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Whether it’s damage, dryness, dandruff, frizz, or color loss, we all deal with hair issues of some kind. While there are plenty of great treatment masks out there, there’s another option: a homemade hair mask. Put on your chef’s hat and head to the kitchen for everyday ingredients. You can make a homemade hair mask using simple pantry staples.
Our experts are all for DIY masks, but “as with anything DIY, you want to tread carefully,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. “You don’t want to get a ‘D’ for disaster!” She recommends turning to “reliable sources that are based on facts, not TikTok follower counts,” like the face masks we’ve listed below. “There are a lot of ingredients that can leave your hair dry and brittle and irritate your scalp, which is obviously something you want to avoid, but there are also some kitchen items that can help your scalp.”
Chiara Butler, an analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty, Health, and Sustainability Lab, agrees with Dr. Gohara, highlighting that coconut oil is a powerful food ingredient with hair-care benefits. “According to this study, coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft and prevent protein loss in hair when used before and after shampooing,” she says.
As for the overall effectiveness of homemade hair masks, Butler says, “They are not as effective as regular hair products in terms of cleansing, conditioning, or keeping hair manageable because they contain ingredients like cationic conditioning agents, which are very effective at smoothing hair and preventing frizz, and these ingredients are not found in any food products.”
“When incorporating homemade masks into your routine, start slowly,” advises Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York City. “In general, homemade masks can be used once or twice a week or even once a month, depending on your specific concern,” she says.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best homemade hair masks to help you tackle all your biggest problems, from scalp irritation to dull, damaged, and dry hair. You can have shiny, silky hair just by using a hair mask—and you don’t even have to leave your home.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize to help prevent split ends, frizz, and breakage. If your regular conditioner isn’t cutting it, opt for a strengthening overnight treatment with coconut oil. “It penetrates the hair shaft” to repair it, says Kyle White, a hair colorist at Brandi Salon in New York City.
Directions: Before bed, warm coconut oil in the microwave and massage into damp hair, avoiding the roots. (If desired, you can tie your hair into a bun and/or cover it with a shower cap or headband.) Wash your hair in the morning.
Hair damage can be caused by a variety of factors: overuse of styling products, coloring, chemical treatments, and more. Liana Zingarino, a hairstylist with Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in New York City, suggests using an avocado and olive oil hair mask to help mitigate this damage. “This treatment is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help add shine to your hair,” she says. The benefits don’t just extend to your hair: Joel Warren of The Salon Project salons in Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York City says an avocado mask can also “help rejuvenate and hydrate your scalp.”
Ingredients: half an avocado, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey and 3 drops essential oil.
How to use: Mix the ingredients together and apply to damp hair with your fingertips, working from the roots up. Warren suggests putting your hair in a bun and putting on a shower cap. To activate the ingredients, blow-dry your hair with the shower cap on for 10 minutes. Leave on for another 20 minutes, then shampoo.
Frizzy hair can be caused by damage, environmental factors, or a combination of both—some hair is naturally curlier. You can prevent frizz by coating and sealing the cuticle (outer layer) of your hair with an emollient like castor oil, which “acts as a protectant and helps strengthen strands,” says White. Castor oil comes from the seeds of the castor plant and “is primarily made up of ricinoleic fatty acid, which coats and conditions the hair, making it smoother,” explains Danusia Wnek, senior chemist at GH Beauty Labs.
Directions: Rub a small amount of castor oil between your palms, then apply a thin layer to dry hair in areas prone to frizz.
“Try a mixture of castor oil and rosemary oil—I love the combination of the two for hair growth,” says Marwa Bashir, a Nashville-based hairstylist and colorist and member of the R+COLOR collective.
Directions: Mix both ingredients and apply to dry hair as a scalp oil, massage in. Use a scalp massager to stimulate the scalp and open the hair cuticles, promoting growth.
Note: This hair mask has not been proven to be effective, and Beauty Labs recommends looking for an FDA-approved treatment like minoxidil to stimulate hair growth.
Curly hair is prone to dryness and damage, so it needs extra moisture. Dr. Garshick recommends using a hair mask containing rice water, “as rice water contains inositol, which helps repair damaged hair, thereby helping maintain curls.” The avocado in the mask provides an instant boost of nutrients.
Directions: Soak rice in water, then strain the rice grains from the water using a sieve. Mash the avocado and add to the rice water. Apply to hair and rinse after 20-25 minutes.
Colored hair always needs more moisture, especially bleached hair. “Be sure to use ingredients that won’t damage the color,” says Dr. Garshick. “This hair mask helps boost moisture levels without affecting the color.”
Protein products can help add volume to hair that’s naturally thin or has lost volume. “Make a banana protein shake with bananas and eggs, which are rich in amino acids,” says Audrey Davis-Sivasoti, a Houston-based trichologist and author of Hair Restore: The Complete Guide to Restoring and Rebuilding Hair. “The results are immediate and last until your next shampoo,” she adds.
Ingredients: 2 egg yolks, 2 ripe bananas, 2-3 tablespoons honey, 1/2 cup seasoning, 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Directions: Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Apply conditioner to hair and leave for 20-30 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
“If you find yourself with dandruff when the temperature drops, it could be because the high temperatures in your home are drying out your scalp,” says Paul Cucinello, celebrity stylist and owner of Cucinello Beauty. Your scalp is no exception. This exfoliant helps get rid of dandruff and (bonus!) also works as a great facial scrub. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint oil helps improve circulation to the scalp, and tea tree oil has antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unrefined raw coconut oil, 4 teaspoons unrefined sugar, 5 drops peppermint oil, 2 drops tea tree oil.
Directions: Mix ingredients in a small bowl. After showering, apply mixture to clean, damp hair with your fingers or a hair color brush in two-inch sections. Apply evenly and massage gently for 1-3 minutes, then secure hair with a clip to keep hair from falling out while you shower.
“If you suffer from a dry scalp, almond or coconut oil are key ingredients, as they both help maintain the strength and moisture of the skin barrier,” says Dr. Gohara. “People often mix mayonnaise with yogurt or honey, as they both have anti-inflammatory properties.” Bonus: Yogurt can also help control flyaways.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons almond butter (or coconut oil), 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon yogurt (or 1 teaspoon honey)
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and apply to scalp. Leave on for 15-30 minutes, then rinse.
Sada Salzman, a hairstylist at AKS Salon in New York City, says that if your hair tends to be oily, an egg mask can work wonders. Use only egg whites, which contain protein enzymes that help remove excess oil.
Directions: Apply from roots to ends and leave on for 30 minutes to an hour – the longer the better. Rinse with warm water, not hot!
It’s easy for a layer of buildup to accumulate between your hair care products and styling products. The buildup can cause your hair to look and feel greasy, flat, and even flaky, dandruff-like. Remove excess oil and impurities with this Baking Soda Power Cleaner from Davis-Sivasothy.
Directions: Mix shampoo and baking soda, stir thoroughly, then apply to damp hair. Gently massage the mixture into the scalp, leave for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Stephanie Brown, a master colorist at IGK Hair in New York City, says that keeping your hair hydrated and healthy will always help it look its best. When your hair starts to lose its shine, use an apple cider vinegar treatment to cleanse and smooth the outer layer of your hair, adding shine.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon raw honey, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil (if you have long or thick hair, adjust the amounts, but keep them the same)
Directions: Apply the mixture to damp hair, leave for at least 20 minutes, then rinse with shampoo. Suitable for all hair types and also helps to fix the color.
Green tea has many health benefits, but you can also add “scalp soothing” to it, says Saltzman. A toner that combines antioxidant green tea and peppermint oil can help soothe a dry, irritated scalp.
Revive dull locks with a protein-rich hair treatment made from oats, milk, and almond oil. Brown suggests applying hair care products to damp hair (rather than wet) for best results.
Directions: Mix the ingredients evenly. Apply the mask to your hair and leave for 20-40 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo.
“My favorite DIY hair mask contains three superfood oils to deeply repair hair that’s been bleached or has suffered from severe breakage,” says Richie Kandasamy, vice president of color development and a member of the R+COLOR Collective. Coconut oil can help your hair grow healthier, thicker, and longer, thanks to the vitamins and fatty acids that nourish the scalp. It also smooths the cuticle around split ends, controls frizz in humid weather, and helps eliminate breakage. Argan oil is a great moisturizer, thanks to its fatty acids and vitamin E, which help improve elasticity, reduce breakage, and add shine. Almond oil softens the hair follicles and also has anti-inflammatory properties. It has nourishing properties that lock in moisture, keeping your hair and scalp hydrated and preventing dryness and flaking.
Directions: Mix equal parts oil in a small bowl. Adjust the amount depending on the length and thickness of your hair. Apply the oil mixture to dry hair, allowing it to absorb as much of the product as possible. Gently massage your scalp and hair, starting from the scalp and working your way to the ends. Note: If you are worried that the mask may be too heavy for your hair, you can apply it to damp hair after washing. Leave the oil mixture on your hair for at least 15-20 minutes. Wash your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo to remove the oil. You may need to shampoo your hair twice to completely remove the oil.
For deeper conditioning, leave in overnight, cover with a shower cap and rinse thoroughly in the morning.
Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor, beauty, style, and wellness expert who served as the beauty and style director at Family Circle for 13 years before joining Good Housekeeping, Prevention, and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com, and HealthCentral.com.
Andrea Cheng is a New York-based fashion and beauty writer. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, Allure, Fashionista, and more. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @andrealeecheng.
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