Browse Sections Home Home & Style Hair Care Hair Care Products Winter Hair Care Recipes: Secrets for Beautiful Hair

Though French women are renown for beautiful skin and chic fashion, American women have all the secrets to a full, shiny, healthy head of hair.


Using home hair care recipes to maintain healthy hair or to help dry, brittle hair is an alternative to expensive salon treatments. At a time when salons offer luxurious and advanced products, natural hair care recipes passed down from our ancestors nevertheless play a significant part in our appearance and well being.

American Hair Care Traditions

American women have set the trend in hair fashion for decades. Hair style icons such as Farrah Fawcett, Dorothy Hamill, Toni Tennille, and Jennifer Aniston have set hair fashion trends for years. Hair management can feel effortless when you're consistent in keeping it healthy. These natural hair care recipes will help you maintain your healthy hair and help treat mildly damaged hair. If you feel that you're hair is in need of intense treatment, the suggestions below for salon products/treatments may be a necessary measure to help heal severely damaged hair.

Natural Home Recipes to Treat Damaged Hair

The following home treatments are excellent natural methods to maintain healthy hair and to help relieve stressed hair brought on from day to day styling.

Treatments for Dry, Frizzy, and Brittle Hair

Ingredients

* Eggs
* Beer
* Avocado
* Olive Oil
* Coconut Oil

Method

* Avocado & Egg Mask – Before you begin treatments, brush hair thoroughly and wash hair with a gentle shampoo. Mix together 1/2 of a avocado (mashed) with one whole raw egg. Holding your head over the sink, apply mixture thoroughly through hair until completely saturated. Wrap hair with plastic wrap then apply a moistened towel around head (this keeps in heat). Let hair absorb mixture for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water until mixture is completely removed. Follow up with a beer rinse and/or a light conditioner to easily comb away tangles.
* Beer Rinse – This rinse can be given after the mask or given after any regular shampoo. Once hair is washed and/or treated with the mask, pour room temperature beer onto hair concentrating on the scalp area. Massage scalp and work beer through to the ends of the hair. Rinse thoroughly. Follow with a light conditioner to keep hair follicles smooth for easy combing while wet.
* Hot-oil Treatment Using Coconut Oil – This hot-oil treatment should be used once every two weeks. The coconut oil (Whole Foods organic brand in a jar) is very dense and thick and is superb in treating both dry and brittle hair. Melt about 2-3 tablespoons until very warm. For easy application, pour oil into a small cup or squirt bottle. Apply to hair until every strand is covered. Wrap hair in plastic wrap followed by a warm moist towel. Keep hair wrapped in plastic covered with moist towel and let oil treatment absorb into hair for 20 minutes. Rinse with very warm water. Use a light conditioner if necessary to remove tangles for easier combing.
* Hot-oil Treatment using Olive Oil – This hot-oil treatment should be used once a week to manage frizzy hair. It is also an excellent conditioning oil for normal to dry scalps that tend to dry out more during winter. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil until very warm. For easy application, pour oil into a small cup or squirt bottle. Apply to hair until every strand is covered. Wrap hair in plastic wrap followed by a warm moist towel. Keep hair wrapped in plastic covered with moist towel and let oil treatment absorb into hair for 20 minutes. Rinse with very warm water. Use a light conditioner if necessary to remove tangles for easier combing.


Salon Hair Treatment Products: Kérastase and Goldwell

There are hundreds of salon brand hair care products. Two of the top performing brands are listed below. These are rated sheerly by their superior ingredient quality and their consistent results of improved hair condition.

* KérastaseL'Oreal Paris – It's L'Oréal's premier brand found only in salons. This hair product line has formulas for every hair type. Each hair type has its own particular needs. Whether your hair is dry and frizzy, straight and limp, or your scalp is oily or flaky, Kérastase will have a formula that will Improve hair texture, suppleness, shine, strength, and overall health. Kérastase products are innovative, unique formulas designed for both men and women to enhance the natural beauty of the hair. Top salons will use Kérastase products in their salons and will stock products for purchase.
* Goldwell – This hair care line has a complete system of haircare products that ideally complement the Goldwell color system. Its shampoos, conditioners and styling products offer the utmost care for the hair, delivering fabulous results. All their products are formulated using the most innovative technologies to deliver predictable and vibrant results every time. The Goldwell Inner Effect "Luxury" line is the best formula of all their shampoos, conditioners, and deep treatments. Many top salons carry Goldwell for purchase.

Salon Treatments for Damaged Hair

If your hair suffers from extreme damage and stress, salon treatments may be necessary to rescue severely damaged hair. A few trips to the salon will be needed to get hair back into a healthier state.After your hair is revitalized, use the home treatments for dry hair on a regular basis to save hair from future damage There are several deluxe and cocktail treatments done in salons that give dramatic results in improving severely dry, damaged hair. Talk to your hair stylist for possible solutions. Below are a few professional hair treatments done exclusively in top salons:

* Huile d' ales – Pre-shampoo intense hydrating oil treatment - revitalizes and adds shine.
* Aqua-Oleum – For dry sensitized hair. A nourishing treatment leaves hair shiny, silky, light and smooth.
* Oleo-Fusion – For very dry, sensitized hair. A penetrating treatment leaves hair silky, shiny, and light.
* Nutridefense – For dry sensitized hair. A nourishing treatment leaves hair shiny, silky, light and smooth.
* Masquintense – For very dry, sensitized hair. A rich, penetrating treatment leaves hair conditioned and shiny.
* Vita-Ciment – For weak, damaged hair.
* Age Recharge – For devitalized, brittle hair. Formulated to counter hair’s first signs of age. combines Vita-Ciment and Morphofill, two ingredients renowned for their perfect affinity with the natural elements found within the internal and external structure of the hair fiber.

A Good Haircut

Your hair should be given a trim or cut on a regular basis. Hair movement and flow help make your hair look manageable and healthy.

* Sharp scissors – It may seem obvious, but top salons use top notch, well-sharpened scissors. The talent of a hair stylist is pointless if his or her scissors are dull.
* A manageable hair style – Trendy hairstyles look great when you can manage them with regular trimmings; however, the hair cut and its maintenance needs to fit your life style.

A Healthy Diet for Lustrous, Strong Hair

Treating yourself internally is just as important as it is externally to have beautiful hair and skin. Nourishing yourself by eating plenty of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids is another element to healthy hair. Additionally, foods rich in keratin, protein, and vitamins A, B (B-complex), and C are important in maintaining supple, vibrant hair.

* Salmon – Benefits for hair: Vitamins A, B's, C, and protein
* Eggs – Benefits for hair: Vitamins A, B's, D, E, K, and protein
* Chicken – Benefits for hair: Vitamins A, C, and protein
* Leafy Greens – Benefits for hair: Vitamins A, B's, C, D, E, K