Summer Hair Week

Real Simple Managing Editor Kristin van Ogtrop shares quick fixes for your hair using things you already may have in your home!

Treatments
1. Cleanse: Saturate hair with a mixture of equal parts witch hazel and mouthwash, massaging it onto the scalp with your fingertips. This natural astringent and antiseptic gets rid of flakes and product buildup to promote healthier hair growth.

Ingredients:
> Bowl
> Witch hazel
> Mouthwash

Instructions:
> Mix equal parts witch hazel and mouthwash in bowl.
> Massage onto scalp with fingertips for three—five minutes.
> Rinse with tap water.
> Shampoo and condition according to schedule.

2. Condition: In a small bowl, combine one avocado, 2 tablespoons each of olive oil, water, and whipped heavy cream. Comb on hair from roots to ends. Clip up hair and cover with shower cap (the heat from your scalp helps to activate the mixture). After 20 minutes, remove the treatment using tepid water, wash hair with gentle sulfate-free shampoo.

Ingredients:
   > Bowl
   > Hair dye paint brush
   > Comb
   > Shower Cap
   > Hair Clips
   > 1 avocado
   > 2 tablespoons regular olive oil
   > 2 tablespoons tap water
   > 2 tablespoons whipped heavy cream

Instructions:
   > Combine avocado, olive oil, water, and whipped heavy cream in a bowl.
   > Mix gently, so that all ingredients mesh together.
   > Comb on hair from roots (maybe use the dye paint brush for this) to tips.
   > Clip hair up with hair clip and cover with a heavy-duty shower cap.
   > Let sit 20 minutes.
> Rinse homemade conditioner out with gentle, sulfate-free shampoo in the shower. [SULFATES (SLES OR SLS) ARE WHAT CREATE THE BUBBLY LATHER IN SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONERS. THE SULFATES ARE ACTUALLY CHEMICALS THAT MAY IRRITATE THE SKIN AND EYES, CAN DRY OUT THE HAIR FOLICLES, AND CAN EVEN LEAD TO HAIR LOSS. SULFATE-FREE HAIRCARE IS MILDER AND EASIER ON THE SCALP, HAIR FOLLICLES, SKIN, AND EYES].
   > Style as usual.

3. Masque: Mix ½ banana, small yogurt, and 2 oz. water. Mix to form a paste-like consistency. Apply to hair. The proteins and amino acids found in all ingredients will add a boost of strength to your hair, and also turn your bathroom into an at-home aromatherapy spa. (Recipe is courtesy celebrity hairstylist, CHRISTO)

Ingredients:
> ½ fresh banana
> One breakfast-sized container of full-fat, plain yogurt.
> Tap water

Instructions:
> Mix banana, yogurt, and 2 oz. water in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
> Apply to hair.
> Let masque seep into hair follicles for 15—20 minutes per hair length.
> Finish by rinsing with gentle, sulfate-free shampoo in the shower.
> Condition as necessary.

4. Spray-on shine: Shampoo and condition as normal. Pour cool beer into a spray bottle, and use as pre-blow drying/heat-defense spray. Acting as a wonderful setting lotion, the protein, vitamin-B -rich malt, and natural sugars give blown dried hair increased vitality, resilience, shine, and hold.  

Ingredients:
> Six pack bottle of beer (any brand)
> Spray bottle

Instructions:
> Shampoo and condition hair as normal.
> Pour cool beer into spray bottle.
> Spritz onto hair from roots to tips.
> Blow dry and style as usual. The beer serves as a heat defense mechanism and makes hair shiny and malleable.

5. Tone: *Each tone treatment is not to be used in place of permanent hair color. The color you get when applying each tone will last up to one or two days.

1. If you’re a natural redhead: spruce up your color by washing your locks in Cherry Kool-Aid.

 Ingredients:
> 1 packet unsweetened Cherry Kool-Aid (use up to three packets per rinse to intensify the shade of your hair)
> Tap Water
> Petroleum Jelly
> Hair conditioner
> Latex gloves
> Hair clip
> Heavy-duty shower cap