Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

all rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR Medical editorial team

 Intensely moisturizing Avocado hair mask

  This hair mask is amazingly moisturizing to your normal as well as damaged hair by styling techniques and pollution. It contains oils and yogurt which penetrate the cuticle to lock moisture and nourish hair strands imparting  healthy glow and shine.

Ingredients:

1/2 ripe medium-sized avocado

1 tablespoons olive oil

1tablespoon coconut oil

2teaspoons vegetable glycerin

1 cup yogurt

Processing Time:  25 minutes

Preparation of mask:

Mash the avocado pulp until it turns into a buttery consistency. To this add olive oil, coconut oil and mix until you get a smooth flowy paste. Now add vegetable glycerin.

 It is an amazing hair mask to nourish hair even with these ingredients only. However adding yoghurt adds to its hair moisturizing and nourishing potential. So add yoghurt also to the mixture and blend well with a spoon.

Section or part your hair and start applying the hair mask on each section. Apply it on hair root on scalp and on the entire length [shaft] of hair down to the tips.

Leave the mask on your hair for 20 minutes and then wash it out with cold water and mild shampoo with conditioner. Wash again with cold water. Never use hot water. It is essential to lock moisture within hair.

Benefits of Avocado hair mask

  Avocado is rich in antioxidants vitamins C and E and a few potent phytochemicals . Avocados are rich sources of folates, biotin, other vitamin B complex [B1, B2.B3& B6], fibers and unsaturated fats which support hair growth if used both internally and externally.

   Avocado oil extracted from the pulp of the fruit is rich in linoleic acid (6.1–22.9%), linolenic acid (0.4–4.0%), and oleic acid (31.8–69.6%).

It also contains β-sitosterol, β-carotene, lecithin, minerals, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. It helps dry, damaged, or chapped scalp skin, promoting faster re-epithelization, increasing collagen synthesis and decreasing the numbers of inflammatory cells.

These oils are anti-inflammatory and help to maintain scalp health.

Avocados also contain Vitamin E , an effective antioxidant that  may help in repair of damages to skin and hair follicles.

  Olive oil  used in the mask has numerous good effects.

 The main function of olive oil  is to act like an emollient  just like most of the hair oils. 

The oil contains arachin, linolein, and palmitin. However, the main component is olein. It also contains sterols, carotenoids, triterpenic oils, and phenolic compounds.

The virgin olive oil is a rich source of antioxidants that contains flavonoids, lignans, and secoiridoids.

 Olive oil has an emollient function by sealing the cuticle and trapping the moisture inside; however, coconut oil is more efficacious than olive oil in moisturizing the hair.

 Olive oil is protective against UVB rays of sun.

Hydroxytyrosol, one of the key polyphenolic components of olive oil, has been studied recently for its effects on UV-A induced cell damage and has shown to combat reactive oxygen species (ROS)or free radicals causing oxidative stress induced by UV light. 

 Olive oil has a potential to prevent  fungi Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton vanbreuseghemii to penetrate the hair.

A study showed the antifungal activity of the aliphatic aldehydes in olives

[-hexanal, nonanal, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-octenal and (E)-2-nonenal-against six strains of fugi]. Therefore olive oil can maintain scalp and hair health as an antifungal agent.

 Glycerin is intensely moisturizing to skin and hair. It will pull moisture into the hair and keeping it nourished and deeply hydrated from the inside out.

[Caution-  glycerin might be allergic to some people rarely. It may cause allergic reactions like itching and irritation in some cases.So it is recommended to do a patch test, before using it directly on your hair or skin. Most people have no issues from using glycerin].

Glycerin can also condition a dry scalp. It can help lessen dandruff also.

Coconut oil has nourishing and moisturizing effect on hair. It is obtained from the fruits of Cocus nucifera.

 The main fatty acids present in coconut oil are myristic acid, capric acid, lauric acid and monolaurin. It also contains phenolic acids and antioxidants such as tocopherol which nourish hair deeply.

 Coconut oil is a good saponification agent and so it has been used in many shampoos also.

 Monolaurin has antibacterial and antifungal activity and support scalp health.

Coconut oil forms a coating over the hair shaft, thereby sealing the cuticle and traps the moisture inside. This can impart shine and glossy appearance to your hair due to moisturization.

It provides increased slip in between the hair strands, so detangles the hair, smoothens and flattens the cuticle surface which improves the health and appearance of the hair strands.

Due to its low molecular weight and straight linear chain it is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft thereby, preventing loss of protein from the hair.

 Yogurt may help to cleanse the scalp and remove dead skin cells, it also enhances hair follicle growth.

Yogurt hair masks help to moisturize the hair and help to reverse the damage caused by heat of sun, air pollution, straightening irons, and blow-dryers and  chemical hair products used for styling, coloring, straightening and some harsh shampoos.

Use this hair mask once in a month or in 2 weeks depending on the texture of your hair. This mask may leave your hair soft silky and glossy due to its intensely moisturizing effects.

Extra tips:

 After using this mask you may need a shampoo to wash your hair. The selection of the shampoo is crucial. Choose a moisturizing shampoo with conditioner. Do not apply  additional conditioner on roots. The shampoo should be mild and gentle on your scalp and hair .It should not strip of moisture from your again making it dull.

Remember to wash your hair only with cold water.

      References

1.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020

2.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9231528/

3.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12715094/

4.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25134312/