This DIY All-Natural Intense Hydration Hair Mask is your prescription for naturally soft, healthy, begging-to-be-touched hair!

This post is sponsored by Cocavo though all thoughts and opinions are of course my own. Cocavo’s unqiue oil blend is a new staple in my pantry… OK and my beauty routine, too!…  and I’m so excited to partner with such an awesome company! Thank you for supporting the brands that support Body Unburdened and make the work I do possible.

Ever have one of those hair days that makes you consider a bob?

Perhaps a lob?

Or maybe pulling a Britney Spears and just completely shaving it all off!?!?

Oh I’ve been there.

And quite a lot recently as this dry winter air transforms my once silky locks (R.I.P.) into a frizzy, tangled mess shouting S.O.S. and in need of some major T.L.C.

Enter this DIY All-Natural Intense Hydration Hair Mask.

Not only does this DIY hair mask intensely hydrate hair, but it helps reduce frizz and breakage too.

Yes, it’s your hair’s new BFF!

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients…

Coconut and avocado oils

(Hey, Cocavo!)

Coconut and avocado oils are as healthy for your hair as they are for your bod. Both oils deeply penetrate the hair shaft, seal the hair cuticles to prevent frizz, and provide long-lasting moisture.

Regarding coconut oil, one study stated:

Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft.

And avocado is rich in the healthy-hair vitamins biotin (vitamin B7), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), and vitamin E.

Together they’re an unstoppable force for soft, healthy hair.

Now I’m not going to lie: when I first laid hands on Cocavo, I immediately thought “this would make a really great body moisturizer.” (Well, not the flavored versions so much… unless you want to smell like cilantro, lime, and ginger in which case go for it!) Yes, it’s a healthy cooking oil. But if you’ve been around these parts before, you know I’m all about rubbing food all over my face and bod 🙂 And as a blend of coconut and avocado oils, it’s absolutely perfect for this hair mask. Gotta love a multi-purpose product! Plus the consistency — not as hard as coconut oil but not liquid like avocado oil either — is ideal for mixing with the other ingredients in the mask.

Aloe vera gel

Aloe is certainly not limited to after-sun skincare. It not only provides the hydration but also vitamins and minerals that the hair requires to keep healthy, strong, and smooth.

The aloe also helps to improve scalp health by hydrating the scalp and reducing dandruff — one study found that aloe vera reduced the scalp inflammation that dandruff causes.

Vegetable glycerin

Oh. My. Gosh. My love for this simple but magical ingredient knows no bounds!

Vegetable glycerin is an amazing humectant — that is, it draws and holds water to our skin and hair. The coconut and avocado oil then seal that hydration in.

Lavender essential oil

This is a totally optional but recommended ingredient, if not just for the relaxing aromatherapy benefits!

But lavender essential oil has some impressive hair benefits, too. This study found that lavender essential significantly increased the number of hair follicles and deepened the depth of hair follicles, reducing hair fallout and increasing overall thickness.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbs Cocavo*
• 2 tbs aloe vera gel
• 1 tbs vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

*Check out which of your local stores may carry Cocavo here

Directions:

• Add the Cocavo to a small bowl and mash slightly with a fork
• Add the remaining ingredients — aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, and lavender essential oil — and whisk until smooth
• Apply the mixture to your hair, concentrating especially on the dry ends (and scalp if dandruff is an issue)
• Tie your hair up in a bun and allow the mask to sink in for at least 30 minutes
• Wash your hair as normal, and then a second time focusing particularly on the roots.
• Condition hair as normal.
• Dry and bask in the beauty of those beautiful locks!