Make Your Own DIY Maroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask

Following the Reading Hair Care Product Labels post I did a few days ago, today I’d like to give you a recipe to make your own DIY version of the Maroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask. This mask is a hair treatment that is specially designed to penetrate the inner structure of the hair to repair and nourish it. The star ingredients in this mask are the argan oil and vegetable proteins. My premise is that we can make a similar mask without the synthetic ingredients and with which our hair can still reap great benefits at a lower cost.

 

 

 

The Ingredients

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Apparently there is an old and a new formula for this mask, but we won’t worry about that because the ingredients we’ll be using are in both the new and old version. We will leave behind synthetic elements of the formula that works as emulsifiers, penetration enhancers, colourants, perfumes and preservative. In this recipe, we’ll only be using the natural ingredients. Let us see which are those.

 

From the list above, we will need  Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (Argan Oil), Canola Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil (Pequi Oil) and Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein. You will find that most of the ingredients are relatively easy to get, and some you may have already. As for the hydrolyzed vegetable protein, I suggest we use a deep conditioner/mask that has this ingredient in it (e.g. oat, soy or wheat), but please use one that doesn’t have silicone (only water soluble silicone) or mineral oil. If you don’t have one just use a regular protein mask. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins are good to use because they penetrate better into the hair than animal protein and are great for damaged hair and split ends.

 

 

The Pequi oil is not so common to find, but you can purchase it on online. This oil is rich in fatty acids (mainly oleic and palmitic) and vitamins A and E (antioxidants). Studies have identified anti-inflammatory properties in this oil and have linked its use with low cholesterol and low blood pressure. Pequi oil also has conditioning and emollient properties meaning that it is a great moisturiser that will smooth the cuticle layers of your natural hair providing shine and reducing frizz.

 

The Recipe

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Ingredients

1/2 tbsp. – Argan Oil

1/2 tbsp. – Canola Oil

1 tbsp. – Shea Butter

1/2 tbsp. – Pequi Oil

2 or 3 tbsp. Deep Conditioner/mask (adjust quantities to your hair length)

 

 

Combine all your oils and place the shea butter in a mixer (or use a kitchen whisk and a bowl). Make sure your shea butter is soft, if not try breaking it into smaller pieces and soften it over a hot water bath. Don’t melt it completely, just soften it, the mixer will do the rest! When you feel it’s good enough, place shea butter in the mixer and add in the oils slowly then add your mask/deep conditioner. When you achieve a homogeneous mixture it is ready to use! Apply it on your curly hair as a regular deep conditioner. If you want you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.

 

 

Although the Maroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask proposes itself to be restorative (aka. protein mask), if you have a look at the use of oils versus protein you will see that it is a nutrition mask. Therefore, if we take this into consideration I believe we have achieved a similar homemade version of it. Plus, you’ll have the added benefit of being able to use the ingredients for other recipes.

 

 

Are you willing to try this recipe? Have you made homemade versions of your favourite store-bought products? Share your recipes!

 

 

Featured Image Credit: Nina Nelson_IMG_0454 on Flickr (license). Changes made:overlayed image on right bottom corner.