Ditch the Weaves! 5 Homemade Treatments for Longer, Sexier Hair

Thanks to the good people of South American and Asian descent, many a Nigerian girl no longer considers wearing natural hair an option nor do they bother with proper hair care for that matter. Indeed, for every 10 girls that walk on a road, 8 would most probably have artificial hair on while the remaining 2 natural hair-wearing ladies would most likely be in-between hairstyles – artificial hairstyles, that is.
Largely responsible for this general neglect of natural hair wear and care is the common belief that Nigerian hair, and black hair in general is incapable of attaining great lengths; nothing could be farther from the truth. Asides the very few people who are genuinely genetically challenged and
therefore incapable of growing a full head of hair, a vast majority of Nigerian ladies fail to have long, lustrous hair due to neglect and improper hair care. This is where we come in.
Today, we say to you that you are indeed capable of growing your hair to incredible hair lengths and to this effect we offer you simple and cost-effective homemade remedies to get you started.
Hair we go…
1. Olive Oil: It is not by accident that most leading hair care products contain olive oil. Olive oil is great for dry, brittle hair and also quickly restores shine and bounce to hair. For healthier, more bouncy hair, heat half a cup of olive oil. When its warm, spread and distribute evenly through already damp hair from scalp to root. Put a shower cap over it, wrap a towel around it and leave it on for 45 minutes. Wash off thoroughly and style.


2. Avocado: Avocado is not only great for the skin but also for hair mostly because the oil in it is similar to the natural oil found in the skin. Avocado makes for a great face and hair mask, smoothing and moisturising the hair. To make a hair mask, mash half an avocado into a smooth paste and work it into already washed, damp hair, again working through from scalp to roots. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse off. Do not bother to shampoo or conditioner it after this treatment.


3. Eggs: Before you scrunch up your nose in distaste, remember that eggs were very commonly used in steaming hair back in the nineties when natural hair wear was not such an oddity. Egg yolk is very rich in protein and fat which makes is great for dry, bristle hair while the egg white is great for getting rid of unwanted oil in the hair. Depending on what hair issues you have – dry hair or moist, oily hair, beat up half a cup of either egg white or egg yolk. For normal hair, beat up the entire egg. When you’ve beat up half the cup of egg, work it into freshly washed and damp hair from scalp to roots. Put a shower cap over it and leave it on for 20 minutes then wash off thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner using cold water. Do not use hot water lest the egg gets cooked on your hair producing altogether different results.


4. Bananas: Bananas are rich in potassium making them great for hair care and improving hair elasticity. It also helps to repair hair that has been damaged from styling tools like hair dryers and straighteners and also chemical treatment like dying and over processing/relaxing. For shinier, healthier hair, mash up a whole banana in a bowl and work into hair from scalp to roots. Leave for 15 minutes and wash with shampoo and conditioner.


5. Honey and olive oil: Honey is consistently touted for its many health benefits and it also has several hair benefits including acting as a great nutrient for damaged hair. For damaged hair, massage half a cup of honey and two tablespoons of olive oil into washed, damp hair. Leave for 20 minutes and rinse off.