7 Food Items That Provide Moisture For Natural Hair

You may be searching for the perfect moisturizing product for your natural hair, but it could be closer than you think. Moisture is something that is crucial for natural hair. Too little, and your hair will feel and look parched. Naturally, water is the best natural source for moisture, but there are other moisture sources that may be as close as your refrigerator or cabinet. Here are seven food items that some natural ladies are using to keep their hair hydrated.

Honey

Have you ever wondered why so many moisturizing conditioners and shampoos list honey as an ingredient? It’s because honey is full of vitamins* and minerals that are great for your hair. In addition, honey is a humectant, which means that it attracts moisture the environment and draws it into your hair. Honey is so nourishing that it’s been labeled as food for your hair. Many claim that honey has left their hair soft and tangle free after using it. Some like to use raw honey by itself as a deep conditioner* and some like to mix olive oil*, yogurt and other things with honey to create a unique deep hair treatment.

Avocado

Avocado is another food item that’s been listed as a main ingredient in a lot of hair care products. Avocado has been known to repair damaged hair, but it also provides moisture for dry hair. Because avocado is comprised of natural oils, much like our own skin’s natural oils, it’s perfect for giving your hair a moisture boost. Another added benefit is that avocado smoothes the hair shaft, leaving you with frizz free hair. A very ripe avocado can be mashed well and applied to damp hair for 30 minutes for a nourishing hair treatment.

Eggs

You’re probably thinking that eggs are for protein, but not moisture. I thought the same, until I discovered that the yolk of the egg is rich in fats, and is actually very moisturizing when applied to dry and brittle hair. In order for you to see the full benefit of eggs’ moisturizing properties, you MUST only use the yolk of the egg. You can mix the yolk with other natural moisturizers and create your own moisturizing conditioner*. Simply apply the yolk to damp hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Be sure to rinse with cool water. You don’t want the egg yolk to cook!

Bananas

Most never think of bananas as being moisturizing, but they are indeed. Bananas contain natural oils, vitamins* and carbohydrates that will keep your hair super hydrated and healthy. The fruits also helps with itchy and flakey scalps by keeping your scalp soothed and moisturized. After using a homemade banana hair mask, your hair will be very soft and manageable, because the potassium* in the bananas softens the hair shaft. Honey, bananas and coconut* milk can be mixed together to create the perfect hair mask.

Yogurt

Syrup hair treatments will slowly restore your brittle and dry hair. Mix the syrup with honey*, and it’s a moisturizing dream! However, be sure to use grade A maple syrup and not the fake high fructose stuff, or it won’t be effective.

Yogurt is another protein packed food that can also be used to help your hair retain moisture. Natural proteins in the yogurt help strengthen your hair, but the lactic acid in the yogurt helps hydrate it. You can apply plain yogurt to your hair and leave it to work it’s magic for up to an hour, or you can mix the yogurt with other ingredients, and use it as a deep conditioner*.

Maple Syrup

This sticky, sweet breakfast topping almost instantly moisturizes your hair after it’s applied. Maple is so good at packing on the moisture that it is definitely not recommended for people with really oily hair. If your hair is as dry as a bone from dye or too much heat, regular maple syrup hair treatments will slowly restore your brittle and dry hair. Mix the syrup with honey*, and it’s a moisturizing dream! However, be sure to use grade A maple syrup and not the fake high fructose stuff, or it won’t be effective.

Coconut Milk

The coconut* has got to be the most versatile fruit in the world. It has been used as a beauty treatment in many ways for decades. It can be made into an oil or milk, which can either be consumed internally or applied to the skin. The milk from the coconut is so wholesome, and does wonders for hair. Not only does the milk de-frizz your hair, but it also helps to regain lost moisture. Coconut* milk is a true deep conditioner* and it can be applied in its rawest form. Of course you can always create your own recipe.

Sometimes we get so caught up in what the latest hair care product is that we forget that some of the best products for our hair are found in nature. In reality, you should be able to eat whatever you put on your hair and body. If you can’t, then it’s probably full of things are not necessarily good for you. Of course, that isn’t realistic for everyone, not even myself, but it’s still nice to know that nature can heal and moisturize our precious hair.