Increasingly popular for restructuring and repairing hair, keratin is a natural protein that protects and smoothes the hair fiber. Applied in care in hairdressing salons, it is not always within the reach of all budgets. Fortunately, there are alternatives that work just as satisfactorily and that can be made at home in just a few minutes. Here is the recipe for a natural cream to restore smooth, shiny hair.
The advantage of this recipe is that it requires ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen. And for good reason, many everyday foods have formidable properties to nourish, strengthen and smooth hair without damaging it. Among them: gelatin. A precious ingredient and an excellent substitute for the care provided in beauty institutes thanks to its collagen content. We tell you more.
Gelatin, a precious ally for your hair
When it comes to repairing dry or damaged hair, the ingredients in our kitchen almost all have virtues that can help us. Olive oil, eggs, honey, avocado, banana … so many foods known for their benefits on our hair. And that’s without forgetting the treatments with rice water and coconut milk, which soften and deeply repair the hair fiber.
But there’s also an unexpected ingredient that often goes unnoticed: gelatin. Indeed, this translucent substance contains a crucial element: collagen, a key molecule for healthy hair. Painless and colorless, gelatin contains many amino acids which act on the hair texture in order to treat it from the many attacks it can suffer on a daily basis. The transparent film that is deposited on the fiber protects the scales while its thickening agents give us more volume. Thanks to its numerous proteins, the hair is also nourished and hydrated in depth, resulting in a much shinier mane.
A natural recipe to prepare your own smoothing cream
For best results, it is advisable to use powdered gelatin as it will be easier to handle. But vegans don’t have to worry. Agar-agar is also endowed with precious minerals to revitalize the hair and can therefore be used as a substitute if necessary. So let’s move on to the ingredients required to prepare your smoothing cream:
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of gelatin (or agar-agar)
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- Half a cup of milk
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
How to prepare your homemade smoothing cream?
- To start, heat the milk in a saucepan and add your gelatin to it.
- Gradually stir until the two ingredients are well combined, then add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, egg and sweet almond oil which will act as a conditioner.
- Once all your ingredients are incorporated and mixed, turn off the heat and let the preparation sit for a few minutes.
How to apply this smoothing treatment?
It could not be easier. Wash your hair as usual to remove any residue, and apply the cream to all of your hair. It is advisable to start with the root, then to proceed to the lengths. You can also use a comb to ensure that the product is distributed evenly. Then let it sit for an hour, then after that time, rinse off with lukewarm water and style your hair as usual.
It is recommended to repeat this mask 2 times a week to achieve satisfactory results. Over the days, you will notice that your hair becomes smoother and softer, less brittle and much shinier.
How to include gelatin in your beauty treatments?
Gelatin can be incorporated into your beauty routine in several ways, especially since it is effective at all stages of our hair care, depending on our needs and the condition of the hair. So, and if you want to take advantage of its benefits in the shower, simply dissolve a tablespoon of gelatin in 5 tablespoons of hot water in a saucepan. Once the mixture is slightly lukewarm, you can incorporate it into your usual shampoo, making sure to mix the two products well and leave to act for about 5 minutes before rinsing off with clean water.
As a moisturizer, gelatin can also be prepared as a mask by heating a glass of water, a tablespoon of aloe vera and a tablespoon of gelatin. Once the mixture is cool, the mask can be applied to all hair for about ten minutes, once a week.
