#HairGoals are everywhere. In class staring at the back of that girl’s head (admit it, it’s ridicaluss), The Kardashians clogging up your Instagram feed with one hair growth supplement after another; “GIVE ME THAT” is all you can think about staring at Selena Gomez whip her hair for those Pantene commercials of hers. Well look no further my friend, here is the list for you.
1. Water
Yeah you can get it right out’cha faucet. Filter it, drink it, bop it, twist it, you get where I’m going. Staying hydrated is SUPER important for several reasons. Number one: you don’t end up in the hospital for fainting in the middle of Moonrise Kingdom at your local movie theater (totally mentioning for a friend!) and number two: drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your body overall. It gives you clear skin, energy, and super nice hair. You’re dehydrated? Well, my friend, so are your strands. On average a person should drink 67 percent of their body weight. Here’s a handy-dandy calculator just for you. Bottoms up!
2. Coconut oil.
Want a non-stick pan? Coconut oil. Wanna take off your makeup? Coconut oil. Want to put life back into that dry-as-your-ex’s-DMs hair you have coming out of your head? Coconut oil. (Wait, what?) When will we ever shut up about coconut oil?! It’s the new kale, so probably never.
There are several different oils you can use on your hair such as olive oil, castor oil, almond oil, Argan oil and fish oil. But beware the fish one smells like, well, fish. However, I prefer coconut oil because it has been said to be the best oil for penetrating the shaft (focus) of your hair follicle, meaning more hydration to the scalp! You can purchase it at almost any grocery store, or if you’re like me you can buy a giant 54 oz. tub of it for relatively cheap on Amazon.
3. DIY Hair Masks
Aw yeah, talk about gettin’ down and dirty. No, actually, this process can be pretty gross and messy, so I recommend not wearing that million-dollar Yeezy shirt you just got. I recommend hopping into your birthday suit or a smock for this. Here’s some of my go-to ingredients:
- An egg. Crack one of those suckers open because that’s protein straight to the strand. Your hair follicles are essentially made up of protein, so reinforce that with a little outside help.
- Uh-huh, Honey! Honey not only helps with moisturizing but also the smell is nice and it will help with the consistency of the mask so it’s not too runny. Don’t add too much because you want to focus on the other ingredients as well but you’ll thank me for this one.
- Any kind of oil mentioned above. I typically use a combination of coconut oil, castor oil and olive oil.
- Apple cider vinegar. This is for all my ladies (and my fellas) out there who suffer from a little dandruff now and again. Have no shame fam, dandruff is 100 percent natural and everybody has it. But this will help your scalp cut back if you feel it’s getting a little out of hand.
You can also throw other things in there if you want. Plain yogurt, milk, whatever else you feel comfortable throwing on your head. Work these recipes into your hair from tip to root, leave on for at least 30 minutes and then shampoo (twice, maybe) until water runs clear.
4. Scalp Massages
My momma always taught me, “if it’s free, it’s for me!” Scalp massages are the best because if you’ve got two hands, it’s free, you don’t owe anyone anything. Gently massage your scalp with your finger tips in circular motions for about four minutes. If you really want to commit, hang your head over the side of your bed and do this upside down, everyday. It’s called “the inversion method” and it helps stimulate blood flow to the scalp and help that hair of yours grow like that creepy Dora doll.
5. BEER
Uh, wait, what? That’s right, not only can you drink your beer (with a legitimate government issued ID, of course) but you can also soak your head in it! Nice! Beer that’s made from yeast, hop, and malt contain a lot of vitamin B, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, all important components to healthy hair. Beer is also said to increase volume and shine in your hair, just like it does for your confidence! (Kidding.) Incorporate your favorite brewski into the hair mask we talked about earlier or just rinse your hair with it. Make sure you follow up with a good shampoo unless you’re down to smell like a frat basement for a couple days. Yikes.
6. Lay off the heat.
Saved this one for last because don’t we always avoid the things we don’t want to hear? But seriously, stop crushing your hair between two hot plates. Straightening, curling, blow-drying, (crimping?), DESTROYS your hair. Take it from me, I used to straighten my already pin-straight hair every single day for three years straight. My hair never grew past my shoulders. When I finally stopped it grew around three inches within three months (usually your hair grows ½ inch a month on average). I now almost never straighten my hair and only blow-dry if I’m on my way to a job interview or a wedding. (Luckily I nailed down a job and none of my friends are engaged, yet.) Easily my biggest tip.
After all of this remember to be patient and that in the meantime your hair is still awesome no matter the length, thickness, or texture; you rock and your hair doesn’t define you.
