Food for Thought: Yogurt

I love yogurt – and not just to eat… It has so many benefits all by itself in your hair, forget about eating it. Below are some of my favorite yogurt recipes for the hair.

Mix #1:

• 16 ounces of just plain old Yogurt (more or less depending on length of hair)

Directions:

Just apply to your hair as is before you shampoo. Cover with a plastic cap and leave on for 35-40 minutes. Thoroughly rinse, shampoo and condition as normal.

Mix #2:

I know mix #1 sounds plain, but it is so great on its own. If you must add something to it, add:

• 2 tablespoons of raw honey
• 2 tablespoons of either organic coconut oil or olive oil or a combination of each.

Directions:

Cover with a plastic cap and leave on for 35-40 minutes.

Mix #3:

• 1 Banana (great for moisture)
• ¼ cup full fat yogurt (great detangler, protein rich,
• ¼ cup honey (natural humectant, helps retain moisture)

Directions:

Mix everything in a blender until the mix is completely smooth. Let sit on hair for 30-45 minutes. Thoroughly rinse, shampoo and condition as normal.

What do these ingredients do?

Honey is great for curly, dry hair since it is a natural humectant; it attracts and holds on to water molecules. Honey can be added to shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioners and oils. It should definitely be mixed with something.

Coconut Oil – is a great all-purpose item to have. I use it to cook, for my skin, and hair. It is a moisture retaining oil. It is light, provides great shine, softens hair, and nourishes hair by promoting protein regrowth. It is said that if you use coconut oil in your hair for two weeks, it will begin to repair damaged hair. Coconut oil is also antibacterial and antifungal, which helps fight against a lot of scalp issues. In my hair, coconut oil is my BFF!

Olive Oil – is also all purpose. It makes hair shiny and soft and just like coconut oil it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which help to fight against dandruff, itchy scalp and lice.

Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt is a great source of protein. Protein makes hair stronger, smoother and reduces frizz. Yogurt also helps to detangle hair and adds moisture/ retains moisture.

Bananas – great for moisture and it works. Please be sure to puree it in the blender or else you will have a hard time getting it out – kind of like scrambled eggs in your hair!