Self-care doesn't have to be expensive.

Ever find yourself in a store isle; product in one hand, Google reviews in the other; attempting to understand its long list of ingredients and desperately trying to justify its ridiculous price point?

I definitely do.

There are so many products out there and so much information accompanied by many different opinions telling you what you should and shouldn’t be using.

Today we're muting that confusion and sticking to what we know; simple ingredients that come straight from your kitchen.

We’ve put together some of the best DIY hair masks with ingredients you don’t need a thesaurus to pronounce. 

They've been sorted according to what your personal hair need might be:

Boost of Hydration:

Have some bananas that are a little too ripe and don’t feel like baking banana bread? Why not make a DIY hair mask instead?

Bananas contain several vitamins (A, C & B6) and are high in potassium; these ingredients moisturize your scalp, increase elasticity, enhance shine and diminish breakage, dandruff and split ends.  

Honey and olive oil sink into the hair easily, reducing frizz by putting an end to dehydration.  

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tbsp. of honey
  • 1 tbsp. of olive oil

Directions

  1. Mash the banana
  2. Mix the mashed banana, oil and honey
  3. Apply the mixture all over damp/wet hair
  4. Leave the mixture on for 15-30 minutes
  5. Rinse hair with cold water   

Getting Rid of Dandruff – According to Priyanka Chopra

(skip to 1:58 for scalp treatment)

This mixture is a hair mask that works as a scalp treatment that soothes a dry scalp and gets rid of dandruff by hydrating & cooling.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. of yogurt
  • 1 tsp. of honey
  • 1 egg

Directions

  1. Mix yogurt, honey and egg all together
  2. Apply all over hair
  3. Leave on for 30 minutes
  4. Wash hair with baby shampoo
  5. Rinse with cold water

Heat Damage

This oil treatment is amazing for restoring hair that’s been damaged from either the sun or hot tools. These oils contain omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and magnesium which nourish, strengthen & revive your hair.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. of sweet almond oil
  • One tsp. of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. of jojoba oil
  • One tbsp. of avocado oil

Directions

  1. Mix all the oils together
  2. Warm up the oils over the stove
  3. Apply the oils all over your hair
  4. Wrap your hair up in a hot towel (optional)
  5. Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes
  6. Wash hair with a delicate shampoo or baby shampoo
  7. Rinse with cold water

Bleaching Damage

Pumpkins won’t just be for carving this Halloween season; use the pulp after carving for an ultra-nourishing hair mask that’s safe for bleached hair.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. of coconut oil melted
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. of raw pumpkin pulp
  • 1 tsp. of oatmeal powder

Directions

  1. Melt coconut oil
  2. Mix the oils and pumpkin until incorporated
  3. Mix oatmeal powder last
  4. Use a blender to mix all ingredients until consistency is smooth
  5. Apply all over your hair
  6. Leave mixture on for 15 minutes
  7. Rinse well with cold water

Pumpkins contain vitamins A, C and E which help to strengthen hair follicles, promote hair growth by enhancing blood circulation and prevent hair loss.

The omega-6 found in oats protects your hair from becoming brittle and relieves scalp sensitivity.

Coconut oil provides intense hydration to your hair.

Hair Growth

This DIY hair mask is a personal favourite.

There is nothing worse than trying to grow out your hair but it refuses to budge.

Cinnamon might just be the answer to your prayers as it helps to stimulate the scalp, inducing hair growth.  

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp. of cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp. of coconut oil or honey

Directions

  1. Combine cinnamon and oil/honey together
  2. Mix ingredients until incorporated
  3. Massage mixture into scalp working downwards to your ends
  4. Cover your hair with a shower cap
  5. Leave mask on for 30-45 minutes
  6. Wash hair with shampoo & conditioner as per usual
  7. Rinse with cold water

And there you have it, the best DIY hair masks.

A simple way to pamper yourself after a hard day’s work and it didn’t cost you a single cent.

Pour a glass of whatever you fancy, light some candles and turn on that show you swore you wouldn’t binge.

Now that’s what I call self-care.