There’s a plethora of hair hacks, making it hard to decide which are worth trying. To shed some light on the good ones, we reached out to Lisa Price, founder of leading haircare brand Carol’s Daughter, and celebrity hairstylist Charlene Spiller to recommend natural and curly hair hacks to try at home. Hair massagers, like Vitagoods Scalp Massaging Shampoo Brush ($16; target.com), offer a gentle alternative to scrubbing and exfoliating your scalp with your fingers. Add extra nutrients to your massage by applying a bit of coconut or olive oil. For a new and quick way to shampoo, Price recommends Carol’s Daughter’s Wash Day Delight ($13; target.com). Its unique micellar water formula acts like a magnet to attract and lift away buildup for a thorough hair and scalp cleanse. For dry and damaged hair, Spiller recommends a honey and coconut oil mask: “The coconut oil binds to the hair, helping to reduce keratin loss. And since honey is a humectant, it helps to impart moisture retention.” To make this mask, mix one tablespoon coconut oil with one tablespoon honey. Transfer the mixture into a pot and heat on the stove until the honey and the coconut oil melt together. Allow the mixture to cool, and then apply to your hair and cover with a shower cap for 20 minutes. Finish by rinsing your hair with warm water. Don’t want to make your own? Price recommends Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture and Shine Hair Smoothie ($14; sallybeauty.com). Packed with a rich blend of cocoa, shea butters, and pro-vitamin B5, it helps restore hair’s healthy texture, giving it a natural shine. Apply this mixture to dry hair before you shampoo and start detangling with your fingers: Separate knots by starting at the bottom and working your way up (tip to the root). Always use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush when detangling. Trimming your own hair is intimidating but, according to Spiller, the two-strand method is one of the easiest ways to spot split ends. “Start the two-strand method by separating your hair into 1-inch sections, brush each section smooth and twist the hair tightly. After setting your hair into approximately 20 twists, cut the ends of the twists that are thinning or have a diagonal slant.” Brew a strong cup of caffeinated black tea using three to four tea bags and two cups of boiling water. After the tea has cooled, transfer to an applicator bottle and apply to your scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic cap, and let the tea sit for up to 45 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Follow up with a deep conditioner. “I recommend using this treatment every three to six weeks, until you see improvement, as caffeine can dry out the hair.” To apply, fill a spray bottle with two-thirds water and one-third aloe vera juice, and lightly spritz the solution on your hair every morning and night. Follow up with your favorite oil-based hair product to seal in moisture.
