Natural Hair Masks
The Broot
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved making my own hair masks with ingredients straight from the fruit stand,” says Samira Asemanfar, founder of Santa Monica’s new deep conditioning hair bar, The Broot. “But as I got older and life got busier, it became a hassle to actually go through the steps and then have to clean up all the mess.”
Her solution? Open a cozy hair haven — or “rehab,” as Asemanfar calls it — where clients choose from a menu of treatments whipped to order at the bar by “BrootTenders,” relax with a cup of herbal tea or coconut water and peruse soul-soothing coffee table books (no trashy, “toxic” gossip rags here”> while catching up with friends.
After masks are applied for about 15 to 20 minutes under a heater and rinsed out, clients can select to have a blow-out or simple styling, such as a braid or chignon, before walking out the door.
“We understand that women might be coloring their hair every few weeks, getting blow-outs two or three times a month and using products daily,” Asemanfar says. “Our goal is to provide a place to nourish and pamper your scalp naturally a few times a week in between to restore resilience and shine.”
Don’t live in L.A.? No worries. Check out Asemanfar’s recommendations for natural hair masks you can make right at home.
Restructuring Mask
If strands feel brittle with split ends, try a strengthening treatment infused with banana, jojoba oil and honey to repair and hydrate.
“Banana is a natural remedy for dry, frizzy hair,” says Asemanfar. She recommends blending half of a banana with two ounces of water, then adding a quarter cup of mayonnaise, a tablespoon each of coconut, olive and jojoba oils and two tablespoons of honey. “The mask should be smooth with no large chunks of fruit,” Asemanfar says. “Strain the mixture in a strainer if necessary before applying it from roots to ends.”
Take-Out Option: The Body Shop Banana Shampoo and Banana Conditioner ($8 each”>
What you’ll need
- 1/2 banana
- 2 oz. water
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp jojoba oil
- 2 tbsp honey
Strengthening Mask
For overworked and processed hair, protein-rich egg is nature’s miracle. “It smoothes damaged cuticles to restore strength and shine,” Asemanfar says.
Whisk together one egg, a tablespoon each of coconut oil, olive oil and honey and two ounces of water. Add one half of a mashed banana and stir until the mask is smooth. Apply to strands for 15 minutes, then shampoo as usual.
What you’ll need
- 1 egg
- 1/2 mashed banana
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 oz. water
Take-Out Option: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo and Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner ($7 each”>
Softening Mask
Vitamin E-dense avocado is the ultimate nourisher, and it’s already mask-like texture makes it a favorite of Asemanfar’s. In a blender, add half a ripe avocado, one egg, a tablespoon each of olive oil, coconut oil and honey, along with one ounce of water. Pulse until creamy. Apply to strands and rinse out after 20 minutes.
What you’ll need
- blender
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 oz. water
Take-Out Option: Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment ($9″>
QUIZ: How Healthy is Your Hair?
Hydrating Mask
Honey and mayonnaise work together to target dry, coarse strands and instantly make them glossy.
Mix half a ripe avocado, a quarter cup mayonnaise, one tablespoon each of coconut oil, olive oil and honey, and two ounces of water. Work the mask into your scalp to soothe dryness, then massage it in from roots to ends to maximize all-over shine.
What you’ll need
- 1/2 half ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 oz. water
Take-Out Option: Bronner Bros Mayonnaise & Honey Crème Hair Dressing ($16″>
Maintaining Mask
Mix together a mayonnaise, egg and honey mask one to two times a week to keep strands in tip-top condition. Whisk together one egg, a half cup of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of honey and one ounce of water. Apply and let it sit on strands for 15 minutes before shampooing as normal.
What you’ll need
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 oz. water
Take-Out Option: Hollywood Beauty Mayonnaise Moisturizing Crème Oil with Egg Protein for Ends That Bend Not Break ($8″>
