural oils and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (the “good” fats), making them incredibly hydrating and nutritious. These oils are suitable for all hair types, but they’re exceptionally effective for crinkly, damaged hair. Hence, this is an excellent hair mask ingredient for boosting, mending, and nourishing dehydrated hair.
Aside from avocado, banana is a powerful ingredient against crinkly hair because of its high silica concentration. Silica is absorbed by the body and used to make collagen, a protein that is a key component of bouncy, healthy hair. Silicone, which is related to silica, is commonly used in cosmetic products such as hair conditioners to give hair a silky, voluminous luster. Thus, when you apply bananas to your hair and infuse it with pure coconut oil, you’re saying goodbye to intensely wrinkled hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized avocado
- 1 medium-sized ripe banana
- 1 tbsp raw, organic coconut oil
- 3-5 drops of organic tea tree oil
Directions:
Cut a medium ripe avocado into bits and mash it in a mixing dish.
Peel and slice a medium-sized banana and mash it with your avocado mix.
Stir in the raw coconut oil when the avocado-banana mix has been pureed.
Add 3-5 drops of organic tea tree oil for added hair strength.
Massage the mixture into your scalp and cover all of your strands, whether your hair is dry or wet.
Allow 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing and finishing with an all-organic shampoo and conditioner. Use this combination once or twice a week.
3.) For dull hair
It’s time to bid goodbye to scalp build-up once and for all. Apple cider vinegar (also known as ACV) is a popular shampoo substitute that has even become a go-to wash for many. The vitamins and nutrients in ACV help stabilize your hair’s PH level while also adding shine, smoothness, and strength to dull hair. In addition, apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, restoring luster to hair while also reducing dryness and frizz. The high alkaline content in hair causes it to become dry, brittle, and frizzy. When the acidity of vinegar is used to neutralize this, natural hair balance is restored.
On one hand, agave nectar, a powerful substitute for honey, moisturizes hair and gives it a beautiful glow. Agave nectar’s significant advantage is the vast molecules it contains—polysaccharides. Many hydroxyl groups in saponin, inulin, and fructose make them hydrophilic. As a result, they serve as humectants, hence drawing moisture to the hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsps raw, organic coconut oil
- 2 tbsps agave nectar
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps lavender oil
Directions:
Before applying the combination to damp or dry hair, combine two tablespoons of coconut oil and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
Add in two tablespoons of agave nectar and one teaspoon of olive oil. Stir nicely until the mask thickens.
Because ACV has a strong aroma, you can add two tablespoons of lavender essential oil to balance the scent.
Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse and proceed with your regular hair care routine.
Apply this homemade hair therapy once a week.
4.) For itchy hair and scalp
This mask made from aloe vera, oats, almond milk, and coconut oil should be the first on your list of DIY masks to try if you have a dry, itchy scalp. Aloe vera gel is well-known for its ability to reduce acne scars and soothe sunburns, but did you know it can also be used as a hair treatment? Thanks to the gel’s antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities, because with consistent use, your hair will always look and feel better. In addition, vitamins A, C, and E help relieve itching and dandruff, while vitamin B12 encourages hair development.
Furthermore, oats are perfect for gentle scalp exfoliation. They are high in B-vitamins, which help draw water into the hair shaft, thereby moisturizing and repairing it from the inside out. Oats are natural humectants, which means they’ll keep your hair and scalp clean and shiny by preventing frizz.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
- 1 tbsp raw, organic coconut oil
- ½ cup gluten-free oats
- 1 tbsp organic almond milk
Directions:
Combine one tablespoon coconut oil and one tablespoon aloe vera gel in a small mixing bowl.
Add half a cup of gluten-free oats and a tablespoon of organic almond milk. Mix well until you form a thick mask.
Apply the mixture to your scalp and knead it into your roots before moving on to the rest of your hair.
Allow 15 minutes for the mask to set before rinsing with lukewarm water and finishing your hair treatment.
Try this mask once or twice a week. For best results, leave it on overnight.
5.) For oily hair
Lemon juice is an excellent cleanser as well as an oil controller. The juice’s antifungal components help keep the scalp healthy by reducing oil, eliminating filth, and keeping pores open. This combination also helps battle dandruff, relieve itching, and keep hair smooth.
Another equally important ingredient in this mask is strawberry. Strawberries are high in Vitamin C and are excellent for your hair. They’re not only good for nourishing your hair, but they also have the capacity to remove excess oil from your scalp. Moreover, strawberries contain magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, and copper, all of which are necessary for healthy hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp raw lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cold-pressed coconut oil
- 4 pcs. organic strawberries
- 3-5 drops of tea tree essential oil
Directions:
Dissolve one tablespoon of cold-pressed coconut oil before adding one tablespoon of raw lemon juice.
Mash the strawberries well using a fork and add them to the mixture.
You have the option to add tea tree oil for additional dandruff-fighting and moisturizing benefits. Mix all the ingredients well.
Apply to dry hair and leave on for 15 minutes.
Finish your hair routine as usual by rinsing with water.
For optimal results, apply this mask twice a week.
6.) For brittle hair
Coconut oil is superb on its own, but adding another oil to the mix, such as castor oil, boosts the effectiveness of your hair mask tenfold. Its fatty acids and antioxidants enable your dry, brittle hair to retain moisture, thereby reducing breakage.
Another oil you can add to the mixture is jojoba oil. This oil is derived from the jojoba plant and is beneficial since it has a chemical structure that is similar to the oil produced naturally by our scalps—sebum. This signifies that your scalp will most likely absorb it without any negative consequences. Jojoba oil, like coconut oil, moisturizes the hair from the inside out, hydrating and healing the hair follicles. It also enhances shine and suppleness while treating brittleness and dry scalp concerns.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsps castor oil
- 2 tbsps raw, organic coconut oil
- 3-5 drops of organic jojoba oil
Directions:
Combine two tablespoons of coconut oil and two tablespoons of castor oil in a bowl.
Add 3-5 drops of organic jojoba oil to the mix.
Before applying the mixture, divide your hair into sections.
Leave the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes, or overnight (only make sure to cover your pillow with a towel so the oil doesn’t leak through).
For desirable results, repeat two to three times each week.
7.) For intensely damaged hair
The combination of coconut and olive oils calms itchy scalps, restores damaged hair, and strengthens fine, thin strands. Also, all hair types have been shown to benefit from omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which have been proven to reduce dullness, prevent breakage, and strengthen hair.
Aside from the abovementioned oils, an organic, dairy-free yogurt is also a great addition to this hair mask recipe—the lactic acid in yogurt aids in hydration, allowing it to moisturize hair and prevent damage. When the yogurt is rinsed out, it also helps clear away dead skin cells that can build up on the hair follicles.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 cup raw, organic coconut oil
- ½ cup organic, dairy-free yogurt
- 3-5 drops of rosemary essential oil
Directions:
Before massaging your hair, combine half a cup of olive oil and one cup of coconut oil in a container.
Include half a cup of organic, dairy-free yogurt on the mixture, along with 3-5 drops of rosemary essential oil.
Leave it on for 30 to 45 minutes after massaging it into your strands and scalp (or even overnight).
Rinse your hair well before applying an all-natural shampoo and conditioner.
Apply this mixture once a week at the very least to see great results.
Takeaway
Although coconut oil hair masks are effective treatments for all hair types, we should never forget to apply these in moderation. If you use too much coconut oil, your hair will become greasy. It doesn’t typically result in hair loss, but it can make existing loose hair slip away from your scalp more easily. Following the recipes above and being consistent in your hair care routine will go a long way in maintaining manageable, smooth, and damage-free hair that everyone deserves.
