Banana Smoothie Hair Mask

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For all of the women who are concerned with their naturally curly or transitioning locks drying out or getting damaged, this hair mask might put those concerns to rest. The Banana Smoothie Hair Mask is said to help moisturize and strengthen hair with natural ingredients that can be found at home.

Ingredients

•       1 mashed banana
•       1 egg
•       3 tablespoons of honey
•       3 tablespoons of milk
•       5 tablespoons of olive oil

 Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl or blend in a blender until a smooth, paste-like consistency forms. Next, apply to hair from the roots to the ends. Then, comb through with a wide-toothed comb and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes depending on how dry or damaged the hair is. Finally, wash and condition hair as normal.

What benefits do these natural ingredients have on the hair? According to Mary Beth Janssen, author of Naturally healthy hair: herbal treatments and daily care for fabulous hair; eggs and milk are rich in protein, which will make the hair stronger, smooth and thicker. Bananas are rich in potassium and natural oils, which can help make the hair soft. Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it attracts and holds on to water molecules, making it very good at moisturizing hair. Finally, olive oil can aid in preventing dandruff and adds weight, moisture and shine to hair.

I tried the Banana Smoothie Hair Mask on my sister’s hair (I wasn’t brave enough to try it on my own) and it actually worked nicely. The mask left her hair shiny, soft and bouncy after it was washed out. I would definitely recommend this homemade technique for anyone looking to add a little moisture and shine to dry and damaged hair.  The ingredients weren’t costly and they’re easy to find at the local grocery store.

Product Reviews

When transitioning from relaxed to natural hair, the sea of hair product choices can be a bit overwhelming. To get through the transitioning phase of the natural hair journey, three things are needed: a good shampoo, a good leave-in conditioner, and a good moisturizer. Here is a review of a product that I frequently use.

Shampoo

Kinky Curly Come Clean

Pros

• Sulfate free! Sulfate in shampoos tend to dry the hair out according to Lorraine Massey, author of CurlyGirl: The Handbook.
• Leaves hair squeaky clean
•  Contains natural ingredients including mandarin orange extract and sea kelp

 Cons

•  Has a weird scent. Instead of the light fruity scent that was expected from the mandarin orange extract, the shampoo sort of smells like a bottle of bubbles.

 Conditioner/Detangler

Kinky Curly Knot Today

Pros

• Leaves hair soft and shiny
• Has a nice fruity scent
• Uses all organic ingredients
• Detangled hair nicely and easily

 Cons

• If not applied to soaking wet hair the conditioner may leave the hair gunky and unpleasant feeling.

Although really good at what they do, Kinky Curly line of products can be a little on the expensive side. The shampoo and conditioner are $12 each for small 8oz bottles that will mostly likely last about three or four weeks if the hair is washed every week.

 Moisturizer

Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer

Pros

•         Smells extremely good
•         This product also uses organic ingredients
•          Contains olive oil, which helps make hair nice and shiny
•          Leaves hair soft and defines curls

 Cons

• If too much is applied to the hair it may start to feel sticky

This product is an awesome moisturizer, but it’s best to use it in small amounts because it’s rather thick and weighted.  The moisturizer costs about $6.95 per 8.25oz jar, and usually lasts about a month or two even if it is used daily.