Posted on October 6, 2009 - by Leslie Billera

Hairway to Heaven: Two DIY Recipes

Your hair is the accessory you wear every day. So treat it right.

Forget pricey concoctions that contain chemical-laden fragrance, irritant-inducing parabens and endocrine disrupting octoxynol-9. Opt instead for ingredients you may already have in your kitchen cabinet.

Extra-virgin olive oil is very similar in composition to our sebum, which is our body’s natural oil. It absorbs readily, locking in moisture, and is especially effective for dry skin or hair. Plus, it’s rich in antioxidants.

Here are two DIY recipes: one is super quick, and the other a bit more complex. Use a combination of both and discover the power of your luxurious green locks!

Quick Hot Oil Treatment for Dry Hair

1. Put one-half cup of extra-virgin olive oil in a glass jar.

2. Run the closed jar under hot water for 30-60 seconds to heat the oil.

3. Open the jar and place a little olive oil on your palms and fingers

4. Massage gently through dry hair, paying special attention to your ends and any bristle portions.

5. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or wear a shower cap for 15-30 minutes (or overnight for a more intense treatment)

6. Rinse out thoroughly in the shower with a gentle shampoo

Source: style, naturally, by Summer Rayne Oakes

Hair Butter Mask

Use daily before shampooing for maximum results. The below will last for one week of daily treatments.

3 tablespoons organic virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons avocado oil

2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour

1 teaspoon organic spirulina extract

10,000 IU vitamin E

2 drops lavender essential oil

2 drops bergamot essential oil

2 drops chamomile essential oil

1. Blend all ingredients in a small bowl, making sure the essential oils spread evenly.

2. Massage one tablespoon of the treatment into wet hair and scalp, concentrating on split ends and areas of itchiness. Leave on for ten minutes for intensive conditioning.

3. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo as usual.

Source: The Green Beauty Guide, by Julie Gabriel

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Jargon Alert:Extra Virgin Olive Oil

When olive oil is extra virgin, it means that the olives are only pressed once, oleic acid (a monostaturated fatty acid) content is under .8%, and there are no defects found in the taste of the oil.

Learn more about olive oil from our sister company St. Helena Olive Oil Co.