An Avocado Hair Treatment for Soft and Shiny Hair You Can Make at Home

Here is avocado hair mask recipe for soft and shiny hair. The omega-9 oils in avocado penetrate deeply into the hair shaft, improving its texture and appearance.

Other nutrients in avocado are also believed to have a positive effect on hair follicles with many reports of topical application of the fruit promoting hair growth.

There are four ingredients in this hair treatment – half a avocado (possibly a whole one for very long hair), a very ripe banana, a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil and a couple of drops of rosemary essential oil.

Realistically, any of these but the avocado could be skipped if you don’t have them. But all four together make a particularly powerful treatment.

Alongside the deep moisturizing and conditioning properties of avocado, the nutrients in bananas are said to be especially good for softening hair, improving its elasticity and preventing split ends. You do want it to be very ripe though and some people recommend slicing out the middle seeds. This might be especially important if you have curly hair where they could get caught in.

Extra virgin coconut oil is full of lauric and capric acid which have antimicrobial properties and may help minimize hair fall. Coconut oil is also extremely moisturizing and can help prevent dandruff as well.

Rosemary essential oil not only smells great, it is also believed to stimulate the hair follicles and promote growth. As with any essential oil, you only need a few drops and should never apply it directly to your hair without mixing it with a carrier oil or in a recipe like this first.

How to Make an Avocado Hair Mask

A good blender makes it easier to mix these ingredients up thoroughly. If you do mash them up in a bowl make sure they are really well mixed. 

I found it best to start with a tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil in the bottom of a large bowl. If you live in a very warm climate this may come from the container in liquid form. For the rest of us it will be solid but soft at room temperature.

Peel and add the ripe banana to the bowl and mash it up with a fork into the coconut oil until you have a soft and smooth consistency.

Next add your avocado and carefully pour just a few drops of rosemary oil over the top. Rosemary essential oil is potent and two or three drops is usually enough. Perhaps four or five for long hair using a full avocado but no more.

Once again mash up the mixture well until it is smooth and creamy and there are no clumps. 

Take the mixture to the bathroom and start by applying it to the roots of your hair in the center. You can use an old brush with wide bristles or a comb, but most people seem to find fingers the easiest. Having a towel around your shoulders can be a good idea for any drips.

Work from the crown of your head down one side then the other, concentrating on the roots and then down the length of the hair. Always be gentle and avoid pulling any tangled hair. Just apply the hair treatment and it will be easier to get out after you shower it off later.

Once you have smoothed the mask over your hair and massaged it in well you can cover it with a shower cap, or a towel you don’t mind washing, and leave it in for around half an hour.

After that time, have a shower and wash it out really well (take much longer than usual) under lukewarm but not hot water. Next shampoo your hair, ideally with a chemical free shampoo, and gently comb through the strands under the water to make sure the hair mask is all gone.

No conditioner is needed after using this avocado hair treatment and your hair should be looking, feeling and smelling great. Please let me know what you think if you try it.

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Photo 1 credit with thanks: Daniel Christensen
Photo 2 credit with thanks: GOC53