Why Bananas Are the Best for Hair Health
Bananas are one of the most controversial fruits on the planet. While some people are banana obsessed to the point of baking them into everything, others find their taste and texture repulsive. We have to say, it’s easy to see why banana mush is such a hit-and-miss food staple – but one thing that can’t be argued is that bananas are incredibly good for your health.
In particular, bananas are amazing for treating dry, heat damaged hair. They’re a great source of potassium – in fact, just one banana can provide you with 23% of the potassium you need in one day – and are also high in Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, potassium, dietary fibre, and magnesium. Luckily, if bananas are your thing, you can enjoy them guilt-free, as they don’t contain any of the bad stuff, like sodium or cholesterol.
If you’d rather use a banana as a beauty treatment than put it anywhere near your mouth, you’ll like what we have to say next. You can use bananas on both your skin and hair by applying it topically as a mask, no eating required.
Experts say that bananas are particularly good at preventing dandruff, adding moisture to your scalp, and promoting that all-important healthy shine. The natural oils, potassium and vitamins found in bananas make them effective in softening the hair, helping it to maintain its natural elasticity, and preventing split ends and breakage.
It’s no secret that banana is good for your hair – you’ll find it in a variety of expensive hair products and spa treatments. But if you’d rather not spend a fortune, you’ll actually get more benefits from making your own banana hair treatment with the fresh fruit. If your hair is limp, dry, sun damaged, or just needs a bit of TLC, a banana hair mask might just be the best thing you can treat it to.
There are a number of different banana hair masks, each one being suitable for a different hair type, as well as the sorts of problems you’re trying to eliminate. We’ve compiled a list of three of the best simple DIY hair masks that you can try out when you next fancy a mini spa session at home.
1. Banana and coconut hair mask
What’s better than a simple banana hair mask? One that combines banana with another hair-healthy ingredient, of course. Coconut contains a plethora of properties that can penetrate your hair shaft and rejuvenate hair from the inside out. If you’re looking for more voluminous hair with added shine, coconut is your new best friend.
To create a banana and coconut hair mask, just mix one tablespoon of coconut oil with one tablespoon of milk and a ripe banana. Mash and combine well, then add the coating straight to your hair. Leave for at least half an hour before rinsing off and shampooing and conditioning as normal.
2. Banana and avocado hair mask
Name a better duo than banana and avocado. There’s a reason why avocado is one of the most much-loved superfoods on the planet right now, and it isn’t just because it tastes smashing (no pun intended) on sourdough toast. Avocado is packed full of nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E and B6, proteins, amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, copper and iron, as well as oils for moisturising hair.
Make a banana and avocado hair mask by mashing and mixing half a ripe avocado and half a ripe banana. Add a beaten egg to the mix, and combine together until there are no remaining lumps. Apply the paste to dry hair and leave for half an hour, then rinse off and finish your shampooing routine as normal.
3. Banana and yogurt hair mask
Yes, you might more commonly find banana and yogurt paired together on a breakfast menu, but the two ingredients make the perfect duo for haircare, too. Yogurt is fantastic for deeply conditioning your hair, and is said to contain properties for speeding up hair growth. You’ll get a good protein kick from most yogurts, which nourishes and strengthens hair without making it dry. The zinc and lactic acid in yogurt also promotes circulation at your scalp.
To make a banana and yogurt hair mask, mash a ripe banana and mix it with a tablespoon of plain yogurt, a tablespoon of honey, and a teaspoon of lemon juice (if you have any). Once you’ve achieved a smooth, creamy mixture, coat it over your hair and carefully comb it through. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes, before washing off in the shower and following with a shampoo and deep condition.