Do you do anything special for your hair other than washing and perhaps conditioning it? It’s easy to overlook our hair and think as long as we wash it and brush it (if it’s long) that we don’t need to do anything more to it. But like your skin, your hair requires nutrients, protection and attention in order to be happy and at its best. One of the ways to give your hair the nutrients, protection and attention that it needs is to do regular hair masks. They’re like beneficial treatments that you can easily do at home while you get things done or lounge and relax. There are plenty available for purchase, or you can get crafty and make your own.
Most hair masks feature at least one kind of plant oil to help the hair. There’s avocado oil, cocoa butter and even olive oil based hair masks that you can buy. And if you’re making your own at home, you can use these oils too, not to mention customizing your hair mask to feature the oils that you are particularly fond of. And one of the best and most popular plant oils for hair is Argan oil. It soaks in fast and leaves the hair feeling strong and nourished. Combined with our raw African Shea butter’s deeply hydrating and protective qualities, you’ve got yourself a match made in hair heaven.
For your mask you will need:
- ½ cup very soft raw African Shea butter
- ¼ cup Argan oil
- essential oil(s) of choice (optional)
- small bowl for mixing
- spoon for stirring
- container of choice for storing your mask (we like glass jars)
If your Shea butter needs to be softened, go ahead and place it in a warm place or even a double boiler over very low heat. You don’t need it to be totally melted, just very soft and easily mixed. Add your Shea butter and Argan oil (and essential oil if using) to your mixing bowl and mix and match until thoroughly combined. Then transport to your container of choice and store in a cool, dry place. The Shea butter will probably thicken a bit as it cools down but if you like you can use your mask right away. Put it on your ends or your entire mane. Leave it in over night, use as a leave in conditioner or just for a quick hair pick me up. Just remember to shampoo twice to ensure no oily residue is left over.