Some wash days deserve a little project. This four-ingredient pre-shampoo mask brings together avocado, coconut milk, honey and olive oil for a rich mixture you can make in a few minutes.
The key is texture: blend it much smoother than you would mash avocado for toast. A silky mixture is easier to spread through your hair and rinse away.
Four grocery-store ingredients
- ¼ ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened canned coconut milk, plus a little more if needed
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Makes a small batch for the mid-lengths and ends of medium-length hair. Preparation takes about five minutes, followed by ten minutes before washing.
Make and use it
- Blend all four ingredients in a small blender until completely smooth. Add coconut milk a teaspoon at a time if needed to make a spreadable cream.
- Press through a fine sieve to remove any remaining avocado fibers.
- Dampen the lengths of your hair. Work a small amount through the mid-lengths and ends, using less on fine hair.
- Clip your hair loosely out of the way and leave the mixture on for ten minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then shampoo and condition as usual. Shampoo again if an oily residue remains.
- Make this fresh for each use and discard any remaining mixture after your wash.
What each ingredient brings
Avocado makes the creamy base. Coconut milk loosens it so it spreads, honey adds thickness, and olive oil supplies a rich, slippery feel. Start with a light application so the mixture is manageable rather than heavy.
Make the pause part of wash day
Lay out a clean towel before you begin. Put on a favorite song. Use the ten minutes to sit down instead of starting another job.
At Finchberry, we like a little creativity in everyday self-care. This is one way to give wash day a different pace.
