Beat Summer Hair Woes With These 7 DIY Masks

We spend a small fortune on our hair, but a few days in the sun can create a downhill spiral with all the sweat, salt, and sand. Help your hair survive summer with these 7 all-natural DIY hair masks.

First, some preventative measures: Make the switch to natural hair care products that are nourishing and don’t strip your hair’s natural oils. Then, protect your hair from the elements by wearing a hat.

And if you’re swimming in a pool, remember to wet your hair before diving in. This will help prevent pool chemicals from penetrating the cuticle, which can lead to the dreaded green hair.

Then aim for a weekly homemade hair treatment to address your hair issue: Dry? Frizzy? Split ends? Oily? Don’t worry—there’s a mask for that. For dry hair treatments, cover your hair with a shower cap to intensify the conditioning, and keep the mask on for about 30 minutes.

These simple DIY hair masks will keep your hair strong, shiny, and soft all summer long!

7 DIY Hair Masks for Summer

1. Clarifying Mask for Itchy Scalps

Salt and oil combine in a scalp scrub to stimulate hair growth and remove any dandruff or dry flakes without drying out the scalp. The olive oil conditions hair while the lemon juice dissolves product residue.

-2 tablespoons sea salt
-1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
-1–2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix salt, lemon juice, and oil together, then wet the hair and massage it into your scalp for several minutes. Rinse well and shampoo.

2. Moisturizing Mask for Split Ends

To keep your hair moisturized and healthy, up your intake of protein and healthy fats, brush gently with natural hair tools, and avoid hot styling tools when possible. Adding oil to the hair not only moisturizes, but it forms a layer that coats and protects it against environmental damage [source]. Apply this strengthening mask once a week to nourish and heal split ends.

-¼ cup whole-fat yogurt
-1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix the yogurt with olive oil and stir together. Apply to your hair and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes, then wash and rinse. 

3. Extra Conditioning Mask for Dry Hair

A honey hair mask is extra conditioning and super hydrating. Raw honey is naturally moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, as well as conducive to healing [source]. Hair is made of protein, and oils like avocado and almond have natural proteins that help strengthen the hair. Coconut oil, because it can penetrate the hair shaft, has been shown to reduce protein loss from hair [source]. 

-2 tablespoons oil (coconut, avocado, or almond)
-1 tablespoon organic raw honey

Combine the ingredients and heat the mixture in the microwave for a few seconds until warm enough to spread easily. Let it cool a bit. Massage the mixture into your scalp, then cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse well, and enjoy not just a soothed, flake-free scalp but gorgeously soft and shiny hair as a result.

4. Shine + Conditioning Mask for Damaged Hair

Coconut milk not only helps detangle unruly hair, but it also boosts moisture from scalp to ends. When combined with olive oil and the protein-packed egg, this mask will condition the hair and help to retain its shine.

-1 egg
-1 cup coconut milk
-1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Whisk 1 egg in a bowl and add coconut milk and extra-virgin olive oil; mix well. Pour some of the mixture over your scalp and massage, then pour the rest onto your hair, concentrating on the ends. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing and washing your hair thoroughly.

5. Growth Stimulating Mask for Thinning Hair

Green tea has more antioxidants than black tea due to its minimal processing, making it an ideal choice for hair stimulation. Similar to how they benefit the skin, the caffeine, antioxidants, and catechins found in green tea encourage blood flow and circulation to hair follicles, reduce inflammation, and help to protect hair from sun damage [source].

Incorporating green tea with oil into a hair rinse or mask weekly will stimulate growth for thinning hair and encourage healthier, shinier tresses.

-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-1 egg
-1 tablespoon matcha green tea powder

Whisk the egg and combine with the coconut oil and matcha powder. Using a comb, part your hair and apply to the roots, slowly working your way over the entire scalp. Leave on for 30 minutes before shampooing. This mask should be applied weekly to clean hair. 

6. pH Balancing Mask for Oily Hair

This mask is for hair that tends to get greasy fast. An apple cider vinegar rinse smoothes out the hair cuticle, creating lots of shine, and balances the pH of your scalp and hair. Lemon helps cut the grease and remove buildup.

-¼ cup raw, organic apple cider vinegar
-1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine the ingredients and apply the liquid to your scalp after shampooing. I find it easier to bend my head upside down and pour the liquid over it that way, so it doesn’t drip down my back. Work it through your damp hair, then put on a shower cap. Keep the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Do not apply conditioner.

7. Repairing Mask for Frizzy Hair

If your summer looks anything like mine, your hair is in a battle against chlorine, sun, and salt. It’s time to turn our attention to the frizz and get a handle on our locks!

-1 ripe banana
-1 tablespoon organic raw honey
-shower cap (optional)

In a blender, combine the banana and honey, blending until all the banana pieces are pureed, and you are left with a smooth mixture. Apply the mask to your hair, taking extra time to make sure you saturate the ends.

The shower cap is optional, but heat allows for extra penetration, and a shower cap is great for keeping the heat in. Wait 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

If your hair is suffering from summer sun and humidity check out these summer hair sprays to make sure you protect and nourish it during the hot months. 

This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.