I originally discovered this hair mask recipe when I was researching the practices of Kundalini yoga. It found its way into my life along with some other tried and tested complexion rituals that involve head stands, almond oil, and cold showers–but I’ll save those for another time. Don’t want to scare you off completely.
Regardless of which way you take your beauty regime, the below is a great elixir for that summer-holiday hair, which, in theory, should be free flowing and whipping in the wind, but in reality can often be closer in texture to a dry, brittle broom and damaged from the sun.
Just back from a trip up the Baja peninsula with my boyfriend, I made this recipe a few times over the weeks, when one too many surfs in the sea left it lacking in luster. It isn’t scientifically proven and the yogurt element may not be to everyone’s taste I know, but I like what it does, so hopefully you do, too.
Note: Like all good recipes this one is best done by feel rather than by a measuring cup. Adjust at your fancy.
Take oil (I like to use jojoba but almond oil works great here, too) and start by massaging it into the tips of your hair up to the roots.
Sit with your hair in the sun for 15 minutes, so it can warm up with the oil.
In a bowl, mix natural yogurt–best to pick one as close to whole-milk as possible–with a few healthy dashes of almond or jojoba oil, plus a scent of your choosing. I like to use lavender.
Layer the mask all over your hair, root to tip, and then cover your head with a towel.
Sit for an hour like this.
Wash it out with your normal shampoo and conditioner and let your hair dry naturally (rather than blow drying it). Give it a good brush with a high-quality bristle.
Presto! Heaven hair thanks to a little bit of dairy love.
Just as a heads up—the mixture feels kind of terrible in your hair for that hour under the towel. And if you are somewhere hot, it can also be prone to smelling not the best (hence the importance of a scented oil in the mix-up), but I think it is worth it. Afterwards, it feels as if someone has replaced your hair with yards of gold silk. Not bad for a bit of yogurt.
Stevie Dance is a New York-based stylist and the founder of ShopGhost.com.
