Easy Homemade Hair Masks for Healthier Strands

ADEL ATELIER FOR MARIE CLAIRE MAGAZINE

Honey Lengthening Mask:

"Natural honey contains many beneficial ingredients that enhance shine and hair growth," says celebrity stylist and salon owner Adel Chabbi of Adel Atelier in NYC. So, while you could be using the sweet treat made by bees to help bring your hair down to your knees, Chabbi recommends kicking it up a notch by using onions. Yes, onions. According to Chabbi, the vegetable helps "activate the hair follicles and speed up the growing process." Here's how:

1. Place a container with two to three tablespoons of honey in a hot bowl of water to warm it up.

2. Grate one onion, then stir it into the melted honey.

3. Apply it to your scalp and let it sit for an hour before washing it out with shampoo in the shower.

Coconut Restoring Mask

Before good old quarantine, most of us were exposing our hair to a lot, and when I say a lot, I mean hot tools, pollution, and whatever else came its way. "From time to time you have to restore the hair structure because it is influenced by many external factors," says Chabbi. Which means it's never too early or late to give your hair a reset, like with this coconut restoring mask.

1. Take one tablespoon of coconut oil and another of olive oil and combine them in a bowl.

2. Add three to four drops of vitamins A and E oils into the same bowl and mix.

3. Apply the mask to the length of the hair while avoiding your scalp, and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it out.

How To Transition To Gray Hair If You're A Hair Dye Devotee

ADEL ATELIER FOR BYRDIE MAGAZINE

Let’s talk about gray hair. Despite what society tells you, grays are not something to “fight” or “cover-up” or “battle”—they are a natural progression of aging (or genetics) which in my opinion is pretty damn fabulous. In fact, accounts like @grombre celebrate women of all ages, sizes, and skin complexions who have embraced their natural hues and never looked back. As a frequent color-lover, I had to keep it real with myself... was I really down to make my color commitment in the middle of A. a pandemic and B. this economy? The short answer was "no."

"Women have been embracing their grey hair more and more these days and opting for a more natural approach to hair color," explains celebrity hair colorist, Miranda Shaffer of Adel Atelier Salon. "Recently, I have noticed that current global events have forced some women to see their natural gray grow in for the first time ever. Not knowing if there would be another shutdown or just tired of feeling like a slave to their hair color have been contributing factors to a trend that had already started taking shape over the past few years," she adds.

Whether you opt to hit pause on coloring your hair for personal reasons (or financial ones), transitioning to your natural color might feel a bit intimidating, like where to start. The good news is there are a few options to embrace grays like a champ and products to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy. Today, we’ll jump into a few tips on how to go gray and start your next hair chapter with grace.

[…] Try Out a Few Treatments

According to Shaffer, "Gray hair is just hair that has lost all pigmentation but tends to grow in a wiry texture, and because of this, tends to be drier and more brittle to the touch.” That’s why most stylists recommend adding a conditioning treatment to your routine. "Milbon’s Repair Line is great as well as Olaplex for locking in the moisture gray hair so desperately craves," she adds.

In addition to your deep conditioner and mask, a weekly gloss can add much needed shine. "I love using an at-home gloss once a week. Rita Hazan’s Ultimate Shine Gloss in Breaking Brass ($26) is the best one," adds Ortega. "It keeps your hair shiny, brass-free, and hydrated all in one."