Brian Barr
A hair spa kit is a great way to relax and pamper yourself at home. It is an excellent way to nourish, condition, and reverse the damage done to your hair by pollution, heat treatments, hair colour, and more. The usual shampoo-conditioner routine is often not enough to replenish the lost moisture in your hair, but a hair spa kit can help with that. Here are the steps to using a hair spa kit at home:
- Massage your scalp with oil: Start with an oil massage to nourish your hair and stimulate blood flow to the scalp. You can use any hair oil of your choice, such as olive oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil. Gently massage your head, which will help you relax and reduce stress, a cause of hair issues such as hair fall.
- Steam your hair: Use steam to make the nutrients from the oil penetrate your hair cuticle properly. You can use a steamer or dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the excess, and wrap it around your head. Keep it on for about 10-15 minutes.
- Shampoo your hair: Wash and clean your hair with a mild, sulphate-free shampoo. If you think your hair is not clean enough, you can shampoo it again to remove the hair spa cream and other dirt build-up.
- Deep condition with a hair mask: This is an important step in the hair spa process. Choose a deep conditioning hair spa cream or a homemade hair mask with ingredients like honey, curd, eggs, banana, avocado, or green tea. Leave the hair mask on for about 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse your hair: Rinse your hair with a mild shampoo. You can use a regular conditioner after shampooing if you feel like it. Let your hair air-dry naturally instead of using a towel or blow dryer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Massage your scalp with oil |
| Step 2 | Steam your hair with a steamer or towel |
| Step 3 | Wash your hair with a mild shampoo |
| Step 4 | Deep condition with a hair spa cream or homemade hair mask |
| Step 5 | Rinse your hair with a mild shampoo |
What You'll Learn
Massage your scalp with oil
Choose your oil
Olive oil, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil are great options for a hair and scalp massage. They are good for your hair and are usually available in the market. The healthy fats and nutrients in these oils help nourish your hair. You can also use castor oil, which is thick and heavy and really seeps into the cuticle layer of your hair.
Prepare your oil
Take 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 milliliters) of your chosen oil and warm it up. You can do this in the microwave or on the stove, but be careful not to let it get too hot. It should be warm and comfortable to the touch.
Massage your scalp
Spread the oil onto your scalp and massage it in from the roots to the tips for about 5 minutes. This will help improve the circulation in your scalp. Use your fingertips to massage your scalp. Start where you poured the oil, and gradually work outward across your scalp. Run your fingers through your hair from front to back, then rub them in circles all over your scalp.
Wrap a damp, warm towel around your head
Dip a clean towel in warm water and wring out the excess water so that it's damp. Wrap the towel around your head and secure it with a clip if needed. Keep the towel wrapped around your head for 5 to 15 minutes. The heat will trap the oil and open up the hair follicles, allowing the oil to penetrate your hair and scalp and nourish it.
Wash your hair
Use a mild shampoo to wash the oil out of your hair. You can add conditioner if your hair is very dry, but if you plan to use a hair mask after, the conditioner may not be necessary.
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Steam your hair with a steamer or towel
Steaming your hair is a great way to moisturise it. If you have a steamer, simply follow the instructions provided with the product. If you don't have a steamer, you can use a towel to achieve similar results. Here's how:
Start by covering your hair in your favourite conditioning product. You can use 2 tablespoons of conditioner or your favourite hair oil, such as coconut or olive oil. Smooth the product down the shafts of your hair, starting at the roots, and ensure that you apply an even coating.
Place a shower cap on your head. If you have long hair, tie it up in a low bun first, then place the shower cap over your head and tuck any stray hairs underneath.
Wet a face cloth and wring it out until there are no drips coming off it. Shake the cloth to ensure that there are no drips of water left in it. If you have a hair turban, you can use this instead of a face cloth.
Put the face cloth into the microwave for 2 minutes on the highest setting. If your microwave plate is dirty, place the face cloth into a microwave-safe bowl to keep it clean. Don't worry if you see steam coming off the cloth while it's in the microwave – this is normal.
Place the face cloth on top of the shower cap, positioning it in the middle of your head. If you feel the face cloth slipping down your head, simply adjust it back into place. Wear gloves when transferring the face cloth to your head to avoid getting burnt, or use a potholder.
Put another shower cap over the face cloth to stop the heat from escaping and encourage steam to form. Don't worry if the shower cap doesn’t fit over your whole head, simply stretch it over the face cloth. If you don’t have another shower cap, place a plastic bag over the face cloth instead.
Leave your hair to steam for 30 minutes to 2 hours. If you want really moisturised hair, leave it to steam for up to 2 hours, but be sure to reheat your face cloth 2-3 times during your steam. If the face cloth falls off, simply put it back into position and place the shower cap back over it. You might want to reheat it before you replace it if it has cooled off.
Finally, rinse your hair with cold water to get all of the conditioner out. The cold water helps to seal the hair cuticles and locks in moisture.
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Wash your hair with a mild shampoo
After applying a hair mask, the next step is to wash it out with a mild shampoo. But what is a mild shampoo? And why is it important to use one?
Mild shampoos are shampoos that contain gentler and generally weaker cleansing agents compared to other shampoos. They are formulated to be gentle on the hair and scalp, and are typically free from harsh or irritating ingredients. They are often labelled as "gentle shampoos" or "for sensitive scalps".
Mild shampoos are an excellent choice for dry hair as they provide mild cleansing and good conditioning, but won't strip your hair of its much-needed natural oils. They are also a good option for hair that is damaged, thin, or coloured/chemically treated.
When choosing a mild shampoo, look for those that are sulphate-free and contain conditioning agents such as silicones, proteins, and oils. Examples of mild shampoos include Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Daily Moisture Shampoo, Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo With Pure Coconut Oil, and SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo.
When washing your hair with a mild shampoo, wet your hair with lukewarm water, then take some shampoo into your fingers and cleanse your hair and scalp thoroughly, massaging your scalp to boost blood circulation and promote hair health. Rinse with cold water, which helps seal your hair cuticles, then follow with conditioner.
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Apply a hair mask or cream
After you've washed your hair, it's time to apply a hair mask or cream. You can use a store-bought mask, or make your own at home. If you have long or thick hair, you may want to double the recipe.
Divide your hair into sections, and use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the mask evenly throughout your hair, focusing on the most damaged parts, usually the ends. If you have a dry scalp, you can also apply the mask to your scalp, but if you have a greasy scalp, keep the mask away from your scalp, unless the formula has been designed to absorb excess oil.
Cover your hair with a shower cap, and if your hair is long, tie it up into a loose bun first. The shower cap will trap heat from your scalp, making the mask more effective. Leave the mask on for 15-30 minutes, following the instructions on the packet.
Rinse the mask out with a mild shampoo and lukewarm water, and follow up with conditioner. If the mask recipe has different cleansing instructions, follow those instead.
- Banana and olive oil: blend a banana with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, massage into your hair and scalp, and leave for 30 minutes.
- Honey and yoghurt: mix 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt and 1 tablespoon of honey, apply to hair and scalp, and wait for 15-20 minutes.
- Pumpkin: mix 1 cup of plain pumpkin puree with 1-2 tablespoons of honey, apply to hair and scalp, and leave for 15-20 minutes.
- Honey: mix 1/2 a cup of honey with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons of avocado or egg yolks, apply to hair, and wait for 20 minutes.
- Avocado: blend half a peeled and pitted avocado with argan oil, sour cream, or egg yolks for moisture, rosemary essential oil for a dry scalp, or apple cider vinegar for removing build-up, apply to hair, and leave for 15 minutes.
- Eggs: whisk 1/2 a cup of egg whites, egg yolks, or whole eggs, apply to hair, and leave for 20 minutes.
You can also try a hair spa cream, which is richer in vitamins and essential oils than a cream bath.
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Rinse and condition your hair
Rinsing and conditioning your hair is an important step in the hair spa process. After applying a hair mask, wait for 15 to 30 minutes, then wash it out with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo. Follow up with a conditioner, then rinse the conditioner out.
If your hair is very dry, you can add conditioner after shampooing your hair to wash out the oil. However, the hair mask may be nourishing enough on its own.
Some hair masks are used instead of conditioner, so be sure to follow the instructions for your specific mask.
After rinsing out the conditioner, it is recommended to pat your hair dry and let it air dry. Hair dryers can cause damage.
You can also follow up with a leave-in conditioner to protect your hair from damage caused by pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
A home hair spa is a great way to provide deep-rooted nourishment and conditioning to your hair. It helps remove impurities and dandruff, improves scalp health, prevents scalp ageing, and reduces dullness and frizz. It is also a super calming and relaxing ritual that can help stabilise oil secretion.
Ideally, you should pamper yourself with a home hair spa 2-3 times a month or at least every 15 days to give your hair the right nourishment and care.
You can use any hair oil of your choice, such as olive oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil. These oils are easily available in the market and contain healthy fats and nutrients that help nourish your hair.
You can use a steamer to blow a little bit of steam onto your hair. Alternatively, you can dip a towel in a bowl of hot water, squeeze out the excess water, and wrap it around your head. Repeat if the towel cools down. Limit the steaming to 10-15 minutes.
