hair mask

intensive (customizable) hair oil treatment… that’s not with coconut oil

i don’t outright have anything against coconut oil, even though we broke up, but i’ve found that other oils are just better suited for hair and skin.

in this instance, while i still absolutely champion unrefined coconut oil as a great overnight hair treatment, i have one that’s even better.

this recipe can be altered to suit your needs and budget, so i’ll provide a few options. you can of course still revise it to be more what you want. if you have your own recipe, please share it below!

the original formulation i made for this potent overnight hair treatment contains 4 oils, one of which i’ve sang praises for for years.

cof

and as with most of my favorite DIYs, this can be used as a post-shower body oil. if you have mature skin that’s not sensitive and acne-prone, leave out the ungurahua oil and it’d miraculous on fine lines and complexion.

today we’ll focus on hair benefits, but please explore skin benefits, too. researching and learning is the best part! well, other than playing with formulas! 🙂

you’ll want all of these oils to be unrefined. if you can also find wildcrafted, that would awesome.

two of the four oils don’t have the best smell, so you may want to blend in a few drops of some EOs… lavender, rosemary, etc.

UNGURAHUA OIL

properties:
- rich in omega-9
- wide range of hair uses, including healing scalp issues, taming frizz and curls, intensive moisturizing, helping with hair loss and growth, and boosting shine
consistency
- medium viscosity
smell:
- very earthy and a tad horse-barn-y. it dominates the blend.

PEQUI OIL

properties:
- higher in vitamin C than oranges
- high content of carotenoids, B1, B2, zinc, potassium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and calcium
- combats dryness, scaling, and psoriasis
- excellent on hair after heat and chemical damage
consistency:
- light viscosity at room temperature and very dense/paste-like in cooler temperatures
smell:
- dusty orangey nuts

CAIAUE OIL

properties:
- rich in beta-carotene
- stimulates and regenerates follicles
- alleviates scalp issues, like dryness, itchy scalp, dandruff, and hair loss
consistency:
- medium viscosity at room temperature and paste-like in cooler temperatures
smell:
- a little smokey

GUAVA SEED OIL

properties:
- rich in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and sulfur
- rich in vitamins A, B, and C
- helps prevent hair loss and boosts shine and luster
- helps soothe dandruff
consistency:
- very thick like castor oil at room temperature, and semi-solid at cooler temperatures
smell:
- very faint scent of maybe an overripe guava fruit

i keep mine in a 100 mL / 3.4 fl oz glass dropper bottle, and put a label on it for 3.3 fl ounces, so i can take it through airport security as a carry-on. i think a dropper bottle for this DIY is better than the pump bottle option, because you can drop it directly onto your scalp. totally personal preference.

below are variations you can try, sorted by purpose and price tag. each oil runs about $25 for 4 ounces.

for each one, use a few drops on damp hair a few times a week, and/or apply to damp hair generously as a mask, wrap in a plastic bag and then a towel, and leave in overnight. wash out gently, conditioner seems to work best, when you wake up.

please note that if you have very damaged, porous hair, and/or fine hair that gets weighed down easily, you may want to just use these sparingly or be ready to need a second wash to get them out.

feel free to mix and match your own!

ideal formula ($$$$) – pictured above; what i use

pour 0.75 ounces of each oil into the jar and shake
cost: ~$100 up front and makes 5 bottles of 100 mL/3.4 fl oz hair serum

formula suited more for chemically and heat damaged hair ($$)

2 ounces pequi
1 ounce ungurahua oil

formula suited more for solving scalp issues ($$)
ex: dandruff, hair loss, itchy scalp, psoriasis

1.5 ounces caiaue (ojon) oil
1.5 ounces pequi oil

formula suited more for stimulating hair growth ($$)

1.5 ounces caiaue (ojon) oil
1.5 ounces guava seed oil

formula suited more for shine and luster ($)

3 ounces guava seed oil

formula suited more for softness, frizz control, and defining curls ($)

3 ounces ungurahua oil (won’t smell pretty)

IF YOU ONLY HAVE MONEY FOR ONE OIL:

all-around kick-butt hair oil in all categories – ungurahua oil
very curly and/or very damaged hair – pequi oil
- doubles as body oil
- triples as a face oil for mature skin (high in oleic acid and should be avoided by sensitive and acne-prone skin)
hair growth – caiaue oil

have you tried any of these? please share your experiences and own formulations with our community below!

XO, ALEXRAYE

hair smoothies

doesn’t that just sound fantastic?! luckily, they leave your hair feeling and looking as fantastic as they sound like they do!

today is officially SPRING! and with that comes warmer weather, brighter colors, and cooler drinks! and now – your hair can join in the fun!

hair smoothies can be thick or runny, made with vegetables or fruits… but they’re all 100% edible!

so go ahead –

BONUS – they can go on your face, too!

all of these smoothies use pure aloe vera gel as a base. the aloe is scalp-soothing, adds a nice punch of moisture and shine, as well as helps chunks of fruits/veggies be less likely to get stuck in your hair (especially with fine or curly hair).

here are all of my yummy favorites! all of these hair smoothies are targeted towards moisture first and foremost, and then shine/softness/clarity.

these hair smoothies are great for weekly use!

Continue reading hair smoothies

coconut oil hair mask removal – no-poo friendly!

crunchy confession: i have deeply missed my coconut oil masks. being a water-only washer, they were completely out of the question. even though i might not ‘need’ them because my hair gets conditioned with natural scalp oils, i really missed them. i think it’s really soothing to massage oil all over your scalp and have your hair smell like real coconuts 🙂

crunchy ideas: i decided to tie my sections of my hair into different ponytails and try to wash the coconut oil out without a low-poo or castile soap. was i nervous? who me?? pshh.. yes. but maybe that was because i decided to do this at 10pm the night before i had to be in the office. not smart on my part, my friends. not smart.

so what did i use? why? what happened?

well… let’s just say i have a no-poo friendly way of washing out coconut oil hair masks. crunchies REJOICE! .

all-natural coconut oil mask remover - no shampoo & no conditioner!

Continue reading coconut oil hair mask removal – no-poo friendly!

coconut oil hair mask

2021 edit: i no longer subscribe to or support the “all-natural” label. more here.

since i’m no-‘poo, my hair can get dry easily if i don’t remember to put argan oil on after i wash it. also, winter is NOT friendly to hair. at all. here’s a simple and AMAZING way to get super, SUPER shiny and soft hair.

coconut oil hair mask

and the best part? it’s organic/natural and only one ingredient! coconut oil. such a miracle oil! i’m obsessed with it, seriously.

WHAT YOU NEED

2-5 tablespoons of coconut oil (depending on the thickness, length and dryness of your hair)
comb
plastic wrap/shower cap/soft t-shirt

1. melt a few tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave (i used 3 tablespoons and microwaved it for 20 second intervals, stirring between. adjust amount of oil according to your hair’s thickness, length and dryness) (**i melt mine in the microwave because i use so much. i realize it melts when you touch it. it’s just easier for me than continuously melting chunks in my hands:) )

2*. let it cool down some if you chose to microwave it!

3. apply that messy oil! …depending on what you’re using this for, you may only want to put it on the ends of your hair or everywhere but your scalp, orrrr ALLLLLL over (i did all over this time. it’s messier, but my hair feels and looks incredible. try it!

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4. gently comb/brush your hair to evenly distribute the oil all over your hair

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5. wrap your hair up in a shower cap/plastic wrap and leave it in 45-60 minutes OR leave it in overnight. you can put put your hair in a braid or bun then wrap it in a soft t-shirt and sleep in it (i highly suggest this way! it maximizes your results)

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6. when time’s up, take your hair down and wash, wash, wash. it took me three washes (but i don’t use store-bought shampoo) to get all the oil out. with regular shampoo, twice should do it.

7.*condition your hair after you wash it if you want, but i’m tellin ya, you won’t need it 🙂

repeat this mask every one to two weeks

VOILA, happy, healthy hair!! look at the shine! i wish you could feel how soft it is.

coco hair

IMPORTANT>> no-‘poo-ers: the baking soda/ACV routine will NOT take coconut oil out of your hair! please don’t even try. you can use this mask and take it out with a castile soap (i use dr. bronner’s, diluted half and half with distilled water.. followed by an acv rinse) OR grab a low-poo and wash it out. the low-poo will be MUCH gentler on your hair, and wont’t require an ACV rinse after. try to go that route if you can.
also, instead of doing a full-on CO mask, you can do a quick conditioner after you wash with 1/2 teaspoon melted coconut oil mixed in a cup of warm, distilled water. just put that on the ends of your hair after you shower, then rinse 🙂 you can also try wetting your hair before you apply the mask next time. this will help tremendously in getting it back out!
if you’re sitting with oil in your hair and no alternatives, and if you’re okay with using a shampoo this ONE time to get it out, use a cheap shampoo (think $1 shampoos) and completely keep it away from your scalp. make sure NONE of the ingredients end in -xane, -zane, -cone, or -conol, as these will coat your hair in silicones and you’ll have to start the no-‘poo process all over again. no one wants to do that again!

ps – there are no-‘poo friendly ways to deep condition! check them out here!

and to everyone else (shampoo users…): if you’re still having trouble getting it out, either wet your hair before you do this mask OR switch to a lighter oil like jojoba or apricot kernel.

i get asked this a LOT, so here’s the deal: UNREFINED vs REFINED COCONUT OIL:

refined CO has been through bleaching & high heat processes and also can sometimes have lye added to it or be hydrogenated, making it a trans fat. while it might make your hair feel softer, you’re not actually giving your hair anywhere the same benefits you would from unrefined. & you definitely do NOT want to eat that one!
unrefined is the purest form with the most health benefits (and the kind that can be eaten!). your hair will thank you!

i think this about covers it all 🙂