What’s all the hype about overnight hair growth masks? Do they actually work? Are they safe to use? Well, there are definitely a lot of unanswered questions in the minds of many, so here’s the best read for you!
Overnight hair masks work well on all kinds of hair especially for those with dry, damaged and frizzy hair. These masks work by infusing the hair shafts with moisture, reducing hair breakage and frizziness and thereby adding shine to the hair.
Some ingredients are safe to be left on overnight in your hair, but not all. Therefore, while choosing an overnight hair mask, avoid using ingredients like eggs and apple cider vinegar.
Using an overnight hair mask once or twice in a month is advisable to improve hair health and promote better hair growth.
How do aloe vera and flax seeds benefit your hair?
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins and can contribute to cell turnover (a natural process that involves the constant shedding of dead skin cells and the replacement of it with younger skin cells, over a period of time) and promote healthy cell growth in turn promoting hair growth. Aloe vera gel can help promote hair growth as it helps cleanse and nourish the scalp and can help reduce hair breakage and stimulate the hair follicles to promote hair growth. Aloe vera can penetrate into the hair follicles and can condition and improve dry and damaged hair.
Flax seeds contain vitamin E that can help prevent free radical damage on the scalp and can promote better hair growth. It is rich in vitamin B which is an essential vitamin for the hair as it can strengthen the hair follicles and promote hair growth. The omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseeds can promote hair growth and reduce hair fall as it contains the essential nutrients and proteins to strengthen the hair follicles and promote better scalp skin health.
Recipe for the aloe vera and flaxseed overnight hair growth mask:
Method:
Into a heating pot, add in the flax seeds and water, and let it come to a boil. Then let it continue to boil on high flame for 2 to 3 minutes while stirring continuously until it becomes like a gel-like consistency. Then, turn off the flame and cover this mixture with a lid and let it sit for an hour until it cools down completely. Then, strain this mixture into a container, using a muslin cloth (make sure to squeeze out the gel properly, as it is hard to extract).
To make the hair mask:
Tip: If you wish to make fresh aloe vera gel at home, all you need to do is wash 1 large or 2 small leaves of aloe vera, cut off the bottom, and let it soak in water for 2 hours. Then peel off the outer layer of the leaf and using a spoon, scrape out the aloe vera pulp.
Then pour the pulp into a mixer grinder and grind it into a fine paste, without any lumps, so it will be easy for application. It is then ready to use.
Method and application: Mix these two ingredients well until properly combined. Add in the olive oil and give it a mix. Then, partition your hair and use an applicator brush, apply this mixture evenly all over your scalp and hair and gently massage it using circular motions. Then cover your hair in a shower cap and leave it on overnight. Wash off the next morning with a mild shampoo and conditioner.
General tips:
- Applying this mask just before you go to bed, so it can remain on for around 8 hours, is advisable.
- Adding in the olive oil is recommended as olive oil is rich in antioxidants and can boost hair health and protect the hair from damage. It can improve blood circulation in the scalp and increase hair growth.
- Patch testing before complete application is recommended.