9 DIY Hair Masks to Hydrate and Strengthen Your Hair
Growing up near the ocean with curly hair, I quickly learned to rely on DIY hair masks and homemade treatments to keep my hair healthy, hydrated and moisturized. My mom and grandma, who grew up using organic, natural ingredients for strong, healthy hair, taught me to trust everyday ingredients for great hair care.
Despite our different hair types—my mom's hair is fine and blonde, while mine is black and curly—homemade hair masks have always worked far better for us than anything from the salon or drugstore. DIY hair masks helped repair, nourish, and revitalize our hair, proving time and again that nature provides the best care.
Even today, when there are amazing deep conditioners, hair oils, and masks, nothing compares to getting the ingredients yourself and preparing your own DIY hair masks. You have full control over the ingredients! You can perfectly tailor the mask to your hair needs, whether you're battling dryness, frizz, breakage, or just looking for extra shine, and make sure that no chemical ingredients go on it.
I genuinely believe that DIY hair masks are the best way to achieve your hair goals!
Today, I'm sharing some of the best DIY hair masks for growth, shine, healthy hair, and more. But before we share our 9 favorite recipes, let's go over when to use a DIY hair mask, how to apply it, and what to do before and after for the best results.
When Should I Use a DIY Hair Mask?
When and how often you should use your homemade hair masks depends on your hair type, daily routine, and how much moisture or repair your hair needs.
As a child, my mom applied a DIY hair mask to my hair every weekend. But during my teenage years and early 20s, I prioritized trends over hair health—excessive heat styling and chemical treatments left my hair in less-than-ideal condition by my late 20s.
Now, I use hair masks and deep conditioning treatments every 10 days in the winter and once a week in the summer, especially when I spend a lot of time at the beach. I also switch between masks based on the season and my specific hair goals. During warmer months, I focus on deep hydration, and I use a homemade hair mask for dry hair, while in winter, I use masks that promote strength, shine, and healthy growth.
If you have fine or oily hair, applying a mask once every 10 days or even every other week may be best.
If you have chemically treated, dry or damaged hair, incorporating a rich, nourishing hair mask twice a week can help restore strength and hydration.
One thing to keep in mind—DIY hair masks can be time-consuming to prepare and apply, but the more consistently you use them, the better the results!
Here are some general guidelines for different hair types and goals:
If you have damaged or dry hair, apply a homemade hair mask for dry hair twice a week or every time you wash your hair to hydrate, repair split ends, and condition.
If you have oily hair, apply a homemade hair mask for greasy hair once a week to control oil production without stripping moisture. Use strengthening masks once a month.
If you want to grow your hair stronger and healthier, use a DIY hair mask for hair growth once every 10 days to maintain strength, vibrancy, and overall health.
Should I Apply my DIY Hair Mask from My Scalp to My Ends?
I do! I start at the ends and work my way up to my scalp.
You can apply a hair mask all over your hair—including the scalp—or focus only on the mid-lengths to ends, depending on your needs.
What Should I Do After Applying a Homemade Hair Mask?
After applying a hair mask, gently massage your scalp for a few minutes while tilting your head down. Cuban grandmothers swear by this! Cover your hair with a shower cap and a warm towel, and let the mask do its magic for at least 20 minutes.
Rinse off using cool or slightly warm water to remove the mask. Follow up with a mild sulfate-free shampoo to wash away any residue, if needed, though I personally skip this step. Instead, I shampoo before applying the mask and rinse afterward to allow my hair to absorb the mask's nutrients. Once you shampoo, don't forget to finish with conditioner to lock in moisture.
9 of the Best DIY Hair Mask Recipes that actually work
These are some of the best homemade hair masks I have tried! They are easy to prepare—mix the ingredients in a glass bowl or blend them in a food processor or blender for a smooth, effective treatment.
Avocado, Egg, Honey, Olive Oil & Vitamin E DIY deep conditioning hair mask
Everyone should try this hair mask at least once—it might just become a staple in your hair care routine! This homemade deep conditioning treatment has been passed down through generations. Growing up, my mom would apply it to my hair every Saturday afternoon. She got the recipe from one of her best friends, who used a similar version.
It was the first DIY hair mask recipe I learned, and today, it's still the one I use weekly.
It's packed with the perfect mix of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and humectants to condition, improve elasticity, and protect against breakage. Plus, it's quick and easy to make!
1 avocado
1 egg
2 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 capsule of vitamin E oil
Put honey, olive oil, and oil from a broken-open vitamin E capsule (you can also add an omega-3 capsule if you have one) in a blender. Add the smashed avocado and the whisked egg. Blend it all together until you get a smooth paste. Wash your hair, apply this DIY hair mask, and massage gently. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly.
Cooked Rice, Rice Water, Coconut Milk & Honey Homemade Hair Mask for Healthy Hair
Rice is a staple food in many cultures and has long been used in hair care across Asian, Caribbean, and African communities. For decades, people have relied on rice water to strengthen hair, boost shine, and promote healthier growth.
In Havana, some of my friends would use rice water as a final rinse every time they washed their hair, while others swore by fermented rice water in the summer to repair damage from the sun and saltwater. Inspired by these traditions, this homemade hair mask is designed to nourish, fortify, and deeply moisturize your hair.
1 cup of cooked rice
1 cup of rice water
½ cup of coconut milk
1 tablespoon of honey
Make fresh coconut milk: Cut half of a small coconut into pieces and blend them in a food processor until a paste forms. Add a little water if needed to achieve a smoother consistency. Strain the paste through a thin fabric to extract the milk. (For convenience, you can also use store-bought coconut milk.)
Prepare rice water: Rinse one cup of rice with cool water several times, then soak it in two cups of water overnight. The next day, strain out the rice and store the water in a glass container.
Combine ingredients: Mix the rice water with the coconut milk, then blend in small pieces of honeycomb or mix with regular honey until well combined.
OR
Cook the cup of rice instead of soaking it overnight. Blend the cooked rice with one cup of store-bought coconut milk and 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply the mixture evenly to your hair, massaging it into your scalp and ends. Leave it on for at least 15-20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with cool water.
Rosemary, Green Tea, Apple & Apple Cider Vinegar DIY Hair Mask for Oily Hair
A simpler version of this mask was my grandmother's go-to treatment since the 1940s. She used a blend of white vinegar, rosemary leaves, and aloe vera to naturally cleanse and balance her hair. This DIY hair mask for oily hair/ homemade shampoo kept her long, pin-straight black hair healthy and vibrant.
Our modernized version builds on her original recipe, incorporating extra ingredients to help control excess oil and grease, stimulate hair growth, and nourish the scalp while preventing buildup. But if you prefer a more minimalist approach, my grandmother's original recipe is just as effective!
4 rosemary sprigs
1 tablespoon of mint leaves
1 large apple (or 2 small ones) – can be substituted with 4-5 cubes of aloe vera
½ to 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
Take the rosemary sprigs and mint leaves and crush them until finely ground. Transfer them to an airtight glass jar, add the apple cider vinegar, and stir well. Let the mixture sit in a warm, dark place overnight. The next day, strain out any leaves or particles.
Cut the apples into cubes, add them to the blender, and blend them with the rosemary and mint-infused vinegar. If using aloe vera instead of apple, take the aloe leaf and cut the prickles off. Cut the leaf into pieces and remove the skin. Blend the inside part with the vinegar. Once ready, massage the mask evenly onto your hair and scalp.
For dry hair: Modify this mask by swapping apple cider vinegar for olive oil and replacing the apple with a rich natural butter like cocoa butter, mango butter, or shea butter.
Almond Oil, Aloe Vera, Agave Nectar, & Shea Butter homemade hair mask for damaged hair
This is one of the best DIY hair masks for damaged hair. It's a great option for those with bleached and chemically treated hair. It has excellent hydrating and revitalizing properties and is my go-to recipe for sleek, bouncy locks!
Combining almond oil with aloe vera and agave nectar will tame frizz and revitalize your hair, giving it the shine and bounce of a fresh cut. The shea butter will deeply hydrate your hair. I love using all kinds of natural butter in my DIY recipes as they leave the hair super soft and smooth throughout!
2 tablespoons of almond oil
⅓ cup of fresh aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon of agave nectar
3 tablespoons of shea butter
Take the almond oil, aloe vera gel, agave nectar, and shea butter and mix them together in a glass container until it becomes a paste. Apply the mix evenly throughout your hair. For directions on how to get the aloe vera gel, follow the steps in the recipe above.
Chia Seeds, Almond Milk, Olive Oil & Honey DIY hair mask for dry hair
Just because chia seeds aren’t a widely popular natural hair treatment yet doesn’t mean they’re any less effective—they’re actually one of my favorite ingredients!
Growing up, I used a simpler version with vitamin E capsules, cow's milk, sunflower oil, and honey.
I've recently updated it by swapping in chia seeds for their omega-3s and vitamin E and replacing sunflower oil with olive oil, a more nourishing option for both hair and skin.
1 cup of chia seeds
2 cups of almond milk
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of honey
To make chia seed pudding with almond milk, add a cup of chia seeds and two cups of almond milk in a blender jar. Stir the seeds and let them rest until they form a pudding-like consistency.
Pulse the mixture intermittently for 2-4 minutes to get the gel out of the seeds. Strain the mixture to remove the seeds. Add olive oil and honey to the gel and mix well. Apply from scalp to ends.
Ginger, Baking Soda, and Yogurt DIY Hair Mask to Combat Dandruff
Are you looking for natural remedies to combat dandruff, scalp sensitivity and itchiness? This hair mask is for you! The ginger has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The baking soda works as a gentle exfoliator while the yogurt adds protein, and the jojoba oil prevents split ends and breakage.
1 tablespoon of grated ginger
2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
1 small cup of plain or greek yogurt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
With a cheese grater, grate the ginger on the smallest side. Once grated, with an ultra-fine fabric mesh strainer strain the grated ginger to extract the juice. Mix the ginger juice with jojoba oil, plain yogurt, and baking soda. Combine all ingredients together in a small glass container. Damp your hair and apply the mask evenly.
Banana, Avocado, and Almond Oil DIY Hair Mask for Frizzy Hair
For anyone with frizzy, hard-to-manage hair (like me!), bananas are a game-changing ingredient for DIY hair masks. My friends with wavy, frizzy hair who have tried this mask also swear by it.
Use this DIY hair mask at home before a blowout to combat humidity and frizz. It will help your style last longer and you’ll save money by skipping expensive salon hydrating treatments.
1 ripe banana
1 ripe avocado
½ cup of almond oil
Put the banana and the avocado in a blender jar and add the almond oil. Blend for a few minutes until you see a homogenous paste. Wash your hair, apply this DIY mask, massage gently, and let it penetrate your hair before rinsing off.
Egg, Coconut Oil, Honey, Cocoa Butter & Turmeric Hair Mask
Cocoa butter is widely popular for its natural hydrating properties in the Caribbean. Using it in any recipe immediately brings back memories of moms, aunts, and grandmothers.
1 egg
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
2 teaspoon of turmeric
1 tablespoon of cocoa butter
2 tablespoons of honey
Note: If you are prone to dandruff and itchy scalp, use only the egg whites. If you have dry, damaged hair, use both the yolk and the egg white.
Take an egg, and crack the shell into two. Move the yolk to one shell and let the egg white drip out into a bowl. Add two tablespoons of melted coconut oil, 2 teaspoons of turmeric, cocoa butter, and honey, and whisk it all together. Apply the mask to your hair, mainly on the scalp.
Garlic, Rosemary, Cloves, Coconut Oil & Avocado Oil DIY Hair Mask for growth
Garl ic is one of my mom's favorite ingredients. It's commonly used in Cuba as a nail strengthening, but my mom has always mixed it into her wellness routine. She uses it in her homemade hair treatments, skincare routine, and hair drops. Garlic stimulates hair follicles, and when paired with rosemary, cloves and avocado oil, it moisturizes and strengthens your hair.
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1- 2 teaspoons of pulverized cloves
5 rosemary sprigs
¼ cup of avocado oil
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
Tip: To pulverize the cloves, add 1 to 2 teaspoons in your mortar. Move your pestle in a circular motion, using the thicker side to crush the cloves.
In a food processor, blend the pulverized cloves, the garlic, the rosemary leaves, the avocado oil, and the coconut oil. Once its all blended, strain the mix. Transfer the finished hair growth mask into a glass bowl. Store it in the fridge for a few minutes for a thicker consistency. Alternatively, apply directly to your hair like any hair oil.
This is it! The complete list of my favorite DIY hair masks to hydrate and strengthen your hair! I hope they are as helpful in your hair journey as they have been in mine. Maybe you'll use them for a self-care day, or maybe you'll add them to your hair care routine. Regardless, I hope they bring you joy and help you love your hair just a little more every day.
Loving our hair is a journey in itself—we might not be there yet, but as Emerson said: "It's not the destination, it's the journey"
If you enjoyed this article, pin it and save it for later so you can come back every time you want to make your homemade hair mask. If you have other recipes or hair tips, please let us know in the comments!
Besitos,
Laura