5 Uncommon Ingredients to Use for Your Natural Hair

When it comes to DIY and homemade hair treatments, most people are quick to grab an egg, honey, yogurt or olive oil for the kitchen. There are also quite a few overlooked ingredients lying around most kitchens that could be added to your natural hair care regimen to boost healthy hair growth. Ingredients such as molasses and onion juice may seem far-fetched at first, but these ingredients have actually been used for hundreds of years in treating hair woes such as stunted hair growth, premature greying and various scalp ailments.

Here are 5 fantastic ingredients that you can add to your natural hair care regimen to help target any hair problems:

Onion Juice

Onion juice is one of the oldest secrets used to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Although the smell may be a bit unpleasant, onion juice can work wonders for stimulating healthy hair growth. Onion juice is significantly rich in sulfur, which helps the hair grow by boosting the production of collagen tissues and increasing the blood circulation of the scalp. You can mix onion juice with honey and peppermint oil (or tea tree oil) to help minimize the smell, massage it into your scalp for 10-15 minutes and follow with a mild shampoo.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek was more widely used in Ayurvedic and Holistic treatments but has recently become more mainstream for its ability in stimulating hair growth, strengthening the hair shaft, and preventing the hair from greying. You can steep a couple of bags of Fenugreek tea and use as a scalp rinse or you can use the paste and mix it with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise or coconut milk, and massage into the scalp. Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes and follow with a mild shampoo.

Flat Beer

Using beer for healthier, shinier, and more resilient hair is another method that has been used for years. Beer contains a combination of nutrients and naturally occurring sugars that give the hair more body, volume and aids in restoring damaged hair. Another advantage of beer is that it helps the hair to retain moisture and minimizes frizz by tightening the cuticle layer. After shampooing the hair, you can use flat beer as a scalp rinse mixed with lukewarm water.

Basil

Basil essential oil is one of the richest natural sources of antioxidants that your hair loves. Basil oil has been used to prevent hair loss and attack stunted hair growth by strengthening the hair follicles. Basil oil also works well in healing scalp infections and enhancing the luster of dull, lifeless hair. You can also use fresh basil for the scalp by blending it well with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and coconut milk, and massaging it into the hair and scalp. Leave the mixture on your hair for a minimum of 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Molasses

If you want to improve the overall appearance of your hair, try adding molasses to your hair care regimen.  Molasses has been used for years to help smooth the hair and prevent it from becoming too frizzy and as a natural humectant it will also help your natural hair to retain moisture. Molasses feeds your hair vital nutrients that help stimulate and promote natural hair growth. Blackstrap molasses, specifically, has also been said to reverse the greying of hair.

What are some unconventional ingredients you may have used that have proven to be effective in hair growth?