What do eggs, avocados, and olive oil have in common? Along with being familiar kitchen staples, they can be mixed into simple DIY hair masks that coat and condition the hair.

Hair masks can add slip, softness, or shine, depending on the ingredients and how your hair responds. The six recipes below are organized by common styling concerns so you can choose a starting point that suits your hair.

Before trying a new DIY mixture, check every ingredient for allergies and test a small amount first. Do not apply a mask to broken or irritated skin, keep it out of your eyes, and rinse immediately if it burns or stings. Fresh mixtures should be made for one use and discarded afterward.

 

Frizzy Hair

Frizz can become more noticeable when hair is dry, weather is humid, or the cuticle has been affected by heat or chemical styling. A rich mask may help the hair feel smoother temporarily, but results vary by texture and routine.

This recipe combines avocado, coconut milk, and olive oil for a creamy mask that is easy to spread through dry-feeling lengths.

Ingredients:

• 1 small, ripe avocado
• ½ cup fresh coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Puree 1/2 a ripe avocado in a blender until smooth. Stir in coconut milk and olive oil and mix well.

Smooth the mixture through the lengths and ends, keeping it away from your eyes and any irritated skin.

Smooth the mixture through the lengths and ends. Leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Shampoo and condition hair as normal.

 

Fine or Thin Hair

Fine hair can look flat or become weighed down easily, so a lighter mask and a small amount of product are usually the best place to start.

Fine hair describes the diameter of individual strands, while thinning refers to a reduction in density. A lightweight mask may make fine hair feel smoother or look fuller temporarily, but it does not treat hair loss. If you notice sudden or continuing thinning, consult a board-certified dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends choosing products for your hair type.

Mashed banana creates a thick coating, while honey acts as a humectant in the mixture. Blend or mash the banana very thoroughly so it rinses out more easily.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas depending on size
• 1-2 tablespoon(s) of honey

Directions:

Mash the banana(s) in a bowl until smooth, then add the honey to your mashed bananas.

Apply the mixture to dry or slightly damp hair. Cover with a shower cap, towel or saran wrap and wait 20-30 minutes.

Rinse out hair mask. Shampoo and condition as normal.

 

Oily Hair

Limp, stringy, greasy, no matter how you describe it, oily hair is hard to control and can be a styling nightmare.

Oily-looking hair usually reflects sebum and product buildup at the scalp and roots. How quickly that buildup appears varies from person to person.

This egg-white and lemon mixture is intended as an occasional rinse-off mask. It cannot change how much sebum your scalp produces. Lemon can sting or irritate sensitive skin, so skip this recipe if your scalp is irritated and stop immediately if you feel discomfort.

If your hair tolerates the ingredients, use this mask no more often than needed and rinse it out completely.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon salt
• Juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

Beat one egg white until it forms stiff peaks (this will make your mask easier to apply), then add salt and lemon.

Mix everything well, apply mixture to scalp, and wait 30 minutes.

Rinse out hair mask. Shampoo and condition as normal.

 

Dry and Damaged Hair

In our fast-paced, demanding lives, is it any wonder that our hair suffers from the side effects of the same stress the rest of our body goes through? The list of causes for dry or damaged hair is practically endless.

Strands of healthy hair have a protective layer called a cuticle. The cuticle acts as a protective shield, guarding your hair against heat damage. If you looked at a healthy cuticle under a microscope, you’d see the layers lying tightly together, sealing in moisture. In an unhealthy cuticle, the layers are separated and the moisture, along with some oil, can escape.

Even as we try to create beautiful hair, we may be damaging our cuticles. Over-washing your hair with a harsh shampoo can strip the natural oils from your hair. Blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons and other hot styling products can also rob hair of moisture, as can alcohol-based styling products—the two together can be especially damaging. Exposure to wind, sun, or dry air is another culprit when it comes to dehydration. Chemicals also take their toll in the form of dyes, relaxers, and perms. And something as simple as using the wrong brush or comb can contribute to your hair’s damage.

A mask can temporarily improve softness and manageability, but it cannot permanently repair a damaged hair fiber. Gentle handling, conditioning, and limiting excessive heat can reduce additional damage. See the American Academy of Dermatology’s hair-styling guidance for more damage-reduction tips.

Because this is such a common problem, we’ve included two recipes, though there are many more you can try.

Recipe #1

For this richer recipe, the egg yolk and olive oil coat the hair. Keep the mixture away from your eyes and rinse with cool water so the egg does not set in the hair.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Whisk the egg yolk in a small mixing bowl until it turns frothy, then add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mix well.

Using clean fingers, smooth the mixture through the dry-feeling lengths and ends.

Cover your hair with a disposable shower cap/plastic bag. Wait for 15 minutes.

When the time is up, rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water. (Do not use hot water or you will cook the egg in your hair).

Shampoo and condition as normal.

Recipe #2

Coconut oil and honey make a simple two-ingredient mask for hair that feels dry. Because coconut oil can feel heavy on fine hair, start with the smaller amount and focus on the lengths and ends.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1–3 tablespoons cold-pressed coconut oil (use more for longer or denser hair)

Directions:

Scoop honey and coconut oil into small pan and heat on stove top at low heat until melted, stirring briefly to combine.

Allow to cool to the touch, but not enough so that the coconut oil hardens. Apply to wet or dry hair, concentrated on vulnerable areas and ends of the hair. Comb through with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb and massage gently to cover.

Let sit for 15-30 minutes.

Rinse out hair mask. Shampoo and condition as normal.

 

Normal Hair

If my hair is healthy, why do I need a hair mask? You may be asking this question and the answer is simple: to keep your hair healthy!

A mask can be an occasional conditioning step even when your hair feels healthy. For nutrition-focused guidance without promises that a specific food or supplement will change growth, see our guide to foods for healthy hair.

Plain yogurt and egg yolk create a creamy mixture that coats the hair. Use this recipe only if you tolerate both ingredients, and rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg yolk
• 6 tablespoons plain yogurt

Directions:

Mix egg yolk and yogurt together well.

Coat hair with mixture, cover with shower cap, and leave on for 20 minutes.

Rinse with cool water. (Do not use hot water or you will cook the egg in your hair). Shampoo and condition as normal.

Once you learn the basics of homemade hair mask ingredients, you can experiment with a recipe that’s uniquely suited to your hair. Here are some of the common ingredients and their uses.

For hydrating:

• Avocado
• Agave nectar
• Olive oil
• Almond oil
• Flax oil
• Banana
• Castor oil
• Honey

For clarifying: (Caution! These ingredients are for oily or combination hair and should be used sparingly.)

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Apple
• Apple-cider vinegar
• Citrus (be mindful of overuse as citrus can lighten hair)
• Mint
• Tea-Tree oil
• Tea leaves

For strengthening:

• Mayonnaise
• Yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Garlic
• Eggs
• Whole milk

DIY masks are best treated as optional cosmetic care, not as a treatment for dandruff, hair loss, or a scalp condition. Choose one recipe, note how your hair responds, and keep the steps that improve softness or manageability without irritation.

DIY masks are optional cosmetic care. If hydration is your priority, Hairfinity HYDRATE Power Shot is a labeled option designed to be added to shampoo or conditioner as directed—without storing a homemade mixture.

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Make the routine your own. Choose your hair type and conditioning priorities to create a personalized Hairfinity Mix instead of relying on a different DIY recipe each wash day. Create your Hairfinity Mix.