How to make hair masks correctly

In the hoopoe industry, folk beauty recipes that give amazing results are gaining more and more popularity. But there are still those who do not consider homemade masks a worthwhile alternative to store-bought products because they did not get satisfactory results when using them. However, the low effectiveness of home remedies is not a lack of the remedies themselves, but an incorrect approach to their preparation and execution. In this article we will tell you how to properly make homemade hair cosmetics and how to use them. 

How to prepare hair masks

Many will probably think, “What’s so complicated? We took everything we needed, mixed it and we’re done!” And, unfortunately, most do just that, not understanding the importance of the nuances that must be observed. From chemistry lessons, I still have the information in my head that changing the conditions when mixing even the same substances gives different results. Making a mask is “chemistry”, or rather a chemical process.

The main basic rule for all masks is to use only fresh and high-quality products. Often, products that are used in the preparation of masks are not the freshest or those that are already on the verge of expiration, it seems like “what difference does it make, don’t eat it” - but there is a difference, and it’s big. Therefore, if you want an effect, choose the appropriate one. If possible, it is worth purchasing farm products. For example, if the composition contains milk, buy not the packaged sterilized version, but the purest country milk. The same applies to other products: berries, vegetables, herbs, etc. The effectiveness of the mask is explained by the presence of vitamins in the products used, which, alas, are completely absent in the products of large manufacturers.

Another rule for preparing a quality hair mask is to warm it up before applying. Firstly, this way the components mix better with each other, and secondly, the warm composition acts on the scalp and hair many times more effectively. However, if the mask contains vitamins, then you should not heat them, but add them to the mask immediately before application.

The compositions should be prepared only for one-time use and should not be stocked up for future use. Even if after application the amount of the remaining mask is enough for another time or two, throw it away. The amount of nutrients and valuable substances will not remain the same until next time, and over time you will develop the skill of putting the required amount of ingredients at once.

How to apply hair masks

In principle, there is nothing difficult in applying masks to hair; there are only some nuances and tricks. Let's start with the fact that before you start distributing the mask over the dermis of the head and hair, be sure to check whether there are any allergies to the components. Just apply a small amount of the composition to the area behind the ear and wait 30-40 minutes. If after a while there is no negative reaction, you can safely use it.

A common mistake made by those who are just starting to make hair masks is to distribute the prepared mixture onto dirty hair, and while rinsing it off, at the same time rinse the curls with shampoo. No matter how much you would like to catch two birds with one stone, do not give in to the temptation to do so! The correct process of applying the mask should only be carried out on clean and dry hair. There are exceptions, but such nuances are always indicated in the recipe itself, and if this is not the case, then you need to work with washed and dried hair. By the way, there is a very clear explanation for this.

The hair is covered with small scales, on which and under which dirt, dust, grease and other dirty tricks accumulate throughout the day. If you apply a mask to all this, then, naturally, there simply cannot be any effect - the nutrients are simply not able to penetrate the hair. With wet strands the situation is somewhat different, but on a similar principle. Shampoo opens the hair scales to thoroughly wash away impurities, but water penetrates into the opened scales and fills the entire space. If you apply the mask to damp, albeit clean hair, the nutrients, again, will not be able to penetrate. Therefore, the ideal option is washed and dried hair.

You can distribute the composition over all your hair at once, or if, for example, the ends are more damaged, first apply the mask to the ends, wait a while, and then distribute the mixture over the remaining hair.

If included masks have oils, and your hair by nature belongs to fat type, then you should not apply the composition to the roots. Distribute the mask over all your hair, but step back 3-4 cm from the roots. In this case, the curls will receive nutrition, but will not quickly become greasy, stick together after washing and become heavier.

After applying the mask to the strands, your head must be insulated. You should wrap your head in a plastic bag or put on a shower cap, and then wrap yourself in a warm bath towel. This will create a bath effect and nutrients will penetrate inside the curls faster.

How to wash off hair masks

Hair masks, if they do not contain aggressive components, stay on the hair for a long time. As a rule, the longer, the better, but in order not to wear a “turban” for days, the average time for exposure to the mask is around 40-90 minutes. After this, the oil should be washed off from the hair.

The question is still relevant whether to use shampoo when washing off the mask, or to get by with water. And everything is simple here! If there are no oils in the composition, then there is no point in rinsing your hair with shampoo, since everything is easily removed with water and there is no point in over-drying your curls with detergent. If the mask includes oils, then you simply cannot do without shampoo.  Ideally, if the mask without oils is washed off with decoctions, this will only improve the result. But even after using shampoo, it is useful to rinse the strands with decoctions.

As for the water temperature, it should be close to body temperature, but there is one “but”. If the hair mask is egg-based (i.e. any mask that contains protein), you need to use cool water to rinse it off your hair. Otherwise, the protein will instantly curl up in the hair and combing it out later will be very problematic. Even if there is a yolk in the mask, it is still better to use cool water, since it is impossible to completely separate the yolk from the white and even a tiny part of it in the mask will still curl up in the hair when washed off.

Secrets of the effectiveness of hair masks

In fact, the secret to the effectiveness of masks lies in just two things - doing them correctly and choosing recipes solely based on your hair type. Everything that was written above just needs to be put into practice and then literally after a few sessions you will see a pleasant visible result! Be sure to do masks in courses, usually 15-20 procedures, 1-2 times a week, and don’t stop halfway, even if you’ve achieved what you wanted. Any result requires consolidation, otherwise it will quickly fade away.