Coconut oil

The hair follicles are made up of 3 parts. The most inner part is medulla, a soft middle layer of your hair shafts, whose amount decide how thick or how thin your natural hair is.

The middle visible layer is cortex, the outer layer which determine hair color, hair strength, moisture, color and texture. It has tons of fibrous proteins, a vital nutrient for hair health.

The third layer is the cuticle, the outermost protective keratin layer of overlapping cells of the hair strand. They protect your hair proteins from pollutants, dirt, chemicals in case of getting close to the inner parts and external breakage from scrubbing, coloring, styling, dragging.

If your hair is tied tightly or heat, the cuticles breaks, the proteins in your cortex lose, and leave your hair thin, dry and frizzy. Then your natural hair grow slower or even apprear hair loss.

Coconut oil can reduce protein loss in hair undamaged, bleached, chemically treated or UV exposed. Coconut hair masks has a high affinity for hair proteins so that it can get into your hair shaft easier than other oil.

Wet hair is more prone to get breakage since the cortex and middle piece swells up and open the scales outward when it’s wet and then they become much more vulnerable. It is recommended to apply coconut oil before washing your natural hair or after a wash.

How to apply coconut oil on your 4B or 4C hair

Section your natural hair into parts and fix other parts when you work in one section.

Apply the coconut oil in your palm and rub your palms.

Work on your hair from the roots to your ends.

Comb out your natural hair with a wide tooth comb from the scalp to help the coconut oil spread evenly.

Let your hair sit for some time to make it penetrate into the medulla.

Wash and condition your hair after that.

The coconut oil can also be used as:

Leave in conditioner. Coconut oil can be used as leave in conditioner and it protect your hair from daily elements which can damage your hair like the sunshine.

Hair mask. Rub the coconut oil through your hair and let it sit for a few hours or overnight before washing it out.

Scalp treatment. There are also anti-dandruff elements in coconut oil.

Mistakes to avoid

Use coconut oil too much. A spoon of coconut in hands is enough for whole head and it spread fast on your head. Too much coconut oil will build up on your scalp and it can block sebum production and natural oils into your hair.

Use coconut everyday. Just applying the coconut oil on your washing day is quite OK.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can get rid of the build up and clean your scalp completely. It can help close the cuticle and balance the PH when your hair PH is changed by shampoo or conditioner. Natural hair after apple cider vinegar is easier to detangle and it can work as an antibacterial agent. It is also helpful in defining the curls and lowering the hair porosity since it can close the cuticles, then the moisture can be retainer more and the hair growth is activated. In addition, it can also reduce frizz.

How to make ACV on natural hair

Pour 1/4 cup of the apple cider vinegar into a measuring cup and transfer the liquid into a spray bottle.

Pour a cup of water into the spray bottle and shake it up to mix them together.

Shampoo your natural hair and rinse your hair out with warm water.

Spray the ACV mixture to your scalp for whole head and massage it. If your hair is dry and frizz, it can boost your hair growth in some extent.

Olive oil

Olive oil help soften flakes and lessen itching as well as inflammation if your have itchy scalp and dandruff. It keeps the split ends at bay by nourishing and softening natural hair. With the ability to penetrate hair strand and nourishing hair from inner, olive oil locks the hair moisture in and keep your natural hair shine.

The essential nutrients and monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil work in strengthening hair and stimulating natural hair to grow faster, denser and thicker. The olive oil without additives or undesirable ingredients is the best type of olive oil.

How to use olive oil on natural hair

Wash and go

Wash and apply the mild shampoo on your natural hair

Apply the leave in conditioner on your natural curls

Pour some olive oil in your hands and rub them in the palm

Apply it on your natural hair

Lemon juice

Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C which is widely used in lemonade, soft drinks, and cocktails. What’s more, it also work in making hair longer and stronger. Freshly squeezed lemon juice not only strengthens hair follicles, gets rid of dandruff, but boost hair growth. The limonene from lemon juice can make dry and frizzy hair come back to shine. Lemon is an acidity fruit and the lemon juice is not suitable for wound scalp.

Squeeze and filter the fresh lemon juice in a spray bottle.

Spray the lemon juice around on your hair.

Message scalp with the squeezed lemon wedge for around 5-10 mins

Rinse your hair.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera contains enzymes which can repair dead cells, help in getting rid of dandruff and making your hair shiny, and can moisturize your natural hair well. Aloe vera reduces hair fall and promotes hair growth as well.

How to make aloe vera gel at home

Material

• Fresh Aloe vera leaves
• Vitamin E Capsules

Cut the corner of Aloe vera leaf to remove the skin with knife.

scrap the gel from the leaf to a container with a spoon. The container can be a bowl.

Beat the gel for 2-3 minutes to make it foamy consistency.

Cut 2 Vitamin E Capsules and spread the oil to the bowl.

Beat the gel again for 3-5 minutes.

Transfer the gel into a container with lid and store it in refrigerator for use.

Onion juice

Onions contain all types of acids nutrients and natural chemicals beneficial to hair follicles and scalp. The sulfur is one of chemical elements that acts as an antibacterial and antifungal stimulant defending with obstruction around follicles which impede the hair growth. It can boost blood circulation in scalp and activate sleeping follicles, making your hair grow thicker and more

Onion juice is not a one time cure and it need consistent perseverance. Onion juice works for:

• Scalp psoriasis
• Dandruff
• Thin hair
• Alopecia
• Hair breakage
• Folliculitis
• Eczema
• Grey hair
• Fungi and yeast infections
• Hair and scalp infections
• Male/Female pattern baldness

How to make onion juice at home?

Peel and chop the onions in small pieces.

Transfer the pieces into the blender and add some water in the container.

Blend the onions into paste.

Filter the blended mixture with sieve and reserve the onion juice in a container.

If you are not adaptable to the smell, mix the liquid with some healthy perfume oil  like lavender oils to cover the smell of onion.

Green tea

Green tea contains polyphenols and flavonoids which enable green tea antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic ability. The nutrients in it not only help reduce hair shedding but also stimulate blood circulation and hair growth. Green tea also benefit for treating hair fall and dandruff.

How to make green tea at home?

Materials:

• Boiled water
• Measuring cup
• A bag of green tea

Pour the hot water in the measuring cup and put the tea bag in it for 1-2 minutes.

Remove the tea bag and cool down the water.

Pour cool tea into a spray bottle.

Coconut milk

Coconut milk is a rich source of Vitamin B, C, E and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. It can repair dry, rough and damaged hair, boost hair follicles, improve hair growth and soften hair strands by condition.

How to make coconut milk at home?

• A cup of grated coconut
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 tbsp of vanilla powder
• 2 tbsp of milk

Mix a cup of fresh grated coconut with 1/4 cup of water.

Grind it to a little coarse paste.

Filter the mixture to reserve the liquid.

Take the vanilla powder in a bowl and mix it with coconut milk to a smooth paste.

Rest it for an hour and mix it again.

Squeeze the lemon to make the juice into the milk and leave it for 2-3 hours.

How to use coconut milk on natural hair?

Apply the coconut milk before washing your hair and message your scalp for 2 minutes.

Mix the coconut milk and shampoo, keep it for 5 minutes and rinse your hair.

Message your hair with coconut milk, wear a shower cap, and keep it for 30 minutes.

Indian Gooseberry

Amla is composed of thousands of compounds and contains vitamin C that is antimicrobial and anti- inflammatory. It is beneficial for strengthening hair roots and speeding up healing process of wounds and cuts on scalp since it stimulate collagen growth for hair strands. It can flatten cuticles and define curls as well. Amla oil and amla paste both work. But don’t use amla powder too often.

How to use Indian Gooseberry on natural hair?

Mix the Amla powder, fenugreek powder, Brahmi powder and Henna powder in a container.

Add some hot water and moisturizing conditioner into the container and mix them fully.

Hair oil can be added to make the mixture more smooth.

Almond oil

Almond contains vitamins and nutrients keeping hair strong and luscious, protecting hair against sun damage. The vitamin E is helpful in conditioning and nourishing hair. Almond oil can mix with other essential oils, argan oil or neem oil. Messaging the scalp with almond oil can stimulate circulation reduce hair fall and reduce dandruff.

How to use almond oil on natural hair?

Scalp

Message the oil into scalp and hair for 15 mins.

Let the almond oil sit for half an hour.

Rinse your hair with regular shampoo.

Hair growth

Combine almond oil and castor oil in a bowl.

Heat the mixture a little bit, apply it to scalp and message for 10 minutes.

Wrap your curls with a towel and let it sit for an hour.

Rinse the oil away with shampoo.

Lustrous hair

Pour a few drops of almond oil on your palms and rub your palms.

Apply the almond oil to your curly hair.

Jojoba oil

If you have dry scalp, baldness, or thin hair, then add the jojoba oil into your scalp massage routine. Jojoba oil stimulate hair growth, keep your hair nice and moisturized and reduce frizz. It is lightweight and similar to natural oils. Pour some oil in hands and rub with palms. Then just apply the jojoba oil to your natural hair directly.