The Colour Blog #2: Stay-at-Home Haircare: DIY Fruit & Veg Masks
Your 5-a-day is now a home haircare regime!
“So, this is only my second blog post and there’s been a few significant changes to all of our lives since the first one. The country is in lockdown and salon visits are now a thing of the past, at least for the foreseeable future.
As a person who is used to being active, on my feet and surrounded by people all day, I’m finding it quite tough to be at home. I’ve rearranged my apartment 5 times, manically started doing HIIT classes in the garden and (to my partners delight) become a bone fide Masterchef in the kitchen. And it’s only day three.
Whilst I was Mastercheffing away in the kitchen, I got thinking on alternative uses for some of the fruit & veg I was cooking with, especially for when none of us can access the salon for hair treatments. So, here’s some scrumptious alternative hair conditioners and masks to keep your locks looking good enough to eat; some even have colour-boosting ingredients too.
All the measurements are based on fine-medium hair, so if you have medium-thick or thick hair, double-up on the quantities.”
1. HONEY, I’M (STILL AT) HOME
A heavenly conditioner, great for hair that has seen a few too many highlights or colour appointments, or just hair that needs a good pick-me-up.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of honey
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of vinegar
2 eggs
Thoroughly mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Shampoo your hair, gently towel dry and blot away 80% of the moisture. Apply the mixture through the lengths and ends of your hair, avoiding the root area. Leave for up to 15 mins before thoroughly rinsing out.
Key benefits:
Eggs add shine
Olive oil is like an SOS elixir, giving the hair strength
Honey for hydration
Vinegar helps with hair loss
2. BANANA SPLIT (ENDS) RESCUE
Great for chemically treated hair or hair that needs a little more than just TLC. This is a smoothie saviour for hair that is in serious trouble.
Ingredients:
1 banana
3 tablespoons of milk
4 tablespoons of olive oil
2 eggs
Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. Apply the mask to dry hair, from the roots to the ends, and leave for up to 45 minutes. Tip: wrap your hair in cling film so the bathroom floor does not get all the benefit! Then simply shampoo and rinse as usual.
Key benefits:
Honey for hydration
Olive oil for strength
Banana works wonders for dry hair porous hair, whilst also protecting the hair’s elasticity
Milk makes hair roots stronger
Eggs for shine
3. QUARANTINE SENDING ME COCO-NUTTY
This yoghurt & coconut oil treatment is good for scalp and stimulating hair growth. I love this one, it’s great for both ladies and gentlemen too.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Thoroughly mix all the ingredients together. Apply to shampooed hair and leave on for up to 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Key benefits:
Coconut oil & fatty acids help nourish the scalp
Yoghurt cleanses the scalp
Honey for hydration
4. LET’S AVO-CUDDLE (AND BE KIND)
A moisturising conditioner, good for hair that has been dried out by heat styling
Ingredients:
½ avocado
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg yolk
Thoroughly mix all the ingredients together and apply to shampooed hair. Leave for up to 15 mins and rinse thoroughly.
Key benefits:
Eggs for shine
Olive oil for strength
Avocado for moisture and smoothness
COLOUR BOOSTING MASKS
“This blog would not be complete without some hair colour maintenance tips during lockdown…. But unfortunately none of us HOB colourists can pop round to do your roots, and we do not want you reaching for the box dye! So, let’s meet in the middle and work on refreshing your colour with some simple kitchen ingredients. See below for different formulas for blondes, brunettes or reds.”
COCOA CRUSH FOR BRUNETTES
Keep your brown shades rich and glossy. The cocoa powder adds shine and can help to deepen the tone, giving a more saturated-colour feel. Apple cider vinegar acts as a gentle exfoliate for the scalp.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 tablespoons yoghurt
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Sieve the cocoa powder into the yoghurt, then add the other ingredients and mix together. Apply to shampooed hair (tip: wear gloves!) from roots to ends and leave for up to 45 minutes. (Wrap hair in cling film for a deeper penetration and to avoid it dripping on the bathroom floor!) Rinse thoroughly.
LEMON & CHAMOMILE FOR BLONDES
Brighten your tired looking blonde and achieve a brighter, cleaner looking tone. Lemon helps unclog hair follicles and is packed with vitamin C. Chamomile is a natural lightener on both natural and highlighted hair, whilst the raw potato absorbs sebum from the scalp which helps to stimulate healthy hair growth.
Ingredients:
1 cup of cooled chamomile tea
Juice from 1 lemon
1 raw potato (grated)
Pour the cooled tea over the grated potato and add the lemon juice. Apply the mixture to shampooed hair and wrap the hair in cling film; the natural heat from your head will help activate the mask. Leave on for up to 45 minutes simply rinse throughly.
CARROT SMOOTHIE FOR COPPERS & REDS
The carrots in this mask can brighten copper hair or add richness & vibrancy to red locks, as well as bringing natural anti-oxidants to protect hair against future damage. (Turns out carrots are not just good for the eyes…!)
Ingredients:
3 carrots (grated)
2 tablespoons of honey
4 tablespoons of yoghurt
Mix all ingredients together and apply to pre shampooed hair, leave on the hair for 30 minutes and simply rinse.
“I’d love to hear your feedback on these and how you found them - and for anyone brave enough, pop a selfie on instagram and tag me at @boodaghian and @hob_salons so we can see the results! Stay safe everyone and look after that hair!”
Warren x
WHO’S THE AUTHOR?
Warren Boodaghian is Head of Technical at HOB Salons & Academy, heading up all colour-related activity and education across the company and the training school. He has a long and established career history which includes working on a global level for worldwide colour product brands, and has looked after the hair colour of a string of household celebrity names. He lives in Highgate with his partner Jonathan and when he’s not colouring hair, or in quarantine, he’s out running.